St. Petersburg has quickly become a mecca of delightful treats for Food Enthusiasts. With a new restaurant opening every few weeks, it is difficult to keep up with the food scene. Sometimes fate intervenes. When I heard that there was a new place restaurant opening that literally was named after tomato soup and grilled cheese, I was already sold. I have always been a huge fan of soup and grilled cheese. I am pretty much obsessed with this combination even though I am in my 30’s. Needless to say, I felt like this new restaurant “Tom + Chee” and I were going to become good friends. Little did I know.

Upon walking into the door of this new-to-me concept, I was greeted by one of the very passionate owners. She was a lot of fun to talk to and immediately recommended a popular grilled cheese called “Armagoetta”. I did not make the connection to goetta until I read what was in this sandwich. For those of you unfamiliar with this Cincinnati staple, it is best described as a meat and grain sausage. More importantly for Cincinnati natives, it is a slice of home.

I just so happen to be from Cincinnati. I knew that I would like Tom + Chee, but I had no idea just how special this restaurant would be for me.

Alas, I did not order the Armagoetta (which features goetta, spicy cherry pepper, fried onion, sweet hot mustard, pepper jack, hardy white, and pumpernickel rye) since I was reviewing this meal. I wanted to order something that a typical St. Petersburg resident would order. I choose The Flying Pig.

The Flying Pig

The Flying Pig features roasted turkey, bacon, pickle, smoked gouda, and hardy white cheese. It is a pork lovers dream slapped in between two pieces of toast. I also caution that these sandwiches are not for the faint of heart, they are huge. This sandwich was so incredibly good that I will have a hard time NOT ordering it in the future. Expectations met and surpassed.

Of course, any grilled cheese needs to come with a hearty bowl of soup. While tomato is my absolute favorite, I was drawn to the special “beer cheese soup”.

Beer Cheese Soup

This soup did not disappoint me either. It was packed full of flavor. The soup is made fresh daily and can be ordered in a dipper, cup or bowl (pictured). Luckily, I had my trusted tasting companion with me and I was able to try his selections also. He decided to go with the Pesto + Turkey grilled cheese which contains roasted turkey, pesto, mozz, and hardy white cheese. For his soup, he ordered creamy tomato basil. I will admit that while I liked my beer cheese soup, I liked his better and we switched half way through. Isn’t that the best part about having someone to dine with you? Luckily, he liked the beer cheese soup the best.

Pesto + Turkey

Creamy Tomato Basil

Tom + Chee is also known for their grilled cheese donuts. Yes, I typed that correctly, GRILLED CHEESE DONUTS.  There are nine incredible desert combinations on the menu. I am a huge peanut butter and banana fan, so I naturally choose “The King”.

The King

The King consists of banana, peanut butter, marscapone, and mozz on a donut. Decadent. Delicious. Sinful. Perfection.

If I haven’t sold you on Tom + Chee yet, their story is pretty amazing too. The founders Trew and Corey started out by selling food with their wives in Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati in a tent. This was in 2009. Tom + Chee already has over two dozen locations. Tom + Chee is proof that hard work, determination and great food pay off. Visit the St. Petersburg location at 6802 22nd Ave N and see for yourself.