Hello, April! Despite Mother Nature’s failure to cooperate with warmer temperatures, we know they’ll eventually come. Until then, we still love you because you’re so cheesy. April is National Grilled Cheese Month, after all, and April 12 is National Grilled Cheese Day!
We’ve picked some of the best places to celebrate grilled cheese in all its glory at five Chicago restaurants. Stop by one or all this month and you’ll love April, too!
3 Arts Club Cafe
How do you make grilled cheese even more rich and savory and delicious? Add truffles. Located inside the Gold Coast’s gorgeous Restoration Hardware, 3 Arts Club Cafe is a work of art, and so is its grilled cheese. Filled with cheddar and basted with truffle butter, there’s a reason this sandwich is $17.
3 Arts Club Cafe, 1300 N. Dearborn Pkwy., 312-475-9116
Gayle’s Best Ever Grilled Cheese
The name says it all! The farmers market favorite has its own stand-alone location in Block 37 and is conveniently located right on the pedway. All of her ingredients are sourced from her fellow farmers market vendors, which makes this the freshest and most local grilled cheese in Chicago.
Gayle’s Best Ever Grilled Cheese, 108 N State St.
Benny’s Chop House
There’s LOBSTER in this bad boy. It’s accompanied by citrus mayonnaise and Prairie Pure Butterkäse (which is the same cheese that Gayle uses.). Dine Wednesdays through Saturdays and it will also be accompanied by live jazz.
Benny’s Chop House, 444 N Wabash Ave.
The Fat Shallot
You’ve got not one, but two places to find this sandwich of sourdough filled with melty muenster cheese, sautéed spinach, and caramelized onions. They serve it up at both Revival Food Hall and their food truck. If you’re seen chasing them as they head to their next destination, it’s totally understandable.
Revival Food Hall, 1200 S Michigan Ave
The Pony Inn
For a truly epic amount of grilled cheese visit this Lakeview establishment and get The Clydesdale. This 16-inch behemoth is over a foot long of sandwich with three cheeses melted on Pullman Wheat bread and served with tomato basil dip.
The Pony Inn, 1638 W Belmont St
Photos courtesy of each restaurant