Think that grilled cheese sandwiches only belong on the kid’s menu? Think again. They’re the ultimate comfort food, and some restaurants (and sandwich shops) are doing the really, really well.
Special thanks to all of the Good Food Pittsburgh Instagram followers for sharing their favorite sandwiches!
The Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches In Pittsburgh
Chantal’s Cheese Shop
Bloomfield
Of course you’re going to find some of Pittsburgh’s best grilled cheese at one of Pittsburgh’s best cheese shops. Chantal’s Cheese Shop offers pick-up lunch options, and grilled cheese sandwiches are always on the menu, using an array of their fabulous cheeses, all grill-pressed on a La Gourmandine baguette. They offer Three Cheese (Havarti, cheddar and gouda), Gruyere & Prosciutto, and a daily rotating special. (4402 Penn Avenue)
Mediterra Cafe
Sewickley
Mediterra Cafe’s Cheese Toastie is packing a serious culinary punch. It’s loaded with aged cheddar, local apple butter and arugla, on Mediterra’s own Red Fife Sourdough bread. Get it paired with one of their specialty soups and a hot chocolate for the ultimate comfort food meal. (430 Beaver Street, Sewickley)
The Yard
Multiple Locations
We can’t mention grilled cheese sandwiches in Pittsburgh without talking about The Yard, a restaurant dedicated to gourmet grilled cheese. Each location has more than 20 grilled cheese options, stuffed with cheese and various toppings. Our favorites include the Mac Attack, with cheddar and Macaroni & Cheese, the Smack Yo Mama, with beer cheese, cheddar, onion straws, and BBQ pulled chicken, and the Patty Mayonnaise, with Swiss, white cheese sauce, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions, garlic mayo and two burger patties. Bonus: They also offer a monthly grilled cheese special!
Meat & Potatoes
Downtown
The grilled cheese sandwich at Meat & Potatoes is only available during weekend brunch, but we’d love to see it on the menu all the time. It’s made with Muenster, chèvre and caramelized onions and paired with a bowl of their homemade tomato bisque… and goes perfectly well with Meat & Potatoes’ Bloody Mary Bar. (649 Penn Avenue)
Smallman Street Deli
Strip District
Smallman Street Deli offers a delicious grilled cheese sandwich, made with Swiss, American, Provolone, Pepper Jack or Cheddar cheese… or choose any combo to suit your tastes. Bread options include Smallman’s Specialty Rye, Marble Rye, Pumpernickel, Sour Dough and Multi-Grain. (2840 Smallman Street)
BRGR
East Liberty
Not only does BRGR have a Short Rib Grilled Cheese Sandwich on their menu (with smoked Tillamook cheddar, provolone, tomatoes, braised beef short ribs and banana peppers), but they also have a Grilled Cheese Bites appetizer, made with provolone, bacon, pickles, tomato and truffle aioli, and served with a tomato fondue. (5997 Centre Avenue)
Hello Bistro
Multiple Locations
You’ll find lots of grilled cheese options at Hello Bistro, including the Italiano (with provolone, pepperoni and marinara sauce), the Apple & Cheddar (with apples, bacon, and cheddar on grilled sourdough bread), and the Dad’s Pot Roast Melt (with shredded pot roast, pepper Jack cheese and Dijon horseradish mayonnaise).
The Speckled Egg
Downtown
The Speckled Egg might be one of Pittsburgh’s newest restaurants, but they’ve got their grilled cheese game down! The restaurant’s grilled cheese sandwich offering features aged cheddar, Swiss and American cheeses, plus carmaleized onion, and arugula on whole wheat sourdough, served with tomato bisque. (501 Grant Street #160)
Pear and the Pickle Cafe
Troy Hill
Pear and the Pickle Cafe’s grilled cheese is a thick and hearty two-handed affair, stuffed with your choice of two cheeses, and add bacon and tomato if you’re feeling a little extra. Or, if you want in on a little secret (shhhh….) you can also order a grilled cheese with grilled ham and tomato for something extra-delicious. (1800 Rialto Street)
Park Bruges
Highland Park
Cozy Highland Park restaurant Park Bruges has some seriously good sandwiches on their menu, but the grilled cheese is one of the best. It’s made with a blend of Italian cheeses and fire-roasted tomatoes on multigrain country bread, and you can add bacon for a more filling dish. (5801 Bryant Street)
The Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Outside The City
Staghorn Garden Cafe
Greenfield
If you find yourself at Staghorn Garden Cafe, and they happen to have their grilled cheese sandwich available as a special… get it! They grill cheese on the outside of the bread, giving it a crunch that can’t be beat. The sandwich specifics change regularly, but previous options have included Grilled Cheese made with multigrain and herb focaccia, aged sharp white cheddar and havarti. And, you can always pair it with one of their house-made soups. (517 Greenfield Avenue, Greenfield)
Bakn
Carnegie
If you think you don’t need to have a grilled cheese flight in your life, you don’t know what you’re missing. Bakn has this three-sandwich option on their appetizer menu, featuring bites of Cheddar, Tomato & Pesto, Raspberry and Bleu Cheese, and Caramelized Onion and French Onion Cheese sandwiches. They also have a killer, mega-sized sandwich on their main menu, made with Jarlsberg, cheddar, oven-roasted tomatoes and fresh basil pesto. And if you want bacon on that? They can accommodate you, of course. (335 East Main Street, Carnegie)
Wunderbar Coffee & Crepes
Harmony
Drive out to Harmony for a true grilled-cheese treat. The cafe and restaurant serves up four kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches, all served on pretzel bread (!!!) from Two Fraus Bakery. Choose from Amish Cheddar, Amish Aged Asiago Cheese, Amish Horseradish Cheddar and Amish Smoked Gouda, or kick it up a notch by adding tomato, basil, bacon, ham or an egg. And don’t forget the homemade Tomato Basil soup, too! (253 Mercer Street, Harmony)
ShuBrew
Zelienople
The brewery’s Grilled KimCheese is a classic order, made with house-made kimchi (with a kick!), smoked cheddar, mayo and bacon, all grilled to perfection on sour dough bread. (210 South Main Street, Zelienople)
Cafe IO
Mt. Lebanon
Mt. Lebanon’s Cafe IO has devoted an entire section of their menu to grilled cheese with four sandwich options, with loads of add-ons to make it your own. Choose from the Plain Jane (with gouda and cheddar), the Monster (gouda, cheddar, bacon, egg, pulled pork, tomato, caramelized onion and spinach), the Big Bad Wolf (country ham, bacon, pulled pork, gouda and cheddar) and the Spicy Veg Head (spinach, tomato, caramelized onion, pickles, pickled jalapenos, gouda and cheddar). (300A Beverly Road, Mt. Lebanon)
Did we miss one of your favorite grilled cheese sandwiches in Pittsburgh? Let us know in our comments!
Thank you, but Greenfield is a city neighborhood!
Stephen’s kitchen on rt. 8 in middlesex/valencia has a fantastic grilled cheese sandwich. I believe the bread is texas toast, with their house made cheese spread, bacon, & tomato slices.
Wonderful article! After just a quick browse we found 5 different restaurants to add to our must-try list!
Brugge on North! A great blend of cheddar and Gouda on sourdough from Allegro Hearth Bakery. Bonus if you catch it on a day they have tomato basil bisque for the soup du jour!!