These are the best mac and cheese dishes in NYC

Published on 1/16/2014

By Andrew Zimmer

New York

Flickr/Meng He

If there's one thing that totally deserves a listicle, it's the Top 9 Cat Moods. But if there's a second thing, it's the 10 Best Mac and Cheeses in NYC. To wit: here's a roundup of ~~mostly~~ ~~standoffishly pensive~~ ~~cats~~ the delicious-est plates of mac and c in the city.

Artisanal Fromagerie Bistro Wine Bar

Artisanal (click here for address and deets)
Murray Hill
Gruyere, Parm, and Béchamel make their way onto/into tubes of penne pasta, and a crumbly, cheesy topping provides just the right kind of texture/crumbly-cheesiness for the dish.

Almond

Almond (click here for address and deets)
Flatiron
While other mac dishes sit coyly on appetizer or side menus ("We won't make you full, we swear!"), Le Grand Macaroni & Cheese unabashedly sits on the main menu -- a proudly massive serving of pasta, rich cheese, prosciutto, and chopped truffles.

Ditch Dog

Ditch Plains (click here for address and deets)
West Village and UWS
Their mac and cheese-covered Ditch Dogs qualify, because 1) they're covered in the melty good stuff, and 2) they're just plain awesome.

The Queens Kickshaw

The Queens Kickshaw (click here for address and deets)
Astoria
It actually takes some balls to throw vegetables into this classic, but TQK pulls it off with this Gruyere, smoked mozz, and cheddar mess that sports green beans and caramelized onions.

Yelp/M S.

Westville (click here for address and deets)
East Village, West Village, and Chelsea
This favorite of the brunch-set brings with it a smoky Gouda Béchamel that gets even smokier with some added bacon. The dish itself is also perfectly presented with an expert crust on top, holding in a balance of creamy and chewy.

Mable's Smokehouse & Banquet Hall

Mable's Smokehouse & Banquet Hall (click here for address and deets)
Williamsburg
So simple and yet so delicious, it's like the creamiest and best possible version of the homemade stuff.

Freeman's (click here for address and deets)
Lower East Side
Served bubbling in a cast iron dish, this five-cheese, breadcrumb-topped model of comfort is relatively simple but excellent in execution.

Yelp/Luna T.

The Waverly Inn (click here for address and deets)
West Village
Like bench pressing gold, this plate is an exercise in decadence with a price tag upwards of $65. With that, though, comes shaved truffles, cheese with just the right balance of creamy and stringy, and a crunchy breadcrumb topping.

Schnippers (click here for address and deets)
Multiple Locations
The mac and Joe is exactly what would happen if they let us in their kitchen late-night. 50% Sloppy Joe, 50% classic mac and cheese, 150% awesome. That's how math works, right?

Yelp/Michelle T.

Earl's Beer and Cheese (click here for address and deets)
Upper East Side
One of the less traditional and most creamy concoctions on the list, it's got the noodles mixed up with goat cheese, a healthy dose of rosemary, and a some shredded chicken. Also: upside-down fork!