The Big Kid Grilled Cheese...all hype?

Dear Panera,

I love ya. I think I have made that pretty evident.

But it seems we have hit a crossroad in our relationship, and it revolves around a grilled cheese sandwich. You see, I am a bit of a grilled cheese connoisseur. I don't like to brag, but it is fact. It started at age 4 and continues to this day...a grilled cheese sandwich is my default order at a restaurant. From good to bad and from average to unmentionable, I have tried them all.

About a year ago, I wrote a post about my experience with your grilled cheese. Granted, it is listed on the kids menu, but I thought it was worth a try. In that post, I expressed my regret for ordering a grilled cheese at a place like Panera. The lack of butter and the "panini grill" is a recipe for disaster. A good grilled cheese requires ample butter (but not too much) and a diner style grill or at the very least an iron skillet. Panera, you failed me. So I moved on to better sandwiches. No harm. No foul.

Until a few weeks ago. I saw an advertisement boasting the new "Big Kid Grilled Cheese". In the ad, the grilled cheese was accompanied with a bowl of their signature creamy tomato soup. It looked amazing. And I knew I had to try it.

Who wouldn't you want to try this sandwich?

That fateful day came a couple of days later. I made it a point to go to Panera and to order this sandwich. As I approached the register and started to order, I felt awkward ordering a "Big Kid Grilled Cheese". I don't know why, but I did. Regardless, my meal was delivered to me and I was ready to forgive you for your original take on the grilled cheese. As I was about to take a bite, I noticed that it didn't look like the ad...at all. Nevertheless, I powered through the sandwich. My conclusion? Disappointment. To make matters worse, I am 99% sure what I got was just the original grilled cheese, not the Big Kid.

Doesn't look like the ad?

Fast forward a few weeks later...I decided to give it one last shot. This time I made sure I clearly ordered the Big Kid Grilled Cheese. As I picked up my sandwich from the waiting area, I knew I had received the right sandwich this time. The presentation, however, left much to be desired. It looked soggy and just thrown together. How did it taste...you wonder? Like a politician running for office, this sandwich was all hype. No substance.

Are ya kiddin me? Where's the love?

Here's my bullet points as to why I don't like the Big Kid Grilled Cheese:

• Soggy. Too much butter and not a thorough enough grilling of the bread. 
• Bacon-tease. Advertisements boast the Applewood-smoked bacon that is included on the sandwich. While there is bacon, it's almost like an afterthought.
• Pretentious cheeses. The cheeses advertised on this sandwich are as follows: Gruyere, Vermont White Cheddar, organic sliced American. What do you actually taste? American cheese. If you are going to be pretentious about your ingredients the taste better reflect the effort. 

Random NOTES:

• I had an amazing grilled cheese sandwich while visiting my sister in Cleveland. The restaurant? B-Spot at Crocker Park. The ingredients? fontina cheese, roasted red peppers, basil, sourdough bread. Pretentious and fancy ingredients, yes. But unlike Panera's version, it pays off. 

Perfection.

• Creamy tomato soup. Panera's points on the grilled cheese are abysmal, but their tomato soup is beyond amazing. There is nothing better than a grilled cheese and tomato soup...that is why it pains me so much to admit Panera's grilled cheese sucks.  

Panera, you are good at a lot of things. Just not grilled cheese.

Regards,
Natalie