Winter is the perfect season to cozy up with some comfort food, and who can say no to some piping hot mac and cheese? Beloved by picky eaters and gourmets alike, mac and cheese is delicious all year, but it’s especially good during colder weather.
Since it’s such a simple dish, there are many restaurants that have mac and cheese on their menus. These 10 Montgomery County restaurants are known for their mac and cheese, from simple cheese-and-pasta dishes to elevated takes that incorporate Maryland crab.
Dogfish Head Alehouse
800 West Diamond Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20878
A common staple on lists of mac and cheese to try in the area, Dogfish Head Alehouse has a loaded mac and cheese listed as the first entree on its menu. The “Alehouse Mac & Cheese” uses three kinds of cheese and is topped with applewood smoked bacon, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and squash. If that still isn’t enough for you, you can add proteins like chicken, pulled pork, smoked brisket or steak.
dogfishalehouse.com
MoCo’s Founding Farmers
12505 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac, MD 20854
The macaroni and cheese at the Montgomery County location of this popular DMV restaurant incorporates seven different kinds of cheese. The restaurant’s official cookbook states that sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, fontina, gouda, asiago, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses are used, making this a great dish for cheese-lovers. There’s also a variation topped with ham, apples and peas, and the regular mac and cheese comes as a side with the restaurant’s chicken and waffles.
wearefoundingfarmers.com/location/moco/
All Set Restaurant & Bar
8630 Fenton St. #5, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Macaroni and cheese and barbecue are a winning
combination, and All Set understands that. While it’s primarily a seafood restaurant, it also serves barbecue items from the catering company and food truck Money Muscle
BBQ, including its iconic mac and cheese. Money Muscle’s recipe uses a homemade cheese sauce and campanelle pasta, and is topped with an herb crumble. A kids’ menu version
that omits the crumble is also available.
allsetrestaurant.com
Smoke BBQ
4858 Cordell Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814
Smoke BBQ takes the macaroni-and-barbecue combo to another level. The restaurant offers a build-your-own bowl option where customers can choose a starchy base, layer it with a variety of barbecued meats and top it with vegetables. Macaroni and cheese is available as one of the base options for these bowls, so customers can build their own cheesy creation. If you’re looking for something lighter, it’s also available as a side and on the restaurant’s kids’ menu.
mysmokebbq.com
Flower Child
10205 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814
People with certain dietary restrictions may not be able to enjoy macaroni and cheese, but there are plenty of alternatives available for them to get their fix. Flower Child’s menu is based around organic, healthy ingredients that anyone can enjoy, including vegans, vegetarians and people with gluten-free diets. The restaurant’s mac and cheese is gluten-free, so people with celiac and other gluten intolerances can enjoy it with no issue.
iamaflowerchild.com/locations/bethesda-md-wildwood-shopping-center/
Grandma’s Ice Cream & Waffles
389 E Gude Dr., Rockville, MD 20850
You might not expect to find good mac and cheese at an ice cream parlor, but Grandma’s Ice Cream & Waffles offers a large menu of food outside of its dessert offerings. The restaurant has a whole menu of loaded mac and cheese, with toppings including bacon, chili, shredded and breaded chicken and broccoli. There are also vegan options for every kind of mac and cheese except the Bacon Mac.
grandmasicecreamandwaffles.com
Chef Tony’s Fresh Seafood
12307 Wilkins Ave., Rockville, MD 20852
5225 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814
Looking for something fancier than normal macaroni and cheese? This seafood restaurant jazzes up its mac and cheese dish with plenty of lobster and crab, making for a richer taste. Chef Tony’s also offers family meals that can serve three to five people, so the whole family can enjoy some seafood goodness.
cheftonysseafood.com
Copper Canyon Grill
100 Boardwalk Pl., Gaithersburg, MD 20878
928 Ellsworth Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20910
9300 Taj Lane, Glenarden, MD 20706
7051 Arundel Mills Blvd., Hanover, MD 21076
While it’s not a main attraction on its menu, this Maryland-based chain lets you jazz up any order with a side of bacon mac and cheese.
ccgrill.com
