The Queens Kickshaw: My 2011 Resolution

Astoria has been getting some great restaurants lately. The latest addition to the neighborhood is The Queens Kickshaw, that’s a coffee shop specializing in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. I’ve been twice and I loved it both times. First, I love cheese. You may recall I plan on naming my kid Brie, Colby and Jack after my three favorite cheeses.

While The Queens Kickshaw uses different cheeses than the namesakes of my unborn children, they kick it up a notch with the toppings they add. For example, I recently had a gouda grilled cheese. Added to the sandwich was black bean hummus, guava jam and jalapenos. The guava jam had a sweet aftertaste so I loved that I was able to get the perfect sweet and salty combination.

Surprisingly, this was the first time I’ve ever dined alone at a restaurant. Sure, I’ve eaten alone on business trips, but here I ate alone by choice. While there are tables scattered throughout the back for you to seat yourself, there is a huge coffee bar for you to sit at. When my boyfriend and I ate here a few weeks back, we chose to sit at a certain part of the bar because you have a perfect view of the chef cooking your sandwich.

That time, I ordered a mozzarella and cheddar grilled cheese. I watched as the chef baked my sandwich as an open face, and then proceeded to grill it as a sandwich. Served on the side was a tomato soup that you couldn’t help but dip your sandwich in.  The fancier sandwiches (i.e. gouda, blue cheese) come with a side salad.

My only “pain points” with The Queens Kickshaw are the hours and price. It is only open to 4:30 on weeknights meaning I can only get my grilled cheese fix on weekends. The spot has only been open for a month so I hope that may change soon.

My only other gripe is the grilled cheese is a little pricey for grilled cheese – between $8 – $11. It blows any diner grilled cheese though out of the water so I guess you get what you pay for.

I think I failed my New Year’s resolution, but after The Queens Kickshaw, I have a new goal in 2011- to try all 7 grilled cheeses on the menu. And if you are a Queens Kickshaw employee, please consider adding a Colby or Brie grilled cheese.