Photo: Sarah De Heer
After reporting yesterday on KFC's Double's Down newest rival, Friendly's Grilled Cheese BurgerMelt, we had to try one for ourselves. This glorified patty melt consists of a Friendly's Big Beef burger with lettuce, tomato, and mayo and, instead of a bun, two grilled cheese sandwiches -- we can't make this stuff up.
The complete review after the jump.
Friendly's Grilled Cheese BurgerMelt
Grade: B+
Nutritional Info: 1500 calories, 97 grams fat, 2090 mgs sodium
While completely over the top, this sandwich is also pure genius. Yes, it's higher in calories, fat and sodium than the Double Down, but the ingredients in this sandwich are more harmonious, making it an embarrassingly pleasurable eating experience. (As one of our readers recently commented, "...at its heart, all this is is a cheeseburger on buttered toast.")
The grilled cheese "buns" were buttery, oozing with just the right amount of cheese and just the right amount of greasiness. True, the burger could have been more plump and juicy but it was the right amount of beef to balance out the two grilled cheese sandwiches. The only thing we'd do differently is skip the lettuce. Watery, shredded lettuce did not pair well with the grilled cheese.
The verdict: Considering the nutritional facts, it's going to be hard to eat another one of these without feeling significant guilt and remorse. However, we applaud Friendly's for the invention; they've guaranteed that cardiologists around the world will not be short of business.
We're starting to nervously wonder what crazy concoction will be thought up of next, and kindly ask fast-food establishments from around the country to go easy on us.
6-23-2010 @1:16PM dogcow said... That burger patty looks...deep-fried.
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6-23-2010 @5:38PM King David said... In Lakeland Florida there is a Sports bar called "Bedrock's". They have the "Roethlisberger" -- a half pounder with a sausage patty of enough size to cover the burger, then fried onions, with cheese, lettuce and tomato ( I believe that I did even see a fried egg on one at one time). Mmmmmmm, a creation of Rick, who is also from Pittsburgh. Pass the Rolaids...
6-23-2010 @7:47PM Catmoves said... Slashfood Editor, eh? You apparently felt the need to hide behind an alias, too? But then, I don't write drivel like this, either.
This is simply one more movement to destroy American's taste buds so that when the quality of our beef and chicken is destroyed by horrendous and potentially life threatening oversalting, we won't be able to know what the meat tastes like.
And believe me, chemists in big food processing companies are waiting for that event. They will be able to say to their boss that "we got 'em now. And our costs will drop by 49%. Money in your pocket, boss."
6-23-2010 @7:40PM Jen said... This is the most DISGUSTING thing I have seen in awhile....This is why America has such a huge obesity problem.......I would say that this is probably 2 days worth of fat and calorie intake.
7-27-2010 @9:38AM kate tomlinson said... Are you serious?? Trolling articles for grammar errors?? Really?
6-23-2010 @2:28PM Gary said... OK you fat people this is about food not "The biggest Losers" .
I am a large person and like my grandfather said
" Be large, that way you will have more people around when you die to carry the casket".
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6-23-2010 @4:02PM Jack Watkins, RN said... As D. Osborn would say: ...Ya gotta be bigger to be better..."
6-23-2010 @2:23PM curk said... this sandwich is amazing, I get one a week. If I ate any more I would look like Jabba the Hut.
But, MAN is it good!
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6-23-2010 @2:32PM Brandon said... How is this a new invention? Hardee's came out with one of these months ago.
6-23-2010 @4:12PM Nate Miller said... my friend went to florida for a comic convention thing, and they have a restaurant with one of those down there, have for years. except it has larger "buns" and a bigger patty, and an egg, and hashbrowns...its much bigger and sounds much more delicous and looks much better...so yea, not like its a new idea, they must have heard about that one and thought, how can we make it cheaper...
6-23-2010 @3:32PM carl d. said... I've seen this sandwich on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives. Nothing new.
6-23-2010 @4:02PM Darlene said... This is not new to Friendly's anyway. When I was a kid (in the late 60's early 70's) Friendly's had what they called a Friendly Burger on their menu. It was a grilled cheese opened up with a burger, lettuce, tomato and onion inside. My father's favorite burger in the world. I still make them to this day. So all they really did was add another grilled cheese. Which sounds like overkill to me.
7-28-2010 @4:12AM kaysimone1 said... @Leonel, at least I am an educated snooty snob. Also, you should start the first word in a sentence with a capital letter, that is the correct way.
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6-23-2010 @2:40PM LinC said... I'm gaining weight just looking at the picture. Here's what that burger will cost you: 1500 calories (870 from fat); 79g of saturated fat; and 2090mg of sodium. No thanks. I'll clog my arteries with something else.
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6-23-2010 @2:58PM skyyneat said... proofread IS ONE WORD.
SO, STFU..YOU READ THIS????
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6-23-2010 @3:34PM bob said... as a prior heart-attack vicitem I find this as one more thing Not to eat>
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6-23-2010 @3:02PM Melody said... I'll probably try one, only because I'm curious how it actually tastes. I'm sure it's a real treat for the ol' taste buds, but obviously a disaster for the overall health of ANYONE'S body. Like I said, I'll probably try ONE out of sheer curiosity, but I care about my health. I just feel sorry for the already obese people out there who have no self-control and/or have already given up on themselves and their appearance and health... they will probably make this thing one of their daily food staples. They most likely have so much unhappiness and hopelessness in their lives that food is the only thing that gives them any type of joy.
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6-23-2010 @6:23PM Melody said... Truth hurts Courtney I know. I'm assuming you'll be ordering yours with a large fries and DIET coke, lmao. Read the overwhelming majority of comments on here on the obesity issue - they support what I'm saying. Sorry you can't wrap that around your brain. Maybe if it had bacon on it...
6-23-2010 @4:13PM Peter said... Friendly's only in Ohio?
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6-23-2010 @3:04PM jr819 said... Though knowing it is disgustingly unhealthy, it does look divine! Without tasting one, I would concur with the lettuce being a bad idea.....coleslaw would taste better and hold up, and add that extra bit of perfection :)
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