With Cheese Please: More Is Better

Free fries with an entrée were on order all day long as With Cheese Please celebrated its one-year anniversary on July 28.

This new fast-food spot on a popular block of Rockville Centre dining serves its fries with angus burgers, chicken wraps, and rib-eye or chicken cheese steak sandwiches. The "With Cheese" part stems from the option to smother these items with any of the following: American, Swiss, provolone, cheddar, mozzarella, and even Cheez Wiz. Naturally, cheese-only favorites, such as grilled cheese and cheese quesadillas, are also served up.

With Cheese Please, located on the corner of Park Avenue and Merrick Road, has hours especially accomodating to the young, late-night crowd that swarms Park Avenue on weekend nights — or mornings. From Thursday to Saturday, they are open until 4 a.m. Prices range from $3.35 for a hot dog with cheese to $10.25 for the double angus burger with cheese (please).

However, the "21 Challenge" is in its own league. Owners T. J. Thompson and Shawn Sullivan offer a space on their wall of fame to anyone who can finish its 21-inch cheese steak sandwich that comes with 2.1 pounds of meat and 2.1 pounds of fries that must be finished within 21 minutes.  Manager Vic Decanio said so far no one has made it beyond the wall of shame. Even one of the top qualifiers in the National Cheese Steak Eating Contest, held at the restaurant June 5 and sponsored by  All Pro Eating Promotions, wasn't able to meet the challenge. Either way, it costs the challenger, of course, $21.

Thompson and Sullivan said they wanted to open an eatery that was more than the usual fast food restaurant, one that was more in both quality and selection. "We use the best ingredients," said Thompson, "and we use them fresh daily. Not even your local deli can always say that. Some of those sandwiches are pre-made."

He also aims for a more personal feel. The bright red and yellow décor, with equally bright tables and chairs, is reminiscent of a 1950s burger joint. The enormous menu on the wall lists dozens of toppings, some free and some for an extra .50 cents. Plus specials, like the Scranton special (a hero with chicken tenders and fried mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce) are also listed on the board. Service is also personable.  "Ma'am," one server was heard saying at 2 a.m. on a Saturday night, "you get home safe." Presumably she wasn't talking about calories and cholesterol.