Melthouse Bistro

SO incredibly disappointed this place is closed. I loved the quality bread & delicious variety of gourmet grilled cheese. Far superior that that Tom & Chee place.

I love this restaurant. When I come in, the lady at the register is super friendly and nice to talk to.
The grilled cheese: My go-​to, the Sergeant Pepper, is a perfect combination of textures and tastes. It’s got gooey cheese, thick toasted bread, crunchy onion rings, and cauliflower with the right amount of spicy heat — and I typically don’t even enjoy spicy food. It’s an awesome vegetarian option! The Birchwood sandwich, available during weekend brunch, is a lush creation that I really enjoy too. Notable others are the Heartland and the Athena. My mother is head over heels for the Dominique.
The sides: The cole slaw isn’t your total run-​of-​the-​mill sugary mix, and it is a good pairing because it helps cut the oiliness you might experience from your grilled cheese. The mac and cheese was alright. I expected to fall in love with it, but I didn’t. It could’ve used more flavor and been more cohesive. They’ve also got a nice beverage selection including fountain drinks, glass bottle sodas (sometimes varieties I haven’t seen anywhere else), San Pellegrino, and local beers.
Overall, I’m glad to have a restaurant like this in Milwaukee. I’m never disappointed.

Came here for a second time with friends prior to the monthly screening for MKE Film. We saw them on Amazon Local for the beers and bites deal… Definitely worth it at half off, probably not if it had been full price.
We had:
Ale asylum hopalicious, Dagwood (American and Swiss Ham onions)
Ale asylum madtown nutbrown, Biloxi (pulled pork and coleslaw)
Bedlam Belgium wheat, The Cheesehead
Armageddon, Rico Supreme (fontina and chipotle raspberry jam)
I’m a sucker for spicy jams, so the Rico Supreme was my favorite. The rest of our group each had their own personal preferences. The pairings all went well together, and it was fun to get a variety of sandwiches. The appetizer of cheese curds was good… But the standout there was actually the housemade marinara. The desserts were huge, fun to try, but not a standout brownie/​sundae.
For about $ 13/​pp, we each had a beer, a sandwich, some cheese curds, and dessert. Again… Good, but that was at half price.
The actual standout here happened after we left. I’d given the waitress my phone to scan the voucher, and she forgot to give it back which I didn’t realize until I was sitting in my seat in the movie theatre. Just as I was realizing the restaurant would close before the movie was over, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was our waitress! She’d walked over with my phone and said «I figured I would find you somewhere in here!» Guys the theatre was packed. Like hundreds of people. So so kind! I’ll be back to Melthouse just because that shows how much they care about people.

I’m surprised at the low rating this place has! My boyfriend and I came here after a long flight then drive back to Milwaukee. We were both jet lagged and I was craving anything but airplane food.
Unilocal says they close at 10p on Saturdays but they actually close at 11p. Needless to say, we ran here at 940p hoping to catch them before last call.
Melthouse Bistro is an order and pay at the counter type place where they bring you your food when it’s ready. Their sandwiches run from $ 8 — $ 10 and comes with a side. You can also upgrade to a premium side for ~$ 2. Premium sides include waffle fries, a cup of soup, side salad, or Mac and cheese.
My boyfriend got The Cheesehead, their classic grilled cheese, and tomato bisque. I got The Francesca, and the cheddar bacon soup.
I liked both his sandwich and soup better, whereas he liked my sandwich better. The Francesca came with pepperoni, portobello mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese. I believe the Cheesehead was 3 different cheeses with a pesto spread. The latter definitely reminded me more of an actual grilled cheese, whereas the former is just a pressed sandwich, in my opinion. For a grilled cheese place, our sandwiches were seriously lacking in cheese. In fact, the bread is thick and wonderful and buttery, but where was my cheese?!
The tomato bisque was tangy but sweet. Perfect for dipping. The cheddar bacon was too much for me. The boyfriend said it reminded him of a potato soup but I just thought it was too dense. Next.
I really like their house made croutons and the different breads. Definitely will be back for the classic, might ask for some extra cheese though.
Service was very friendly. The waitress/​cashier came by and checked up on us numerous times to make sure we were doing well.
TLDR; A fine sandwich place disguised as a grilled cheese establishment.

They serve with smile but its kinda slow. Servers are friendly too…
I tried 2 sandwiches here and it had nothing like a grilled cheese sandwich and to me they didn’t taste very great. My friends love this place but I am not coming back.
2 stars just because of the staff.

I still love it here. We stopped by with a $ 5.00 coupon we got in our email. Service was friendly as usual. I switched from my norm the Sergeant Pepper to the Athena with eggplant. I love the sauce with this one. Both are good vegetarian options. The hubs stuck with his classic Dagwood with ham and cheese. The tomato bisque is some of the best around. I keep saying they should open a mobile food truck. I would like to see them closer to Bay View.

A non greasy take on the classic comfort food. There may be more bread then cheese, but Its made fresh and doesn’t give you greasy drippy hands. I suggest if you come here to go all out and try one of their special made creations. They have great tuna salad and a buffalo chicken grilled cheese. They have a couple options for sides and for a little extra you can upgrade the sides to waffle fries, Mac n cheese and some other options. They have pretty good salads as well. The cheese curds are the stand out for me ! I got a sandwich, side waffle fries, cup of soup and soda for about
$ 17. They have lots of options for bread as well :)

I love grilled cheese and sometimes I feel like paying someone else to make it for me, although it’s must cheaper to make yourself. Part of what I like about this place is that it seems like an idea I might of had.
I don’t come here often but am happy to see that sides now come with the sandwich (for the price they should). I’ve only tried the Sergeant Pepper and it’s great, you should get it. And the tomato soup, delicious as well. My boyfriend had the Biloxi and enjoyed it.
My only beef with this place is the long wait for your food. It’s happened each time I’ve been there unless I call ahead for pick-​up. We were there on a Saturday for lunch and ordered to eat-​in but asked for to-​go in case we couldn’t eat it all (I never can). We waited for awhile, I’m thinking about 20 – 25 minutes? We ended up leaving with our food right away because we just felt like eating it at home with a movie.
The staff is always nice and the interior is well designed. When it’s warm out they have tables outside which is always a plus.
They have a lot of options on the menu so there’s something for everyone. I’d say give it a whirl if you haven’t before.

Great food!
I love this place — great spot for an amazing gourmet sandwich. I had Sergeant Pepper sandwich and it was SO good. I normally gravitate for meat in my sandwiches… But I am happy I branched out and tried this. With various cheeses, roasted cauliflower, fried onions on sourdough… This was a party in my mouth! I topped it off with a cup of their soup of the day. I believe it was called chicken parmesan chipotle chili. The soup was out of this world. I am a little sad I can’t make this little gem at home. Seriously one of the best soups I have had (outside of a homemade soup).
You can eat in… But I did take out. It takes about 10 minutes for your food to be ready. But it’s a great carry out option in the city!
Looking forward to trying more adult grilled cheeses here!

I really like the Melthouse Bistro. I like it even more now that I see the owner responds to reviews!
My first experience with Melthouse was when I was ordering delivery. It was fast and it was delicious. My curiosity was piqued, and I had to check the place out.
The entire menu is just a revolution of grilled cheese sandwiches. Imagine taking your classic grilled cheese, changing the bread, changing the cheese, adding meats and vegetables, and then serving it.
The grilled cheese is so simple. Two slices of white bread, one or two slices of processed American cheese, and heat. Now it’s a brioche bun, two slices of smoked gouda, fresh deli sliced honey ham, crispy bacon, and a homemade chipotle aioli. Serve it alongside fresh grapes and a chilled glass full of red ale. What I just described is fictitious, but that’s what Melthouse does. They’ve completely reinvented an American classic and made it tastier and healthier (although I’d be wary of throwing that around).
Prices are very fair. The décor is modern, filled with brushed metal, dark woods, and warm colors. Beer and wine are served. A fountain fills your need for soft drinks. Their plates are triangular and remind me of rotary Wankel engines.
Visit the Melthouse Bistro, and I can promise you won’t be disappointed.

This is definitely not worth your money! $ 10 for a sandwich with two pieces of turkey that didn’t even cover the bread!
The worst part was that when I said something to the counter person, they tried to explain to me how expensive turkey is. Not only is that insulting but also a horrible excuse as turkey is one of the cheapest birds on the market!
Disappointing all the way through!

People are opinion machines. For instance, Lenny Kravitz thinks women should run the world (Dec. 9, 2014 —
), Billy Corgan thinks the Foo Fighters’ music doesn’t stack up against The Smashing Pumpkins’ (December 9, 2014 —
) and Diego Costa thinks that ‘Free the Nipple,’ «a fictionalized attempt at shedding light on the real-​life topless women’s movement of the film’s title,» is completely lifeless. (Dec. 9, 2014 —
)
To the above I respectively respond: «Perhaps, Kravitz;» «Seriously, Corgan?;» and «Did someone say ‘nipple’?»
But I digress.
This is Unilocal.The place where regular people review regular restaurants. And my purpose here today is to present my opinion of Melthouse Bistro – an eastside Milwaukee restaurant specializing in grilled cheese sandwiches.
A brilliant concept really, because who doesn’t love a grilled cheese? Melthouse Bistro could take a Kraft American single, smash it between two slices of buttered Wonder Bread, grill it, serve it alongside a cup of Campbell’s tomato soup and they’d get three stars from nostalgic Americans that grew up with a mom like mine. (We love you, Moms. Especially those of you that put Fritos in our soup!)
But Melthouse takes it a step farther. Numerous steps. To elaborate, during my first visit, I had the Sergeant Pepper – a behemoth sourdough grilled sandwich with Wisconsin pepper jack, cheddar, roasted cauliflower, red peppers and tempura fried onions.
If our moms are reading this, right now they’re thinking, «Dang. How come we never thought of that?!»
But Melthouse Bistro did. And they made grilled cheese glorious.
At the same visit, my wife scored The Baconmoto™ (trademarked; believe that). Melthouse describes it as «The classic crowd pleaser of Wisconsin Aged Cheddar (Sharp), Thick-​cut Pecanwood Smoked Bacon, Fresh Tomatoes and Olive Oil Mayo on Buttertop White.»
The only thing that would make it more of a Wisconsin crowd pleaser would be if it was doused in PBR.
Melthouse is good. Real good. In fact, I’d eat here again in a heartbeat.
And I bet if Kravitz dined here, he’d appreciate the fact that it was our moms that taught us of the sublime simplicity of a belly and soul satisfying grilled cheese. Moms are (often) women. Thus women, indeed, rule the world.
If Corgan ate here, twenty years later, he would get in a fight with The Big Sal™ (another trademarked sandwich), lose, refuse defeat and claim that asiago, fresh mozzarella, Italian sausage, roasted red peppers, sautéed onions, portabella mushrooms and bell peppers on ciabatta bread did not push the grilled cheese envelope while he slouches in a corner eating a white bread on white bread sandwich.
Lastly, dining alone after 1:00 AM, Mr. Costa would silently ponder, «The Nipple Grilled Cheese. I wonder if Mr. Redford would be interested in underwriting my new screenplay?»
Opinions. No matter from who they’re expressed, they’re always easier to digest with a grilled cheese in the belly – especially one from Melthouse Bistro.

Listen, do yourself a favor and order the tomato soup. Alone, with a grilled cheese, whatever. That soup is so unbelievably delicious. You will not regret your life choice if you get that soup. My only complaint is there was not enough cheese on my grilled cheese for my taste. If the cheese isn’t oozing out of the sandwich, then there’s not enough cheese on the grilled cheese! That said, my taste is very specific and probably not widely shared. Everyone I was with was very satisfied with their grilled cheeses.

I have wanted to eat here for a while and finally got to check it out. When I first stopped by a few weeks ago, I was taken aback that they were unexpectedly closed due to a power outage (???). Anyway, I returned and it was better than expected!
It was a little strange we were the only people in the restaurant at 7:30pm; Joe R and I are trying to spread the word about this spot that is conveniently located just south of North Ave.
There were two girls working during our visit. I ordered the Dominique: Gorgonzola, Parmesan, Cranberries, Grilled Chicken Breast with Walnut Pesto on Ciabatta. I also ordered a side waffle fries. Good choice all around. The sandwich was large and very meaty and cheesy. I was super hungry and barley finished it. The waffle fries are seasoned, definitely worth the extra $ 1.25.
They have a large selection of sandwiches. It is reminiscent of Panera but there is more cheese involved. They have free Wifi so you can check into Unilocal while you wait for your food ;)
Great food, great service. I definitely want to come back and try some other sandwiches.

The Malthouse Bistro is a rock solid choice for lunch or breakfast. The only reason I don’t rate it higher is because I’ve been blessed by some really amazing meals in my life… and I can’t in my right mind put Malthouse Bistro on par with Sage or E (Vegas WOO!)
The environment is super friendly and very clean. The décor has a new age/​rustic vibe to it.
The location isn’t ideal. It can be difficult to find street parking nearby, and you’ll have to pay for parking unless it’s Sunday.
I had The Rhinelander, which is basically ham, egg and cheese on a couple of big thick pieces of buttered bread (they’ve absolutely crushed the bread here). Lots of flavor, very filling, no complaints at all. I also ordered the waffles, which were light and fluffy BUT a little dry.
I’ll have to take another trip back and explore more of their menu. I don’t think one meal is adequate to really judge the overall quality of this particular bistro.

Good food. I ordered the cheesehead with salad. The salad was fresh. The grilled cheese was delicious. Great service too. Will return on my next visit to Wisco.

So we got this awesome Amazon Local deal to check out the Melthouse bistro. I had no idea what I was walking in to. And Wooa! Gourmet Grilled Cheese? ! The ambience is better for Lunch think more café not so much nighttime date place. You see a huge board listed with an insane amount of grilled cheese variations. You will make a choice, than change your mind, make another choice, go back to your first choice and than change your mind again before settling on that perfect cheesy mouth watering grilled goodness. You will stand in a short line the service is fast. Maybe you will grab a cold soda from the open freezer or maybe you will go classy fountain style. Than they ask you if you want waffle fries! yes waffle fries in delicious seasoning. Than right than you will fall in lunch time love and maybe you will know it maybe you wont but you have already penciled in another visit.

The hubs and I were planning on getting a quick lunch at beans and barley but sadly it was hoppin’ (no surprise); crunched for time we headed to Melthouse.
Cute Cute concept, I order the brasserie and the hubs got the Biloxi. My brasserie was pretty horrible. The short rib was bland, absolutely no taste, cheese (what cheese?), there were tiny pieces of brie, hardly anything noticeable… stewed carrots? wait what? I thought this was short rib… not pot roast. I had to ask them for hot sauce because it was just too bland to eat on its own. The Biloxi was better, but still nothing more than OK. Driving back to my office I was a little sad that I wasted the calories on that lunch (granted, the lack of cheese helped ease my guilt).
I will give them another chance, because I love a good grilled cheese. Next time I will stick with just a simple grilled cheese (hopefully, it will actually come with cheese).

A friend had a Groupon, so we decided to try it out. It’s a cute, if bland, little restaurant. The staff is very friendly, as well as extra efficient. I got the Dominique with apples, and my friend ordered the Marco with waffle fries. First note, definitely upgrade to the waffle fries. Damn, they were tasty.
My sandwich was quite good, if not as flavorful as I expected. My friend reported that his sandwich was pretty bland. His was supposed to have marinara on it, but that seemed to be finely shopped tomatoes and onions, which is not what he expected. Second note, they sandwiches are very large and hard to eat. Get extra napkins.
We both agreed that this place was good, but would need a second trip to suss out better options. Who wants to go?

A grilled cheese restaurant is an exciting prospect. However my brunch was extremely disappointing.
First, yes it seems expensive for a grilled cheese sandwich, $ 26 for two people. Second, ordering at a counter doesn’t bother me but it gives me the expectation that my food will be out shortly. We waited for what seemed like a long time. As an aside, we were the only customers in the restaurant the entire time.
I ordered the birchwood: brick cheese, egg over easy, mushrooms and onions. It was extremely bland. The egg was over cooked and there was very little cheese on it. I agree with others, the bread is delicious but cut so thick it was a little cumbersome to eat. We also got a version of eggs benedict, the eggs were extremely undercooked and unappetizing. The sauce was thick and flavorless.
We also ordered the parmesan hashbrowns which were an underwhelming cheesy-​potato type thing.
Nice décor, good location, not very good food. I wouldn’t go back.