I tried the best grilled cheese in New York City, and its 'secret blend' of cheeses was simple yet delicious
Frank Olito
- To find inspiration for my grilled cheese lunches, I tried the best in New York at Murray's.
- Murray's grilled cheeses have a delicious secret blend of cheeses and crispy sourdough bread.
- Although the sandwich was very simple, it inspired my cooking at home.
Last year during quarantine, I made grilled cheese sandwiches practically every day for lunch because they were quick and easy. Finally, I decided to switch things up.
As a cheese lover, I love having a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch, but I quickly got bored with my cooking skills. Instead, I decided to find the best grilled cheese sandwich in New York City for inspiration.
After doing some research, I learned Murray's in Manhattan is consistently ranked among the top grilled cheeses in the city, while Time Out and Insider rank it the number one.
I decided to give it a shot.
Located in Manhattan's West Village, the business has two storefronts next to each other.
Murray's Cheese is a retail store that sells a wide variety of gourmet cheeses, meats, jams, and crackers. Next door, there is Murray's Mac & Cheese, which operates like a sandwich shop.
After touring the cheese selection at Murray's Cheese, I headed next door to grab my sandwich.
Inside Murray's Mac & Cheese, I found a menu that excited all of my taste buds.
As a cheese lover, every item on the menu intrigued me. There is a cheese and charcuterie board, a large sampling of mac and cheese, a breakfast burrito, a tuna melt, and a Caprese sandwich — just to name a few.
But I came to try the classic grilled cheese, which they call a Murray's Melt for $7. On the menu, I learned that they make their sandwich with sourdough bread and a "secret blend of cheeses."
Once I got my grilled cheese, I walked to Washington Square Park for a taste test.
The bag reads, "We know cheese," and I was excited to put the mantra to the test.
I was immediately impressed with the bread's crispiness and its melted cheese.
For me, there are only two requirements to a great grilled cheese: the bread needs to be crispy yet moist (a delicate and difficult balance) and the cheese must be stringy when you pull the slices apart.
This grilled cheese checked both those boxes.
When I took my first bite, I instantly understood why this is New York's best grilled cheese sandwich.
The sandwich is so simple; it's just bread and cheese. There's no tomato, there's no bacon, and there are no fancy condiments to go with it. And yet this grilled cheese is elevated in a way that others are not.
I can't exactly put my finger on why it's so delicious, but I think this sandwich's beauty is in its simplicity — or the greatness might simply be thanks to that secret blend of cheeses.
Although I'm a cheese lover, I was surprised to learn that the bread really makes this sandwich sing.
The sourdough bread is so thick and light. It's also perfectly grilled so that the bread is slightly charred for crispiness but still has a greasy goodness.
When cooking grilled cheese for lunch, I always pay attention to the cheese I am using, making sure I buy only the best. But Murray's Melt made me realize that the bread is just as important, too.
Murray's grilled cheese sandwich really does live up to the hype.
The Murray's Melt is a simple and cheap grilled cheese that would please any cheese lover. The simplicity has inspired me to reinvent the ones I cook at home by focusing on my bread choices.
Until I get my hands on another one of Murray's grilled cheeses, I'll be trying to recreate this deliciousness in my kitchen at home.
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