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There is nothing more soothing on this Earth sometimes than a grilled cheese sandwich. The ‘quick fix’ creation, which many consider both comfort food and college food, is usually the first thing a young cook learns to make. But not many people possess that magical touch of getting the right “burn” on the bread and “goo” with the cheese. Lucky for us, a Texas Southern University alumn found the formula and is spreading the love with the gift of EXPANSION!

Twisted Grilled Cheese––Houston’s favorite purveyors of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches––will open its first brick-and-mortar restaurant on Saturday, November 21.

The new location for the eatery is stunning, occupying 2,300 square feet, plus a spacious 800-square-foot patio, along the bustling Washington corridor. The family-owned and operated business — founded by Houston native and TSU graduate Ahmad Fobbs — first gained traction as a must-visit food truck.

The first brick-and-mortar outpost is a direct reflection of Twisted Grilled Cheese’s runaway success, as well as food trucks’ growing viability as a launch pad for new food concepts. Jumpstarted just over one year ago, the original Twisted Grilled Cheese food truck quickly earned a loyal following that grew exponentially thanks to word-of-mouth love for its now-signature gourmet comfort food. The beloved food trucks will remain parked at favorite stops including Power Center Food Truck Park, Galleria Food Truck Park, and Foodie Trucks Park in Katy. 

Take a look at the mouth watering photo slideshow and you’ll see why we called on the name of ‘The Almighty’ in the headline. Photo credit: Rebecca Wright

Twisted Grilled Cheese on Washington will feature an expanded menu and full bar featuring craft cocktails. A total of 13 gourmet sandwiches anchor the offerings: Signature sandwiches including The 5 Cheese PepperoniThe Smokehouse BrisketThe Buffalo ChickenThe Halal Philly Grilled CheesesteakThe Halal Philly Grilled Chicken, and The Twisted Burger will be joined by three adventurous newcomers including The Avocado BLT+EThe Tarragon Lobster, and The Smoked SalmonThree inspired new vegetarian sandwiches will also debut at Twisted Grilled Cheese on Washington: The Truffle MushroomThe Spinach & Artichoke, and The Eggplant Parmesan. To define their flavor, Twisted Grilled Cheese developed an in-house special seasoning mix used on all their meats, which may be added to any sandwich. 

A gluten-free bread option, available for every sandwich, will be another Twisted Grilled Cheese brick-and-mortar exclusive.

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Twisted Grilled Cheese on Washington will also unveil a deeper list of sides, desserts, and drink choices. A new Loaded Fries menu option includes The Brisket Fries and The Halal Steak Fries. Crowd favorites Parmesan Waffle FriesTruffle Onion RingsTomato Basil Soup, and Kettle Potato Chips are joined by brand new Parmesan Sweet Potato Fries. All of Twisted Grilled Cheese’s fries and onion rings also feature a house-created fry seasoning mix. New desserts joining the groundbreaking Cheesecake Dessert Sandwich include Cheesecake Donut HolesDouble Chocolate Chip CookieThe Nutella Dessert Sandwich, and The Lemon-Berry Dessert SandwichThe Banana Split and The Chocolate Chip Shakes will also debut on Washington, joining The Turtleand The Peanut Butter Cup ShakesTGC Signature Limeade will be available on the drinks menu, along with the new TGC Twisted Sweet Tea and Stubborn Soda Fountain Drinks.

The bar menu at Twisted Grilled Cheese on Washington is a natural extension of the playful epicurean brilliance that has defined the eatery thus far. Craft cocktails will include the Sassy Old FashionedTwisted Sweet Texas Tea,Creamsicle MartiniCandied Apple MartiniPeach Love & HappinessTwisted Limeade and the Twisted Margarita Rocks. Two “Adults-Only” Milkshakes round out the bar menu: the Screwball Chocolate Malt and the Berries and Cream.

Day-to-day operations for Twisted Grilled Cheese are overseen by Erinne Willrich and Paige Palmer. Willrich, a Houston native who is a graduate of the University of Houston and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, is also a practicing attorney. Palmer, a New Orleans native, is a graduate of Louisiana State University and also serves as Executive Assistant & Landscape Designer for a Houston landscaping company.

“We love coming up with new ways to make comfort food for foodies,” Willrich says. “We are so grateful for the support that has encouraged and enabled us to open our first brick and mortar, and we can’t wait to introduce even more people to the perfect grilled cheese sandwich.” 

A lively space customized to cultivate an environment as vibrant as it is welcoming, Twisted Grilled Cheese on Washington was designed by gin design group. Featuring thoughtful touches such as Houston-inspired murals by local artist Armando and a statement bar comprising handcrafted, custom triangular ceramic tiles, both indoor and outdoor dining spaces at Twisted Grilled Cheese on Washington combine urban energy, creativity, and colorful grilled cheese iconography. Houston-based Pruitt Structures, LLC, built out the dynamic space.

“For this concept, we drew inspiration from the design details of the notorious British nightclub The Hacienda Manchester: colors that scream, patterns that blur your vision and surreal touches that elicit double-takes to create a space that reinforces the unexpected nature of the Twisted brand,” says Gin Braverman, Founder and Creative Director of gin design group. 

Twisted Grilled Cheese is located at at 5555 Washington Avenue. Hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday, 11 am – 9 pm, and Friday and Saturday, 11am – 10pm. To learn more about Twisted Grilled Cheese, visit www.twistedgrilledcheese.com.