A bowl of macaroni and cheese can be a simple thing, or it can arrive piled with brisket, grilled chicken, Parmesan shavings, roasted garlic, crunchy toppings, and enough cheese to make a forkful stretch. This Portland-area comfort-food stop firmly prefers the second approach.
The specialty here is creamy, cheese-forward mac made to order. You can begin with one of the house combinations or build a bowl around your own particular idea of excess. It is not trying to be a light lunch, and nobody should mistake it for low-carb fare.
Servings run large enough that a single order can easily become tomorrow's lunch, or give two people something to share alongside a side dish. That changes the math a little when the list of add-ons starts getting tempting.
Start With a Signature Bowl
The pesto mac has earned a following, particularly among diners who like to add extra cheese to an already rich base. Pesto brings a greener, herbier direction to the familiar comfort-food formula, while grilled chicken makes it a more substantial meal.
Green Goddess mac offers another less-expected route through the menu. It has been a standout choice for diners wanting something more distinctive than traditional mac without giving up the creamy, full-bodied character of the dish.
Traditional mac is available for those who want the straightforward version, but even that bowl can become a project. Brisket, Parmesan shavings, and Hot Cheetos have all found their way into orders, turning the basic option into something much less basic.
For the Full-On Comfort Food Mood
Buffalo mac takes the menu into more rambunctious territory. One combination has paired it with chicken fritters, Parmesan shavings, and Hot Cheetos, a lineup that sounds built for anyone who believes macaroni benefits from a little crunch and heat.
Hot Cheetos can also come on the side, which is a sensible touch. Add a little at a time and the bowl stays crunchy longer; dump them in at once and commit to the chaos.
Roasted garlic appears generously in some preparations, adding another savory note beneath all that cheese. Crab mac has also appeared topped with fresh crab, giving the menu a surprisingly seafood-forward option amid the brisket, chicken, and buffalo combinations.
Toppings are individually priced, so a fully loaded custom bowl can climb from its starting point. Still, the format encourages ordering exactly what sounds good rather than settling for a one-size-fits-all casserole dish.
A Window, a Courtyard, and a Quick Meal
The operation is built for an uncomplicated stop: order at the window, place an order online, or have food brought through a delivery service. Pickup is a natural fit for a meal this substantial, especially when the plan is to take half of it home.
For eating there, a small outdoor courtyard offers bench-style tables and decorative touches that keep the setting from being purely utilitarian. It is casual, roadside seating near a highway rather than a secluded patio, but a hot bowl of mac does not require much ceremony.
Orders are commonly prepared quickly, with waits around 10 minutes reported at times. Delivery has also worked well for the food, which has arrived hot, fresh, and neatly packed.
Do Not Skip the Crisp Sides
Macaroni may dominate the order, but the Brussels sprouts with garlic aioli deserve a look. They have held onto their crispness even after delivery, which is no small achievement for a side that can go soft in a takeout box.
Cauliflower with ranch follows the same appealing crisp-outside approach. Either side offers a welcome contrast to a big, velvety bowl of pasta, even if neither one turns the meal into health food.
A fountain Dr Pepper has also been a surprisingly memorable pairing. Sometimes the right companion for a loaded bowl of mac is simply a cold, fizzy soda in a paper cup.
Useful Details Before You Go
The outdoor seating, window service, online ordering, takeout, and delivery give the place several ways to work into a day. Free lot parking and free street parking are available around the stop.
It has been a handy choice for late-night meals, though current hours are worth checking before making a special trip. Menu combinations can shift as well, so anyone chasing a very specific topping should look at the current menu before ordering.
For a first visit, a signature bowl gives a good introduction; on the next one, the build-your-own format leaves plenty of room to try brisket, chicken, crab, roasted garlic, extra cheese, or a strategically placed handful of Hot Cheetos.