Joe’s on Jolly’s ‘adult’ grilled cheese is a grown-up’s guilty pleasure

Maybe it’s because I love grilled cheese, but I always thought this classic sandwich was for everyone, not just kids. However, on my recent visit to Joe’s on Jolly, my curiosity was piqued by an adult grilled cheese. Since when has there been an “adult” version?

First things first: Joe’s on Jolly is a fairly new eatery on Jolly Road in Okemos that’s best described as a cross between Applebee’s and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. It has a very comfortable sports bar atmosphere, with plenty of TVs screening the latest games and a wide selection of cocktails, burgers, sandwiches, tacos and other comfort foods on the menu. However, unlike most other bars, Joe’s has a scratch kitchen, meaning everything it serves is made in-house using the freshest ingredients from Michigan vendors whenever possible.

Although I almost ordered one of the wraps, I couldn’t resist the temptation of figuring out what makes the grilled cheese so “adult.” Because it was my first time at the restaurant, I decided to go all the way and order it with a side of truffle fries.

According to the menu, the sandwich contains bacon, tomato and a trio of signature-blend cheeses between two slices of artisanal bread. Since I don’t like bacon, I requested it to be left off — why you’d add meat to a traditionally vegetarian sandwich is beyond me — and I don’t think that took anything away from the experience. The bread was perfectly toasted on both sides, the cheese was deliciously melty, and the tomato gave it a little something extra.

The truffle fries weren’t much different than regular fries — they were simply coated in a blend of white truffle oil and sprinkles of parmesan cheese. They were hot, crispy and had an extra kick of flavor that livened up what can be a basic side. Still, if I’m being honest, I prefer regular fries because you don’t need that much flavor if you’re going to wind up dunking them in ketchup anyway.

I guess an “adult” grilled cheese just means you get more ingredients in the sandwich. Other restaurants seem to be hopping on the trend with their own versions. Does this imply that wanting a plain grilled cheese is somehow childish? Of course not. People should enjoy grilled cheese however way they want. However, I have to say that Joe’s on Jolly’s adult version is pretty darn delicious, and fellow cheese lovers should give it a try — with or without the bacon.