Hello everyone! Your favorite HerCampus writer’s favorite HerCampus writer is back with another article. And because I’m Augustana College’s unofficial food and energy drink journalist, I’m going to write about one of my favorite foods: mac and cheese! I used to eat it every day after school when I was younger. Now I don’t eat it every day, but I still get a bowl of it whenever I can. That means I have had tons of mac and cheese in the Quad Cities, and I’ve realized that there are three places that serve the best mac and cheese that I have tried so far. So, in no particular order, here’s my recommendations of where to go if you’re craving that golden goodness.
- The Grilled Cheese Bar
This Augustana alum’s restaurant is a Quad Cities favorite, known for their large variety of the iconic sandwich. I came to this spot in Davenport for their grilled cheese, but I keep coming back for their mac and cheese. Rigatoni noodles are drenched in a creamy cheddar sauce and a pile of sharp cheddar cheese is baked right on top. The burnt parts of the cheddar add a crunch factor to the side dish, which turns it from good to great. What I love most about this mac and cheese is that there is no shortage of cheese, but there also isn’t too much of it. I can eat a bowl of it without being too overwhelmed by its richness. So, if you’re craving a comforting mac and cheese that is also balanced, I can’t recommend the Grilled Cheese Bar to you enough.
- Vibrant Coffeehouse and Kitchen
I keep writing about Vibrant over and over again, but it’s because this place truly lives up to my praise. I also believe that I have talked about their White Cheddar Mac and Cheese in previous articles as well, but that’s also because it’s truly one of the best mac and cheese I’ve had in the Quad Cities. Large and soft macaroni noodles bathe in a pool of rich and salty melted white cheddar cheese. This dish is perfect to eat on a frozen winter day when you need a comforting meal to warm you up. You also have the option to add bacon bits on top of it, which I highly recommend because you’ll taste heaven in your mouth when the salty bacon cuts through the rich and cozy cheese. Need a comforting mac and cheese that never fails to put a smile on your face? Look no further than the White Cheddar Mac and Cheese from Vibrant Coffeehouse and Kitchen.
- Cheesy Cow
No list about mac and cheese in the Quad Cities would ever be complete without Cheesy Cow. This restaurant located in Bettendorf serves many variations of mac and cheese, such as chili, taco, margarita pizza, and many, many more. Personally, my favorite is their original mac and cheese. Cavatappi noodles swim around in the creamiest cheddar cheese sauce and the fresh cheddar cheese is melted right on top. Every time I eat it, it takes me right back to when I was a kid sitting on my kitchen counter and was falling in love with this dish. If the original isn’t your thing, however, then you have plenty of other options to choose from. My other favorite from Cheesy Cow is the chili mac and cheese. I never knew how savory and salty chili could pair so well with mac and cheese until I tried the combination here. Now, I can’t stop eating it. Make no mistake, after just one visit, Cheesy Cow will become your new cheese addiction.
And there you have it folks. My top three places to get mac and cheese in the Quad Cities. Regardless of where you prefer to get your mac and cheese, I hope you can love it as much as I do.