Grilled Cheese Mania is a small local restaurant that started as a food truck in 2012. Since then, they have opened a permanent location at 1476 S Main St and are open 7 a.m.-11 p.m. every day but Sunday. The prices range from their cheapest Classic Johnny at just under $5 to their most expensive THE MANIAC for a whopping $16.80, but the average is about $8. With a wide variety of toppings, their grilled cheeses are far more extravagant than the ones you probably ate as a child. They offer quite a few vegetarian options and even a vegan one! It is a great place to go for any meal of the day, as long as you enjoy gooey cheese.
At this point, I have tried several of their sandwiches but decided to try a couple of new ones for this review. I of course got my personal favorite, The Larold, as my main course, but also purchased the Suzie Pepper and Tuna Melt to try for the first time. The Larold is my favorite because it offers a beautiful textural dichotomy between gooey cheese and nice, crispy bacon. I usually add an egg to aid in the breakfast vibe, and the owner even recommends this because it really helps to tie the whole sandwich together. It looks beautiful with crisp lettuce and fresh tomatoes distracting from the artery-clogging aspects. While your stomach may be grumbling later, it is well worth it.
Sadly, I was not very impressed by the Tuna Melt. This is no huge reflection on the restaurant as a whole as it is not a popular menu item and is only a borderline grilled cheese. However, for a restaurant that prides itself on taking a simple dish and making it extraordinary, it was an ordinary tuna melt. That being said, it was quite tasty with a nice ratio of tuna to cheese spilling out from the cross-section. The one pleasant surprise was a slice of tomato hidden in each half. It offered the fish and cheese goop a much-needed freshness that made the sandwich feel lighter.
The Suzy Pepper is a fantastic option for vegetarians! It is probably the lightest item that I have had from Grilled Cheese Mania with the majority of flavor being sautéed peppers. The addition of mushrooms is a good decision if you want to make it a meal, as it bolsters the sandwich with an extra layer of heft. The bread is toasted to perfection allowing for an initial crunch followed by soft, sweet peppers. It is a lovely option for any and all who enjoy peppers and would make a great combination with their homemade tomato soup. While I did not order their soup this time around, it is thicker than your average tomato soup, spiced to perfection, and absolutely wonderful for dipping.
Overall, Grilled Cheese Mania is a great restaurant that experiments with making basic grilled cheeses a little bit maniacal. They have plenty of options and cater to all walks of life in terms of price range. While their permanent location is a little out of the way, their food truck often frequents local events when Coronavirus does not have anything to say about it. It is a fun idea that is executed well and takes you back to childhood with an adult flair.
