SmithAir747 From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 1599 posts, RR: 33 Posted (11 months 2 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 1370 times:
Ever visited a restaurant that specialised in macaroni and cheese?
Macaroni and cheese is at the top of my list of favourite foods, and I specialise in making my own homemade versions of it. The most exclusive mac & cheese restaurant in the world is my kitchen with a table for one or two.
Macaroni and cheese is not something normally emphasised in restaurants. Most of the time, if I see mac & cheese in a restaurant, it is usually served in a tiny bowl on the side and appears to be made from a processed mix. It is usually a side dish or a children's menu item. I never even thought there would be a restaurant serving this as a major item, much less a specialty mac & cheese restaurant.
That is, until last year, when I read in a San Francisco newspaper an article about a new mac & cheese specialty restaurant opening up in Oakland. It was named Homeroom, and I immediately wanted to find out where it was, and what it was like.
Homeroom is located on 40th Street in Oakland, a few blocks east of the MacArthur BART station.
Yesterday, I finally got my chance to go try it for the first time. Then I walked all the way from Oakland to Berkeley on Telegraph Avenue (my first inter-city walk).
Some photos I took there:
As you can see in the photos, the restaurant is a small one, with a schoolroom theme (blackboards, ABC strip, library card catalogue, etc). Perhaps that is where the name "Homeroom" comes from.
Homeroom specialises in mac & cheese, making 10 or more varieties of it. This doesn't come in tiny bowls either (as in most restaurants that bother with it), but the portions are sizeable. Breadcrumbs are an option, for 50c extra, along with other bits of flavouring (broccoli, bacon, you name it) for $1-$2 extra. A large platter of mac & cheese (any variety) can also be ordered in advance for office meetings or other events. Other menu items are available (sides, etc). Beer and wine are available (and suggestions for pairing a beer or wine are written next to the name of each mac & cheese menu entry), along with water and non-alcoholic beverages.
Since this was my first visit, I tried the Spicy Mac--a mac & cheese with two kinds of hot peppers in it, for $7.75. (Mac & cheese items run from $7.75-$9.75.) It was wonderful!
Homeroom also has its own small line of merchandise--T-shirts, "hoodie" sweatshirts, mugs, gift certificates, etc.
In keeping with the schoolroom theme, you can fill out a library catalogue card that has a grid of 10 squares. Every time you purchase a mac & cheese there, the server will stamp a gold star on your card. Buy 10, and you get a free mac! You can store your card (by letter of your surname) in the library card catalogue, and retrieve it when you return for your next visit.
Have you ever visited a mac & cheese specialty restaurant? If so, where? Tell your story!
SmithAir747
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made... (Psalm 139:14)
tz757300 From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 2836 posts, RR: 7 Reply 1, posted (11 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1361 times:
Publick House - Brookline, MA
Though this place caters to their massive Beer and Whiskey selection, their Mac and Cheese is well known in the Boston area (or at least should be). Love at first taste and I'll let the picture do the talking.
Aeri28 From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 591 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (11 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 1336 times:
Macaroni & Cheese is comfort food for us American's.. Although there are varied variations nationwide using a variety of cheeses, did anybody else grow up with it being made from Velveeta cheese? That is still one of my go to comfort foods.
I always loved a good mac and cheese accompanied with either apple sauce or some crispy on the outside corned beef hash or both!
signol From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2948 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (11 months 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 1264 times:
I haven't been there but I found this place: http://www.smacnyc.com/
while researching restaurants that cater for coeliacs, this Mac and Cheese place in New York City has a separate gluten free menu as well as regular macaroni. We didn't visit in the end, unfortunately.
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 19 Reply 6, posted (11 months 2 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1118 times:
I had a deprived childhood, I didn't know that Mac & Cheese came exclusively from a blue box with powdered (or fake cheese sauce from a pouch).
The joy of good homemade mac & cheese cannot be understated. It is one of those things I should learn how to make, doesn't look all that hard, but takes more than the 10 minutes it takes to make the stuff from the blue box.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10442 posts, RR: 20 Reply 7, posted (11 months 2 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 1063 times:
Quoting SmithAir747 (Thread starter): Homeroom is located on 40th Street in Oakland, a few blocks east of the MacArthur BART station.
Let me guess: not very far from a few different medical marijuana "clinics"?
Some feel that fat, high and stupid is no way to go through life (son), but others disagree...
I'm not sure where I come down on that topic.
While I think about it some more, I think I'll get me some mac and cheese!
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16802 posts, RR: 57 Reply 8, posted (11 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1028 times:
Quoting Revelation (Reply 7): Let me guess: not very far from a few different medical marijuana "clinics"?
What's the most important thing about a brick-and-mortar business? Location, location, location!
I have been to SMAC-NYC. I need to check out Homeroom. I need to take my Lact-Aid before going or I might cause an international incident.
When I make Mac and Cheese, I usually use some combo like: Cheddar (good cheddar), Gorgonzola or another Blue, Manchego or Parmesan, and something soft, like a Brie.
Personally, I was a little disappointed. While they had great and original ideas and flavor combinations, I thought it was just okay. If you are going to have a whole restaurant centered on Macaroni and Cheese, then it better be the best Mac and cheese I have ever had. It was not.
To me, without a doubt, high end steakhouses seem to make the best mac and cheese. Not sure why, but if they have it on the menu, it is almost always awesome.
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10442 posts, RR: 20 Reply 10, posted (11 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 890 times:
Quoting corocks (Reply 9): To me, without a doubt, high end steakhouses seem to make the best mac and cheese. Not sure why, but if they have it on the menu, it is almost always awesome.
Wow, talking about an artery hardening experience: steak with mac and cheese on the side!
boeingfever777 From United States of America, joined Jul 2009, 409 posts, RR: 57 Reply 12, posted (11 months 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 824 times:
Beachcomber Cafe - Crystal Cove in Newport Coast, CA.
zippyjet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 4720 posts, RR: 13 Reply 13, posted (11 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 763 times:
blink182 From Azerbaijan, joined Oct 1999, 5430 posts, RR: 19 Reply 15, posted (11 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 744 times:
Quoting signol (Reply 3): I haven't been there but I found this place: http://www.smacnyc.com/
while researching restaurants that cater for coeliacs, this Mac and Cheese place in New York City has a separate gluten free menu as well as regular macaroni. We didn't visit in the end, unfortunately.
You beat me to it. Amazing mac 'n cheese. I've been there several times and always a struggle to find an open seat in what is a small restaurant. Next time you're here, as long as you are only with one or two people, its well worth a visit.
Give me a break, I created this username when I was a kid...
Longhornmaniac From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 3094 posts, RR: 48 Reply 16, posted (11 months 2 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 723 times:
Quoting corocks (Reply 9): To me, without a doubt, high end steakhouses seem to make the best mac and cheese. Not sure why, but if they have it on the menu, it is almost always awesome.
The Fleming's Chipotle Cheddar Mac & Cheese is out of this freaking world.
Velveeta from scratch is also a hell of a meal. It's so thick, so you get full really quickly.
boeingfever777 From United States of America, joined Jul 2009, 409 posts, RR: 57 Reply 18, posted (11 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 687 times:
KaiGywer From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 12022 posts, RR: 43 Reply 19, posted (11 months 2 weeks 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 671 times:
Quoting Aeri28 (Reply 2): Although there are varied variations nationwide using a variety of cheeses, did anybody else grow up with it being made from Velveeta cheese?
Sponsor Message: 
From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 1599 posts, 
with a table for one or two.
From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 2836 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2948 posts, 
From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38485 posts, 
From Mexico, joined Nov 2003, 7170 posts, 
From Azerbaijan, joined Oct 1999, 5430 posts, 
The Fleming's Chipotle Cheddar Mac & Cheese is out of this freaking world.
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