‘Swamped’ during a preview, this Boise restaurant has opened. The place is totally cheesy

When Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese announced an invite-only preview prior to opening, Boise nearly lost its social-media mind.

“VERY EXCITED,” one commenter shrieked on Facebook. “Oh, pick me! Pick me!” begged another. “Can’t freaking wait!” wrote one more.

So when the big night finally occurred Nov. 3 at 6565 W. Fairview Ave., the stampede was predictable.

“We were swamped,” general manager Brenden Kenley admits, “but it still went pretty well — and we were excited to do it.”

Now open, Meltz adds a comfort-food-on-steroids dimension to Fairview Avenue’s restaurant row.

Where else can you find a gut-busting, proudly hedonistic sandwich like The Oinker ($14.95 full, $7.95 half)?

North Idaho residents have been loosening their belts for that one for years. Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese was founded in 2012 in Coeur d’Alene, where the original restaurant continues to churn out cheesy creations.

The Boise expansion was announced early in spring. It’s in a building constructed where Los Mariachis burned down in 2019. The Boise Meltz was made possible through a licensing agreement, Kenley said. The two Meltz restaurants will have mostly identical menus. For now, Boise’s offerings are limited; additional sandwiches will be added in the coming weeks.

That Oinker? Kenley says it’s the biggest-selling sandwich at Meltz in Coeur d’Alene, which rates 4 1/2 out of 5 stars on Yelp. It’s made with sharp cheddar, barbecued pulled pork and mac ‘n’ cheese, plus bacon and buttermilk fried onions.

The next most popular sammy? That’s probably the Potsticker Meltz. Or as the menu brags, “the 2013 National Grilled Cheese Invitation winner.” For $15.95 full, or $8.50 half, it’s made with provolone and pepper Jack cheese, pork, pepper, garlic, ginger, soy, scallion, sesame, fried wonton and sriracha-chili aioli — and it’s served with potsticker dipping sauce.

Meltz digs its dipping. The Boise restaurant offers chip ‘n’ dip samples at the ordering counter. The two dips are an artichoke, ancho pesto and pickled pepper concoction, and a gorgonzola and sweet chili version. Each costs $3.50 for three ounces or $10.95 for a pint.

What’s the dip scoop? Housemade Yukon Gold potato chips ($3.95 small, $9 large, $11 party). Those are fried daily and laced with peppery “Extreme” seasoning. I was still nibbling through a small bag 24 hours later. Those chips are tasty even without dip.

No, you’re not going to lose any weight at this place. But Meltz does offer a handful of salads. There also are enticing soups, including Extreme Tomato, Tomato Basil Bisque and Mac & Cheese Soup.

Wash it all down with a diet soda; 24-ounce fountain drinks are $3.50. Or a beer — Meltz serves 12-ounce cans for $6.

Half sandwiches at Meltz are available as combos for $13.95. Or you can add chips and a drink to any full sandwich for an extra $5. And, yes, you can get a Kidz Half Sandwich for $7.

Since sandwiches are made to order, expect to wait about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how busy the restaurant is.

Meltz temporarily is open only for lunch. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. When full hours kick in later in November, Meltz will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Meltz is closed Sundays.

Eventually, Meltz plans to offer online ordering, Kenley said. There’s a pickup window on the building’s exterior. At the moment, you have to walk into the restaurant to order takeout. Delivery through DoorDash and Uber Eats is planned, too.

But as of now? You’ll need to travel to Meltz. Consider jogging. If you burn off those extra calories, you’ll deserve a full-size Oinker, right?

Better yet, just skip the jogging and wear the sweatpants.

This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 4:00 AM.