slo’s TUESDAY 1/28 poll - Monte Cristo Sandwich

[CynBeth]

I had one probably a few times years ago and enjoyed it but have not since I stopped eating pork products.

 

[lovesmurfs]

There's still a Bennigan's at the Holiday Inn at the 31 exit off I-90 in Elgin. I hadn't visited since COVID, and then we moved away, but their website still lists their "World Famous Monte Cristo."

I love them. The fry and the cheese and the raspberry preserves...mmmm! Like you said, it's hard to justify eating, as it's pretty high in calories and low in nutrition, but I liked sneaking one in every now and then.

I've made something similar at home, but grilling it rather than coating and frying. Not the same, but passable. DH doesn't get the preserves, though -- I tried to explain that it's similar to his turkey and cranberry sauce sandwiches after Thanksgiving, but it was a no-go for him.

 

[georgina]

I like them, the ones I have had are not deep fried but grilled, don’t remember any jelly. When I look for recipes online, I see ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, pan fried with egg batter like French toast.

 

[BrianL]

There's still a Bennigan's at the Holiday Inn at the 31 exit off I-90 in Elgin. I hadn't visited since COVID, and then we moved away, but their website still lists their "World Famous Monte Cristo."

I love them. The fry and the cheese and the raspberry preserves...mmmm! Like you said, it's hard to justify eating, as it's pretty high in calories and low in nutrition, but I liked sneaking one in every now and then.

I've made something similar at home, but grilling it rather than coating and frying. Not the same, but passable. DH doesn't get the preserves, though -- I tried to explain that it's similar to his turkey and cranberry sauce sandwiches after Thanksgiving, but it was a no-go for him.

View attachment 933720

Bennigan's was the first place I ever had one. Too bad they're not still around here.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I don't think I've ever had one with jam or similar. Also, no egg. Just ham, turkey, Swiss cheese. And grilled, like French toast. not deep fried. I wind up having one or two a year, one restaurant near us.

 

[RUDisney]

A proper Monte Christo is French toast with ham, turkey and Swiss cheese. I always ask if restaurants make a proper sandwich or if they deep fry them. I do not like the deep fried ones at all.

I had one for breakfast at the Alexis diner in Newburgh, NY a couple weeks ago. It was served open faced and was delicious. I had never had an open faced one before that. It was served with fake maple syrup.

 

[disneychrista]

I tired one at Cafe Orleans inDisneyland. I found it very greasy. I didn’t finish it.

 

[dizneegirl]

Never had one with French toast or toasted... always battered and deep fried. I adore them, and have since I was a child. We did have a place called Melt that made them... sadly they're now closed. Along with our Bennigan's. Will have to make a trip to a Cheddar's.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Finally had a Monte Cristo at LGA on my way to Orlando. Can’t recall the name of the place but given it was the airport probably some kind of chain; mine wasn’t fried. Gave half to my travel companion and should have given her half of my half too. It was very filling.

 

[unrequited23]

DH adores a Monte Cristo and will order it if he sees it on a menu. I do the same thing with a French dip.

 

[tvguy]

Never had one. Only place I recall even seeing it on a restaurant menu was at the Blue Bayou Restaurant in Disneyland.

 

[fla4fun]

The first time I had this was at Bennigan’s restaurant (are those still in business? I should google it. There’s none by me).

There are supposedly six Bennigan’s left according to their website and they still have Monte Cristo sandwiches on their menu:



I also had my first Monte Cristo at Bennigan’s and it’s been a long time since I have had one. I haven’t tried the one at Cheddars. There are a few Cheddars locations in Orlando, so maybe one day . . .

 

[dizneegirl]

I was trying to remember where I had my first Monte Cristo. Finally figured it was probably at a Chicago area chain called Jojo's, long since closed.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I really don’t like smoked turkey, so I have never even tried one.

 

[slo]

There are supposedly six Bennigan’s left according to their website and they still have Monte Cristo sandwiches on their menu:
View attachment 933776
View attachment 933777

I also had my first Monte Cristo at Bennigan’s and it’s been a long time since I have had one. I haven’t tried the one at Cheddars. There are a few Cheddars locations in Orlando, so maybe one day . . .

Thanks for posting this.
The closest one for me would be Elgin, IL, but that would still be far off for me. My DD21 used to have softball tournaments in Elgin. Too bad I didn’t know the Bennigan was there, we could’ve gone after some of her games.

 

[E&Cmom]

I have had them locally many years ago. My former roommate at the time loved them, I found them too filling and greasy.

 

[OKW8297]

I head a couple when Columbia Harbor House served them. Heck it has to have been over 30 years since I’ve had one. I thought they were great

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have never had one, but the description sounds good!

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

YUM, I do like a Monte Cristo! Cheddars does make a good sandwich. It's not something I order often because of the calories, LOL and there's usually fries on the side too.

 

[BayouQueen]

When we have a group of four people at Disneyland, Blue Bayou or Cafe Orleans, we order one and each have a quarter, along with whatever else we might have. That’s probably my favorite lunch on earth.