Cheesie’s Pub & Grub

We went downtown for the day and my girlfriends sister who lives there recommended we go here. Two words «BAD ASS!!» My girlfriend got a macaroni and cheese grilled cheese and I got one with chicken tenders cheese and barbecue sauce… Too awesome! They also have legit cheese curds, being from Wisconsin outside of the homeland real cheese curds are the white unicorns of appetizers. The tables are chalk board tables which are fun to write on and the music will make you carefree! It’s totally worth going too! The menu is basically all grilled cheeses so everyone will like it and if you don’t like grilled cheese especially THESE grilled cheeses your crazy!

Interesting neighborhood bar. Lots of grilled cheese choices. Good music and a great place to kick back.

We’ve eaten here before and have had ZERO issues… until tonight. We’re enjoying a nice dinner after I came home from a weekend ski trip. All is good until I asked for the bill. Since the bill was relatively small, I told our bartender I would be paying in cash. She proceeded to give me my bill and began thumbing thru a number of credit cards. She plopped one down on my tab. Knew right away something wasn’t right. I did not give her a «gold card» as I do not have one. She looks at me with a puzzled look.
«This isn’t your tab?», she asked.
«No, this isn’t my card.» Now I know something is seriously wrong.
After about five minutes, she comes back and says, the bad news is that I’ve given your card to someone else by accident; good news is you dinner is on me.
Wait! Now I have to deal with the bank. PLUS I now have to see if my card has been used (it was about 5 minutes later). Now I have to file a claim, wait for a new card. All the while, all I get is the «sorry dude» look.

This is an update on the review that I left on 1÷29÷16.
FIrst and foremost let me preface this updated review and say that I still think this makes great drunk food. And by that I mean, because the nature of this food is very heavy on cheese, bread, grease, and calories, one very drunk person would not care too much of the pound you gain from the meals consumed here.
The UPDATE however has everything to do with service. After I left my review, I was sought out via Unilocal from the General Manager of Cheesies: Sarah Jean AKA Momma Cheesie. She comped a meal for me. And even had them deliver it to my apartment. Gratis. That spoke VOLUMES to me. That the leadership of the Cheesies franchise is so personable and down to earth… its no wonder that their success has thrived.
I made sure to try different items from the menu. I skipped the soup and opted for sweet potato fries. They were delicious when eaten with hot sauce! I ordered the Melt and also The Gladys. THE GLADYS IS AMAZING! Its a chicken and waffles sandwich and unfortunately only offered in February. I think this is a huge mistake. I really think that they need to add this to their regular menu. I would probably eat here weekly if that were the case.
Surprisingly this meal traveled well with delivery. Probably due to the awkward non-​rush hour delivery time I ordered it, but it got here promptly and was still warm when I received the bag.
THANK YOU SARAH JEAN!

Honestly, if there’s a heaven, it’s Cheesie’s. I’ve never turned this place down. And I never come out disappointed. My recommendation? Anything on the menu. I recommend it all. The feel good food paired with the fun, music filled atmosphere always makes for a good time.

Oh my cheesie gooey goodness! If you ever have a reason to be near the Belmont el stop, you MUST try Cheesie’s. I have visited this location and bought from their food truck, both equal quality. As if grilled cheese isn’t enough to put you in a happy place, they add gluttonous extras like fries sour cream and bacon (The Frenchie), or macaroni and cheese (The Mac). The logical part of your brain will object but the comfort food seeking part of your brain will be in heaven, wrapped in a big warm cheesy hug. The space itself is eclectic and loud. Seating is limited, but the bar is spacious. Yes a bar, this my friends is the secret to adulthood: grilled cheese and a beer to help forget the day you’ve had. This IS your happy place
*side note — The ordering process is kind of odd. There’s a counter to the left of everything to place your order then they bring it out to you. It is not hidden or anything but as a newcomer it takes a minute to figure out the process.

Fun place to go! There were a few issues with my simple order (they asked me 3 times to confirm what I ordered after it was paid and was waiting for approximately 15 minutes, kitchen did not include the dipping sauce and I had to ask staff members for soup spoons).
The tomato soup was very good, a little spice to it and the sandwich was a delight.

By far a fantastic sandwich. However, the staff was unreasonable and did not make for a good experience. I would eat there again, but it would be best if the manager or owner reevaluated who they are hiring to make great sandwiches.

Who doesn’t love Cheesies? What more is there to want in life than a combination Mac n Cheese sandwich restaurant with a bar in house? Cheesies serves some amazing combinations of Mac n Cheese varieties combined with other ingredients for some intriguing sandwiches, each named with great spirit and cheeky attitude. The best part about Cheesies is that it is open at 3am to make for the best drunchies (munchies to eat when you’re drunk) in Chicago. The line approaching the door on Fridays and Saturdays should be the easiest sign of the magnificent food to come.
I have been here for lunch once and nearly a dozen times late at night for drunchies, and each time Cheesie’s gets better and better. This place is amazing whether drunk or sober. I have ordered The Mac each and every time, and it never ceases to amaze. The cheese level is perfect, and the texas toast boardering the sandiwch is awesomely buttery and grilled. Cheese’s is perfect for groups and brings you a great rendition of the American classic Mac n Cheese, albeit as a grilled cheese.

I Should Have Been Drunk
Cheesie’s Is definitely is the kind of place where diners are most pleased when they are intoxicated. We went on a Saturday early afternoon and the place was practically empty.
Location/​Décor — right across the street from the red line stop, this street is always bumping with traffic and walkers. Pretty cool area. Inside was very divey like. I like the seating up against the wall the most.
Service –This was my first experience at Cheesie’s. I have had many friends tell me that this place was amazing so I was glad to go. The cashier was super nice and funny! She offered great recommendations too. I think there was an error with how she entered my order though, but I will explain that later.
Drinks — I am not a heavy drinker but my friend had two beers and she seemed to really enjoy whichever one she ordered.
Food — great bar food! I was not overly impressed with anything on the menu or what I ordered but for what it was it was great.
*The Tenderizer: Cheddar, Mozarella, Hot Sauce, Bacon, Fried Chicken Tenders, with Sweet baby ray’s BBQ sauce on Texas Toast. Comes with Ranch as a dipping sauce. There was a lot going on with this sandwich. But it worked. the chicken tenders were a bit overcooked, but they were perfectly seasoned. I opted out of ranch and instead paired it with honey mustard. A much better option. 4 stars.
*Chicken Enchilada Soup: Fail. I did not order this, so I was not sure why I even had it. It took me almost 7 sips to realize that I was consuming the wrong soup. Thankfully they let me swap it for the chili I ordered. The chicken tasted like it was from a can. 1 star.
*Chili: major improvement from Chicken Enchilada. Chunky, spicy (yum), and perfect when adding cheese. 4 stars.
Price — we had a Groupon so we got 2 beers, 2 sandwiches, 2 soups, for twenty. great deal.
Id love to return when I am drunk to see if my experience changes.

This is the only place where I can say I’m happy I spent $ 10 on a grilled cheese. Great spot to grab a traditional grilled cheese with tomato soup, or a unique sandwich you can’t get anywhere else. I had the «tenderizer,» which had fried chicken and a side of ranch, and I’d get it again. I was afraid I wouldn’t be full just eating a grilled cheese, but it was very filling.
The vibe is relaxed, and everyone was very friendly. There’s also a full bar with great tap selections, so you really can’t go wrong with a weekday or weekend visit.

THIS JUST IN: Cheesie’s has stolen my heart
If every restaurant that serves grilled cheese met at a swingers party, Cheesie’s would be the sweet sweet aftermath. It’s like this place can do no wrong! By putting a twist on a childhood favorite, with a dash of craft beer, great bar music, and an always chipper yet hipster staff, Cheesie’s is a MUST eat when kicking it in Lakeview/​Wrigley.
Bottom line: I can enjoy a Tenderizer on a weekday… but also inhale one at 3 a.m. on a Saturday and feel like a million bucks!

COST:
$ 8.49 (The Classic)
Coming from Los Angeles aka the land of The Grilled Cheese Truck, I came in with high expectations even though I was probably more inebriated than I could lawfully judge the place, LOL!
After a night of clubbing, we walk into this place and my gosh, it’s like we walked in to another bar! It was fantastic! They were playing some late 90s, early 2000s pop music and it was awesome.
The food was great and any entrée order comes with regular tots. I will definitely be back for more!

Let me preface by saying I have come to Cheesie’s for years now and have always loved it.
So, what happened? Not only did it take 45 minutes for our food to arrive, but we were missing half of our order and had to ask again before they brought out the remainder of our order.
The staff seems disjointed, and possibly untrained. We have been here many times when it is twice as packed as today and have never had to wait so long, nor have our orders forgotten.
I’ll be back Cheesie’s, hoping for the best! I believe in you!

The Tradicion, the Popper and the Melt. You can not go wrong with any of these sandwiches. They are all delicious. As are the chili-​cheese tator tots. The French Onion soup is the only thing I really don’t like here.
The space is always filled with college age kids at night. It’s definitely a good place to watch a game if that is your thing. I prefer to go for lunch during the week, when it is much less busy/​crowded. And they also do good delivery.
Their alcoholic rootbeer on tap is delicious. Definitely get one for an after dinner drink. It will make dealing with all the «bros» much more pleasant.

I tried the fried mac and cheese and the tradicion. The mac and cheese bites were so delicious! The dipping sauce provided makes them so much better. The sandwich was good but a little too salty for me. I wish it was a bit more spicy too — tho the sauce provided helps with this.
The environment is very chill. I’d love to come back and dine in!

Being married to someone who likes to arrive hours (yes, plural) early for concerts, I have learned to expect several pre-​concert stops in the near vicinity of the venue. We were seeing Colin Hay live at the Vic Theater, so as soon as we got off the train I started looking for a place to chill until the doors opened. Cheese is one of our favorite foods (with or without other foods — it’s basically awesome no matter what) and the place looked fun from the outside.
It was definitely fun on the inside, too, but so much fun that it was a very bad place to chill. In fact, we could barely hear each other over the music, which was at a dull roar when we entered and got louder every time a moody ballad came on (roughly every other song) as patrons rushed to the sound system to turn it up, and just about everyone in the bar belted along with Adele or Imagine Dragons or whomever else could not EVEN at that moment.
At one point my husband turned to me and said, «I think we’re the oldest people here.» Yes, at mid-​thirties we had a good decade on just about everyone else. We finished our beers and went in search of food and drink somewhere we didn’t feel quite as conspicuous due to our age and demeanor. I’m sure those kids had a great night, and I wish them well, but it was just not our scene!

Not the most impressive. But for those living on a budget, it could do. Texas toast buttered to fuck with cheese and some tomato basil dip the size of bird crap, except a lot more watery.
In my early 20’s I would have dug a place like this and may have stopped in for eats and drinks. However, in my 30s, I’m not as impressed.
The space can get lively at night and I have to wonder why this neighborhood? I figure a place like this would be better suited for the Rush & Division area. They’d probably do lots in business over there since its a bar and sandwich shop.
The lively colors of the interior, booze on display and fresh smell of urinal cakes reminds me of Nola bars for some odd reason. Odd because, Bourbon street never smelled as nice.

A restaurant that does not rip you off and specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches? I’m so in.
Cheesie’s has other offerings, like soups and sides. I had a chicken tender grilled cheese and we shared tots, which were so good.
Ordered at the counter and they brought us the food rather qucikly, despite the crowd.

I have been wanting to go to this place for so long because the concept seemed like nothing but a true winner!
I was underwhelmed by this place and the food! You would think with everything that was on my sandwich especially the gooey cheese that my tastebuds would have been popping but that was not the case.
My chili was bland and the only way I was able to eat it was to go home and fix it up myself.
I also bought a side order of fries and I couldn’t even eat them they were so cold and hard.
I should have complained about them while I was there but I was so over my food experience.
I know I was surprised when I came in it looked like someone had left their entire picked over meal on the table and they were not the only ones on the day that we went… But I didn’t think much of it until I got my meal!
The only reason I gave this place 3 stars is because the guy behind the counter was so cool and made the more than dismal experience a little better!
I wouldn’t go back even if I had a Groupon again for the food.
The people the atmosphere for a game and a couple of drinks for sure but definitely not the food!
Enjoy!

So like most people, my friend and I stumbled in after a long night out about 4am. There was a pretty decent line of people but the food comes out quick. This is 100% your guilty pleasure drunk food, and if you have any concern for your health you’re probably kicking yourself for getting Cheesie’s the next morning. My friend and I split a caprisi and the Mac. They came out super quick and steaming hot. The Mac was loaded with cheese and I think I liked it better although I literally shoved the thing down my throat in a few bites. The sandwiches are really big and filling, so one is enough. They made an extra ham and bacon sandwich on accident so we got that for free but I wasn’t a fan of that one, too much meat for my taste. I would definitely have Cheesie’s again but definitely not make it a regular thing or else I would die of diabetes or heart attack.

I’ve been here a few times and still don’t like it. Their grilled cheeses are fun combinations made with poor ingredients. The bread, cheese, and other fillings are all mediocre on their own. The sandwiches are not «good.» Not culinary masterpieces. Instead they put together some fun ingredients, slather it in butter, and serve it to drunk people. Once you get past the immediate shock of «chicken tenders on a grilled cheese. How fun!» The sandwich is actually pretty bland if you’re sober enough to taste it. Get some real cheese, good bread, and other well seasoned food and I think this place would be fine.
My other complaint is that its usually hard to find seating, especially with a group. I understand this is a bar, but I want to sit down while eating my dinner. The layout of the whole restaurant is bizarre and doesn’t work well.

In short: this is my new favorite restaurant and I wish I could live here.
My sister and I were first introduced to Cheesie’s last year at Riot Fest, since they had the food truck there for the concert. I got a grilled cheese from there and it was amazing, and my sister was bitter that she hadn’t chosen the same food truck. And then she got a Groupon for the brick and mortar store, so we stopped by one day before THIS year’s Riot Fest. It’s SO GOOD.
Our Groupon was $ 20 for two sandwiches, two beers, and two soups. We both opted for pops instead of beers. There’s a note here– get ice. The pop is DIY fountain, and the pop comes out warm. I learned this the hard way.
My sister ordered the Frenchie, which is American cheese, Mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese sauce, French fries, bacon, and chives served on sour dough bread ($ 7.49). It also comes with a dipping cup of sour cream. She absolutely loved it. She also got the French Onion soup, and recommends dipping the Frenchie in it for maximum awesomeness. I ordered the Tenderizer, which is cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, hot sauce, bacon, chicken tenders, and BBQ sauce served on Texas Toast ($ 8.99). This comes with a dipping cup of ranch. Good lord, y’all. This sandwich is amazing. It sounds like it’s too much, but it’s not. It’s perfect sandwich size, and the flavors work together great. The cheese was all browned and coated the outside crust of the sandwich, and you got a little bit of everything in every bite, which I think is like the main goal of a sandwich. I also had ordered tomato soup, which wasn’t anything special. It got eclipsed by such an amazing sandwich that it became rather souperfluous. *ba dum tsss*
There’s a bar and tvs. We were here for part of a football game and we loved that they turned the music on during commercials then quickly turned it off when the game came back on. I also love the cheesy orange paint job on the walls, and the proud display of a rainbow flag. Rock on, Cheesie’s. This place is literally RIGHT across from the L stop at Belmont, so I will definitely be making quick stops here in the future. Plus, I think this place is open until like 5am, which is awesome. I will definitely be back.

Being one of the few Asians out there that isn’t lactose intolerant, I feel the need to take it upon myself to enjoy as much cheese in my life as I can.
Best be known that this is one of the best grilled cheeses I’ve ever had! I know that it’s a simple enough idea slapping cheese between two slices of bread and pressing ‘em together, but man, something bout the ones here make me go cahhrazyyyyy.
You order at the cashier and get a number placard as you wait for your sandwich. On a Sunday evening, we waited about 15 minutes for our food to come out. The vibe inside is a bit divey yet modern, with plenty of booze a flowin. We were carded on the way in, so I’m not sure if that’s only a night thing or not?
Anyway, I ordered the Melt ($ 8.99) and a side of tots. With a solid blend of American cheese, chicken, bacon, tomatoes, and 1000 island dressing, one bite into this heavenly sandwich will send you off! My stomach is growling just thinking about how good this really is!
Trust me– you can’t go wrong with any of the sandwiches here. Next time I’m up here in Belmont, I am definitely stopping by for another round!
Don’t forget to check in on Unilocal to get 10% off your sandwich!

So one stop that one of our group members wanted to try out was this place. Cheesie’s. We came here one night as a part of our travels in Chicago, and what did I think? Pretty awesome. You think that grilled cheese is you know, some processed cheese on a hot pan and then served on some sandwich bread, nothing special right? Wrong.
Walking in, it’s well… a pub. Bar in the middle, with seats on the sides along with tables on elevated picnic seating style of arrangement. You probably won’t see this place not busy on any day of the night, at least that’s the vibe that I got when I came in here. It was packed. We had to basically claim a spot real quick that we shared with one of the bouncers who was eating before someone else took it.
What did I order?
The Tenderizer. Thoughts? Amazing. Should you get it? That depends on if you like spicy food. I mean, the spiciness wasn’t quite overpowering, but it still had a kick. From what I remember it tasted on the edge of sort of a buffalo style of spiciness. Now, some of the other sandwiches I wanted to try as well, but after this one grilled cheese I was full.
Final thoughts?
If you just think grilled cheese is just a boring easy to do yourself correctly, then hey I’m not going to argue with you. However, if you’re looking for a new type of grilled cheeses and a new twist, I think this place is definitely a place to try out. I think it would be a great place after a night of drinking as I would have came here if that happened. If you just moved to Chicago, try this place out because me visiting here just makes me think that if I did move to Chicago, this would definitely be on my spot as a default grub spot.