Very few things are as comforting as a grilled cheese sandwich, but where are the best ones in Leicester?
Whether you’re looking for the perfect instagram cheese pull, or the best choice of hangover food, we’ve picked out the 5 best places in Leicester to get your cheesy fix!
Bitsy’s Emporium
Not just about the epic cakes and brownies, the savoury menu at Bitsy’s is absolute grilled cheese goals. The amount of cheese that goes into these guys is ridiculous. Choose from 7 different options including The Underground (3 cheese blend, refried beans, fajita veg and jalapenos), The Trackside (garlic roasted mushrooms and 3 cheese blend), The Runner (vegan sausage, caramelised onion and 3 cheese blend), and our favourite, The Yard (mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and pesto). They’re made using Hambleton Bakery bread, which stays strong under the weight of all the cheese!
Bitsy’s grilled cheese menu is available Thursday – Sunday. Be sure to check Bitsy’s Instagram for the latest menu and availability updates if you’re making a special trip.
The Mill (alongside Graff HQ), North Mills, LE3
The Coffee Obsessive
The Coffee Obsessive has become a popular spot for serious coffee drinkers with their specially sourced rotation coffee menu, but their food is also a hit. Choices on their grilled cheese menu include The Kimchi (kimchi, cream cheese and 3 grated cheeses), The Sweet Potato Chorizo Mozzarella (sweet potato, chorizo, mozzarella, spinach, sriracha mayo), The Mushroom Black Truffle (mushrooms, Emmental cheese, black truffle oil and pine nuts), and more. All made on sourdough bread available to eat in or take away.
The grilled cheese menu is available during regular coffee shop opening hours. The Coffee Obsessive is open daily from 9am-4pm.
53, Francis Street, LE2
The Verandah
Add a twist of spice to your grilled cheese at The Verandah with their brilliant Anglo-Indian inspired menu of melts. The Indian twist on the grilled cheese includes options such as The Brit (marinated chicken with creamy melted cheese), The Mumbai (masala spiced potato and creamy melted cheese, layered with the Verandah Haryali and Lai Perri chutney), The Lucknowi (masala minced lamb, spicy potato and creamy melted cheese, layered with the Verandah Haryali and Lai Perri chutney) and The Punjabi (Achari spiced marinated paneer, creamy melted cheese and Verandah Haryali chutney).
The grilled cheese melts really pack a punch, full of flavour and oozing with cheese. They all come served with your choice Chowki or Canteen Chips. Available daytime and evening to eat in our take away. The Verandah is open every day until 11pm (7pm on Sundays).
71 Queens Road, LE2
Thurlaston Garden Centre
A lovely place to stop for an afternoon out, or a weekend lunchtime visit. Thurlaston Garden Centre has a coffee shop on site called The Gardener’s Rest and their daily changing homemade cakes menu has won them a loyal following. They also do breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, featuring a great range of cheese toasties. They’ve made the list here because of their range of choice, with Bacon & Stilton, Bacon, Brie & Cranberry, Cheese & Mushroom, Cheese & Jalapeno and more. All of the toasties can also be done with gluten free bread or swapping the cheese for vegan cheese, giving you a huge range of vegan choice too. Enjoy lunch and a perfect excuse to browse the garden centre, gift shop and farm shop (they even have menu options for the dogs too!)
The Gardener’s Rest tea room is open daily from 10am – 4pm.
Croft Road, Thurlaston, LE9
Bru
Perfect for when you’re on the go in town, Bru’s grilled cheese options have brightened up many a busy weekday for us. Oozing with cheese and with an extra layer of cheese grilled on top, the menu includes options such as Italian Stallion (classic grilled cheese with pesto and tomato), Pollo Cubano (classic grilled cheese with pickles and Cuban chimichirri chicken) and Cajun Tuna (classic grilled cheese filled with Cajun spiced tuna and sweetcorn) and more.
If you’re wanting to treat yourself to a working from home lunch you can also get these delivered via Deliveroo, Uber Eats or OwlGetIt with a “WFH Bundle” priced at just £7.50 for a choice of grilled cheese and any hot drink.
Granby Street, LE1
Special mention
We couldn’t talk about grilled cheese without mentioning St Martin’s Coffee. The grilled cheese sandwiches didn’t make the new menu but they have included a tasty grilled cheese open option on the new lunchtime menu. The cheese toast comes served on sourdough, with a salad of cucumber, carrot, pickled chilli, coriander, and sesame.
St Martin’s Square, LE1