Introducing: Cut the Cheese, a Junction take-out joint with gourmet grilled cheese and mac ’n’ cheese
Name: Cut The Cheese
Neighbourhood: The Junction
Contact Info: 2901A Dundas St. W. , cutthecheese.ca , @CutTheCheese
Owner: Randal So
Chef: Gavin Gusche, previously of Barque and Bymark
The Food: Gooey comfort classics—grilled cheese and macaroni and cheese—prepared by a team of hip-hop-loving foodies. The dish names strive for urban street credit, like the Big Bad Wolf (a grilled cheese with deep-fried pork belly, coleslaw, house-made hickory sticks and asiago cheese) and the Bull Fighter (mac ’n’ cheese with béchamel, chorizo, roasted cauliflower, banana peppers and jalapeño havarti). Vegetarian options include roasted butternut squash grilled cheese and macaroni with three kinds of mushrooms.
The Drinks: Local favourites Black River Juices and Boylan soda-makers provide the marquee tipples, but standard pop and water are also available.
The Place : Expect an urban-industrial aesthetic with hip-hop overtones, complete with dark finishes, vintage factory stools, restored church pews and oak counters. There are just eight seats, which give an up-close view Visual Bass ’s street lifestyle photography.
By The Numbers:
• $11,000 spent by chef Gavin Gusche for all of his tattoos
• 60% of Gusche’s body is covered in tattoos
• 20 pounds of house-brined pickles
• 6 months to renovate
• 3 chalkboard menus made from reclaimed church pews
• 2 a.m. closing time on weekends
• 1 defunct movie theatre (The Beaver Theatre), which used to occupy the space
261131 Cut the Cheese is located on the Junction's Dundas West strip, just west of Keele Street, in the space that once held the Beaver Theatre Introducing: Cut the Cheese https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/1_cut_the_cheese_exterior-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/1_cut_the_cheese_exterior.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/1_cut_the_cheese_exterior.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cut-the-cheese-toronto-restaurants/slide/1_cut_the_cheese_exterior/ 1_cut_the_cheese_exterior 0 0
261132 2. The casual take-out counter and kitchen was built from the ground up, including using a total of 64 feet of oak wood to make up the counter and eating ledges Introducing: Cut the Cheese https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2_cut_the_cheese_interior_a-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2_cut_the_cheese_interior_a.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2_cut_the_cheese_interior_a.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cut-the-cheese-toronto-restaurants/slide/2_cut_the_cheese_interior_a/ 2_cut_the_cheese_interior_a 0 0
261133 Staffers are uniformed in a Cut the Cheese T-shirt and camo hat Introducing: Cut the Cheese https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/3_cut_the_cheese_interior_b-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/3_cut_the_cheese_interior_b.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/3_cut_the_cheese_interior_b.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cut-the-cheese-toronto-restaurants/slide/3_cut_the_cheese_interior_b/ 3_cut_the_cheese_interior_b 0 0
261134 A comfortable seating nook near the expansive window is also a makeshift rotating gallery (currently featuring local Toronto photographer Visual Bass) Introducing: Cut the Cheese https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/4_cut_the_cheese_interior_c-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/4_cut_the_cheese_interior_c.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/4_cut_the_cheese_interior_c.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cut-the-cheese-toronto-restaurants/slide/4_cut_the_cheese_interior_c/ 4_cut_the_cheese_interior_c 0 0
261135 Sandwiches are grilled and filled at the same time for even melting and a golden sear Introducing: Cut the Cheese https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/5_cut_the_cheese_griddle-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/5_cut_the_cheese_griddle.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/5_cut_the_cheese_griddle.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cut-the-cheese-toronto-restaurants/slide/5_cut_the_cheese_griddle/ 5_cut_the_cheese_griddle 0 0
261136 The Big Bad Wolf is owner Randal So’s favourite and is comprised of deep-fried pork belly, coleslaw, house-made hickory sticks, chipotle aioli and Asiago cheese ($9.25) Introducing: Cut the Cheese https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/6_cut_the_cheese_bigbadwolf-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/6_cut_the_cheese_bigbadwolf.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/6_cut_the_cheese_bigbadwolf.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cut-the-cheese-toronto-restaurants/slide/6_cut_the_cheese_bigbadwolf/ 6_cut_the_cheese_bigbadwolf 0 0
261138 The Pearisian, poached pear in red wine, arugula, pancetta and a mix of blue cheese and brie ($9.15) Introducing: Cut the Cheese https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/7_cut_the_cheese_beet-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/7_cut_the_cheese_beet.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/7_cut_the_cheese_beet.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cut-the-cheese-toronto-restaurants/slide/7_cut_the_cheese_beet/ 7_cut_the_cheese_beet 0 0
261139 For vegetarians, there is The Harvest—roasted butternut squash, caramelized onions, apple-celery remoulade, balsamic glaze and a Fontina and Emmental cheese mix ($8.45) Introducing: Cut the Cheese https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/8_cut_the_cheese_squash-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/8_cut_the_cheese_squash.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/8_cut_the_cheese_squash.jpg 1000 667 {"credit":"Eric Wang"} https://torontolife.com/food/cut-the-cheese-toronto-restaurants/slide/8_cut_the_cheese_squash/ 8_cut_the_cheese_squash 0 0
261140 Shroomin' is a mix of sautéed portobello, king and oyster mushrooms, topping a béchamel mac ’n’ cheese and sprinkled with Asiago cheese ($11) Introducing: Cut the Cheese https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/9_cut_the_cheese_shroom-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/9_cut_the_cheese_shroom.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/9_cut_the_cheese_shroom.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cut-the-cheese-toronto-restaurants/slide/9_cut_the_cheese_shroom/ 9_cut_the_cheese_shroom 0 0
261141 The Bull Fighter takes the classic béchamel mac ’n’ cheese and tops it with spicy chorizo sausage, roasted cauliflower, bell peppers, banana peppers and a generous layer of jalapeño Havarti cheese ($10.70) Introducing: Cut the Cheese https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/10_cut_the_cheese_pork-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/10_cut_the_cheese_pork.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/10_cut_the_cheese_pork.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cut-the-cheese-toronto-restaurants/slide/10_cut_the_cheese_pork/ 10_cut_the_cheese_pork 0 0
261142 The Southern Comfort marries deep-fried buttermilk popcorn chicken with sautéed corn, bell peppers, banana peppers and Emmental cheese ($11.25) Introducing: Cut the Cheese https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/11_cut_the_cheese_southern-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/11_cut_the_cheese_southern.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/11_cut_the_cheese_southern.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cut-the-cheese-toronto-restaurants/slide/11_cut_the_cheese_southern/ 11_cut_the_cheese_southern 0 0
261143 The inside of a "cheese coin"—potatoes mixed with cheddar, herbs and jalapeños, then fried with a panko crumb crust ($3 for four) Introducing: Cut the Cheese https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/12cut_the_cheese_potato-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/12cut_the_cheese_potato.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/12cut_the_cheese_potato.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/cut-the-cheese-toronto-restaurants/slide/12cut_the_cheese_potato/ 12cut_the_cheese_potato 0 0
Been twice, tried 2 mac and cheeses and 3 sandwiches. Simply put, delicious. The serving size to price ratio might make some people balk, but I can attest to the quality of the products they use.
I recommend the Big Bad Wolf and Southern Comfort, and a side of cheese coins (seriously good)
Thank you so much for the compliment and we’re glad you enjoyed our food! Looking forward to getting cheesy with you again soon! CTC CREW