As its name would suggest, Co. Cheese Melt Bar specializes in, you guessed it, grilled cheese. A quick glance at the menu had me thinking, how great could a restaurant be if it only serves grilled cheese? But after my first bite, I was a believer. Co. Cheese Melt Bar combines childhood nostalgia with a gourmet twist. Mac ‘n’ cheese, duck breast, and avocado are just a few additions to upgrade your average grilled cheese sandwich. Sandwiches are priced between 45 and 50RMB, so this place is ideal for sharing (because trust me, you won’t just want to try one variation). They even have Campbell’s Tomato Soup to top off your overall grilled cheese experience. I would definitely recommend the Hunanese Pork with hot peppers and mozzarella. I could hardly believe that a grilled cheese could actually taste that good. The bread was toasted to perfection and lathered in butter while avoiding too much grease, while the oozing cheese flawlessly complimented the tender meat. When it comes to drinks, they’ve got a decent selection of beers, which is the ideal pairing mate to wash these down with.

While its setting is cozy and intimate is fitting for this type of comfort food, it proves to be a problem on weekends or with larger groups. Tables are tiny and bar space is minimal; the entire place could probably fit about 30 people max. But if you do run into a bit of a wait, head on over to Cinnaswirl next door and indulge in a cinnamon roll to kill time. Be sure to keep an eye out for grilled cheese brunch offerings. The owner wasn’t too specific on what kind of sandwiches they would offer, but what I can verify is more childhood favorites altered for grown up tastes. I sampled a shot of Kahlua and milk with Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch, so it seems that boozy cereal bowls are in the works.

To some, grilled cheese may seem like a mundane restaurant offering, but Co. Cheese Melt Bar ingeniously pairs the simplicity of this childhood snack with touches of creative ingredient combinations to take it to the next level.

32 Yuyuan Dong Lu, near Changde Lu

愚园路32号, 近常德路

This article was written by Tatiana Bautista. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Tatiana Bautista