Tasty Tuesday: The 44th Ward Dinner Party

I wrote in a post about 3 weeks ago that I was going to 44th Ward Dinner Party to see a friend of mine do an acoustic set. For a place known as "The Grilled Cheese Funhouse", I fully expected LOVE this place because...well, I love me some grilled cheese! I went on a very cold Sunday night and had absolutely no trouble finding a parking space directly in front, but given its proximity (Addison & Halsted) to Wrigley Field, this was probably a fluke, so I'd recommend allotting proper time for parking if you're planning on driving. Halsted Street has a lot of parking, but just how close you can get depends on the happenings in the area.
The atmosphere: The minute I walked in to 44th Ward Dinner Party, I was happy. It's dimly lit with red accents and was so warm and cozy, it was like being next to a fireplace on a plush couch. You have to walk up stairs to get to the restaurant/bar, so it's not handicap accessable.  It is long and narrow with a full bar running the length of one wall. The bartenders are very friendly. It was slow on Sunday night, but from what I hear, it gets pretty busy on the weekends, so expect a different vibe on Friday and Saturday than you would other nights. It was pretty low-key when I was there, but the music gets turned up and the crowd gets a bit more rowdy on the weekends. They have specials every day, so check out the "Weekly Specials" and "Events" section on the website. They are closed on Tuesdays.
The food: Of course, I ordered food because a menu based on grilled cheese is quite possibly the most exciting thing in the world...ok, maybe not THAT exciting...but still pretty darn exciting. I ordered "The Vic": Sauteéd portabella mushrooms, roasted red peppers, red onions, house-made basil pesto, and goat cheese, served on herb ciabatta bollo for my grilled cheese, and it was delicious! I also had some sweet and savory fries, which I liked, but I don't think they would be everyone's bag. If you like a salty/sweet combo, go for it, they're delicious, but if you're a traditional french fry kind of person, you may be put off. I'm pretty sure that I want to try all 10 grilled cheeses on the menu because they all sound awesome. But, if you like going rogue, you can build your own grilled cheese. There are also gluten-free and vegan options for those of you that can't eat bread or cheese, you poor souls.
I'll definitely be going back to this place. It would make a great date place or a fun night out with friends. Plus, I doubt I'll be able to complete my mission of trying all 10 grilled cheeses in one trip, no matter how much bigger my eyes are than my stomach. ;)