Between the Bread

Grilled cheese sandwiches are one of the great American comfort foods: almost all of us have memories of someone we love grilling up cheese sammies with care. Not surprisingly, this delicious simplicity lends itself to nostalgic one-upmanship and friendly competition, including an annual Grilled Cheese Invitational and my own local Grilled Cheese-Off.

The very basic requirements — bread, cheese, meltiness — lend themselves to countless creative combinations, resulting in another modern grilled cheese phenomenon: the grilled cheese sandwich-centric restaurant. Check out five temples to the tasty classic after the jump.

Famous for its 31 flavors — of grilled cheese — the Pop Shop in Collingswood, NJ, is the ultimate soda fountain. Much like Peanut Butter and Co. in New York City, Pop Shop peddles nostalgia by taking a childhood favorite to the max.

The four-page menu includes basic grilled cheese as well as crazy creations like grilled Brie and asparagus on a baguette and a sandwich called the Linden: American cheese, chopped Angus beef, caramelized onions, and mushrooms, served on a split soft pretzel. A sandwich made on a soft pretzel? I think I smell a sandwich idea! The menu also has tons more sandwiches and breakfast items, including a triple-decker Bananas Foster French toast sandwich. If I ever make it there, my only problem will be deciding what to order. What would you get?

Photo: Flicker User Burger Baroness and Pop Shop