After making the tough decision to kick my meat and dairy addiction to the curb I was wistful but conscious of the fact that I had said goodbye to some of my favorite staples in Cincinnati. One of those favorite restaurants was Tom+Chee. It stands to reason, right? How could I ever visit a place that specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches when I had made a promise to myself to never eat that gooey luscious stuff again?!
Lucky for me (and the lactose intolerant/vegan crowd) the fine owners of Tom+Chee make a vegan grilled cheese sandwich! A couple of them in fact! One is called the Hippie and it boasts garlic hummus, cucumber, tomato, mixed greens, and Teese vegan cheddar grilled to order on wheat bread! Vegan cheddar cheese? Ew gross you say! You'd be wrong! This cheddar is made exactly the same as regular cheese but in place of dairy milk they use the milk from nuts and soy! It tastes great and is still as goopy and angelic as your typical Kraft brand.
In addition to the grilled cheese they also offer classic and chunky tomato soup that is free of any animal products but not free of soup-er delectable flavor!
It's nice to know that vegans are being embraced by local restaurants here in Cincinnati! It's even nicer to know that even though I've given up cow cheese I do not have to give up grilled cheese! Thanks Tom! Or Chee! Whatever your name is...
Most things I have had at Tom+Chee have been good. Â Good, not great. Â
Their menu is vast, and they have plenty of options to choose from. Â Almost anyone will find something that they like. Â You can also make your own. Â
For what you get, I think they are a tad overpriced. Â Not much I guess, but I hate to pay normal restaurant price for something that I feel should be at kids-menu price. Â That said, I know that they use some more expensive ingredients in some of their sandwiches, but I just don't think that grilled cheese showcases them well. Â I have gotten the Armagoetta a couple times, and that's what I'd recommend. Â It's good!
I have friends that love their soups, but I have never been impressed. Â Maybe I got the wrong soups? Â
The grilled cheese on a doughnut is...interesting. Â I liked it, but it seems more like a gimmick than a real menu item. Â
So, overall this place is ok. Â If friends want to go there, I will tag along and have a good meal, but it is not a place I would actively seek out on my own.
I went to Tom and Chee for a number of reasons. The first of which, because I was intrigued by the signs about "America's Best Sandwich/Man vs. Food" featuring their grilled cheese donut, and also because I come from Cleveland, home to Melt Bar & Grilled. I wanted to see how the grilled cheese sandwiches at Tom + Chee stacked up in comparison.
The verdict? It's like comparing apples to oranges. Tom + Chee sandwiches are small and thin, like the ones your mom used to make you in elementary school when you were sick during the winter. They come with your choice of a soup side. Although blue cheese/white chili sounded intriguing, I decided to pass on any of the soups. I ordered the "Hot and Spicy" grilled cheese sandwich with pepper jack cheese, salami, hot peppers, etc. It was good (and hot!) but didn't fill or shock me. It was just fine. Prices were fair, and they had some unique soda choices.
The Court Street location was clean enough- but the under utilized back room was awkward. Definitely a cafe you could stay and chat/hang with friends at. Rough neighborhood though- and far too close to their Walnut Street location. What about reaching out to the 'burbs, Tom + Chee?
Not a place I'd go out of my way to make a trip to again. At least now I know.
While in Cincinnati and kid-less we decided to go to find some where that we seen on tv or read about before our trip. Tom+Chee was in perfect walking distance from the hotel. Wow so hard to choose!!! Â I don't know what I was thinking when I only had a half sand with soup combo! He of course had the Armagoetta with blue cheese chili...that chili was the best i have ever tried! I then wished the kids were there...i bet they would've sat and ate their whole lunch. And would give me the chance to take a bite! We need to see a Tom & Chee in Pittsburgh!!!
Review Source:After seeing this place in man vs. food my friend and I decided to stop their on our way through Cincinnati. The food was mediocre, really nothing special, the whatever the sandwich is that was "on tv" as that was the only thing the country, possibly mentally challenged boy working the register could offer, might have been the worst sandwich I have ever tasted in my life! We each took 1 bite and threw it out. However worse than the food would be the pathetic wastes of life they have working at their establishment. If you want to stare at people's asses this would be the place to go since all of the employees wear their pants like hoodlums. Not worth wasting your time going there. Furthermore I can make a better grilled cheese at home. I can't believe this restaurant has made it on tv. 100% not worth going
Review Source:I really love the concept of this place. Â Who doesn't love a good ooey gooey grilled cheese, especially on a cold light snowy day? Â Love the many types of grilled cheese. Â Different breads (even a doughnut), meats, cheeses, and yes potato chips on the sandwich. Â
My Favorite is the Bacon and BBQ, it is Grippo BBQ potato chips, bacon, and American cheese on white bread. Â This is best one of the best grilled cheese I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. Â The Armagoetta is also good. Â It's Geotta, cherry peppers, fried onions, sweet hot mustard, and pepper jack cheese on sourdough and rye. Â This is the sandwich featured on Man vs. Food, but the Bacon BBQ is better. Â I thought the Bermuda Ham&Swiss w/ Bermuda onion chips, ham&swiss on rye bread was pretty good, if you've already tried the others, and are looking for something a little different. Â I however do not enjoy their tomato soup. Â I've tried the Classic and the Chunky Tomato Basil, both taste like spaghetti sauce, not tomato soup. Â
If you really enjoy a good grilled cheese, you have to at least give it a try. Â It kinda makes you feel like a kid again, until you get a hit of bacon and Grippo's!
Yes, they have a lot of unique grilled cheese sandwiches. Yes, they have a few tomato soup selections. Yes, you will leave here tasting oil and butter in your mouth and wanting to hit up the nearest gym. It was okay, but it just didn't taste as great as I was hoping it would. I ordered the mac and cheese sandwich because it sounded really interesting and I love mac and cheese. I also got the tomato basil soup. I felt like I had to try this place because of the great reviews, but it just wasn't my kind of place. I think tasting how unhealthy it is what made me feel guilty and unable to enjoy it. If you can get passed this, I think it is worth a try. Service is excellent. The woman at the counter was very honest and helpful. My meal of sandwich and soup came out to $8.
Review Source:Can a restaurant that serves mainly grilled cheese and tomato soup really exist in this city? After a couple years of operating out of Court St, Walnut St in Cincinnati, At the Levee in Newport and in Louisville I think the answer is pretty clear.
I due to lap band cannot as easily partake in the grilled cheese majesty that T+C can create. But when I could, oh buddy. It was obscene.
I first heard about this little pop up tent on Fountain Square selling GC + soup. I would take a long lunch sometimes and go get a sandwich, sit on the square and hang out. I was a fervent supporter from the beginning.
I was immediately hooked because they have the confidence to sell a grilled cheese with wonderful crunched up Grippo's potato chips on it. Playing the odds I'd say a good number of you do that on your sandwiches as well. Their other maniacal masterpiece is the grilled cheese donut. A must try sandwich at least once in your life.
GCD is a manna from heaven if you are drunk. It's no mistake they serve them at beer fest. And sometimes when you want something really decadent, the GCD really hits the spot.
I am glad to introduce newcomers to the city to T+C. We need more Cincinnati institutions other than chili.
The food here is amazing.
For $5.50 I got half of a 'fancy' grilled cheese and classic tomato soup. Â I got 'the italian' which is a snazzy mix of pepperoni, ham, potato chips, and cheese-the fact that it was on sourdough just made it that much tastier. Â My coworker got the arma-goetta which was a bit spicy for her taste but still good.
The soup itself is good, but next time I will order a side of grilled cheese croutons to put on it, just because I'm into that kinda thing.
Solid. Â I can't wait to try the donut grilled cheese which is more dessert than meal but looks amazing.
Be prepared to wait for a table or ok to grab your food togo. The different grilled cheese sandwiches are wonderful and the variety of tomato soup was fabulous. This is the place to reminisce childhood lunches of grilled cheese and tomato soup. The prices are not bad either.
Don't leave without trying the sinful dessert with the grilled glazed donut and other yummy stuff.
The food, as expected, was spectacular. The ambiance, however, not so much... When we first walked in, we almost walked back out thinking that the restaurant was closed and they had somehow forgotten to lock the door. There were upside-down chairs on top of all but five of the tables, a broom against the wall in the dining area. We are visitors to the area and excited to try out this Cincinnati staple. The kids working at the restaurant, however, did not seem excited to work there and didn't really go out of their way to help us decide what to get. After ordering, I realized there were items on the menu that are exclusives to Tom + Chee, which would have been fun to try. When we got our food, it was delicious, melty and all I expected. Still,I would probably recommend their Newport, KY location over the downtown location for a better experience.
Review Source:I almost want to drive all the way to Cincinnati every week to stock up on Grilled Cheese Donuts and LIVE OFF THEM! Theyre SO GOOD!
I happened to be passing through town and tried Tom and Chee, and I am honestly so in love with it!
The staff here was incredibly friendly and helpful, the food was delicious, and fast!
To be fair I must start this review by saying that I am not a big fan of tomato soup or grilled cheese sandwiches....
Pros:
1) The service was fast and friendly
2) The price was appropriate
Cons:
1) The place has been packed every time i have been there, while this is a good thing, there is no one there directing seating. This makes it pretty much a free for fall and can be somewhat awkward
2) The food was good, but it wasn't good enough to change my opinion about grilled cheese sandwiches or tomato soup
This is a pretty good place if you are in the mood for exactly what the name states, tomato soup and grilled cheese
Tom + Chee is an experience that everyone needs to try at least once in there life. And if you haven't had a grilled cheese made with a donut, then you really have lived a sheltered life.
That's how i felt after I tried a bite of my friends grilled cheese with a donut for the bread. It hit every flavor palate, sweet, savory, cheese, and sugar!
This was my second time at Tom + Chee. We went during there first week and I had the Grilled Mac and Cheese with Bacon on wheat. The Mac and Cheese was ok, the bacon on top was definitely a nice addition. But it was crowded and the cooks seems to be having a hard time. So i decided to wait until my second time around to get my review on.
Yesterday I had the grilled cheese salad with loaded potato soup. The salad was excellent, nice greens with a mix of veggies, the grilled cheese croutons was actually a grilled cheese cut up into bite sized pieces. Also the dressings are home made and outstanding! My soup was amazing, loads of potato chunks, bacon, cheese, just all around a good meal on a cold day outside.
Parking on on the street so bring change if your lucky enough to get a meter parking spot. Sometimes this place can get crowded and they never seem to have enough seats, but they have folding chairs if you ask. Don't know the sandwichs with chips in them and experiment. There is a complete do it yourself board so go nuts!
I've tried something different everytime I've gone here and I've never been disappointed. Â I love getting fancy grilled cheese sandwiches with crushed up Grippos. Â I typically try the specials because I know they might not be there next time, but I have a goal to try everything on this menu, the food is literally that good. Â I'm still too scared to try the grilled cheese donut, but sooner or later it shall be mine.
The only drawbacks on this place:
(1)I'm not big on tomato soup and dunking the complicated sandwiches is a problem
(2)When you enter you are face to face with someone trying to take your order, and the menu stretches across a couple walls that are above your head, which makes this kind of an uncomfortable moment where you're like, "uh....I'm gonna need a minute".
Tom + Chee takes grilled cheese to the next level. When I am downtown it is typically in the evening therefore I do not have the chance to eat at Tom + Chee as often as I like.
Recently, I was chosen for Jury Duty for Hamilton County. Besides the fact that I was able to do my civil duty (though I never got called to court, guilty, guilty) is the fact that I was able to dine at Tom + Chee on two separate occasions. Â The first grilled cheese I had was the Swiss + Shroom the 2nd sandwich I had was a Grilled Cheese Doughnut with Gouda and Blueberry Preservatives. My only regret on the second day was that I only ordered one of the grill cheese doughnuts.
Tom + Chee is definitely a must stop and I would have if needed caused a Hung Jury  just so I could come back to get another grilled cheese.
If you are on a diet, I would encourage you to stop reading this review.
So I know I'm late to the table about Tom and Chee. I saw the Yelp sticker on my way in, so most of you already know this place is awesome. And I agree. I don't work downtown; one time I had a salad from the mini-Tom and Chee on fountain square, but that isn't because I thought I wouldn't like a delicious gourmet grilled cheese. I feared I'd love it too much. Today I went there for lunch. Wow. Choice overload. But in a way where I just need to come back a few more times. I had the Flying Pig (roasted turkey, Gouda, pickles, bacon). This isn't necessarily what I would have thrown together if I did a build-my-own, but I wanted them to do what they do best - grill things with cheese. Next time I want brie. But then again, good ole cheddar on sourdough would probably be amazing. Sometimes I am glad I do not work downtown...
I am just honestly in love with grilled cheese... and I've always loved making them at home with crazy ingredients and combinations and interesting cheeses! Â I definitely never thought of making it with a donut though! Â
We've been a couple times now and I've loved everything we've ordered... soups, salads and grilled cheeses.
BTdubs... you have to try the donut with cheddar... i know i know it sounds wierd and not right... but it is heaven... the sweet of the glazed donut mixes with the saltiness of the cheddar cheese... you really have to at least once experience it.
Things I recommend are the Flying Pig and the Armogoetta, and really any of the ones with potato chips on them... the crunch with the cheesy... its a texture explosion in my mouth.
The food comes out fast, and the service is friendly. Â The bill is always cheap. Â This location can get fairly cold on a wintery day I think but finding a table at peak meal times isn't too much of a hassle on the weekends from our experience.
Overall, soup YES! Â Grilled cheese YES! Â And you have seriously got to try the donut with cheddar!
Tom + Chee is one of those places that can cause you to have serious cravings. Â I love the simple concept of grilled cheese sandwiches and feel the restaurant hits the mark. Â Not only do they have a large selection of sandwich combinations they get the finished product done correctly each time. Â The cheese is melted perfectly with a nice gold crisp on the exterior to the bread. Â Â
My personal favorite combo is 3 little pigs (gotta love the fun the owner have with naming the choices)  --combines a cheddar-swiss-rye grilled cheese with ham, bacon, and  spicy pork rinds.  I have also spent considerable time trying other options and have never been disappointed.  I normally add a cup of soup and tend to gravitate to the Creamy Tomato Basil. Â
Since the restaurant appeared on the TV show 'Man vs. Food', the restaurant can be more crowded on Saturday than you would expect. Â I have always been able to find a seat and the staff are well prepared to hand the on slot of customers. So, don't be discouraged from making a weekend trip downtown. Â Be sure to check website for current hours as they tend to switch them up from time to time.
Tom + Chee. They take this staple of children, comfort seekers and poor young adults (like myself) and elevate it to a level that would require large amounts of prep and resources to do at home regularly. With virtually endless variations on the humble grilled cheese the menu offers something for everyone. Pair your choice with a dipper, cup or bowl of tomato or "special" soup and you have a meal that is filling to the stomach as well as the soul (hahaha).
The sandwiches cover a wide spectrum from simple and basic to truly elaborate, see daily specials. Three tomato soups plus a soup of the day round out the soup portion of the menu. So far my favorite combo is the BBQ + Bacon, BBQ Grippo's+Bacon+American+White Bread, and a dipper or cup of Classic Tomato soup. The sandwich sounds deceptively simple but far exceeds expectations. The Classic Tomato is by far my favorite of the soups. It is simple and clean, a perfect match with any sandwich.
My only complaint, and stopping me from giving Tom+Chee a five star-rating, is that many of the sandwiches just don't pack enough wow for me. Eating here would become monotonous.
I almost forgot the grilled cheese donut! A grilled cheese built onto a yeast donut really changes everything. They add a sweetness that really can add to some sandwiches. Let me say, they are not for me, but I get it. I'm sure for many people this flavor profile will do nothing but please.
I cannot recommend Tom+Chee enough. With locations on Court St. Downtown and on the Levee in Newport it is very accessible to everyone in the area. Do yourself a favor and stop in for quite a treat.
The employees are friendly, the sandwiches are delicious and creative and it's the cheapest lunch around. I love getting a half sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup.... (this will run you less than $5)
I haven't and don't know if I will try any of the crazy donut sandwiches or anything like that but was a huge fan of my red onion, swiss and mushroom sandwich on a salty toasty rye bread....
Good implementation on the increasingly common grilled cheese restaurants - definitely a giant set of customizable sandwich options that taste great. Â The place itself looks a bit dive-y and is definitely not the nicest place to go on a date, but for some takeout or a jury duty break it's perfect.
Negative is that the sandwich was a bit greasy - still good, but you can tell they add more butter to improve the flavor (plus grilled cheese obviously needs butter). Â As such, good for an occasional lunch but not an everyday thing.
I'm a fan of Tom + Chee for sure - but I also have some gripes! So this is really 3 1/2 stars.
First of all, the food tastes good. They have inventive combinations of ingredients riffing off the basic grilled cheese sandwich, great salads, and soups. The specials are always really fun (you can find those on their facebook page). However, I can only handle it every once and a while. I know you need butter to make a good grilled cheese, but they always turn out SO greasy, and I'm often left with that heavy sick greasy feeling after eating there. Sometimes I'm willing to risk that though, cause it's tasty.
Secondly, they recently changed their hours, and I got used to the 'being open until 8pm' hours, regularly walk over there only to find they are closed. Why the hours change? People still need to eat, even if it's colder out! They were a great option for dinner, but now they close too early for me to make it over there (except Fridays and Saturdays, when they are open late.) Hopefully downtown will continue to flourish so they'll just have to open their doors to the hoards of hungry grilled cheese lovers during the dinner hours. ;)
What's not to love about a place that serves grilled cheese and soup?
No seriously, it's like all my favorite foods in one restaurant - cheese, tomatoes and bread. But it's so much more than just a plain old grilled cheese and tomato soup (they do that well too!) It's really the unique combinations of ingredients that make Tom+Chee so delicious. Craving Mac and cheese and a grilled cheese sandwich? No problem, they have got you covered. Can't decide if you want a donut or grilled cheese, then just get the donut grilled cheese!
The store is well lit, brightly decorated and it seems to always be packed - which is a good thing! The staff is friendly and helpful. Also, they have clean bathrooms. What more could you want from a lunch place downtown?
I get why this place is rated so high, but at the same time not my go, to fall on the floor, favorite place. Their food is good, but I just feel like it is nothing special that I couldn't make at home :( Sorry Tom and Chee!
I applaud the effort and the inspiration that you have. And I get the whole "yellow and red" color theme that you have going on, but when I want to get lunch in the middle of a hectic day I feel like the atmosphere is a little too loud for me.
I think you are a great addition to the neighborhood and I think you will thrive in this area. I know for a lot of my friends this is an everyday lunch spot, so keep up the good work!
Good-ish food, Great value.
Grilled cheese sandwiches are well prepared. Â The general trend is toward overwhelmingly rich, overpowering flavors.
However, for 4 bucks its an unbelievable deal.
Doughnuts are a good idea, I recommend everyone try it once. Â Tomato soup is a must get to complement the sandwich. Â Could be made better by toning down the flavor profiles and using better bread.
After watching the Man vs Food Nation that featured the city of Cincinnati, I had to check out Tom + Chee for myself.
Right off the bat, I will note that the Court Street location is very close to the Hamilton County Courthouse, meaning it's further from the downtown core. But that doesn't mean it's not worth the visit. When I came in, I didn't notice a handicapped entrance for patrons with wheelchairs. The main door doesn't have a huge step, luckily so I see no reason to take a star off this review, as I can navigate with no problem.
As for the food. Now, the sandwich that was featured on TV was the Armagoetta. It is not on the regular menu, but I was told that more than likely, it will be. On this trip, I went with something simpler, but no less interesting: The BBQ Bacon Grilled Cheese. It's BBQ chips (Grippo's, I believe), bacon, and American cheese on sourdough. I also got the classic tomato soup, and then topped it off with a bottle of Gold Peak Sweetened Tea.
Once I got my soup and sandwich (which took about 5-10 minutes, not too bad for 12:45 PM), I dug in. The soup tasted kinda peppery, but not so much that I couldn't eat it (I don't do well with spicy foods). Actually, it was pretty good. As for the sandwich...well, this was voted Best in Cincinnati, and I can see why! Nobody else in town has thought of putting chips on the sandwich! That's a novelty in our town and a great one at that.
I plan to be back to try combinations of different things, but this experience alone is enough to give Tom + Chee 5 stars!
A couple of Saturdays ago I made my way to Fountain Square for the Cincinnati Beer Fest. Though the lineup of beers wasn't anything special, especially after attending the Big Band & Bigger Beer Festival just over a week earlier, I did find some awesome food. I had heard of Tom + Chee before but this was the first time I would sample one of their gourmet grilled cheeses. My wife actually made my selection for me and decided on the BLT grilled cheese.
She must know me too well. This was an amazing combination of two sandwiches that I love. It would have been very hard for me to be disappointed, but the sandwich easily exceeded my expectations. It was perfectly grilled and ready for pickup in about five minutes. The cheddar cheese was still warm on the inside and the other ingredients inside couldn't have tasted any better. I definitely will be back to sample some other sandwiches, including the Flying Pig (roasted turkey, bacon, pickles, and gouda on sourdough) and the hot+spicy (pepperoni, hot peppers, onions, and pepper jack on wheat) just to name a few.
In a word, underwhelming.
Went for a business lunch while in Cincy, and I was excited to try it out. I came in for the BBQ Grippos + Bacon grilled cheese, but they were out of BBQ Grippos, so I chose the Italian instead. Got half sandwich/half soup combo with the soup of the day, which was gazpacho. Sandwich was fine, but didn't blow me away. I barely tasted the salt and vinegar chips, or anything really besides the margarine-soaked bread. Gazpacho was fine, but very chunky - not what I expected. More like raw veggies in a tomato broth. My dining companion felt the same as me with her Bacon/Bleu grilled cheese (couldn't taste anything but mozzarella and margarine) and creamy tomato soup (it was "not bad"). We both agreed that we wouldn't have been able to eat a whole sandwich, and it sat like a brick in our stomachs the rest of the day.
Overall, not bad, but not for me.
Every winter I make grilled cheese sandwiches for myself but it has never occurred to me to put something like grippos chips or even combine it with my other favorite sandwich, the BLT. So glad Tom + Chee thought of it for me, because now I'm really living! Â
The grilled cheese (cheddar) donut was everything I heard it would be.
I had great service, it might have helped that I mentioned it was my first time so they walked me through the menu and offered to let me sample the soup, which I didn't end up ordered because I'm not that big of a soup fan. The only thing that would improve this combo: fountain Coca-Cola!
What could be better on a chilly 50 degree day in May in downtown Cincinnati than grilled cheese and tomato soup? Not much I tell you! While the 2 block walk down the street was cold and a little wet, it was definitely worth the trip (I would do it 50 times over than eat at Skyline- bleck!!)
Walking in, the atmosphere is great!!! The menu is written on the walls which makes it very easy to read. One of the nice guys at the counter went through everything with me (since it was my first time) and made some awesome recommendations! I ended up going with a regular grilled cheese on rye and the classic tomato soup and boy was it good!!! It warmed me all the way to my cold toes and brought back the memories from my youth....*stares off into the distant past of yester-year*
I will definitely be back!!!
Probably the best BLT I've ever had (funny how melted cheese seems to make everything better). Â Also, I'm not sure if it's just all in my head, but having the bacon chopped up and the tomatoes cut into cubes tastes better.
But who in their right mind would want to eat a grilled cheese on a glazed donut??... This guy, that's who. Â And you will too after you try it. Â Wow, never would have crossed my mind to combine those items, so I'm glad they thought it up for me.
I sampled the daily soup special (chipotle cheddar) and thought it was very tasty. Â But I didn't get to have their tomato soup this time... a great reason to go back though!
Service was quick and very friendly.
One gripe, though really more of a suggestion: I wish they had colby-jack cheese. Â Other than that, if you love cheese, this place is your utopia!
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