The Lodge
3758 Piedmont Avenue [Map]
Oakland, CA 94611
Ph: (510) 350-8470
Hours: Mon-Fri 4pm-12am; Sat-Sun 12am-12pm
Facebook: The Lodge on Piedmont
Price range: $ Sandwiches ($10 and under)

A Most Exquisite Grilled Cheese Sandwich

The self-proclaimed "best-ever, slow-cooked grilled cheese" sandwich from The Cook and Her Farmer. (Jenny Oh)

When a restaurant touts one of its dishes as the "best-ever" of its kind, it better live up to the promised hype of being at the top of its game. And certainly The Cook and Her Farmer's creation is one of those photogenic sandwiches that will regularly pop up in your Instagram feed via aspiring food pornographers. Dusted with dreamy clouds of grated pecorino Romano cheese, its elegant presentation definitely earns it quite a few points in the eye candy department. Fat slices of Acme levain are stuffed with generous helpings of shredded aged Gruyère and dry Jack cheeses. (On a recent visit, however, it was disappointing to find that some of the cheese hadn't quite melted all the way down to its core despite their slow cooking process.) A seasonal, housemade mostarda di fruitta adds a sweet note to the sandwich (which was cranberry in a nod to the holidays) with some fresh arugula to balance out its rich flavors. It's a substantial sandwich that needs no additional sides to fill you up at lunch, although you do have the option to add avocado, heirloom tomatoes or even an egg if you're wanting to take it to the next level of decadence.

The Cook and Her Farmer
907 Washington Street [Map]
Oakland, CA 94607
Ph: (510) 285-6140
Hours: Mon 9am-4pm; Tue-Thu 9am-9pm; Fri-Sat 9am-10pm
Facebook: The Cook and Her Farmer
Price range: $$ Sandwiches ($11-$17)

Simple and Satisfyingly Delicious

The whole grain mustard pairs well with the sharp cheddar on Grand Lake Kitchen's simple yet satisfying grilled cheese sandwich. (Jenny Oh)

Grand Lake Kitchen's grilled cheese sandwich is a no-frills affair: melted sharp cheddar oozes from two soft slices of sourdough bread spread with whole grain mustard. It's the affordable, adult-version of the grilled cheese you grew up eating as a kid, but this one's made with quality ingredients (local and seasonal) and pairs well with an optional side salad like baby kale greens. There's always a housemade soup of day, so feel free to splurge a little if you want a liquid sidekick with your sandwich. And they have a small deli that carries select grocery items, beer and wine for sale if you'd like to pick up some gourmet items to take home.

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