I’m as perplexed as you. I would guess that just about every upscale restaurant has some decent-to-spectacular offerings. But not here…
I’m not really sure what went wrong, but being next to the Roaring Fork which has the best mac & cheese in the city… I would think they would be even better. ( Based on the total receipt – $125 vs $180)
The reason I’m writing in past tense, which is rare… is because I really didn’t want to write this blog entry.
There is nothing good about this mac & cheese, in fact, there is lots and lots and lots that’s wrong.
The funny thing is that it boils down to one ingredient that took over the entire dish… Planko. In all of my years of eating mac & cheese this dish took the 1st prize in worst-mac&-Cheese in the fine city. It was THAT bad. Dry. Dry. Dry.
I’ll take a pass.
Now if you want to talk about the martinis or their fantastic fish dishes which is why you would go there I think they’re fantastic.
Just don’t get the mac & cheese.0
Beyond being fabulous, Chucks’s Mac & Cheese has everything you want from a good bowl…
1. Perfect Rigatoni pasta
2. Quality Cheeses – Gruyere & Cheddar
3. Bacon
4. Panko crumb crust
5. Reasonably priced at 6.95
Go ahead and get it… You never know when your next truly good mac & cheese splurge will come.
And grab Chucks Burger. Blue cheese burger on a 9-grain roll served with sweet potato fries. It may cost a whopping $10 but well worth every cent.
Dixie looks, feels and tastes just like a good ol’Texas county restaurant.
Offering fried green tomatoes, fried catfish, and fried okra, they obviously cater to the fried-lings (you qualify if you order Fried Oreos or Twinkies just because they have it).
But for those of us who eat the fresh and baked versions of every dish imaginable, Dixie’s gets it right.
No matter what you order, make sure to pick up the side of mac & cheese. It’s good, homestyle-country-cookin’ and by golly you’re going to love it because, it satisfies our innermost need; our need for mac & cheese.
Guilty Pleasures
Auden’s
Antler Cafe
Texas Pride
Houlihan’s is a 20-something upscale joint, at least in the Happy Hour, which is to die for… half priced drinks and small plates ideal for those of us overwhelmed by portion sizes these days.
<a href=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/39/1425803/restaurant/San-Antonio/Northeast-Side/Houlihans-Live-Oak”><img alt=”Houlihan’s on Urbanspoon” src=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1425803/biglink.gif” style=”border:none;width:200px;height:146px” /></a>
Now that I’ve shared the good, it’s time to break the news for our loyal followers… step away from the Mac and Cheese! It could be that I’m getting a bit jaded, though if it’s not Mac and CHEESE, I don’t know if I really want any of it. Staff boasts of scallions, house made bacon bits, Buttermilk and sour cream… But wait! No one says nut’in about no Alfredo Sauce!!! Much like Hofbrau Beer Garten, Houlihan’s sauce is based in Alfredo Sauce. Yuck!
Some of you may enjoy this, especially those who plan on shoving anything else down the ol’gullet. The thing is that for a traditionalist, such as me, and probably you… nothing can replace the creaminess and texture of cheese.
Sorry folks. That’s just the way it goes. Order the sliders or seared tuna steaks… and wash it down with a Long Island. You’ll thank me later.
For a fresh from a frozen bag, kind of Mac and Cheese, McAllisters probably has the best. There are plenty of sub-par m&c dishes available out there. Mac or cheese is off… Never both. But this is probably the best you could get from the sub-par category. (Because it is frozen, their pasta misses the au dente mark. You and the kids won’t mind so much, thanks to its creamy cheesiness.)
So yes, my vote would be to get it as your side.
<a href=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/39/431547/restaurant/Northwest-Side/McAlisters-Deli-San-Antonio”><img alt=”McAlister’s Deli on Urbanspoon” src=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/431547/biglink.gif” style=”border:none;width:200px;height:146px” /></a>
Hmmm… Not much to offer here except, don’t do it. Red Robin’s M&C really needs a makeover. It has potential, though ends up just. plain. bland.
Seriously, ordering their child’s version is better tasting and creamier, though that comes from a frozen bag.
Yes, RR has joined the M&C bandwagon, though it’s about time they step it up. Please.
Yes… I’m talkin’ about Twin Peaks. And we’re not talking about the mountains, although it does have a rugged feel about the place. For sure, not many restaurnats have a designated motorcycle parking lot. What you may notice is that this place is mostly patroned by men and that the waitresses mostly wear shorts that don’t mostly cover anything. I would like to share with you that there is no fear here. My neighbor , who’s a vet, single father of two, is a complete and total genteman… goes once in a while and has just a dandy ol time because some hot number gave him the time of day and flirted a little. Maybe the world would be a better place is there were a few more places that had pretty ladies with great attitudes sharing a little love.
What we’re talking about, because you know this blog is about the mean M&C, is that they have an awesome Mac and Cheese side dish that everyone has got to try. We’re talking loads of thick chunks of bacon. The pasta is something else. I’d love to tell you what it was, but the place is always so busy, asking a waitress to fetch info from the cook just isn’t in the cards.
Anywho, ladies and gentlemen, suck it up and hit up this joint. And while you’re there, if it’s dead, find out what kind of pasta their using. Is mucho bueno yummo!
<a href=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/39/1605209/restaurant/Northwest-Side/Twin-Peaks-San-Antonio”><img alt=”Twin Peaks on Urbanspoon” src=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1605209/biglink.gif” style=”border:none;width:200px;height:146px” /></a>
For some reason, I didn’t think they served M&C… and yet, there it was. I’ve been here a million times and then one day, Poof! There it is on the menu.
Well… this was a new one for me. A happy suprise as I thought the only thing Mac and Cheese would ever be served in a bowl with a spoon. Not the Mac Grill. Go ahead and take a fondue spear and jab your M&C balls. Tthen plunge it into a cheesy truffle sauce. This is so far from boring that I’m not going to say a word about it’s lack of flavor… but who cares… it’s in the top two of the fun category.
While you’re there, may I make a suggestion? I’m thinking along the lines of what to order that feels healthy, taste too good to be healthy, and promises to make up in calories consumed through glasses of wine and fried balls of Mac and Cheese… Try the Scallops tossed in spinach with garlic.
All I can say is – Oh Lord!
<a href=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/39/1468470/restaurant/San-Antonio/Northeast-Side/Romanos-Macaroni-Grill-Selma”><img alt=”Romano’s Macaroni Grill on Urbanspoon” src=”http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1468470/biglink.gif” style=”border:none;width:200px;height:146px” /></a>
Big Bob’s Burgers – doesn’t serve Mac and Cheese, but really should ;0). You see I met Bob. He’s the kinda guy you want to see as the owner of your favorite dive. Of course I use the term “dive” loosly. You see the place is CLEAN. SPOTLESS. In fact, it is so clean, I wanna spill something :0)
Bob was kind enough to show me around. I’m tellin ya… this guy is swell. There are very few managers that take the time to warm up to their patrons and I’m not talking about the kinda warming up that makes your Momma wanna slap a man. This man spent a good amount of quality time showing me around his abode, pride and joy, dream sports/grill/patio/concert venue.
For those that have lived in other cities.. I mean towns in the top 5 in populous, you will notice that San Antonio misses places like these. There was one on every corner in Houston, Palo Alto, New York and Phoenix. Why can’t we have more here in ol’SA?
The headline of this blog is a bit misleading. I love Mac and Cheese as you may well already know, and I realize that there’s never been a Mac and Cheese Burger. Is it even possible? My guess, is that if enough of us ask, Bob may take on a new venture… The Mac and Cheese Big Burger.
But since they don’t serve my absolute favorite dish in the whole wide world… I would suggest picking up a Fried Twinkie. It’s incredibly good for something so indulgent… and I would do it again and again. Get yourself one. I guarantee you’ll slip back into be 10 again.
The Directory of Mac & Cheese 
