I’ve been hearing a lot of my friends ask me how the new grilled cheese sandwich spot, Cheese Daddy, is lately. Located on 16 NW 18th St., and in the center of Midtown, Cheese Daddy is one of Gainesville’s newest eateries.
I’ve been watching its progress since the sign went up announcing what was coming, and I have to say… I’m impressed.
![cheesedaddy](https://snworksceo.imgix.net/ufa/87c194aa-e456-438c-8ec1-7dc71b276bf5.sized-1000x1000.jpg?w=100%25)
I ordered the brown sugar apple grilled cheese sandwich, made with white Tuscan bread, brie, gala apples and brown sugar, on my most recent trip. I really enjoyed this one because the apples added a touch of sweetness to combat the savoriness of the brie. It was an interesting combination but one I would be eager to have again.
You can also add bacon to any of your orders, which is something I tried with the Smokin’ Cow sandwich. Adding bacon to Tuscan bread, sharp cheddar cheese, roast beef and onions made it even better.
The item I most enjoyed at Cheese Daddy was the tomato bisque that comes with many of the sandwiches as a dipping sauce. The bisque has a hearty robust tomato flavor usually lost in most tomato soups, and the restaurant also uses it in its grilled cheese soup and adds strips of a grilled cheese sandwich to serve as croutons. It’s the perfect meal for when you want something warm and filing.
For dessert, Cheese Daddy has a grilled cheese sandwich with two glazed doughnuts serving as bread. Although I was a bit hesitant when I first saw it, I decided to try it after the football game against Kentucky on Saturday.
My first thought after I took a bite was, “Where has this been all my life?.” The glaze paired with the cheese reminded me of maple, and it had a very satisfying salty-sweet flavor. If I could recommend one item at Cheese Daddy, this would be it.
Although I was a bit surprised by the prices of the sandwiches – they range from $5 to $8 – Cheese Daddy definitely has something for you, especially if you are eager to try unique food combinations made with natural ingredients!
Although most of the reactions have been positive, albeit with the caveat that the prices are a bit high for a sandwich that some say they could make at home, my one friend, Paul, is not a Cheese Daddy fan.
He says his expectations were extremely high for a place that specializes in grilled cheese, and he was let down by the food and the atmosphere of the place. However, for me, Cheese Daddy is a decent dining option that is close to campus. I would recommend going at least once to try it out. Bon appetit!