One Sunday afternoon, on one of those hot, humid March days this spring, I dragged myself down to the Penn Station at the end of my street. This was my usual Sunday deal. Get up, make some coffee or tea, put some laundry in, love on my dog, drink coffee while watching Gilmore Girls, get starving around 12-1pm, walk to Penn Station (sometimes in my pajama bottoms), get fries and a lemonade to go (maybe a Philly cheesesteak), walk back home, eat, read, Gilmore Girls. I love my Sundays. But as I reached the storefront of Penn Station that day, my heart dropped. CLOSED. MOVED TO A MORE CONVENIENT LOCATION. Really? Convenient to who? I stood there, staring at the sign for awhile, took a picture of it with my phone and posted my sadness on the Twitters and Facepage.
Then about a month later…hope came in the form of a Coming Soon sign. Tom + Chee it read. Tom + Chee? After researching, I found out this restaurant combines Tomato soup (Tom) and Grilled Cheese (Chee), but with some twists and this would be the business’ fourth location. The other three in Cincinnati and Northern KY are booming. I began counting down the days until my Sunday ritual was back on track. I love grilled cheese and I love tomato soup, this was going to be amazing! The first Sunday it was open, there I was. I took my time scanning the menu (it is extensive and very unique), carefully making the best choice for me. Fancy Grilled Cheese, Make Your Own, Grilled Cheese + Potato Chips (potato chips ON the sandwich), Salads, Soups and finally…Grilled Cheese Donut. Cheddar cheese (you may sub another cheese) on a glazed donut. This is their signature sandwich. The Today Show named it one of the best sandwiches in America. No joke.
I didn’t want to make my own, I wanted something Tom +Chee created but not yet brave enough for the Donut Cheese. After what must have seemed like an eternity for the staff, I chose the Spicy Beef from the Grilled Cheese + Chips section and a cup of the Chucky Tomato Basil soup. I sat down at a table and waited and waited and waited some more. I was one of three people in there. I counted 11 Tom + Chee staff and I waited 25 minutes. I believe this is normal for a new restaurant and by the second time I went, they had worked this kink out. When I did get my order, my first impressions was: the sandwich looked small and the cup o soup even smaller. My heart sank. After finishing my impression was: I want more. The Spicy Beef has jalapeno chips+roastbeef+hot peppers+pepperjack cheese+cheddar on sourdough bread and was for sure spicy but not in an outrageous way. The Chunky Tomato Basil soup was sweet and savory with large chunks of tomatoes. The food was delicious albeit a little on the pricey side. I have been back twice since then and every time it gets better. The staff, although seemingly always overstaffed, is friendly and patient. One thing missing: fresh cut fries with malt vinegar and employees who always knew my order and smiled at my pajama pants. I enjoy you Tom + Chee but I still miss Penn Station.
The Tom + Chee menu board
Read this article about The Today Show’s choices for 7 Best Sandwiches including the Grilled Cheese Donut!
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