The Tradicion grilled cheese: In the heaviest foot-traffic stretch of Belmont Avenue, just west of the L stop, there existed a dumpy little Mexican diner called La Tradicion. And then it closed, and in its place was what owner Aaron Schwartz says is the first restaurant in Chicago devoted to the venerable grilled cheese sandwich. Cheesie’s Pub & Grub opened in mid-May, serving eight interpretations of the sandwich to the Lakeview crowd until 5 a.m. The best offering might be its homage to the former tenants: The Tradicion ($5.95). Crumbled chorizo, chihuahua cheese and pickled jalapeno peppers ooze together between buttery Turano Texas toast. The accompanying sauce is a house-made mayo with crushed chipotle peppers and adobo sauce. 958 W. Belmont Ave., 773-388-1574,
cheesieschicago.com
