Luxe Burger Bar

Luxe Burger Bar

5 Memorial Blvd.

Providence, RI 02903

Name: D'Luxe Grilled Cheese

Ingredients: Aged cheddar, havarti, imported swiss, tomato, arugula

Sides: Served with french fries (or add "My Wife's Chicken Soup" for $2.99)  I also got a (huge) margarita, though they have an extensive beer menu and hard milkshakes (I've gotten the Grasshopper before, mint and chocolate liquour.)

Price: $7.99

Thoughts: Okay, first of all let me say that I love this place.   Back to the sandwich though.  The bread is thick but very airy and light, you know, like how toast gets.  It could be hotter and the arugula is all stringy like seaweed, as one of my pals said.   I thought, hmmm maybe I don't like arugula, maybe it's just because the grilled cheese keeps getter colder.  So we passed it around and each took a bite.   The general consensus then became that something was wrong with the arugula, like it was going bad, old, smelly, bitter.  To be honest, it could have been cheesier too, they hadn't melted the slices all the way and the edges of the cheeses still had the corners so you could tell they were slices.  I don't like that. 

        

It makes me sad that I had to give this grilled cheese a somewhat poor review because I had it once before (and forgot to bring my camera or write anything down) and remembered it to be pretty good.  That was at lunch time.  Maybe dinner time got to be too busy to really make a great sandwich.  I shouldn't make excuses.  I do love it here.

       

So if you don't want to get the grilled chcese, I understand, but you should definitely visit.  You can build your own burger from a huge list of delicious ingredients.  For a while they had "Teeny Weinies," a hot dog version of sliders that were so cute, and they even have "Build Your Own Mac-n-Cheese."  It's a really fun place.

Score: ◥ 1/2

*Bonus: Team Trivia on Thursdays and gorgonzola tater tots.   All around Providence they have a company come in to different restaurants/bars and host trivia (each is a little different) and you can make your own team.  The more you have people with knowledge of all kinds of random stuff on your team, the better.  I don't want to brag but my team (the Wet Bandits) have won, twice.  Maybe once by default from other teams leaving and betting it all on the last question.  I love trivia. 

    

Also, get the gorgonzola tater tots (maybe substitute the fries.) They are so good and come in a cool little mesh basket that looks like a mini french fryer basket.  This is a long review. Whew!

*Oh and a happy birthday to Tessa, it was also a birthday party review-she was nice enough to share a skillet with a hot chocolate chip cookie topped with ice cream.  We got her a "birthday cake" shot, pairs nicely with Harry Potter legos.

    

Farmstead (La Laiterie)

Farmstead (La Laiterie)

186 Wayland Ave.

Providence, RI 02906

(also a second location at:

 225A Westminster St.

Providence, RI 02903)

Name: Cheesmongers Grilled Cheese

Ingredients: Fontina, goat, gruyere, (and something else) plus "bits and pieces of other cheeses" (I had to ask, not listed so perhaps it changes?) on Seven Stars ciabatta-can have it grilled or chilled.

Sides: Lard fried potato chips (sounds gross but think homemade kettle chips) and house made pickles (sweet pickles-not for me, I only heart dill.)

Price: $8

Thoughts: Amazing!! The ciabatta is perfect because of the texture.  It holds up without getting floppy but it's not so crunchy that it scrapes up the roof of my mouth.  There is a light dusting of kosher salt on top and I also like that it is so authentic and locally made (Seven Stars is a Providence-based bakery and Farmstead offers their cheeses to many Providence area restaurants.)  They just remodeled the Farmstead on Wayland, before it was a tiny little room with 1 small deli case of cheeses connected to a very narrow little restaurant.  Now they've expanded the deli side to accommodate more cheeses, breads, olive oils, etc. and a few spots to sit with your sandwich and sip a glass of wine.  And it's still connected to it's restaurant (try the homemade mac 'n cheese if you go-melt in your mouth!!!)  

     Anyway, the goat cheese is SO very creamy and soft and tangy.  (If you despise goat cheese well then this may either change your mind or you should stay away, it dominates.) Some parts have almost a smokiness, I kept trying to see if I could guess the different kinds of cheeses I tasted, perhaps a Swiss snuck in there?  Maybe a cheddar.  Maybe not.  All of this creamy goodness is melted together and squishes with each bite.  Your hands will get greasy/buttery so make sure you bring napkins!  I loved the kettle chips and if you like sweet pickles, you'd be complete.  The "To-Go" packaging in the cardboard box makes it feel special, like a present.

Score: ◥◥◥◥◥ (My favorite Prov grilled cheese to date, gourmet-style)

*Bonus: Soft sea breezes, warm sun, ocean smell and birds---I'm enjoying my grilled cheese t0-go at India Point Park, one of my favorite spots to sit outside.  During the summer you can watch sail boat lessons, people biking, reading, walking, picnicking here.  This perfect combonation of setting and food makes each bite better than the last.  It's very filling!!  This is exactly how I pictured it when I thought of this tour stop.  I had been wanting to try the Farmstead one for a long time since, hello! it's a cheese shop!  If they couldn't make a good one, well then that's just sad.   To top it off I snuck a little wine in a coffee thermos (shhh!) and a current copy of Providence Monthly.  I feel so LOCAL! :) 

Murphy's Deli & Bar

Murphy's Deli & Bar

100 Fountain St. 

Providence, RI

Name: "Texas" Grilled Cheese

Ingredients: Any combonation of cheeses you want on texas toast-choose from American, Provolone, Swiss and Cheddar (add tomato or anything else you want.)  I picked American and Provolone. No tomato this time.  I think it was like a 1/4 lb. worth of cheese they put on. 

Sides: Potato chips and "our famous pickles" (a bowl of mixed pickles). Ha.

Price: $5

Thoughts:  I like the cheeses I chose (and there is a massive load) but I wish they had brought it out right off the skillet when it was melted because the cheese had started to cool and solidify.  The bread is very buttery....and I quote Tessa Baffoni saying, "It's, like, on my fingers.  The normal reaction is 'Ewww I have butter on my fingers,' but my reaction is, 'This is gonna be so good now.'" If you need a sandwich to soak up the beer, this is the one.  I just wish it was melty, then it would have been so much better.  Loved the place, typical local sports bah (that's me using a Rhode Island accent.)  I've also noted that their Monday and Sunday special are 25 cent wings!  To top it off, I got to enjoy my first Sam Adams Summer Ale of the season as it was on draft.

Score:  ◥◥◥ 1/2

*Bonus Thanks Colin, Kate, and Tessa for grilled cheesing with me!  Kate sent me a powerful quote from a friend of hers, Molly Heermans (another cheese lover) that I will leave you with..."I used to say the only thing better than cheese...is melted cheese!" So true.

Rue De L'espoir

Rue De L'espoir

99 Hope Street

Providence, RI

Name: Annie's Gooey Grilled Cheese

Ingredients: Fresh mozzarella cheese & manchego cheese grilled with red tomato and baby spinach on multigrain bread

Sides: You get crusty bread that comes in a basket! Options for sides are chips or a cucumber salad. I picked chips. 

Price: $10 (pshhh)

Thoughts: Okay I'll start on a positive note.  "The Rue" is known for it's fab food and drinks.  I got a delicious glass of La Fortuna Chardonnay to complement my sandwich.  This place has a great reputation, obviously, because the entire place was packed.  Granted, it was a Friday afternoon at lunch time.  Negative:  2 grilled cheese sandwiches took an HOUR to come to the table.  AN HOUR!  Unfortunately, this sandwich was neither "gooey" nor a "grilled cheese," although it may have been "Annie's."  What they should have called it was a tomato/basil/mozzarella sandwich.  The bread was nice and thick, but the bottom was a little soggy.  This girl loves some fresh mozzarella don't get me wrong, but this was not very cheesy.  Too much bread and not enough insides.  It was not a grilled cheese and it was not hot.  Rachael got the cucumber salad and liked that-"it's sweet but like, good sweet."  She also said "I think I would come back here but I don't think I would get this again."  My thoughts exactly.  Especially not at hoppin' lunch hour.  Our service was slow as molasses, I thought our waitress forgot about us, and I missed a hair appointment because we were stuck there for over 2 hours total.  No joke.   In conclusion, not grilled cheese, not hot and overpriced.

Score: Abbey: ◥1/2  Rachael: ◥◥

*Bonus: You can get your own pot of French Press coffee here-fair trade Ethiopian Yirgacheffe 

          

Red Stripe

Red Stripe

465 Angell Street

Providence, RI

Name: "Red Stripe" Grilled Cheese

Ingredients: Prosciutto, poached pear, pesto (I don't have the kind of cheese written down...)

Sides: Roasted tomato soup or house frites

Price: $12 (plain grilled cheese also available for $9.50)

Thoughts: This sandwich is almost sweet, due to the pears.  I like the different taste combonation of pesto, fruit and prosciutto although I tend to not like meat on my grilled cheese (and isn't prosciutto like ham?)  It almost doesn't taste like a grilled cheese since there are so many different flavors in there.  However, I do like.  DANG!! I dipped it in the tomato soup and it tastes much better.  Nicely balanced and creamy.  I'd like to try the plain one as well.  I love Red Stripe, great atmosphere-romantic but not sleepy, awesome crusty bread with your meal, cute waiters, and extensive wine selection.  I guess this is why they charge $12 for a grilled cheese, but I guess if you got the soup separate it would probably cost more.  Welcome to the East side of Providence.  (Side note: the owner/staff are wonderfully caring.  Since I work across the street at Starbucks, they come in reguarly and have gotten to know them.  Every time I've been there with friends or family, we've been well taken care of.)  

Score: ◥◥◥

*Bonus: Thanks Rachael and Tim for coming along on this grilled cheese tour stop! They got the plain grilled cheese and tomato soup option while I went for the "Red Stripe" grilled cheese and frites.  It was nice to try all the possibilities.

Red Fez

Red Fez

49 Peck St.

Providence, RI

Name: Thee Famous Fez Grilled Cheese
Ingredients: Olga's pullman bread with Cabot cheddar cheese and tomatoes

Sides: Fries and ketchup

Price: $8.50

Thoughts: The size is HUGE (I suppose size does matter...) and the bread is super thick which would make you think that it wouldn't be melted all the way through. Au contraire mon frere!  There is tons of cheese and this baby is perfectly crispy, not soggy.  I love tomatoes on my grilled cheese (as long as it doesn't make it soggalicious.)  Optional: Smoked ham.  I do not like ham, Sam I am.  Sorry.  Downside: $8.50 is steep for grilled cheese unless it's got imported cheeses and served with more sides. On a silver platter.

Score: ◥◥◥1/2

*Bonus: $2.00 16oz. Schlitz!  This is a rarity here in Providence, cheap beer.

Okay in going back through my stuff, I realize I don't think I took photos?  How silly of me. Here's one I found on the internet of the interior.