Cheese Louise is a popular, downtown, comfort-food superstore specializing in cheese sandwiches, located a block from Market Square in the heart of Portsmouth. (MAP)

Created by three college friends who started selling grilled cheese sandwiches from a food truck, Cheese Louise morphed into a small chain of affordable, casual, fast-food restaurants featuring grilled cheese sandwich variations.  The concept quickly became so popular that it now has two additional locations in North Conway, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine.

Starting on a Foundation of grilled cheddar cheese sandwiches, the menu now features a half dozen variations, including The Baconator (grilled Cabot cheddar cheese and crisp bacon), The Pork-Y-Pine (grilled cheddar cheese, pulled pork and pineapple, The Spicy Nashville (grilled pepper cheese and hot Nashville chicken), all grilled on sourdough bread.  Patrons can also order soups (tomato of course), salads, French fries, and very good, kettle-fried chips prepared on-site,

Cheese Louise is open for breakfast from 8am to 11am, serving several imaginative breakfast sandwiches, including The Wake and Bacon (crisp bacon, fried egg and Cabot cheddar on sourdough bread) and The Sausage Party (chicken Sausage, fried egg, Cabot cheddar grilled on cinnamon raisin bread).

And, Cheese Louise has a small bar with a rather complete bar menu including craft beers, wine and mixed drinks.

Cheese Louise offers free delivery within a three-mile radius of the restaurant.  

Visit New Hampshire’s editors agree that Cheese Louise has elevated the preparation of comfort food to an art form.

Open Sunday to Thursday, 8am to 8pm, and Fridays and Saturdays 8am to 9pm.

76 Congress St, Portsmouth NH