Whoever first decided to mix macaroni with cheese is someone whose hand I’d like to shake. Who can think of a better way to celebrate life? I’ve loved this comfort food ever since I could eat, and I love having so many options to indulge in this forever beloved treat. Here are, in my view, the UWS restaurants serving the best mac and cheese on the Upper West Side!
Fred’s Restaurant
476 Amsterdam Ave (south west corner of 83rd Street)
This dog-friendly bar and restaurant serves super creamy mac and cheese with a combination of aged cheddar and parmesan. To this you can add a number of toppings including bacon, buffalo chicken, chorizo, meatballs or pulled pork (and more). This is available on both their dinner and late night menus, and they can also make it gluten-free.
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The Viand
517 Columbus Avenue (at 85th Street)
The modern diner, which opened in 2018, serves up a whole slew of creative comfort foods. You can enjoy their mac and cheese with bacon (as pictured below), pork or jalepeños.
Another cheese-filled treat worth trying at The Viand is their gooey grilled cheese!
READ MORE: Best Chinese Food on the Upper West Side
The Smith
1900 Broadway (south east corner of 63rd Street)
One of the many delicious snacks offered at this classy American restaurant is their skillet roasted mac and cheese, which you can find on their starters menu (for dinner, brunch and lunch!).
It’s sharp, gooey and amazing. Made with elbow macaroni and FOUR types of cheese: cheddar, Fontina, Gruyère and Parmigiano Reggiano. You can find this amazing NYC food all over Instagram!
The Mermaid Inn
570 Amsterdam Ave (between 87th and 88th Streets)
Known mostly for their oysters, this popular happy hour spot offers a scrumptious side of smoked gouda mac & cheese with scallions on their dinner menu. It’s pretty filling and only $9!
And you can add lobster, bacon or veggies!
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P.J. Clarke’s
44 West 63rd Street (right off the corner of Columbus Ave, and across from Lincoln Center)
P.J. Clarke’s is one of my favorite restaurants near Lincoln Center. This old-school saloon serves skillet baked mac and cheese with Vermont cheddar and bread crumbs. They use “Pipette” pasta, which is elbow macaroni which is closed on one end (this keeps all the good cheese sauce inside).It’s just the right amount of crispy on the outside.
Every once in a while, they’ll also offer their special Maine Lobster Mac and Cheese!
READ MORE: Best Brunch Spots on the Upper West Side
Maison Pickle
2315 Broadway (between 83rd and 84th Streets)
This new American and comfort food restaurant, opened by the owners of Jacob’s Pickles (next on our list) has a classique and midnight style mac and cheese on their menu.
The Midnight is made with sausage, jalapeño, cheese, and topped with a fried egg!
Maison Pickle is a great place to eat and a beautifully decorated restaurant!
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Jacob’s Pickles
509 Amsterdam Ave (between 84th and 85th Streets)
Jacob’s Pickles dinner and brunch menus feature a standard, buffalo chicken and mushroom mac and cheese!
The buffalo chicken gets especially rave reviews.
This is just one of the reasons Jacob’s Pickles is among our favorite Upper West Side restaurants.
