Smivey ..
Yelp
Before you decide you've had the best grilled-cheese sandwich in your life, here's what you need to do:
Go to Surfas Culinary District on Washington Blvd. The parking lot is small, but don't be discouraged. Find a space. Any space. Enter through the automatic doors and head past the friendly cashiers, straight to the cafe. You may be distracted by all of the fresh panini sandwiches stacked in the case, but remember, you're here for one thing: The Ultimate Grilled Cheese.
Order the sandwich by name, then go for a stroll around the store. Lots of cool things here--especially if you're a chef. But even if you're not a chef. Food is to the left. Equipment is to the right. You'll probably have time for both.
Once your sandwich is ready, it's best to take a bite as soon as possible, when the bread is still warm and crispy and the cheese is all melty. The first thing you're going to notice is this is not your typical grilled-cheese sandwich bread. It's not a rustic white or even a rye--it's got raisins in it.
And then there's the cheese. These are the cheeses normally reserved for fancy charcuterie boards. This is a gourmet shop, remember. They know their cheeses. You're not going to find any Kraft Singles in there, or even a cheddar. Honestly, I'm not sure what they use. But they definitely put a lot of thought into it.
What does it taste like? I'm not sure there's actually a word. It's like the most extraordinary combination of salty and sweet--the saltiness from the cheeses, the sweetness from those raisins. I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone has ever offered a grilled-cheese sandwich like this before--even at those places that specialise in grilled cheese. It's like the best grilled-cheese sandwich in L.A., the country, maybe even the world. That may sound like an overpromise, but you haven't tried the Ultimate Grilled Cheese.