Melt Shop Opens Second Location, Bringing Grilled Cheese Downtown

Chelsea is about to get cheesier with the arrival of Melt Shop, a gourmet grilled cheese restaurant opening its second location today. With a larger menu, indoor and outdoor seating, as well as the addition of draft beer (Melt Shop is the exclusive NYC distributor for Montauk Brewing Company) the second location is the perfect new Chelsea outpost for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"We're looking forward to joining the neighborhood and introducing even more people to Melt Shop," says Founder, Spencer Rubin. "We want Melt Shop to be a place where you come to relax, enjoy a great bite, and have a brew, if you so choose. We've added some fun new menu options, including a kid's menu, and beer from Montauk Brewing Company that you can't find anywhere else in Manhattan."

Several variations have been added to Melt's sandwich roster, including The Award Winner, with blue cheese, cheddar cheese, thick cut bacon and homemade cranberry pepper jam; 24 Hour Pork with pecan and oak-smoked all natural pulled pork, aged cheddar, dill pickle and barbeque sauce; and Thanksgiving Dinner with brie, smoked turkey, caramelized onions and cranberry jam. Keeping with Melt's dedication to "a grilled cheese for all occasions" there's also an enticing selection of breakfast sandwiches and a build-your-own option. Every sandwich is specially packaged in signature to-go boxes to ensure maximum crispiness until patrons are ready to enjoy their first cheesy bite. Each sandwich is served on Orwasher's Artisanal Bread or a gluten-free option. Creative sides like Sweet Potato Tots and a refreshing Arugula Salad with pickled onions and sherry vinaigrette are also offered.

Sweet endings include specialty shakes like PB&J, Cookies n' Cream, and Birthday Cake, as well as homemade ice cream sandwiches made by Melt Bakery. Beverage options include La Colombe coffee and Pabst Blue Ribbon (in addition to rotating selections from Montauk Brewing Company).

Designed by nemaworkshop, the restaurant is a welcoming urban eatery with yellow subway tile walls combined with reclaimed wooden beam accents. A black menu panel-inspired by vintage railway schedule boards-will greet customers at the entrance and offers a handsome contrast to the lightly-hued interior. For those who wish to stay and dine, counter and table seating is available inside, as well as table seating in the outdoor courtyard area, which is fully equipped with heaters for the chillier months.

Breakfast sandwiches start at $3.95 and grilled cheeses range from $4.95 to $8.95. Melt Shop's Chelsea location is located at 55 West 26th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue in Manhattan. The eatery will be open daily from 7:30AM-10:30PM. For more information, please call 212-447-MELT (6358), or visit www.meltshop.com. Twitter: @melt_shop.