Mac and cheese is not just a pasta dish; it is an art and a delicacy. One might even say it’s the best dish to ever be created. If you are a mac and cheese connoisseur like me and want to learn about the best places in Charlottesville, you have come to the right place. For it is I, Lauren Medica, the big cheese of Mac. The Mrs. of Macaroni. The King of Kraft. In fact, I am typing this article with dry pasta in place of my fingers. My love for M&C knows no bounds, and as such, I have sampled her greatness far and wide. I am truly passionate about eating mac and cheese, and I am delighted to share my findings with you all. I must admit, this is not an exact science; however, it is a list I have curated with my most creamy, ooey-gooey, thick, and cheesy love. So, without further ado, I present to you the top mac and cheeses of Charlottesville.
***Disclaimer: I have the culinary palate of a 7-year-old. Proceed with caution and do not take my critiques any more seriously than those of a child.***
Mockingbird: I have only had the pleasure of consuming this mac once, but it has to be number one on my list. Its creaminess and cheesiness truly exceeded my expectations. The only thing driving me away from this restaurant is the fact that I cannot drive there, and I am a broke college student. It is located past the Downtown Mall in the historic Belmont neighborhood. I have no other words for this mac; it is truly great, and if you love mac and cheese as much as I do, then you have to try this one out.
The Black Cow: This mac and cheese can be served two ways. You can either get it with lobster or just get it regularly. For the sake of fairness, I am reviewing the regular mac and cheese because when the lobster is incorporated, it really outdoes all of the following macs on this list. I will say, this mac has numerous positive reviews; everyone raves about this one. It is creamy with a toasted top, and it is truly very delicious. This mac and cheese is a must-try and is also located very close to Grounds near the Downtown Mall.
The Virginian: Perfection. Spectacular. This mac and cheese is famous here in Charlottesville. If you have never had this mac and cheese, you have never experienced a classic Charlottesville dinner. It is the perfect ratio of mac to cheese. You also have the freedom of choosing between two different portion sizes: an appetizer or an entree. The mac is served with a potato patty on top (I usually don’t indulge in this, but it is pretty good). Not only is the mac great, but the vibes in the Virginian cannot be beat. It’s a Corner classic and a fan favorite among UVA students and townies.
Jack Browns: This mac and cheese comes in the form of a burger, featuring a double patty piled high with mac and cheese, American cheese, and a handful of BBQ chips. If you love cheese, you’ll love this burger; biting into it honestly felt like I’d ordered a bowl of mac and cheese with a side of burger. Not that that’s a bad thing. The ooey-gooey mac and cheese works surprisingly well with the patties, and the BBQ chips add a fun crunch that I appreciated more for the texture than the flavor. Although this is a special form of mac and cheese, it still deserves to be ranked as a great dish in Charlottesville.
Trinity: What to say about this mac and cheese…it is by far the oiliest on this list — sometimes. One must enter Trin expecting either the best or worst mac and cheese experience; there is no in-between. Your experience will go one of two ways: You enter the pub, wondering what you are going to order for Trinner, maybe the Caesar wrap or some wings; however, you decide on the mac and cheese. You order it. If you have never ordered this, you will not know what to expect. It comes out promptly within five minutes of ordering, and you might have requested it with a side of fries. It’s set in front of you. You will notice that it is a more baked mac and cheese with a hard layer of cheese over the top and the soft mac below. It’s time to eat. Your spoon enters the bowl. You will either receive a spoonful of yellow oil and one single piece of mac or a delicious spoonful of very cheesy mac. The portion is a bit small, but it is also on the menu as a side dish, so it’s what you would expect. The atmosphere of Trinner with your friends will make up for it if you end up getting a more oily version, but I would say 8 times out of 10, you tend to get the more cheesy kind.
Botanical: This is a vegan restaurant located in the Downtown Mall. The mac here is dairy-free and is also served as miso mac and cheese. It is a bit drier than other mac and cheeses I have tried, but it’s still a good one to order.
Honorable Mentions:
Millers, Ellie’s, Moe’s BBQ, Market at P, Nook: These are places that I have yet to try, but I have heard great things, so definitely give these a taste.
Panera: Although this cheesy masterpiece is most definitely made from a frozen package and microwaved in the back of the Panera kitchen, it still holds a special place in my heart as my go-to study session lunch. It’s perfectly portioned and goes great with a small chicken noodle soup, a baguette, and a refreshing lemonade. However, I have had some issues with singular cold pieces of mac (probably because they are microwaved). The drive-thru in Merchant Walk Square is also the Panera to hit rather than Barracks. It is efficient, and you don’t even have to get out of your car.
Red Lobster: What goes best with a Kraft mac and cheese, you ask… a GIANT lobster margarita. That is all. They closed down the Red Lobster in Charlottesville, and it was truly a tragedy for this town, so I highly recommend dining at this establishment in your hometown before they’re all gone.
I hope that after reading this article, you take the mac and cheese wizard’s advice to heart and explore these dishes around the ‘Ville with a fresh perspective. While I’ve ranked Charlottesville’s mac and cheese based on pure deliciousness, my true favorite will always be a homemade pan made with love. Nothing compares, nothing beats it, and it never goes wrong.
My personal number one is the mac and cheese I get back home from Tutti. She makes it just for my friends, my family, and me, whether it’s for the holidays or whenever I return from school. It’s truly the best, and I wish I could share this mac with the world. At the end of the day, mac and cheese is truly a carefully crafted dish, and I hope that you choose to share these cheesy experiences of Charlottesville with others.
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