TONY's 100 Best '10

#3 – GRILLED HAM AND CHEDDAR BISCUIT at AMY’S BREAD

Once again Time Out New York released their Top 100 Dishes of the year and once again, I’m going to eat my way through every one. And no price point or subway delay will stop me. In no particular order, here’s my take on their Top 100.

It’s amazing how I sometimes see things that are just not there. My eyes (or my stomach) must be playing tricks on me.

Let me explain myself. One of the list items is called Grilled Ham and Cheddar Biscuit. Nowhere in that description does it say the word “eggs.” Yet as I headed down Bleecker Street to one of the Amy’s Bread locations in the city, I was expecting to get a ham, egg, and cheese biscuit sandwich.

Of course, that’s not what I got. I got a Grilled Ham and Cheddar Biscuit, just as it’s listed in Time Out. Ham. And. Cheese. No eggs!

I didn’t see any of these sandwiches on display or on a menu above the counter (which really seems to be just for coffee) so I asked the employee and without missing a beat, she went to make us one.

It came wrapped in aluminum foil and when we opened it, delicious steam and aroma released into the air. I could see this was warm and the cheese was melty to the point of almost being burnt. I had a feeling I was going to like this.

Each bite was crunchy giving way to a soft buttery exterior with lots of gooey sharp cheddar cheese. The ham wasn’t the best I’ve had. I found it rather bland (or maybe it just couldn’t compete with all the other yummy flavors). Besides a hint of salinity and a chewy texture, I felt like it didn’t add a whole lot.

I could see this being a perfect small breakfast sandwich or a midday snack or even a late night alternative to a slice of pizza. It was really enjoyable to eat and was just greasy enough to make your mouth happy without upsetting your stomach. My only real complaint: they forgot the eggs.

Would Amy’s Bread’s Grilled Cheddar and Ham Biscuit make my Top 100? It’s a delicious complex sandwich that gets an 8 out of 10 for some great textures and rich morning flavors (even without eggs).

AMY’S BREAD
672 Ninth Avenue (between 46th and 47th Street)
Hell’s Kitchen
(212) 977-2670
75 Ninth Avenue (between 15th and 16th Street)
Inside Chelsea Market
Meatpacking District
(212) 462-4338
250 Bleecker Street (between Leroy and Cornelia Street)
West Village
(212) 675-7802
amysbread.com

AboutBrian Hoffman

Brian Hoffman is a classically trained actor who is now a full-time tour guide, blogger, and food obsessive. He leads food and drink tours around New York City, which not only introduce tour-goers to delicious food, but gives them a historical context. He also writes food articles for Gothamist and Midtown Lunch in addition to overseeing this blog and a few food video series, including Eat This, Locals Know, and Around the World in One City.