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The Claddagh Irish Pub (Lansing, MI)

~ Mac & Cheese ~

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Foxy! Can't get much more insta-worthy than this. 

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The taste of this mac & cheese absolutely dazzled me. As much as I love both Irish Cheddar and/or Gouda cheeses, they can be pretty overpowering if they're not paired with another cheese to mellow them out, and that balance is perfectly executed in this dish. There's a very unique mix of five cheeses that provides an incredible blend of flavors.

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bring a bathing suit and a towel, because you're going to want to dive in.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Five sumptuous cheeses that give those gooey cheese pulls you see in the lovely photo above; textbook perfection. 

Texture: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Between the perfectly cooked shell pasta and the stretchy, creamy cheese sauce, you can't ask for much better.

Overall Experience:
Knowing that such a perfect balance of sharp and mellow flavors has been achieved, I'd say that the bar has been set even higher for mac & cheeses everywhere. Seriously, my socks were simply knocked off by this mac; The Claddagh is a chain pub, so find your nearest one and taste it for yourself! 

Menu Link: http://www.claddaghirishpubs.com/lansing/food/

Let's Talk About Mac!!

Comment below to give some recommendations on mac & cheeses that you'd like to see me review, or just tell me about some of your favorites! Comments can be completely anonymous if you choose, (even to me) so get writing! I'll also give credit on the post if you suggest it - even better!

Bar Louie (Ann Arbor, MI)

~ Baked Mac & Cheese ~

Rating: ⭐️1/2

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pretty nice! The dish has a lot of color thanks to my chosen topping of broccoli, and as usual, the cavatappi noodles are quite aesthetically pleasing. The looks, in this case, are deceiving.  

Flavor: ⭐️ 
Four cheeses? House-made Alfredo? Stunning - I would never have guessed it. I hardly tasted any cheese, and the broccoli taste was incredibly overwhelming. Said addition was may not have been an excellent call on my part, but Christ, one would hope it would be a decent addition if it's a menu option.

Creaminess: ⭐️
Nada. Hardly a drop of cream sauce in sight. Generally, when a dish like this is set in front of you, you'd imagine that it just needs to be stirred up, and the sauce is on the bottom. Lo, it was nowhere to be found.

Cheesiness: ⭐️
As I said, virtually nonexistent.

Texture: 
Holy shit, the texture was astonishingly bad. The pasta was insanely undercooked, so much so that every bite was like chewing broccoli-flavored bubble gum. I was hoping that at the very least, the cheesy bread crumbs would be a saving grace; no such luck. The bread crumbs were essentially uncooked as well, so they were just chewy bits on top of chewier pasta. Yikes.

Overall Experience: 
Stunningly bad, offensive to mac & cheese everywhere. One of the most unfortunate things about this experience was that the places that this mac fell short were incredibly juvenile - cooking pasta correctly is about as basic as things can get. Truly, I would not recommend this one. 

Menu Link: http://www.barlouie.com/menu

The Lunch Room (Ann Arbor, MI)

~ Mac & Cheese ~

~Surprise, it's vegan!!~

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very nice! It's always thrilling to see a generous portion set in front of you; The Lunch Room didn't let me down. The touch of almond, lemon zest and sesame seed (called almasen) with a sprinkle of parsley is also daintily tasteful and enticing.

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I can easily say that this is one of the more flavorful mac & cheese dishes that I've ever tasted; this is probably due to the fact that the cornerstone cheesy flavor is a vegan substitute. I'm no expert on vegan substitutions, so I asked what they use in their cheese - it's butternut squash, red bell pepper, yeast and some other seasonings. Let me tell you, it's an impressive dupe. When trying to compensate for a lack of something as familiar as cheese, playing up a unique flavor is almost equally important as mimicking the original, which The Lunch Room executes perfectly. 

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Creaminess is the only part of this mac that was slightly lacking. It certainly wasn't dry by any means, but there wasn't really an abundance of cream sauce, per-se.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a very interesting category for this particular mac & cheese! The same savory, mellow essence that we all know and love about cheese is perfectly mimicked in The Lunch Room's vegan mac. To describe it to the best of my ability, it just tastes like a more nutty cheese was thrown into the typical mix of cheddars and whatnot.

Texture: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was the most skeptical about texture going in. However, nothing was different at all. Not only was the cheesy texture there, but the elbow macaroni was the desired al dente, and the almasen mix sprinkled on the top added a little crunch. Very cool!

Overall Experience:

This was my first time trying vegan mac & cheese, and I was very impressed. Something that I find important in this review is that I am not rating it based on how it compares to or mimics typical mac & cheeses, but as an excellent mac in its own right. 

The Lunch Room is a charmingly eclectic vegan diner in Kerrytown, Ann Arbor, and I wholeheartedly recommend letting them knock your socks off with their vegan mac.

Menu Link: https://thelunchrooma2.com/diner

Tavern and Tap (Lansing, MI)

~ Lobster Mac N Cheese ~

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Right off the bat, I was impressed that the bites of lobster in this mac were incredibly generous. The juicy piece at the top of the bowl really makes you want to dive in head first. This dish has great color, a very unique pasta (pearl couscous) and big bites of lobster; off to a tasteful start!

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
When it comes to shellfish and cheese, it's tough to keep a dish from being too rich - Tavern and Tap's mac passes with flying colors. Between the lighter flavor of the Boursin and the addition of the chives, this was very well-balanced entrée.

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Incredibly creamy, and did not dry out as it cooled. Had the sauce been thicker, it would've definitely been too rich. I think that the key to a great cream sauce is using a soft cheese in addition to hard - I'd speculate that the Boursin really cements that creamy texture in this mac & cheese.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The combination of the Boursin and Parmesan cheese incorporated into the béchamel makes for a very mellow, yet warm and inviting flavor. Again, this balances the richness of the lobster perfectly.

Texture: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Have you ever had a mac & cheese with pearl couscous? No? Well, you should change that. The couscous adds a one-of-a-kind texture to this mac, such a cool take on a timeless classic. Between the couscous, the breadcrumbs and the shreds of lobster, you get an exquisite range of texture in this mac.

Overall Experience: 
I have had this dish several times, and always enjoy it. I was certainly skeptical at first, but it is such a novel way of making mac & cheese that it is hard not to love it. Tavern and Tap truly found a way to elevate mac & cheese into a classy bite, without stripping it of its core qualities.

Menu Link:http://www.tavernandtap.com/menu.php?mid=6604

Electric Cheetah (Grand Rapids, MI)

- "Baked Classic Macaroni and Cheese" -

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I'd frame this photo and hang it on my wall (in fact, I probably will).

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
One really unique flavor in this dish was green onion. I have never seen a mac & cheese use said ingredient before, and I loved it. For those of you that aren't super into green onion, don't fret, it was not overpowering. 

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The textbook ideal for a mac & cheese cream sauce. 

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Seven. That is the number of cheeses used in the making of this mac & cheese - AND it works. That, friends, is sheer artistry.

Texture: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beautifully al dente cavatappi pasta with a dusting of crispy Panko, juicy bacon and fresh green onion, rounded out by the smooth cream sauce. Superb!

Overall Experience: 
First and foremost, thank you to whomever recommended Electric Cheetah! 
The restaurant itself is really swanky, so even if you don't order this or one of the many other macs on the menu (you'd be crazy) I would still recommend Electric Cheetah. One of the best mac & cheeses I have ever had.

Menu Link: https://www.electriccheetah.com/menus/

Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen (Clarkston, MI)

- "The Most Macked Mac & Cheese" -

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

~ Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives! ~

Preface:
I'm changing things up a little bit by kicking off this review with a "preface" - mostly to regain your trust when I disagree with Guy Fieri's experience at the Clarkston Union (*gasp*). Clarkston Union's mac & cheese was featured on the Kid Rock/Detroit region episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The mac that they made for Guy and Kid Rock, lovingly referred to as "the most macked mac and cheese" was fairly different in quality from the one I got. You may think to yourself, "Well, that makes sense, Guy is like, famous," but a truly good restaurant serves their best food to every guest. Read on to hear the rest.

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very average. The baked crust on the top looked appealing, but the random, lone carrot stick on the side seemed like a bizarre afterthought. Later, when I stumbled upon this very episode of Triple D, I saw the dish presented to Guy Fieri with multiple garnishing vegetables; pretty normal, even nice looking. Why should the everyday customer get such a half-assed version?

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️1/2 
To summarize: crust = good, insides = bad. The Panko and sharp cheddar crust was great, but the rest of the dish didn't follow suit. I would say that the most predominant flavor was oil. I don't know about you, but to me, that's pretty hard to stomach.

Creaminess: ⭐️
The sauce was the low point for this plate. I noted in the "flavor" category that the mac tasted very oily; this was because the cream sauce had totally separated. So the "sauce" was just clumpy cheese/béchamel with some oil around it. Hmm.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Again, the crust was the only saving grace here - the sharp cheddar came to play. As you may have already guessed, the separated sauce essentially drowned out the other elements.
After watching the chef make this mac & cheese on Triple D, I know that several cheeses are involved in this recipe. From just eating it, I would never have been able to guess.

Texture: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
More disconnect between the pasta itself and the crust. The penne rigate was incredibly overcooked, which gave the mac the texture of baby food. Mixed with the ~unsavory~ sauce, it became mush. 
On the other hand, the Panko and sharp cheddar crust on the top of the mac added a nice layer of dimension and crunch. 

Overall Experience
I am very surprised that I did not have 5 star mac at the Clarkston Union. Not only are they known for having amazing mac and cheese, but they were ALSO on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives! I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed.


Menu Link:http://clarkstonunion.com

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Episode:http://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurants/mi/village-of-clarkston/clarkston-union-bar-kitchen-restaurant

Cork on Saginaw (Flint, MI)

- "Macaroni and Cheese" -

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not too shabby! The oblong dish placed at a diagonal does a favor for the eyes. The little bit of browning from a quick broil also adds an enticing finish.

Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
A dash of pepper (and I ~think~ some nutmeg) partnered with the Irish cheddar and comté cheeses create a few bold flavors that balance each other very well without being overpowering. 

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Right on the money.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Irish cheddar and comté cheeses - there's a combination that stands out in a world full of great mac and cheeses. 

Texture: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As anyone who reads this blog regularly might know, I adore cavatappi pasta in a mac. It's a noodle that holds sauce incredibly well, and really adds a lot of texture. Cork's pasta is always reliably al dente, which adds an additional layer of texture that perfectly balances the smoothness of the cheese sauce. Add the little bit of crunch you get from the lightly browned top, and you've got a deadly mix.

Overall Experience: 
I have always loved Cork, especially the mac & cheese. You can rely on the mac to be out of this world every time, without fail. All you lobster mac fans should check it out - you have the choice to add it here!

Menu Link: http://www.corkonsaginaw.com/menu/

Ludington Bay Brewing Company (Ludington, MI)

- "Adult Mac & Cheese" -

Rating: ⭐️⭐️1/2

Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nothing novel here, but with the generous seasoning covering the top, things looked promising upon first glance. 

Flavor: ⭐️ 
Surprisingly, there was almost no flavor whatsoever in this dish - disappointingly insipid. The flavor reminded me of a béchamel sauce before the salt/pepper is added - I think that even a dash of salt would've made a big difference here.

Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Even though this mac was a letdown in a number of ways, the creaminess was up to my standards. There was plenty of cheese sauce to go around, and a good deal of body to it. This cream sauce would've had 5 stars in the bag, had it only tasted like something.

Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️
There seemed to be a fair amount of cheese in this dish based on the gooeyness and body of the sauce, but oddly enough I could hardly taste an ounce of it. Again, sadly blah.

Texture: ⭐️⭐️
New category, how thrilling!
The firmness of the pasta fell somewhere in the middle of the spectrum; not exactly mushy, but by no means al dente. I definitely would want a firmer pasta from a dish that has no other texture elements. Unfortunately, the noodle and the sauce really blended with one another to produce a fairly platonic texture. However, if I'd chosen to add a topping, this rating may have been better.

Overall Experience: 
Not the best culinary experience in general. Not only was the mac dull, but the food took an unbelievably long amount of time to come.

There are two factors, however, that interest me in giving Ludington Bay another shot in the future:
1) You can choose to add ribs, wings, or pulled pork to the mac, which I suspect would improve the dish a bit. 
2) Ludington Bay Brewing Company is a newer establishment, so all of these issues have full potential to right themselves in time.

For those reasons, I am not yet writing this mac off, despite the mediocrity of this first go. 


Menu Link:http://ludingtonbaybrewing.com/menu.html