Comfort Food: East side treat....

I find myself so often eating on the west side of the island that most of the east side does get neglected (except for The Neely's BBQ Parlor on 62nd and 1st Ave, just sayin').  Everything for me is on the west side...work....church....friends.  It becomes work to travel "so far" to the east when you don't have a real reason to go over there (minus my friends Steve and Maria who are new to the UES area!)  Well, I have a reason for you....The Melt Shop. 

This lovely little eatery on 53rd and Lexington (make sure you head down the stairs toward the 6 train, it's next to the Dunkin Donuts) has made one of my top 10 favorite comfort food places in NYC.  With it's simple menu, Melt Shop, which specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches, does the wonderful job of including a wonderful array of snack treats, sweet treats, and just plain cheesy treats.  I had the opportunity to try their aged cheddar with maple bacon on sourdough, as well as their fontina and goat cheese with roasted wild mushrooms and parsley pesto on whole wheat. 

On perfectly toasted bread, both sandwiches are served warm and ready to eat.  They are not too greasy and not too cheesy that you burn the roof of your mouth that most grilled cheese sandwiches tend to have the habit of doing.  Add a side of shop tots (to share of course!) and these tasty bites are a bit of crunchy perfection that is accompanied by a special melt shop sauce that is sweet and tangy.  My favorite was the aged cheddar.  There is only one slice of bacon but it's matched ever so delicately with the aged cheddar for a flavor packed punch that hits you after the first bite.  There will be an "OMGoodness" moment after the first bite.  It's the adult version of a childhood favorite.  Visit the Melt Shop website for more yummy menu items.  All in all...I promise, it's worth the trek. 

~ Knife Out