PROSPECT HEIGHTS — A new grilled cheese shop in the neighborhood is set to get a little bit boozier.
Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen opened in late October on Washington Avenue near Sterling Place, serving up its cheesy sandwiches and other comfort foods like mac and cheese, tomato soup and bread pudding — all priced at $10 or less.
Business has been great so far, said owner and Crown Heights resident Ron Johnson, but he said he wants to have “something for everyone” by adding beer and wine to the menu.
Johnson applied for a license to serve alcohol with the local community board last year. It gave its support for the change on Thursday night.
“You go to a wine bar, you usually have a cheese plate, some sort of jam or compote to go with your wine, same thing with beer,” Johnson said as he fixed a guacamole and bacon grilled cheese sandwich, the most popular item at the eatery.
“So, the idea is we want to take that concept and, instead of using a cheese plate, we’ll have grilled cheese sliders.”
The State Liquor Authority will need to approve MDK’s wine and beer license before it can start serving.
But in the meantime, there’s plenty of items to keep customers satisfied, like the “Jalapeno Popper” sandwich, made with fresh cut jalapenos, red bell peppers, cream cheese and cheddar for $7. Sides include a white cheddar Cheez-Its topped mac and cheese for $5 and sweet potato pie bread pudding for $3, made with yams, brown sugar and graham cracker topping.
And Johnson makes off-menu items, too.
“My regulars that come in, we have fun sometimes and I make up sandwiches for them,” he said.
Previously working in digital media, Johnson started MDK in 2011 as a part-time gig, selling his sandwiches at the now-closed Dekalb Market, Madison Square Eats and the Columbus Circle Holiday Market.
The shop is named for Johnson grandmother, who he said always invited neighbors into her kitchen for conversation and snacks.
“She was very influential with me in the kitchen, but it’s more about how she made people feel. I’m from the Midwest and in the afternoons, people leave their front doors open … it means that people from the neighborhood are welcome to come in and come catch up,” he said.
“That’s how I kind of wanted it to be here.”
Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen, located at 794 Washington Ave., opens at 11 a.m. seven days a week, closing at midnight Mondays through Saturdays and at 10 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit its website.
