I present exhibit A: The Jalapeño Popper grilled cheese made with chèvre, monterey jack, applewood-smoked bacon, and apricot-jalapeño relish. Just a precious few weeks after opening their doors, The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen and their don’t-show-this-to-mom melty reboot has made it into Grub Street’s top San Francisco sandwiches list. They consistently sell out of every sandwich on the menu, and they offer a milk and cookies happy hour–a pumped up version of the one grandma offered.
Nothing in South Park even comes close. (Look, I don’t even eat bacon and I contemplated breaking the whole vegetarian thing for Grub Street’s pick.) There’s outdoor seating–you know, just in case there are more than two warm days between June and September–and the founders of the place are lovely. A few weeks ago a coworker called to ask if she could bring her own gluten-free bread, and, as it turns out, The American makes their own. Last Friday’s special was a perfect weekend send off: a bucket-o-beers. What’s not to love?