The buzz was palpable when Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese arrived in Boise — or maybe it was the sound of all those belts being unfastened.
In late 2022, the restaurant took over a freestanding building at 6565 W. Fairview Ave. and drew a large, enthusiastic crowd for a preview event.
“We were overwhelmed,” the general manager told the Statesman.
Less than two years later, the quirky concept is closing its doors on Fairview Avenue and moving. After a final day on August 31, Meltz will bring his cheesy act to the Boise Spectrum, 7709 W. Overland Road.
Meltz is moving into Spectrum’s Chow Public Market and Eatery, offering its menu of grilled cheese sandwiches in a food court-style setting.
“We’re excited,” said Matt Schirmer, president of real estate for DD Dunlap Companies, which owns the Spectrum. The targeted opening date is early September, he added.
Meltz Extreme will join Tamales Nelly Mexican Food as food options at Chow.“It should be a very, very good addition,” Schirmer said.
In fact, Meltz will about the Tamales Nelly space. The new Meltz is part of a reshuffle at Chow. Tamales Nelly will move into the spot formerly occupied by the recently closed Vegan Soul. Meanwhile, catering company FoodCulture is taking over the old Louisiana Soul Bayou space, he said. And Bomb Burger, a pop-up concept at Chow, plans to close at the end of the month, Schirmer said.
Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese is a comfort food concept on steroids that launched in 2012 in Coeur d’Alene. The original shop still serves up cheese creations.
Both restaurants happily dish up unashamed calorie bombs. Where else can you find a belly-aching, proudly hedonistic sandwich like The Oinker ($15.95 full, $7.95 half)? It’s made with sharp cheddar, barbecued pulled pork and mac ‘n’ cheese, plus bacon and buttermilk sautéed onions.
Another popular choice? The Potsticker Meltz. Or, as the menu brags, “the winner of the 2013 National Grilled Cheese Invitation.” For $16.95 for the whole meal, or $8.50 for a half, it’s made with provolone and pepper jack cheese, pork, peppers, garlic, ginger, soy, scallions, sesame seeds, fried wontons, and Sriracha chili aioli — and it’s served with potsticker dipping sauce.
Because the sandwiches at Meltz are made to order, customers should expect a wait of several minutes after paying, depending on how busy the restaurant is.
But most people definitely find it worth it.
“I LOVE Meltz,” wrote a recent reviewer on Google, where Meltz has a 4.5 out of 5.0 rating, adding, “their food is delicious.”
Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese also has a mobile operation. Boiseans can find it at the Western Idaho Fair through Sunday.
