On a bleak, drizzly afternoon, I happened upon a magical red store front that instantly brightened my dreary mood. Tom+Chee, a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup chain, has been bringing smiles to diners across the country. The restaurant’s newest location at 1085 Howell Mill Rd. opened earlier this year and is already a hit with the West Side community.

As soon as my companion and I walked into Tom+Chee, we were greeted with the heavenly scent of melted cheese. I approached the counter blissfully overwhelmed by the restaurant’s menu. Tom+Chee offers an array of “fancy” crafted grilled cheese sandwiches such as the Pesto+Turkey or the Swiss+Shroom, as well as a “build your own” option.

Customers choose from five kinds of bread, 11 types of cheese and a slew of toppings to satisfy any craving. Some of the more innovative toppings include mac and cheese and potato chips. The shop also serves three types of tomato soup: classic, chunky tomato basil and creamy tomato basil, which are all made fresh daily.

I decided on the traditional combo: an American/cheddar grilled cheese alongside a steaming cup of the classic tomato soup for the low price of $3.95 with the Little Grillas option. My companion ordered a BLT+Chee fancy sandwich and creamy tomato basil soup.

I also ordered the restaurant’s claim to fame: a grilled cheese donut. Tom+Chee offers nine variations of this unique treat, including one with chocolate, mozzarella with bacon and one marshmallow mascarpone s’mores. Upon the server’s recommendation, I ordered The King for $5.45, which comes with bananas, peanut butter mascarpone and mozzarella.

After ordering at the counter, I researched Tom+Chee’s history online. The Atlanta West Side location is the newest of the Tom+Chee franchise which began as a tent outside a skating rink in Cincinnati, Ohio. The creators, Cory Ward and Trew Quackenbush started the company after they were given an investment deal on the popular ABC show, Shark Tank.

My food was soon ready, and I eagerly took my first bite. The simple grilled cheese’s warm, yellow gooiness, matched with the crunch of the toasted bread, filled me with childhood nostalgia. The piping hot soup was both pulpy and flavorful.

I also sampled my companion’s BLT+Chee which was only mediocre, leaving him wishing he had selected something else from the extensive menu.

His creamy tomato basil soup, however, made up for the forgettable sandwich. While my cup of classic soup was delicious, the creamy tomato was definitely the better of the two, tasting equal parts savory and creamy.

Though unsure and slightly afraid of what to expect, I then tried my grilled cheese donut. The dessert was unlike anything I’d tasted before. The glazed donut was cut in half and turned inside out to serve as the bread. It was buttered and grilled, creating the soft, yet still crunchy texture. The peanut butter mascarpone and mozzarella filling was warm and gooey but not as overwhelmingly sweet as I had imagined it would be. I finished my donut quickly, with messy fingers and a happy tummy.

Tom+Chee offers a deliciously creative new take on a familiar product for very reasonable prices. Its food lives up to its motto, “eat what’s fun!” I will definitely be back again soon to sample more of its innovative soup and sandwich combinations.