Must-Try Mac and Cheese Dishes in NEPA
Few dishes say comfort like a bowl of mac and cheese. It’s creamy, super-cheesy and always a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. From school lunch boxes to lazy afternoons to crave-worthy gourmet dishes, every bite is loaded with nostalgia. But don’t let your memory fool you, because, in NEPA, mac and cheese has grown up too.
All across Northeastern PA, local restaurants are bringing big, bold twists to the cheesy classic. Think smoked gouda sauce, crunchy breaded toppings, and truffle oil. Some spots even load it up with crispy bacon, pork belly, or brisket. Here, every bowl of mac and cheese is unique—and somehow all equally delicious.
We’ve compiled a list of standout spots serving up bowls of cheesy, crispy, and completely over-the-top goodness. From old-school pubs to upscale restaurant kitchens, any macaroni and cheese-lover must try these gourmet glow-ups on the classic comfort food.
Scranton, PA
Mix it up every time you visit Ale Mary’s at the Bittenbender in Scranton. A full section of their menu is dedicated to mac and cheese. From a lobster-topped bowl to one tossed with buffalo bites, there’s something for everyone. Each bowl offers unique toppings from bleu cheese drizzle to pico de gallo and crushed tortilla chips.
Must-Try: Taco Mac
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Dallas, PA
Backwoods Bar & Kitchen in Dallas brings gourmet flair to comfort food classics. serves up a gourmet twist on mac and cheese in a rustic, stylish setting. Their elevated version blends cavatappi pasta with a rich cheese mix, jalapeños for heat, and herbed breadcrumbs for crunch. Guests can enjoy it as a vegetarian dish or add pulled pork or brisket burnt ends for a hearty upgrade.
Must Try: Skillet Mac
Scranton, PA
Pub, meet peak pasta. Every dish at Backyard Ale House in downtown Scranton gets a creative twist and the mac and cheese is no exception. From smoky pulled pork to onion straws and hot sauce, each bowl can be built to match your mood. Want to double down? You can even slap it on a burger. No fork required.
Must-Try: Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese
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Wilkes-Barre, PA
You may come for the craft brews but you’ll stay for the cast iron mac. Ooey gooey goodness is a staple at Benny Brewing Company in Wilkes-Barre where bubbling cheese meets a blend of breadcrumbs and cavatappi. And don’t miss out on the meat. Their classic mac and cheese comes with bacon while other styles offer different protein-packed punches.
Must-Try: Smoked Pastrami Mac
Stroudsburg, PA
If you like your comfort food with a kick, Cherry Creek Hideaway in Stroudsburg has you covered. Their cheddar jack sauce is rich, melty, and made in-house. Add a hit of heat with cracked black pepper or spicy buffalo chicken, or check the board for rotating specials that take things even further. Be sure to ask your server for all available options.
Must-Try: Cracked Pepper Mac
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Events & Locations Across NEPA
FonDippity Food Truck is taking saucy, savory, and satisfying twists on nostalgia across Northeastern PA. With imported pasta topped in beer cheese fondue and everything from ghost peppers to Korean BBQ, their team takes classic to completely over the top. Follow FonDippity on Facebook to see where you can get in on this fun-loving food truck.
Must-Try: FonDippity Mac
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Sybertsville, PA
Frogtowne Grille in Sybertsville is a go-to spot for hearty comfort food and laid-back vibes. Their specialty mac and cheese menu includes creative choices like chili-topped versions with tater tots, buffalo chicken, and even options loaded with steak, crab, or lobster. Guests can also build their own version using burger toppings for a personalized cheesy experience.
Must-Try: Fried Mac and Cheese Bites
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Pocono Manor, PA
MACS – Macaroni and Cheese Shop at Kalahari Resorts in Pocono Manor serves up gourmet mac and cheese in a lively resort setting. With 13 signature varieties and a kiosk-style ordering system, guests can customize each bowl with crave-worthy toppings. Popular options range from buffalo chicken to pulled pork and even grilled hot dog combos.
Must-Try: Loaded Baked Potato
Dallas, PA
Mac and cheese is serious business at PRIME at City Market in Dallas. Using their renowned Cooper cheese blend sauce over a cavatappi pasta and bread crumb crust, the chefs have crafted a signature, saucy dish. For the full experience, be sure to add some spice and sea by upgrading to the lobster mac.
Must-Try: Cajun Mac & Cheese with Lobster
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Olyphant, PA
This mac is a crown jewel of the Queen City Tavern in Olyphant. It stays loyal to the dish’s origins with macaroni pasta while elevating it with an artisan beer cheese sauce. To seal the deal, they add golden brown pretzel breadcrumbs, scallions, and offer a laundry list of other toppings for guests to mix and match.
Must-Try: Tavern Mac
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Plains, PA
Who said mac and cheese was just for lunch and dinner? Visit the River Grille in Plains, see for yourself how perfectly their pasta pairs with bacon, sausage and egg. Missed your wake-up call? That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the action. You can still indulge in options like their crispy chicken or lobster macs later in the day.
Must-Try: Wake & Bake
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Wilkes-Barre, PA
The Anthracite Café in Wilkes-Barre takes customers from under the sea to way over the top with a lineup of loaded mac bowls. Dig into everything from seafood bowls drawing on deep sea flavors to their PA-inspired Philly Bowls. Some are less loaded for lighter palates while others feature multiple meats as part of the same bowl.
Must-Try: Seafood Mac & Cheese
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Plains, PA
You won’t find regular mac on this menu. At The Scratch Kitchen in Plains, chefs have crafted an entire block of the menu with melt-in-your-mouth, food truck-style mac and cheese sandwiches stacking beef, bacon, and everything between. With a range of fork-free options you’ll wonder why you haven’t been putting your mac between bread all along.
Must-Try: MAC & CHEEEEESEY
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Jenkins Twp., PA
Craving mac with a serious kick? Try the “Mac Menu” at The Tipsy Turtle Market Street Pub in Jenkins Township. Known for their famous Turtle Bites, it’s no surprise their menu incorporates the chicken bites we love into bowls. With customizable sauce options, you can choose your favorite flavor to enjoy atop a bed of blended cheese sauce and cavatappi pasta.
Must-Try: Sweet Hot Chicken Mac
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St. Clair, PA
Shepherd’s Pie isn’t the only thing that pairs well with what’s on tap. The Wooden Keg Tavern in St. Clair offers everything from brisket and breadcrumbs to crab and crispy chicken on their mac. Whether you’re a casual cheese-goer or a hardcore mac muncher, you’ll head home happy. With flavors from BAJA to Smoked Burnt End, they’ve taken bar food beyond.
Must-Try: Buffalo Mac
Learn MoreDig In to Northeastern PA’s BBQ Restaurants
Article Updated from its Original Version Published on 2/26/2020.
