Review: Cheese ‘n’ Toasted, a grilled cheese sandwich shop in Stockbridge

Stockbridge is a delight of opportunity and a fantastic place to eat.

When good options surround people, there’s no room for mediocre or underwhelming, so imagine how good the grilled cheese sandwiches are at Cheese ‘n’ Toasted.

I’ve been a half dozen times and never regretted it, but my big belly has sometimes wanted a follow-up pudding!

If you think a toastie specialist sounds more suitable for a food shack or truck than a shop in one of Edinburgh’s popular neighbourhoods, then fear not. Step into Cheese ‘n’ Toasted, and you’ll see your charmingly decorated food shack. There’s a shed, or some of it, inside the shop. You also have a weatherproof area to sit down and enjoy your cheesy treat.

There are plant-based options if old-fashioned cheesy treats aren’t your thing.

Cheese ‘n’ Toasted’s food

I know what the grumbles will be – how good does a toastie need to be to be worth £7?

Firstly, in addition to the plant-based options, Cheese ‘n’ Toasted has one section called ‘Little Cheese combo’, with the lowest cost option being the three cheese blend for less than £5 and the most, the pizza toastie, for £6. That’s not so bad. (Warning: prices change.)

Secondly, I’ve haunted exclusively in the ‘Big Cheese combo’s’ with beasts like The New Yorker, with peppered beef pastrami, American mustard, gherkins and the three cheese blend or the Stockbridge Stack with pulled ham hock, roast chicken, freshly made pesto and then the cheese blend costing £7.50. If I’m going to take up my entire lunch break to go for a toastie, then I want it to be a special one.

I admit, if you Deliveroo Cheese ‘n’ Toasted you have to add about 30% on for the delivery markup. Right now, by the way, Zoom by Ocado is charging £4.50 for a not-toasted no-mayo smoked salmon & cream cheese sandwich.

So, I don’t grumble. If I’m in the mood for a toastie, then I don’t even ask myself, ‘Where shall I go?’ I go to Cheese ‘n’ Toasted.

Cheese ‘n’ Toasted’s vibe

It’s not table service at Cheese ‘n’ Toasted. You take yourself to the front of the interior food shack, order and then find a place to sit or lurk if you intend to take your toastie back to work. Often, once your order has gone in, the solo staff member must vanish from the kitchen window to make the grilled cheese. As a result, that’s not a massive amount of vibe.

However, it’s a friendly service. I’ve rocked up with ItisOn vouchers more than once and have never been met with a grumble, nor even a wince.

And if you don’t interact with the staff much, you get the Stockbridge vibe. There’s sometimes banter or observations from tourists from all over the round-as-ball globe of our Earth, friendly locals, and fellow workers on lunch breaks and since Cheese ‘n’ Toasted has this feeling of a private food truck, then sometimes (not always) there’s a touch of camaraderie there.

Things to do in Stockbridge

Stockbridge is a shopping heaven, especially on Sunday when the Farmer’s Market is running.

Rather than list Cheese ‘n’ Toasted’s culinary rivals, let me call out the numerous galleries, such as Graystone, which moved from Leith to Hamilton Place. You’ll also find Rare Bird Books nearby, across the road, and that’s worth a visit.

Not far from Cheese ‘n’ Toasted, around the side of a pizza place, you can find a walkway down to the Water of Leith, which can take you to Inverleith Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Ultimately, Stockbridge is a short walk from the Instagram-centric Dean Village and just a little further, although not in the same direction, to Princess Street.

Overall

I like Cheese ‘n’ Toasted, and while I wouldn’t march a friend there with a ‘You must try this place’ command in force, not unless they were a known grilled cheese fanatic (of which I know a few), I absolutely would suggest it for a straight-forward and safe Stockbridge brunch, lunch or snack!

My main grumble is that it’s not always quick because Cheese ‘n’ Toasted makes their grilled sandwiches on request and because it can be busy at lunch. If customers in front of you are filling all the grills, you’ll simply have to wait until there’s capacity.

Writing this review has made me hungry for a return visit to the grilled cheese shack within a shop, and that’s telling!