New Rolling Meadows restaurant Meltz to offer tastes of nostalgia

This story has been updated to note that Meltz owner Joe Romeo later sold his interest in Spears Bourbon Burgers and Beer in Wheeling after opening it in 2014.

From overfilled grilled cheese sandwiches to towers of cotton candy, a new restaurant/bar in Rolling Meadows promises to serve a taste of nostalgia.

Meltz Bar & Grill is in the process of building out a new restaurant space at 1655 W. Algonquin Road, where Asian Tokyo closed at the height of the pandemic.

Owner Joe Romeo cleared an early first step this week in getting first reading approval of a Class A2 liquor license from the city council; a final second reading vote is set for Oct. 25.

In a letter to Mayor Joe Gallo, Romeo wrote that craft beer and cocktails would complement his menu of overfilled grilled cheese sandwiches and other cheese-themed dishes. Specialties will include homemade mac and cheeses, fresh cut fries, candied specialty shakes and towers of cotton candy.

"This menu intends to activate a sense of nostalgia causing patrons to have memories from younger years when a grilled cheese sandwich or some cotton candy brought on happiness," Romeo wrote.

Meltz will be a sit-down restaurant with a "music-infused atmosphere," an area to take selfies, TVs, and outdoor seating with a touch of art deco, Romeo said. Curbside takeout service also will be available.

"Rolling Meadows is a great community to launch this concept. I am confident that Meltz Bar & Grill will thrive in this environment," Romeo wrote.

He has developed, owned and operated four local bar/restaurants, including Beer Market in Vernon Hills, Dagwood Grill in Chicago, Beer Haus at Yorktown Mall in Lombard, and Spears Bourbon Burgers and Beer in Wheeling.