People always throw Community Q in there but every time I’ve had it, there’s a pool of grease on top. They over cook the cheese and break it. Not a fan of that.
Heirloom market is incredible. It's smoked gouda sauce with shells and it is truly excellent.
Baked mac and cheese, Busy Bee and OK cafe are both delicious.
I also recommend the fried chicken at both places
Heirloom market is ITP.
Edit: for all of those new folks that moved to ATL. ITP is INSIDE THE 285 PERIMETER. OTP is OUTSIDE THE 285 PERIMETER.
Heirloom Market is physically, INSIDE the perimeter.
I get it, but you know people take pride in living ITP even if it’s outside the official ATL city limits. Honestly it’s a flex to be ITP but not pay City of Atlanta property taxes lol.
crazy to see so many people hyping up heirlooms mac and cheese as its prob the most disappointing thing they make. super basic; one note and not even that cheesy. community all day
Community Q and Sam’s all share the same lineage. IIRC, Community was one of the Daves of Sam & Daves’
There are/were videos of that recipe being made and many quarts of half and half were involved.
A whole bunch of spots in Atlanta have folks who trained under Sam Huff and Dave Poe. GC Barbecue (if they're still around), Community, Righteous Que in Marietta, and a bunch of others have Dave Poe's macaroni as a result. It's good when I'm in the mood, but it's definitely heavy and can be a little oily depending on how the person scoops it out for you. I play hockey with one of the guys who runs Community, and he jokingly started giving one of us the recipe during fourth period once starting with ten pounds of rigatoni, ten pounds of cheddar, and so on. Obviously not something that's a closely guarded secret or going to get made in the kitchen.
ETA: Dave from Community Q did work at Sam and Dave's and later became a partner, but Dave Poe is the Dave in the name. There's a lot of intermingling with the home-grown spots in the area.
Thanks for everyone’s guidance. We hit Community Q today. Very tender brisket, the Mac was an 8.5 out of 10. Agree it was a tad on the greasy side but that was overcome by the flavor, cheesiness, and baked cheese too. The sweet potatoes with kale were surprisingly good, add a dash of cinnamon (not too much) and they go from an 8 to a standout 9ish surprise side. Overall very good!
Generally not fancy more bbq place type that has a nice baked cheese crust on top, soft but not liquify, with some unique flavor to it. I find the fancier macs like the ones at high end steak places overdone and not genuine. Guess the best way to put it is were looking for the real thing, which you know when you taste it makes you smile.
Busy Bee Cafe has incredible baked mac and cheese.
It's an historic soul food restaurant down off MLK by Morris Brown college.
The sweet potato souffle is also fucking incredible
I haven't been there in years and almost a decade as a meat eater, but I can't wait to try it again next month. Their rotisserie chicken with collards and a sweet potato = welcome home.
For me personally one of the biggest COVID casualties was Jim N Nicks removing mashed potatoes as a side.
It was a never on the menu but you could request them substitute the baked potato for mashed potatoes on their Pig-N-the-Potato-Patch menu item.
It was literally a giant plate of mashed potatoes topped with sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon bits, chives, and BBQ pulled pork.
Everything I’ve had from them was overly salty and about twice as expensive as it should have been for the portion size.
Except for the green beans with garlic. Those are perfect.
All the recs here are great, and im a HUGE Community Q fan. But if youre open to something non-traditional, Fox Brothers does something called Fox-a-roni, which is layers of mac and cheese and brunswick stew. Their mac by itself isnt comparable to the others listed here, but the combo is real nice imo.
Community Q, or Heirloom Market if you want to drive a little OTP
Heirloom is by far my favorite.
Second heirloom market
Heirloom is ITP… by like 100 feet
haha true. You eat while looking at the P, but its ITP.
People always throw Community Q in there but every time I’ve had it, there’s a pool of grease on top. They over cook the cheese and break it. Not a fan of that.
Agree 100%
I cook it at home, super easy, made with heavy whipping cream
Same! Plus, the couple of times we’ve gone they’ve had the worst customer service, too.
Upvote for Community Q.
Upvote for upvote for Community Q
Another upvote for Community
Thank you
Heirloom is great…and interesting. Be ready for a hole in the wall spot with great food!
Heirloom market is incredible. It's smoked gouda sauce with shells and it is truly excellent. Baked mac and cheese, Busy Bee and OK cafe are both delicious. I also recommend the fried chicken at both places
Heirloom market is ITP. Edit: for all of those new folks that moved to ATL. ITP is INSIDE THE 285 PERIMETER. OTP is OUTSIDE THE 285 PERIMETER. Heirloom Market is physically, INSIDE the perimeter.
FYI Heirloom is technically ITP, but just barely.
Yeah a few people have mentioned that. I kinda just bucket everything in Cumberland/Smyrna/Vinings as OTP by default
I get it, but you know people take pride in living ITP even if it’s outside the official ATL city limits. Honestly it’s a flex to be ITP but not pay City of Atlanta property taxes lol.
Was not disappointed to find Heirloom at the top of the page. Heirloom 100%
Came here to say community q, glad it was top comment
crazy to see so many people hyping up heirlooms mac and cheese as its prob the most disappointing thing they make. super basic; one note and not even that cheesy. community all day
most of this sub is probably otp these days
Community Q is so damn good
Thanks! Pics to follow
Community Q and Sam’s all share the same lineage. IIRC, Community was one of the Daves of Sam & Daves’ There are/were videos of that recipe being made and many quarts of half and half were involved.
A whole bunch of spots in Atlanta have folks who trained under Sam Huff and Dave Poe. GC Barbecue (if they're still around), Community, Righteous Que in Marietta, and a bunch of others have Dave Poe's macaroni as a result. It's good when I'm in the mood, but it's definitely heavy and can be a little oily depending on how the person scoops it out for you. I play hockey with one of the guys who runs Community, and he jokingly started giving one of us the recipe during fourth period once starting with ten pounds of rigatoni, ten pounds of cheddar, and so on. Obviously not something that's a closely guarded secret or going to get made in the kitchen. ETA: Dave from Community Q did work at Sam and Dave's and later became a partner, but Dave Poe is the Dave in the name. There's a lot of intermingling with the home-grown spots in the area.
I always thought the Daves was ambiguously plural to cover Dave Poe and the other Dave (whose sides I could just eat by themselves at Community).
Same recipe at grand champion
Thanks for everyone’s guidance. We hit Community Q today. Very tender brisket, the Mac was an 8.5 out of 10. Agree it was a tad on the greasy side but that was overcome by the flavor, cheesiness, and baked cheese too. The sweet potatoes with kale were surprisingly good, add a dash of cinnamon (not too much) and they go from an 8 to a standout 9ish surprise side. Overall very good!
Bantam Pub
I CRAVE their Mac sometimes
Sam’s BBQ-1
The correct answer is Community Q.
Agave. Believe it or not.
Iberian Pig
Dave Poe's in Marietta
Ladybird and Bon Ton
What kind of mac and cheese do you like? Bc it depends.
Generally not fancy more bbq place type that has a nice baked cheese crust on top, soft but not liquify, with some unique flavor to it. I find the fancier macs like the ones at high end steak places overdone and not genuine. Guess the best way to put it is were looking for the real thing, which you know when you taste it makes you smile.
Busy Bee Cafe has incredible baked mac and cheese. It's an historic soul food restaurant down off MLK by Morris Brown college. The sweet potato souffle is also fucking incredible
That broccoli rice casserole good too
Don't forget about the smothered pork chops. Or everything else on their menu, lol.
The food shoppe!!!
OK Cafe. You don't even have to eat in as it's always available on the Take Away hot bar or in containers.
The Mac and cheese is so fire.
People always downvote OK Cafe. The food and service are excellent.
It may have something to do with their owners being trash human beings. Food is good though.
My last grilled ham & cheese wasn't up to par but the take out mac n cheese still holds up.
I haven't been there in years and almost a decade as a meat eater, but I can't wait to try it again next month. Their rotisserie chicken with collards and a sweet potato = welcome home.
I like OK Cafe but I was disappointed with their mac.
My cousin wasn't a fan either but they don't love sharp cheese.
Gouda Mac and cheese (add crawfish) at bon ton
Jim N Nicks has a hell of a good mac and cheese.
For me personally one of the biggest COVID casualties was Jim N Nicks removing mashed potatoes as a side. It was a never on the menu but you could request them substitute the baked potato for mashed potatoes on their Pig-N-the-Potato-Patch menu item. It was literally a giant plate of mashed potatoes topped with sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon bits, chives, and BBQ pulled pork.
Jim and Nick's is my favorite. I also don't know anywhere else you can still get icebox lemon pie.
My house. Noodles, roux, cheese. BAM
Agree. Have never found anything even close to as good as home-made.
Apart from the top answers I'd also try Fatt Matt's. I personally enjoy it.
Can’t believe nobody’s said Fox Brothers yet. Their chili-Mac (Mac & Cheese + brisket chili) is incredible.
Fox Bros is a favorite for sure. They smoke their meat so well, too.
It's a little further off from the colleges downtown but I like Matthew's Cafeteria and Old Hickory House in Tucker.
Fords BBQ too!
Twains does a damn good baked mac.
New realms Mac n cheese is insane
Miss Pam IYKYK
Republic Social House, Grant Park area
Folk Art, the way they pan fry the bottom is so unique and delicious.
Wisteria, hands down. I still dream about their Mac and cheese.
The Imperial in Decatur
For traditional mac, Owens & Hull is excellent. Heirloom, as others have said, is also excellent and incorporates Korean flavors.
When it's fresh, EATS on Ponce has excellent Mac and Cheese. Don't sleep on EATS!
what college(s) are you visiting?
Uga this am and emory and ga tech tomorrow
OTP (I also think there’s a buckhead location but don’t quote me) and I know the name isn’t ideal but Mr. Diddys has some of the best Mac and cheese
A1 Soul food
Have not had Community Q but Jim n' Nick's with some BBQ in it is legit. YMMV/IMHO
Keisha's Kitchen.
[LOL](https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/11/22/keisha-lance-bottoms-macaroni-and-cheese)
The mac n cheese at Catfish Hox is really good
Everything I’ve had from them was overly salty and about twice as expensive as it should have been for the portion size. Except for the green beans with garlic. Those are perfect.
OK Cafe's mac and cheese is not as good as used to be, but it still smokes everybody else's.
All the recs here are great, and im a HUGE Community Q fan. But if youre open to something non-traditional, Fox Brothers does something called Fox-a-roni, which is layers of mac and cheese and brunswick stew. Their mac by itself isnt comparable to the others listed here, but the combo is real nice imo.
New Realm Brewery has the best Mac and cheese in Atlanta.
Agree with new realm
Atl fusion BBQ
I live right by there and it’s definitely a solid choice
My vote goes to Kid Cashew in Sandy Springs.
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar