- "Au Bon Pain Mac & Cheese" -
Rating: ⭐️
Presentation: ⭐️
Self serve. It's even more fast food than Noodles. You literally ladle it into a paper cup, so presentation is a pretty hefty no-go.
Flavor: ⭐️
Yikes. The aftertaste is fairly cringe worthy, I would describe it as having an essence of chemicals. My dog might pass it up; it eats garbage, FYI.
Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️
Creaminess is the one thing this mac definitely has. However, it is borderline watery at times, and others it is clumpy and dry. It's truly a gamble.
Cheesiness: ⭐️
The cheese for this mac is processed to the point that it is immensely noticeable. Kraft is pretty processed, Velveeta is pretty damn processed, but this nasty cheese takes the chemically-enhanced cake. The best example to give in the quality department would be that the cheese separates if untouched for a while; you'll come back to it and it'll be part oil, part clumpy cheese.
Overall Experience:
In pure honesty, if I hadn't eaten in three days I would probably only eat this mac and cheese reluctantly.
Menu Link: http://aubonpain.com/menu/macaroni-cheese-0
- "HopCat's Killer Mac & Cheese" -
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Presentation was pretty good here, as usual I chose to add red peppers which added some nice color to this mac (I actually don't think this is a menu option anymore, sadly), as well as grilled chicken. ~Results may vary~ as you can choose your toppings.
Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The red peppers added a nice flair to this mac, but I don't think it would be bland without them. The chicken isn't exactly a vital part of this dish since all toppings are optional, but it came out fairly rubbery, ~just saying~.
Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I would say that the creaminess of this dish is comparatively more of a strength, but could still be better. It HopCat's mac always seems to be a touch on the dry side, in my opinion.
Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The cheese was not that bold in this dish, but more of a mild cheddary type, which is quite tasty.
Overall Experience:
HopCat usually sprinkles crumbled kettle chips on top of their mac to add some crunchy texture, which is always nice. Generally, I have learned to get this mac without chicken, as it often comes out on the rubbery side. There is nothing that really sets it apart from the crowd, but is a decent mac and cheese overall.
Menu Link: https://hopcat.com/food/ann-arbor
- "Made to Order Mac & Cheese" -
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When this baby plops down in front of you, you'll be like, "whoa" (probably in a positive way). This Mac is the "Make Your Own" and you can choose two toppings to put on it; I chose pulled pork and roasted red peppers. The presentation is in classic BBQ style with the tin plate, which is pretty neat.
Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entrée is far from bland. With the smoky (and v tender)flavor of the pulled pork, peppery kick in the cheese sauce and the roasted red peppers, there is a classic BBQ vibe going on here with a whole A-Team of flavors. The Force is strong with this one, but not strong enough that my weak tastebuds couldn't handle it.
Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Substantially creamy, definitely a must for balancing out the rest of the textures in the dish.
Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️
The creamy sauce and the melted cheese on top keeps this dish from lacking in the "cheesiness" category. I would say that the cheese falls to the wayside in this dish, however.
Overall Experience:
One thing to note here is that this mac and cheese is pretty heavy, but that's to be expected for a BBQ restaurant, I would say. The spiciness adds an interesting edge to this mac and cheese but is definitely not too much to handle. In summary, it was tasty, but didn't really knock my socks off.
Menu Link: http://meatbbq.com/index.php/smokin-menu
- "Mac & Blue" -
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The original presentation was very appealing, I had already mixed it in a bit when this particular photo was taken. This "Mac and Bleu" is a blue cheese mac and cheese that comes with smoked chicken on top; very appetizing upon first impression of said dish.
Flavor: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The blue cheese definitely gives this plate a bold kick of flavor, as does the smoked chicken. The smoky taste mixed with the sharp essence of the blue cheese makes this macaroni far from bland, but not bold to the point where you're like "holy shit". I think the creamier sauce on it is cheddar, so you also don't lose the essence of O.G. mac.
Creaminess: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As you may be able to see in the photo, there is a creamier cheese sauce in addition to the blue cheese, which makes for a nice blend of creaminess with the crunch of some bread crumbs on top. This blend is very enjoyable, I would say.
Cheesiness: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very cheesy, but usually not overly so; the cream sauce keeps this dish grounded.
Overall Experience:
I would personally recommend this dish. If you are not a huge blue cheese supporter, do not fear, it really makes this mac and cheese what it is without making you gag. The blend of textures and different flavors makes it a force to be reckoned with, and I would even say it is one of my favorites in Ann Arbor. Very filling, FYI; if you're looking to have dessert after dinner, plan on boxing up a good portion of the macaroni for sure. It is also one of the dishes that Blue Tractor is known for, so you know it's gotta be pretty good.
Menu Link: http://www.bluetractor.net/bta/a2/dinner_menu
