Cheese lovers, unite!
We’re about to embark on a gooey, golden journey through Minnesota’s mac and cheese landscape.
Prepare your taste buds for a rollercoaster ride of flavors that’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about this comfort food classic.
1. Smack Shack (Minneapolis)
Let’s kick things off with a bang at Smack Shack, where seafood and mac and cheese collide in a beautiful, cheesy explosion.
Picture this: a bustling restaurant with a giant lobster claw hanging over the entrance, practically begging you to come in and indulge.
The mac and cheese here isn’t just a side dish; it’s a full-blown seafood extravaganza.
Their lobster mac and cheese is like the Rolls-Royce of pasta dishes – if Rolls-Royce made cars out of cheese and crustaceans.
The generous chunks of lobster make you feel like you’ve hit the seafood lottery.
It’s so rich, you might need to be rolled out of the restaurant afterward, but trust me, it’s worth every cheesy, lobster-filled bite.
2. Milton’s (Crystal)
Next up, we’re heading to Milton’s in Crystal, where the mac and cheese is so good, it might just make you forget about all other food groups.
This place is like the Switzerland of restaurants – neutral territory where both fancy food lovers and comfort food enthusiasts can coexist in cheesy harmony.
Their mac and cheese is the kind of dish that makes you want to hug the chef.
It’s creamy, it’s dreamy, and it’s got more cheese pulls than a pizza commercial.
The outdoor seating area is perfect for people-watching while you contemplate whether it’s socially acceptable to lick your plate clean in public.
3. The Lowry (Minneapolis)
The Lowry in Minneapolis is where mac and cheese goes to college and comes back with a PhD in deliciousness.
This place is sleeker than a greased-up otter, with a menu that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance.
Their mac and cheese is like a warm, cheesy hug for your insides.
It’s the kind of dish that makes you want to write poetry – cheesy poetry, of course.
The modern, upscale vibe of the place is the perfect backdrop for stuffing your face with pasta and cheese.
It’s classy comfort food at its finest.
4. Brunson’s Pub (St. Paul)
Brunson’s Pub in St. Paul is where mac and cheese goes to party.
This place has more character than a Disney movie, with a vibe that’s part old-school pub, part modern gastro-haven.
It’s like your cool uncle decided to open a restaurant and serve up some seriously good grub.
Their mac and cheese is the stuff of legends – the kind of dish that starts food fights over who gets the last bite.
It’s so good, you might catch yourself giving it a standing ovation.
The cozy, brick-walled interior makes you feel like you’re in on a delicious secret that the rest of the world is missing out on.
5. Brick & Bourbon (Stillwater)
Brick & Bourbon in Stillwater is where mac and cheese puts on its fancy pants and goes out on the town.
This place is swankier than a penguin in a tuxedo, with a menu that reads like a love letter to comfort food.
Their mac and cheese is the kind of dish that makes you want to propose marriage – to the food, not the chef (though I wouldn’t judge).
It’s got more layers of flavor than an onion wearing a trench coat.
The rustic-chic atmosphere is perfect for pretending you’re a sophisticated foodie while you’re really just there to stuff your face with cheesy goodness.
6. Crooked Pint Ale House (Multiple locations)
Crooked Pint Ale House is like the Swiss Army knife of restaurants – it’s got a little bit of everything, and it does it all well.
With multiple locations, it’s spreading the gospel of good mac and cheese across Minnesota like cheesy missionaries.
Their mac and cheese is the kind of dish that makes you question all your life choices – mainly, why haven’t you been eating this every day?
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It’s comfort food that gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling, like wearing a cheese sweater (which, come to think of it, would be both delicious and impractical).
7. The Nook (St. Paul)
The Nook in St. Paul is where mac and cheese goes to flex its muscles.
This place is smaller than your average hobbit hole, but it packs a flavor punch that could knock out a heavyweight champion.
Their mac and cheese is the Rocky Balboa of pasta dishes – it’s the underdog that comes out swinging and leaves you seeing stars.
It’s so good, you might find yourself arm-wrestling other diners for the last spoonful.
The cozy, no-frills atmosphere is perfect for focusing on what really matters: stuffing your face with cheesy deliciousness.
8. The Freehouse (Minneapolis)
The Freehouse in Minneapolis is where mac and cheese goes to get a college education and comes back as a sophisticated fromage connoisseur.
This place is cooler than a polar bear’s toenails, with a brewery on-site that’ll make you want to high-five your taste buds.
Their mac and cheese is like a cheese-powered rocket ship to flavor town.
It’s got more depth than a philosophical debate between cheese wheels.
The industrial-chic vibe of the place makes you feel like you’re dining in the world’s tastiest factory.
9. Handsome Hog (St. Paul)
Handsome Hog in St. Paul is where mac and cheese puts on a bowtie and goes to the opera.
This place is fancier than a poodle at a dog show, with a Southern-inspired menu that’ll make you want to start saying “y’all” unironically.
Their mac and cheese is the kind of dish that makes you want to write a thank-you note to the cow that provided the cheese.
It’s so luxurious, you half expect it to come with its own butler.
The sleek, modern interior is the perfect backdrop for pretending you’re a sophisticated food critic while you’re really just there to inhale cheese-covered carbs.
10. Buster’s on 28th (Minneapolis)
Buster’s on 28th in Minneapolis is where mac and cheese goes to let its hair down and party.
This place has more personality than a stand-up comedy show, with a vibe that’s part neighborhood joint, part culinary adventure.
Their mac and cheese is the kind of dish that makes you want to start a slow clap in the middle of the restaurant.
It’s comfort food that gives you a bear hug and tells you everything’s going to be okay.
The laid-back atmosphere is perfect for when you want to feel like you’re eating in your living room, but with way better food and less judgmental pets.
11. Icehouse (Minneapolis)
Icehouse in Minneapolis is where mac and cheese go to jam out and get its groove on.
This place is cooler than a penguin’s freezer, with live music that’ll have you tapping your foot while you shovel cheese into your face.
Their mac and cheese is like a cheesy rock ballad for your taste buds – it starts soft and creamy, builds to a crescendo of flavors, and leaves you wanting an encore.
The hip, industrial vibe makes you feel like you’re at the intersection of good food and good tunes.
12. Pub 819 (Hopkins)
Last but not least, Pub 819 in Hopkins is where mac and cheese goes to prove that suburbs can be cool too.
This place is like the cool kid in school who’s friends with everyone – it’s got something for everybody, but we’re here for the mac and cheese.
Their mac and cheese is the kind of dish that makes you want to stand up and slow clap.
It’s so good, you might find yourself writing love sonnets to cheese.
The cozy pub atmosphere is perfect for settling in and making some important life decisions – like whether to order a second helping or just move in permanently.
There you have it, cheese enthusiasts – a mac and cheese tour that’ll make your arteries cry and your taste buds sing.
Satisfy your taste for adventure!
This map has all the stops you need to make every meal a memorable one.
Remember, calories don’t count when you’re on a culinary adventure.
Now go forth and conquer that cheese!