The American food invasion of Paris continues. First it was hamburgers, then food trucks, followed by cupcakes. The newest entry? Grilled cheese. Not content with just Croques Monsieurs, someone felt the need to open an old fashioned grilled cheese joint. Even the name and the graphic is all American: The Grilled Cheese Factory (any relation to the Cheesecake Factory? They should merge, what a great combo, the ultimate dairy fest, grilled cheese followed by cheesecake).
Located dangerously close to me in the Marais near place de la Bastille, The Grilled Cheese Factory offers seven variations on the grilled cheese theme. The Mac and Cheese sounded like a winner: my favorite carb, toasted bread with melted butter, filled with my other favorite carb, macaroni and cheese, a match made in food heaven.
I watched as the cute, cheerful guy behind the counter made my sandwich the authentic way, in a frying pan with the bottom covered in melted butter with the hissing sound it makes along with the smoke.
Cutely presented on a light wood tray the sandwich was not too buttery and the mac and cheese inside was true to form, delicious and creamy. I had a side of cole slaw, which the French rarely get right, but this was the exception.
The other varieties of sandwiches include the Authentique, mozzarella and cheddar, Chevre, chicken with mozzarella, and honey mustard, pastrami with cheddar and mozzarella, pastrami with mozzarella and cheddar (do I smell a Reuben?) and one that’s a bit of a stretch: homemade cream cheese with smoked salmon.
Desserts include cookies, brownies, cheesecake, and if you didn’t have enough toasted bread from your sandwich, they have French toast with salted butter caramel.
To make the experience even more trés Amercain, they also serve tomato soup. I wonder if it’s Campbells. It would be even more MMM Good.
9 rue Jacques Coeur, 75004
Metro: Bastille
Open everyday 10:30AM to 10:30PM, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday till 12:30PM