There's something comforting about sitting down to a bowl full of cheesy noodles, even if the contents of that bowl come compliments of Kraft. Considering the bliss that powdered processed cheese can bring, we set out to find the heights that can be reached from a serving of fresh, homemade macaroni and cheese. From organic to fried, here are a few spots that dish out a killer serving.
Dig into down-home Southern cooking at MacArthur's
This diamond in the rough serves an entire cafeteria line full of finger-lickin'-good Southern fare. Sadly, the mac and cheese maintains only side-dish status, bowing down to heartier counterparts like fried chicken and smothered pork chops. Served affectionately with an ice cream scoop out of a massive metal bin, MacArthur's overly creamy combination of elbow macaroni, Velveeta and American cheeses and simple seasoning (read: nothing more than salt and pepper) melts blissfully on your tongue and will no doubt have you coming back for more.
Ooze through more cheese than mac at Wishbone
If the creamy texture of boxed mac and cheese is what you've come to expect, Wishbone's version may shock you. The immensely rich glob of macaroni and cheese that arrives on your plate is held together by unadulterated, mostly melted chunks of Vermont cheddar, Monterey Jack and Munster cheeses. The mac and cheese is available as a side dish to your entree or, if you go the breakfast route, it can be substituted in for cheese grits for an extra dollar.
Keep it organic at Bleeding Heart Bakery
While heading to a bakery to pick up mac and cheese may not quite add up, you'll do no questioning once you discover how scrumptious these hippie-inspired noodles actually are. Just like the rest of the bakery's earth-friendly goods, the mac and cheese boasts organic shells covered in goat cheese, white and sharp cheddar and sour cream from an organic farm in downstate Carthage. Being that baked goods are the Heart's main focus, the mac and cheese can be hard to find; do a 180 from the mouth-watering treats and you'll find a few pint-size containers tucked away in the fridge.
Bite into a mac and cheese nugget at ROCKS Lincoln Park
After ordering what ROCKS calls its "famous mac n' cheese wedges," a plate of breaded triangles appeared on the table, and a busboy declared that our chicken nuggets had arrived. After telling him we ordered no such thing, the triangles were whisked away, only to be returned moments later when all parties involved realized these nuggets were, in fact, fried chunks of macaroni and cheese. While far from the typical gooey experience, these deep-fried wedges of the tiniest noodles imaginable, smothered in a mild cheddar cheese and served with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce, are sure to make you rethink mac and cheese as you know it.
Do-it-yourself at Kuma's Corner
If plain yellow cheddar slapped on top of a few white noodles doesn't quite satisfy your idea of good macaroni and cheese, head over to this restaurant/bar. Starting with a base of elbow macaroni, heavy whipping cream and Monterey Jack cheese, you choose two ingredients from a list of more than a dozen to round out your own cheesy creation for $10. With options such as andouille sausage, caramelized onions, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and broccoli, you may be hard-pressed to choose only two; luckily for you, extra ingredients are just $1 each.
Other great bowls
Charlie's Ale House (Andersonville) Ham and broccoli accompanies elbow macaroni in a zesty aged-cheddar sauce for $10.95; plain costs a few bucks less.
Cooper's White cheddar accompanies morsels of onion and succulent duck in this uber-gourmet duck confit mac and cheese.
Fat Willy's Rib Shack, Feed and Smoke Daddy These Southern BBQ joints all offer velvety macaroni and cheese to go alongside your baby back ribs or pulled pork sandwich.
Handlebar Bar & Grill Add a side of smoked gouda mac n' cheese on to your entree or sandwich at this haven for vegetarians and bicycle-lovers alike.
Harmony Grill Stop by before catching a show at neighboring Schubas for a plateful of elbow macaroni baked in a "secret blend" of cheese and topped with buttery breadcrumbs.
Phil & Lou's Treat your taste buds with decadently rich baked mac and cheese with mascarpone and fontina cheeses and tender chunks of lobster.
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