When I first started this blog I posted about places in Ohio I would like to visit. I have visited some of them since then, but there are still many places on my list. Now as my time here is dwindling, there are sights and sounds around the state I want to spotlight. Some are old-time favorites, others I have been introduced to only recently and the rest are places on my to-do list. These places include restaurants, museums, gardens and other institutions, all reasons why I truly do love this state.

My last installment was about Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians. Up this week is Melt Bar and Grilled in Cleveland.

I had heard about this restaurant two years ago or so, and as a lover of grilled cheese, getting a meal here seemed pretty essential.

I finally made it there this spring, meeting a friend at the Cleveland Heights location. There’s another in Lakewood, and one coming soon in Independence.

Unsurprisingly, the bread-and-cheese-only variety is called the Kindergarten. I opted for the Godfather, which includes three-cheese lasagna, fennel-oregano pasta sheets, spicy red sauce, provolone and garlic-spiked bread.

The Godfather grilled cheese

Lydia ordered the Westside Monte Cristo with honey ham, smoked turkey, swiss, american and some berry preserves for dipping or spreading, which I also considered.

When food is delicious, and let me tell you, this was delicious, I try really hard to clean my plate, and well, that was impossible.

The decor was also entertaining, with a variety of plastic, light-up, outdoor holiday decorations. The beer menu also was appealing, and I had a hard time selecting something.

I would definitely recommend a meal at the Melt Bar and Grilled, but expect a wait or arrive at a less common eating time, like we did.