Why aren't patty melts more popular? Better than burgers, imo

[Anonymous]

The patty melt is the far superior delivery mechanism for grilled ground beef and cheese, but doesn’t get its due. Great texture, good bread, cheese is gooey, soft onions. Focus on the meat. It's simple perfection. Burgers need to be loaded up with mayo, ketchup and mustard to be edible, plus veggies taking away from the meat. And now they're putting runny eggs on burgers.

[ Admin: per request I edited the title. ]

[Anonymous]

I couldn’t agree with you more. The patty melt is one of the greatest culinary creations in history, yet it remains elusive!

[Anonymous]

Educate a foreigner here. What's the difference?
Don't burgers have melty cheese too?

[Anonymous]

I looove patty melts. They aren’t always done well though, but the same can be said for burgers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Educate a foreigner here. What's the difference?
Don't burgers have melty cheese too?

A patty melt is a grilled cheese with a burger patty inside. Sliced bread instead of a bun and griddled on the outside.

OP is right, they're the superior sandwich form factor, not just for burgers but also for just about anything. Bacon, egg, and cheese on griddled bread (BEC melt?) is also a superior sandwich to the classic BEC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educate a foreigner here. What's the difference?
Don't burgers have melty cheese too?

A patty melt is a grilled cheese with a burger patty inside. Sliced bread instead of a bun and griddled on the outside.

OP is right, they're the superior sandwich form factor, not just for burgers but also for just about anything. Bacon, egg, and cheese on griddled bread (BEC melt?) is also a superior sandwich to the classic BEC.

Ooh. Interesting. PP you replied to. I'm French. I've never those, but I was thinking recently that the soft bread of hamburgers, hot dogs, etc, really didn't do anything for me and I would prefer a cracklier bread. Like I prefer baguette sandwiches instead of soft sandwich bread.

Wait: baguette patty melt! Voila!

I have to make this.

[Anonymous]

For me, it's not a true patty melt unless the bread is Rye. Yum!

[Anonymous]

You are not alone! Pete Wells just wrote about patty melts earlier this year (gift link): https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/30/dining/patty-melt.html?unlocked_article_code=1.CU4.kZeR.uHRR57qzTXvu&smid=url-share

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educate a foreigner here. What's the difference?
Don't burgers have melty cheese too?

A patty melt is a grilled cheese with a burger patty inside. Sliced bread instead of a bun and griddled on the outside.

OP is right, they're the superior sandwich form factor, not just for burgers but also for just about anything. Bacon, egg, and cheese on griddled bread (BEC melt?) is also a superior sandwich to the classic BEC.

Ooh. Interesting. PP you replied to. I'm French. I've never those, but I was thinking recently that the soft bread of hamburgers, hot dogs, etc, really didn't do anything for me and I would prefer a cracklier bread. Like I prefer baguette sandwiches instead of soft sandwich bread.

Wait: baguette patty melt! Voila!

I have to make this.

In the US we call that a hamburger sub. It’s delicious!

[Anonymous]

I agree with the above. A patty melt is one of those "when it's good it's very very good but when it's bad it's horrid" things. While I like them, I also think they can get kind of soggy easily as they don't have some of the textural elements of a regular burger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educate a foreigner here. What's the difference?
Don't burgers have melty cheese too?

A patty melt is a grilled cheese with a burger patty inside. Sliced bread instead of a bun and griddled on the outside.

OP is right, they're the superior sandwich form factor, not just for burgers but also for just about anything. Bacon, egg, and cheese on griddled bread (BEC melt?) is also a superior sandwich to the classic BEC.

Ooh. Interesting. PP you replied to. I'm French. I've never those, but I was thinking recently that the soft bread of hamburgers, hot dogs, etc, really didn't do anything for me and I would prefer a cracklier bread. Like I prefer baguette sandwiches instead of soft sandwich bread.

Wait: baguette patty melt! Voila!

I have to make this.

In the US we call that a hamburger sub. It’s delicious!

PP you replied to. But aren't subs soft bread? I've never had a sub that was a crusty baguette. I think to keep the crackle you might need a toaster oven. Or maybe a bagel toaster before assembly.

[Anonymous]

Patty melts are definitely delicious and underrated. However, for me, nothing beats a good burger.

[Anonymous]

The name is unappealing. It needs better branding

[Anonymous]

I fell in love with patty melts as a teenager and they’ve always been a favorite. They have to be on rye bread or they aren’t really a patty melt. And there has to be a nice crust on the inside of the grilled bread to prevent sogginess.

I want one badly now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are not alone! Pete Wells just wrote about patty melts earlier this year (gift link): https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/30/dining/patty-melt.html?unlocked_article_code=1.CU4.kZeR.uHRR57qzTXvu&smid=url-share

Love this! Pete Wells is great. And those comments on the article are incredible. So many NYT readers have NEVER had a patty melt?! Wow.