The Grilled Cheese

I have confirmation that it is reopening in 2 weeks with a new owner! Mark who was the executive chef at Greenwood Smokehouse BBQ is taking it over. I saw him there today! So excited!

It’s rare that patrons get insight into how a restaurant treats it’s workers:
Plenty of other options in Kensington.

The grilled cheese here is amazing! Haha that must be why they named the restaurant ‘the grilled cheese.’ It all makes sense now!
I tried this place for the first time last year and it knocked my socks off. Delicious melt-​in-​your-​mouth sandwich, and the homemade tomato soup just upped the amazing factor about 10 notches. Also comes with a side of chips and a pickle.
Now, why would an ah-​ma-​zing place only get 3 stars? Well, I came back today and had the grill worx — swiss, provolone, roasted red peppers, mushrooms, red onions, and spinach all in a delicious grilled sandwich. Asked about the soup, and unfortunately they don’t serve it in the summer or something is what I understood from the employee. How unfortunate. The sandwich was still good, but it was missing its greatness factor.
My suggestion is to go during the winter when they’ll hopefully have their soup. Also go during non-​conventional meal times, as the wait can be cumbersome, even when the restaurant doesn’t seem too busy.

I’ve had the Mushroom Madness grilled cheese both times I’ve visited The Grilled Cheese. And man it’s good.
I love this place for a quick lunch and it can accommodate both groups and single diners — lots of seating.
I do wish that they served something different then just plain chips with the sandwich. But it’s definitely not an issue big enough to keep me away!
Cash only.

This place is really «open» to the street. Feeling like in South Asia, Thailand or something:) antique and origin.
Ordered mushroom madness. It was amazing. Rich and fulfilled. Kind of greasy, but in a good way. Who doesn’t like high calories stuff?
Will Definitely go back

I came here for lunch on a Monday. Due to a «busy weekend» they had no avocado and no bacon for their most popular sandwich.
No worries, I substituted turkey for the bacon and waited.
And waited and waited. It took a half an hour to get two grilled cheese sandwiches (the place wasn’t half-​full).
The sandwiches were good, but the cheese was rather thin and definitely did not completely cover the inside of the sandwich. They do offer about 8 – 10 creative takes on a grilled cheese sandwich.
The restaurant itself seemed to need a bit of cleaning. The space looked more tired than anything else, though I have to give them credit for having something many places in Kensington Market don’t have: seats.
With so many other $ 10 options in Kensington Market, I would say try this if you like grilled cheese (ok, really like grilled cheese), but don’t go too far out of your way otherwise.

Can I just say yum! You would never think that grilled cheese was anything to write home about but the combination of ingredients that these people stuffed between bread is just smart thinking.
As a meat-​atarian I recommend the Beast. For a lighter choice, I liked the Pesto with added avocado (extra $ 2).
Despite the food being awesome, this place could use a few improvements: (1) More staff would definitely help with wait times and line ups. When I went during a busy lunch time rush, there was only 1 person behind the counter (2) Re-​arrange the indoor seating. I had to constantly get up any time someone behind me had to get out (3) Debit/​Creditcard machine please — this place is cash only. (4) Don’t forget my pickle!
If you’re lucky enough, snag a seat outside and enjoy the grilled goodness with the always interesting sights of Kensington Market.

The sandwiches are pretty unique and amazingly good. I got to try Lanois and Apple crisp and both didnt disappoint me except for the chips. An actual chips from a bag. Hmmm.

I would give this place a 3.5 out of 5. No doubt, delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. Decently priced.
My husband and I went to each lunch here on a Friday afternoon. Big mistake. It was not worth the hour drive just to have a grilled cheese that took half an hour to make. I wouldn’t normally mind the wait much, but we were told there was no Havarti, no ham, no bacon, and at least one if not two other ingredients (I lost track). Well there goes half the menu. I don’t expect a fancy restaurant, and I get that it is in Toronto, so it WILL be busy. But there are other places that are just as busy, if not more, and they actually know how to run a business (Banh Mi Boys for example).
With all that said, I do still think it is delicious food. If I was in the area and needed a bite, I would definitely come here. I just don’t think I would purposely drive downtown just to eat there.

Slow service and was turned off by unhygienic environment. Tables, floors, seats were all sticky and when you wipe it with a napkin it was black. I waited 30mins for one sandwich and server actually offered someone else’s order by mistake a minute after I paid, which made no sense. No gloves or utensils are used at this place and it was disturbing to see cashier handle money (cash only) and then use her bare hands to grab Ruffles chips and sandwiches onto everyone’s plates and proceeding to wipe them on a dirty wet rag. The sandwich itself was ok, but don’t think it was worth the experience and the $ 9. Won’t be coming back here.

SO TASTY! I had the Apple Crisp with Bacon. OMGYUM.
but please get a better system of letting people know when their order is ready. If you offer outdoor seating, you should probably walk outside and announce when an order is ready… duh. don’t just stand inside and look perplexed when no one hears you shouting. ugh.
Anyway, would recommend. I will be back to try every other grilled cheese on the menu at this super hip place in this super hip neighborhood.
Later, Toronto.

Grab a pint across the street at ronnies while you wait for them to bring your grilled cheese.
Bite down and enjoy the ambiance of Kensington.
This is arguably the best grilled cheese in town at least in our vicinity.
Honest portions and prices and well worth the trip.
If you’re in to grilled cheese grab the pesto tomato and the one with Apple… Trust me.
A+

En visitant le pittoresque quartier de Kensington Market et en voulant manger autre chose que des tacos, nous sommes tombés sur ce petit resto que nous avons eu le plaisir de découvrir.
Très BONS grilled cheese réconfortants servis avec des chips et pickles dans une ambiance sympa et décontractée.
Par contre, prévoyez de la monnaie. Aucune carte de paiement sur place.

The grilled cheese is great but the owner was fairly rude. He reprimanded rudely an employee who was just trying to eat because she hadn’t eaten yet! It was a huge turn off. Great food bad service and even to customers the guy doesn’t crack a smile! Unfortunate because it’s a cool spot.

Definitely enjoyed my experience. Ordered the apple crisp $ 8 and make sure to add bacon! Grilled motsy $ 8 with the arugula was delicious. Blackjack was decent, didn’t have much taste to it $ 6.
Boyfriend thought the ingredients tasted bland and didn’t have enough flavor even though the ingredients should’ve been on point. I however thought it was delicious. Just order the apple crisp!
Service is fast! Couple of tables to sit and they’ve got a fireplace to warm up in the winter.

I liked this place. I was in the mood for a grilled cheese sandwich a bit dressed up and that’s what I got! I had the apple crisp with bacon and avocado (you can either pick one or get both for a dollar extra) and my girlfriend had the grill works. Both sandwiches were tasty and they came with a side of chips and a pickle.
The sandwich was well cooked and the ingredients were well inserted. The taste of the thing hit the spot. Nothing fell out super easy either which could have been a big problem.
They provide ketchup and condiments although neither may be necessary given that the sandwiches are plenty full.
I would caution that there is not much seating so this would be a hard place to bring a group. But if you are in the Kensington market and in the mood for a dressed up grilled cheese, I’d say give it a whirl.

What makes a good grilled cheese?
1) Grilled bread… not burnt, not too soft
2) Hot temperature
3) Cheese melty, stringy, well ratio-​ed with the ingredients
These grilled cheese have all that.
We waited a LONG time for our grilled cheeses. Seating is limited and kind of meh. Bathrooms was gross. But I liked it, and I’d go back. Wish they had more drink selections, they were way overpriced ($ 1.50 for a can of Coke!) as well.

OMG. I finally came here after years of shopping in Kensington Market. If it wouldn’t have been for You Gotta Eat Here, I never would have thought of eating there.
I found the grilled cheese sandwiches on the menu a bit overwhelming! There is a good variety! I selected the simple grilled cheese sandwich and the tomato soup. I’ve never had tomato soup. And now, I have been ruined! I don’t think any other will compare! It had a spice element and a thick consistency which I loved! And the sandwich came with rippled potato chips and pickle. The sandwich was THICK. It was delicious.
It’s cash service, you order at the front, you take a seat and wait. It’s a great place!

Why have I never come here? I always thought of grilled cheese sandwiches as something we can all make at home. Throw in some extra ingredients, boom, get charged ten bucks.
Well, it was Pedestrian Sunday and the weather was gorgeous. For the end of September, we really couldn’t have asked for more. We could’ve asked for a less crummy summer during July and August, but that’s another story altogether.
Wandering around, we noticed this place was pretty busy. Most of the establishments are usually busy during Pedestrian Sundays. I felt like a snack and decided, why the heck not?
Just looking at their servings, my mouth was watering. Decent sandwich sizes. Gooey cheese, your choice of bread, and lots of different combinations.
They were somewhat back-​logged but that was alright. We just walked around some more and came back 20 minutes later to get my sandwich. I had the one with mushrooms. I love mushrooms. It was perfectly made. Crispy, buttery, cheesy, mushroom-​y… $ 6 plus tax. It was worth it.
There were so many types to choose from! I’m quite sure I will be back to try another variation of the grilled cheese sandwich.
Your order comes with some potato chips and a pickle. Nice touch!

Solid grilled cheese sandwich! I got the mushroom one and it was cheesy and delicious. It’s reasonably priced at $ 6 – 10 per sandwich (comes with a pickle and chips)
I quite like the environment and décor as well (it is after all in Kensington Market). I would come back again to try out the other menu items (that smoked apple bacon grilled cheese sounds heavenly)

if you like grilled cheese u have to try this place, as simple as that. It’s super casual and you order and pay at the counter first. All sandwiches come with a side of regular (ruffles?) chips.
I’ve had the mushroom one with cheddar, grilled portabello and garlic. and also had the grilled works with provolone, swiss, monterey jack, red peppers and portabello.
both were AMAZING cheesy goodness. I def would want to go back and try out some other ones. make sure you have napkins because it will get messy!