Where To Find The Best Mac & Cheese In NYC
By Kate Fustich
Few things go together as gloriously as macaroni and cheese. It’s the ultimate combination of carbohydrates and dairy products. At this time of year in particular, nothing feels more right than treating yourself to a gooey, steaming bowl of orange noodles.
Of course, there is an infinite number of places where one can acquire a gourmet dish of mac in NYC. There are even several popular restaurants dedicated entirely to the concept. However, just as with anything else in New York City, there has to be a place deemed the best, right? I was compelled to answer this question, so I recently set upon the ultimate quest to find the most perfect ratio of macaroni to cheese.
My first stop was S’Mac (354 East 12th St.), a perennial NYU favorite known for its uber-casual atmosphere and extreme customization. Here, you can try everything from the exotic mac & cheese masala, to the elegant Swiss-style (which is baked with gruyere and bacon). Fancy! This is an all-around solid establishment that offers delivery, which is particularly essential when you’re in a mac & cheese mood.
Macbar (54 Prince St.) is the avant-garde answer to “the ultimate feel good food.” This teeny-tiny space takes the cheesy aesthetic to the next level: the entire restaurant is shaped like a noodle, and your orders come in yellow, reusable macaroni-shaped dishes. Flavors include lobster, duck confit, and primavera. It’s quite swanky… perhaps a bit too swanky.
Williamsburg’s Juniper (112 Berry St.) is known for its majorly chilled-out atmosphere and delectable Cajun-inspired eats. Their mac and cheese is also the stuff of legend, so I headed across the East River to find out for myself. What I received was a XXL bowl filled with grandma-style mac and cheese glory. Complete with a perfect crispy top and a spoon (trust me, you’ll need it to shovel it all in) I was almost certain I had reached a consensus about the best m & c. Yet…
Just down the street from my apartment lies Root & Bone (200 East 3rd St.), a restaurant that aspires to bring rural American cooking to Alphabet City. I was dubious at first, as their mac & cheese is reduced to being a side dish. Yet, I found the portion large enough to hold its own. The large noodles are topped with a crumbled biscuit, which adds a slight touch of sweetness. It was a welcome take on the popular baked-top style that’s so prevalent. I left Root & Bone with the sensation that I had, in fact, eaten the best macaroni & cheese of my life. My quest was complete and my stomach incredibly happy. Now, all that’s left is for me to return here every day.
[Image via Lucas Richarz/Flickr]
