Mother’s Ruin

National Grilled Cheese Day is upon us! On April 12th we celebrate all things cheese between bread (not that we don’t worship the world’s best sandwich every day). Here are a few of our favorite places to get cheesy!

Murray’s Cheese

To wrap up their twelve days of specials, Murray’s will be offering their signature Murray’s Melt for just $1.12 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM. Head to the Melts counter at their flagship store on Bleecker Street for a good, old-fashioned classic. 254 Bleecker Street

Ed’s Lobster Bar

Looking for something super indulgent? Ed’s Lobster Bar stuffs their melty grilled cheese with fresh lobster for a can’t-miss treat. If you love to dip your sandwich, the lobster bisque makes a great accompaniment. 222 Lafayette Street

Clinton Hall

If you like your food to be a little extra, Clinton Hall has a showstopper for you. Their famous doughnut grilled cheese pairs melty mozzarella with a freshly glazed doughnut suspended above a bowl of classic tomato soup. Multiple Locations

This French onion soup grilled cheese at Mother’s Ruin will have you questioning why you don’t eat at bars more often. The inside is stuffed with the beloved combo of gruyere cheese and caramelized onions and the outside has crisped cheddar cheese and chives. There is a side of au jus for the soup component. 18 Spring Street

BLACKBARN Restaurant

This ooey, gooey grilled cheese is made with aged cheddar, tarentaise, manchego, and roasted garlic for a gourmet upgrade and served with a cup of tomato soup. 19 East 26th Street

BLACKBARN Cafe & Bar @ Chelsea Market

For something a bit more toothsome, BLACKBARN’S cafe has a brie and NY apple grilled cheese with watercress and jalapeño jam on toasted brioche. Weave your way through Chealsea Market for this flavorful combo! 448 West 16th Street

Boucherie

Le Croque Champignons is a truly glorified grilled cheese. The sandwich is stuffed with house made wild mushroom ragu and gruyere cheese with lots of extra cheese on top. There’s a mixed green salad on the side but you can totally ignore it in favor of more cheese. Multiple Locations

Melt Shop

If you’re really ready to go all out, head to one of Melt Shop’s nine NYC locations for this month’s special: the Notorious CHZ. This triple-decker behemoth is loaded with muenster, pepper jack, brick cheddar cheese spread, and truffle mayo between three pieces of parmesan-crusted bread. Nothing has ever looked more indulgent! Multiple Locations

Four Pillars Gin was born and bred in Melbourne, where bars such as Black Pearl and the Gin Palace have been playing a strong gin game for years. But the bar scene in New York City gets me seriously excited. In fact, I’ve long since had a copy of the Death & Co book on my bench at the distillery.

Here are my top seven places to drink gin in New York City right now — but ask me tomorrow, after a great Negroni somewhere, and I might have changed my mind…

1. BlackTail

Wow! This place is very, very cool. A Cuban-themed homage to classic cocktails, perfectly made and served, from the guys behind Dead Rabbit. They served up a sensational Southside when I dropped in.

2. Mother’s Ruin

Just the right amount of dive for a great sessionable bar. From Kathleen Turner, the boozy slushie machine, to a deadly Last Word, this is a place for long, late nights.

3. Bathtub Gin

You gotta love a bar so committed to gin that they put it in the name. Hidden entrance, copper bathtub and Four Pillars Gin behind the bar…this is definitely a new New York City happy place for me.

4. Dante

Home to some of the best drink-slinging Australians in New York, and also to a quite sensational list of 12 different variations on a Negroni. Get here for apertivo hour, and stay all night.

5. Attaboy

Not much to be said about this place that hasn’t been written already. New York City’s legendary Milk & Honey reincarnated, retooled, renamed and more awesome than ever.

6. Pouring Ribbons

Now offering a quarterly-themed menu, with springtime celebrating the flavors of the Silk Road. Huge creativity and attention to detail in some unique gin drinks.

7. The Manhattan Cricket Club

A great bar, a little off the beaten path. Committed to cricket and drinking, just like every great Australian. What’s not to love?

Okay, that’s seven. But that’s a lucky number, right? And I didn’t even mention the superb Up & Up or Employees Only or Extra Fancy.

Like I said, the list could be different next week. Or after another drink!