If you’re like me, you have a strong passion for food. Of course, I mean good food. And in my opinion, there’s nothing more delicious than pasta drowned in a variety of different cheeses, topped with gooey melted cheese to add to the deliciousness. I have traveled countless times to New York City in hopes of finding the best macaroni and cheese, and out of all the delectable dishes I have come across, I find myself dreaming and craving these five places the most. If you’re a mac-and-cheese lover like me, you do not want to miss these.
1. The Smith.
At any of its four locations (Midtown, East Village, Lincoln Square, or Nomad), The Smith’s mac-and-cheese is immensely satisfying and delicious. It’s your classic style mix of cheeses served straight from the oven in cast iron skillet. With the delicious melted cheese on top still bubbling when it comes out, you will enjoy every last bite of it.
Here's a picture I took of mine!
2. Max Brenner.
Five-Cheese Blend topped with tomatoes
Thought Max Brenner was only good for chocolate? You’re in for a surprise. The outstanding five-cheese blend comes with a variety of options to add in, such as chicken, bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms. But don’t worry; if you’re on the picky side (like me), you will be happy to know that these add-ins are optional. You can enjoy your mac-and-cheese however your taste buds desire.
Here's a picture I took of mine!
3. S’Mac.
4-Cheese Mac
You’re bound to get a delicious s’mac in the face when you come here. At either of its two locations (Murray Hill or East Village), there are so many options to choose from. You can go with the classic All-American or 4-Cheese Mac that will definitely not disappoint, or, you can go for something different and delicious, such as Buffalo Chicken Mac or Cheeseburger Mac (yes, you read that right; a hamburger is chopped up and the pieces are put right inside this cheddar and American cheese combo.) These are just a select few of the array of options that S’Mac provides. You can even build-your-own; selecting your own cheeses and mix-ins, you can bring your personally chosen mac-and-cheese to perfection.
Cheeseburger Mac
4. The Ainsworth.
Here's a picture I took of the burger!
If you thought the Cheeseburger Mac from S’Mac was the best it could get, wait until you hear this. At The Ainsworth, the Mac and Cheese Burger is bound to impress you (and keep you full for three days after that, but it’s totally worth it.) Along with the actual burger itself, there is a circle of mac-and-cheese that is breaded and deep fried below the burger patty. On top of the patty, there is a slice of melted cheddar cheese and provolone cheese. And here comes the best part: on top of all of that is the actual mac-and-cheese. Sounds a bit like perfection, right? It absolutely is. This burger is huge. I recommend going with someone you could split it with. Trust me, your stomach will be satisfied with half, considering the deep-fried mac-and-cheese is basically like another burger patty, plus the additional mac-and-cheese on top!
And here's the inside of the burger.
5. Cafeteria.
The Mac Attack Tasting of All Three
Cafeteria will leave you with nothing but happiness. While you can just order one type of mac-and-cheese, I highly recommend getting the Mac-Attack Tasting of All Three. With this, you get three bowls of three different kinds of mouth-watering mac-and-cheese flavors. With one a mix of fontina and cheddar cheeses, another topped with bacon, and the other baked in truffle oil, it is extremely difficult to pick a favorite. But who cares; what’s better than having three different types of mac-and-cheese at your fingertips? If your answer was nothing, you’re wrong. Because along with the Mac-Attack, Cafeteria has something very unique: a masterpiece called Mac-and-Cheese Spring Rolls. These spring rolls are stuffed with mac-and-cheese and served with a side of Gouda dipping sauce. If you’re craving a lot of different styles of mac-and-cheese (like me, 24/7), Cafeteria is definitely the right choice for you.
Spring rolls
I guarantee that you will leave any of these restaurants with a satisfied smile on your face and a stomach filled with happiness. Whether you’re in a hurry and whipping out a quick microwavable Kraft Easy-Mac, or spending two hours baking a meal for six (even if it’s all for you), macaroni and cheese will never let you down. Neither will any of these places.
Hope to see you on my future mac-and-cheese adventures!
