We Celebrated Grilled Cheese Day at The Compound in Utica
Brie. Cheddar. Gouda. Burrata. The Compound has it all. Mix that with their homemade butter and you’ve got the premiere spot for artisan grilled cheese sandwiches in Central New York.
Anna and Sharrone Sofer first opened The Compound in November of 2020 in Clinton, New York. The restaurant was quaint and colorful, offering creative compound butters made in house, decadent grilled cheese sandwiches, and high tea experiences. And we aren’t talking about your average college student grilled cheeses. No, their sandwiches feature artisan cheeses, homemade butters, fresh fruit, and all the other additions your heart desires. It’s no surprise that they quickly became “the spot” to visit in Oneida County. In turn, that led to dreams of opening a second location, with more square footage so they could be even more creative with their offerings.
After finding the perfect location in nearby Utica, the Sofers launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds to open their second location. And just a year and a half after opening their first location, The Compound found a second home in Utica’s historic Baggs Square neighborhood.
While their signature grilled cheese creations remain at the core of the menu, the new location also offers burgers, salads, toasts, and loaded baked potatoes. Each item features its own assortment of ingredients that combine to create some truly incredible dishes. Plus they’ve kept their famous tomato bisque and added a loaded potato soup – which are both delicious and satisfying.
Here’s a taste of what the menu includes:
- “The Gold Digger” Grilled Cheese – made with basil honey butter, burrata, mozzarella, prosciutto, grilled peaches, and a balsamic drizzle.
- “The Really Baked” Potato – a vegan specialty with green ‘butter’, ‘cream cheese’, ‘cheddar’, chipotle pecan pesto, and pickled onions.
- “The Bless Her Heart” Burger – featuring maple sea salt butter, brie, apple slices, bacon, and hot honey.
- “The Millenial” Toast – topped with black truffle butter, avocado, a fried egg, bacon, tomato, and everything seasoning.
If these choices don’t make your mouth water, be sure to check out their social media for daily and weekly specials. Anna also creates incredible charcuterie boards available by preorder. And there is an event space on the second floor of the restaurant for private gatherings.
