Best mac and cheese

I consider myself an expert on macaroni and cheese. I have been eating it since I was old enough to chew solid food. So, whenever I go somewhere I have to try their mac and cheese. Here are my top five places for mac and cheese.

Posted 3:06 p.m. Jan 16, 2012 — Updated 6:17 p.m. Jul 13, 2018

I consider myself an expert on macaroni and cheese. I have been eating it since I was old enough to chew solid food. So, whenever I go somewhere I have to try their mac and cheese. Here are my top five places for cheesy goodness:

Poole's Downtown Diner (Raleigh) - WRAL's Ken Smith suggested this pick. Heavy cream, white cheddar and Parmesan help make this a must try for any mac & cheese fan!

The mac and cheese at Beasley's Chicken and Honey.

Beasley's Chicken and Honey (Raleigh) - Another Ashley Christensen restaurant (she also owns Poole's), this place is known for its chicken and waffles, but also makes a great mac and cheese containing pimento cheese.

Tobacco Road (Raleigh, Durham) - Although it is listed as an appetizer, their mac and cheese dish is large enough to share. Tossed with ham and a variety of cheeses, it can also be topped off with chicken or shrimp.

The Skillet Baked Mac and Cheese comes tossed with broccoli and bacon, and topped with tomato relish and chicken or shrimp.

Carolina Smokehouse Grill (Wake Forest) - Their Iron Skillet-Baked Mac and Cheese is outstanding. The cheesy macaroni is tossed with broccoli and bacon, baked and topped with tomato relish and then topped with chicken or shrimp. The flavors, especially the tomato relish, create such a nice blend.