I went to Cheesie’s, the new grilled cheese place at Belmont & Sheffield, for dinner before my evening activities (which Suzanne would feel is too geeky to make public on this blog) last Friday after work. I’d read about them earlier in the week and was eager to give them a try, seeing as I love a good grilled cheese sandwich.

The place is decorated warmly, with wainscoting, and bright orange walls above. It has a very startup feel: order & pay at the counter, stacks of napkins on tables. It felt like they had just opened the day before, which they had.

There are riffs on various classic paintings featuring grilled chsses sandwiches. I took a table next to one such spin on American Gothic.

You can get sodas and such at the front counter with your food. If you prefer beer, wine, or spirits you can get them separately at the bar at the back of the diningroom.

As I like spicy food, and I wanted to see how far they pushed on some of their edgier offerings, I went for the Jalapeño Popper (cheddar cheese, cream cheese, fresh jalapeño slices and bacon on sourdough bread) , sweet potato fries, and a Burning River from Great Lakes Brewery.

The sandwich was good. Gooey, creamy cheddar. Salty, yummy bacon. Fiery peppers. The bread was very nice. The thing that surprised me was that teh cream cheese was spread on the top of the sandwich … on the outside. This was, as I said, unexpected, and made the act of eating a bit more of a challenge. Nonetheless, it was very tasty and very satisfying. The fries accompanied it with style. They were fresh, and hot. It was a good meal and a decent value at under $10 plus a drink.

I have a feeling that a stop here on my way to gaming will become part of my Friday night routine.

Suzanne and I went for a guided walking photo tour of Old Town on the weekend. We met up at the North & Clybourn Apple Store and headed into Old Town to see some of the interesting bits of architecture, learn some of the history, and take some photos. The schedule was to walk for a couple hours, find our own lunch, and meet back at the Apple Store for a digital photography workshop. The tour was great and the workshop was fine, if a bit introductory.

The real find, however, was our lunch stop: Burger Bar. It’s located conveniently across the street from the Apple Store. If you like burgers and beer, it’s a great spot. Suzanne doesn’t care for beer, but there are plenty of options, including a full cocktail selection.

Suzanne went for something a bit lighter: the Powerhouse Veggie Burger (arugula, avocado, goat cheese, chipotle mayo). She said the flavors were fine, but the texture of the patty was chewy and somewhat gummy. She’ll have meat next time. The Sweet Potato Fries she got as her side were nicely done, though.

I chose something more traditional: En Fuego (fiery burger, jalapeños, pickled red onion, oaxaca, guacamole). I went ahead and got the side of El Diabolo which was, indeed, wicked hot but had a pleasant flavor. The burger was big (all patties are half pound), juicy, and very tasty. I had the plain Fresh-cut Fries as my side. They were fresh, hot and crisp. Exactly what you want with a burger.

We also decided to try their Fried Pickles. These were perfect: thin slices of dill pickle, battered, breaded, and fried golden brown and crispy. They had a nice crunch while still being moist on the inside. The Urban Sauce that accompanied them was ok, but a remoulade would have been nicer.

I really enjoy a good burger, and I wasn’t disappointed here. Suzanne, who’s not as big a burger fan, liked it as well. We’ll both be back. To top it off, they have “10th burger free” loyalty cards. Between the menu and the book of beer, they have plenty to keep me going back for some time.

Burger Bar
1578 N. Clybourn
(Just south of North Ave on Clybourn in Lincoln Park)