Homeroom is a popular Mac and Cheese spot. It was indeed, yummy as anticipated. They have a few options on the menu that elevate the classic food. It was filling. Thank you to our server, Anthony. read more

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TLDR: 50 minute wait between sitting down to getting your food. Don't visit thinking this is a quick drop by kind of place. While this visit was in between the lunch and dinner rush, unfortunately I think they are understaffed because at the time we sat down there was only 1 person who was busing tables and taking orders. As a result, it took a while for them to be able to stop by our table and provide water, take our order, etc. There was quite a long wait between sitting down to ordering to actually receiving our food. By the time we had actually received our food, almost an hour had passed. While we were waiting, a few other servers eventually joined, but service was still pretty bare for us and we never received refills on water or plates to eat off of when we received our food. I understand that staffing and a backup in the kitchen are out of the staff's control, but it would've definitely helped for us to know in advance how long to expect to wait to align our expectations and arrange our plans for the day. Would advise giving customers a quick heads up/warning because that on its own would've made a big difference. As for the actual food, we ordered the mac trio with elote mac, chicken pot pie mac, and kogi short rib mac (for an extra fee). The elote mac was the best and most flavorful, the short rib mac was okay but not amazing or worth the extra money, and the chicken pot pie mac was very bland/flavorless and didn't have much chicken in it. The food didn't feel like it warranted the wait time and because of that I would not return. read more

Homeroom - Mac trio: elote, chicken pot pie, short rib - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

We went to Oakland to visit UC Berkeley and decided to grab some mac and cheese since I hadn't had it in a long time. I was surprised to see so many different flavors they have in Homeroom so we decided to give this place a try. When we were sited we immediately noticed that the place was pretty dirty, the tables were shaky, and the bathroom didn't have toilet paper, which made it uncomfortable. When the food arrived, though, we were impressed by the portions. We ordered the mac and cheese trio: buffalo chicken, Gilroy garlic, and elote. The elote mac was my favorite, super flavorful, and the buffalo one was also really good. The Gilroy garlic one, however, tasted a bit off to me, so I didn't eat it. Overall, it's a decent spot with affordable prices. If you're a mac and cheese lover and want to try something different, it's worth checking out, just don't expect a super clean or polished environment. read more

Homeroom - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

Hands down my favorite mac and cheese spot in Oakland! It has a cozy, nostalgic schoolhouse vibe, the servers are wonderful, and the service is fast. I ordered the Gilroy Mac and Cheese late on a Friday night, and it was ready in under 15 minutes. read more

when the food is dry, it's so bad. It can be good, but it's not reliably good. eat in for a better experience. read more

Homeroom - no filling. can be a yummy dessert but this wasn't - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

The food was delicious as always. Sam was our server and he was the BEST!!! He let us know the kitchen was backed up and he gave us an order of Brussels sprouts on the house. These are the BEST Brussel sprouts I've had. Then the Mac and cheese was yummy as always. I only wish we lived closer so we could visit more often. Love the food and the service was AMAZING!!! read more

I went to Homeroom and decided to try something different from my usual jalapeño popper mac, but it wasn't my favorite. The chicken pot pie mac had a bit too much thyme for my taste. Service is always good, and the restaurant feels clean and comfortable. Next time I'll stick to my jalapeño popper Mac + Cheetos. It's really the bestttt and I crave it all the time. read more

Homeroom - Chicken pot pie with Cheetos - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

I used to eat food from here a lot in grad school when various meetings were catered by Homeroom. But this meeting with a colleague was one of the two times I've visited here in person. The place was not super busy during lunch time, but that meant more time with our server, who was super helpful in answering the questions we had. I ordered the trio Mac and cheese while my co-worker ordered a salad and bbq chicken Mac and cheese. The trio I ordered included the elote corn, the buffalo chicken, and the garlic Mac. The garlic Mac and cheese was really good and cheesy. The buffalo chicken Mac has always been a favorite, but the chicken in it is usually dry -- that day was no exception. The elote Mac was not what I expected and there was more lime in it than I would have liked, which is very different than elote. The bacon brussel sprouts we ordered was mainly bacon and honestly too much of it. It could have used more brussel sprouts. Overall, the food here is solid, but there is room for improvement in various dishes. I think since the chicken is dry, I should just aim for the vegan chicken, which might taste better. The seating inside is very nice, with a mix of seats and wooden benches, and what looks like a bar area. Overall, it's a nice venue for sure with plenty of street parking. read more

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Stopped by Homeroom today around 5:15 PM for an early dinner with my daughter. The restaurant was very calm -- surprisingly, we were the only ones there. We ordered the Garlicky Bacon Mac, the Truffle Mac, and the cheddar jalapeño biscuits with honey butter. The mac and cheese itself was good -- rich, comforting, and exactly what you'd expect from Homeroom. Both versions were enjoyable and well-prepared. Where things fell short were the add-ons and sides. The grilled chicken tasted old, and the cheddar jalapeño biscuits were hard and stale. The honey butter also had a refrigerated, off taste that didn't help. Service was good and quick, which I appreciated, especially considering how quiet it was. Overall, the experience still felt worth it, and I'd return -- but I'd stick to the core mac and cheese and skip the extras next time. read more

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I kept hearing about the hype of this place. "I haven't had good Mac n cheese yet if I hadn't had Homeroom" is what they kept telling me. I finally gave in and had a Kogi Bowl delivered. Totally worth every bite. It tasted a little weird when you taste the mixture of cheese and the beef, but as I mixed it in, it was delicious. I ended up devouring the bowl. Highly recommend the Kogi Bowl. Can't wait to go back and try more. read more

Homeroom - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

Got the garden pesto Mac to-go, and chose the heat at home option. It came with the proper instructions to heat in the oven, and I loved it! The pesto flavor was great and the tomatoes made it nice and juicy. read more

Homeroom - Garden Pesto Mac - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

My best friend and I have been coming here for years, for maybe almost a decade. It's basically our go-to spot when we can't decide what to eat, and we never regret coming here. The restaurant theme is fun, the servers are always so nice, and the atmosphere is great. We almost always order the Jalapeño popper or Gilroy Garlic, and will try new flavors in addition to having either one of those staples. We've tried the Garden Pesto and Kogi Short Rib too, and both of those are amazing. We've never had a bad bite of food here and always leave full and happy. Their desserts are good as well, but sometimes we are too full to order a sweet treat after haha. If you're not lactose intolerant (or maybe you are and feeling brave), I would definitely recommend this place for any mac n cheese cravings. read more

Homeroom - Jalapeño popper (back) and Kogi short rib (front) - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

Placed an order through DoorDash, and the food arrived fresh and still warm. We tried the Buffalo chicken mac and the Kogi short rib mac--both were incredibly delicious and the perfect comfort food. Will definitely be reordering in the future. read more

Homeroom - Kogi short ribs Mac - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

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We went around 8pm on a Saturday and it wasn't packed. The best thing about homeroom is they are always consistent. Been coming here since 2017 and each bite is as tasty as it was 7 years ago. Here's what went down: Tomato Soup - $4.99 Bacon Brussels Sprouts - $7.99 Cheddar Jalapeño Biscuit - $3.99 Mac Flight Trio - $21.00 (Hawaiian Mac, Elote Mac, Buffalo Chicken Mac) From creamy soups to crispy sprouts and macs packed with flavor, this spot lives up to the hype. read more

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I was a mac and cheese skeptic but now I am a believer . Some friends and I popped by on a Friday evening to check out all the cheesy goodness and we luckily did not have to wait. In order to try multiple macs, we got two of the flights (smaller portions of three different flavors) and a kogi short rib. Here's the flavors we got to try: Kogi short rib - The flavors worked super well together and I was sad when we ate all the short rib Buffalo chicken - Has a nice kick Classic - I didn't have high expectations bc it's basic but it was surprisingly good Truffle - I didn't eat this bc I hate mushrooms but my friends loved it Hawaiian - My favorite probably because I am simple and I like bacon and green onion Elote - This definitely hit the most first bite but I got kind of tired of it Gilroy garlic - this didn't stand out to me as much- maybe because the garlic flavor got overpowered by the other macs Overall, this place was carb overload but it was a good carb overload. I recommend checking it out if you're in the area. The spacious interior and great service are pluses as well! read more

Homeroom - Elote Mac, Hawaiian Mac, Classic Mac, Truffle Mac, Gilroy Garlic Mac, Buffalo Chicken Mac, Kogi Short Rib Mac - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

Homeroom has become a monumental staple in my life. Living in the South Bay, I had never heard of it before since I rarely made my way out to the East Bay. My first visit was actually on my very first date with my now-boyfriend of last year. Homeroom was his go-to spot to bring friends and family, and he wanted me to experience it too. That night, we stopped by their Homeroom To-Go on a quiet weekday close to closing. The cashier was so sweet--he actually chased us down to our car just to gift us complimentary sandwich cookies because he could tell we were happy and in love (cheesy, I know, but unforgettable). That small, thoughtful gesture set the tone for the night and made our first date absolutely perfect. Not many places go the extra mile like that, and it really set Homeroom apart. Since then, Homeroom has become one of our frequent date-night spots. Sometimes we'll grab takeout and head to the hilltops to enjoy our food while watching the bay skyline. Other times, we come with friends. Recently, we tried the mac and cheese flight and ordered the truffle, elote, and Hawaiian mac--all three were absolute standouts! We also shared the kogi short ribs, which were packed with flavor. The noodles are always cooked perfectly, portions are generous, and the price is affordable! Homeroom isn't just a restaurant--it's a community staple and forever a special place in my heart. read more

Homeroom - Elote Mac, Hawaiian Mac, Truffle, Kogi Short Rib Mac - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

Homeroom is definitely a classic place for mac n cheese. I like how they switch up their menu sometimes and their service is always very welcoming! My bf and I decided to sit outside because the weather was nice. We got the short rib mac & hawaiian mac. Both of them were good, but definitely needed added pepper. Our meal got better when we added tabasco sauce on the hawaiian & extra short rib sauce on the short rib one. For the hawaiian, I will say that the pineapples were too big & slightly undercooked for me. Our all time favorite mac & cheese is still the tikka-mac-sala, when they have it. Aside from food, the soft drinks they have here are really good & taste high quality. read more

Homeroom - hawaiian mac, short rib mac - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

Must try spot in Oakland! I have been several times before and I always recommend it to visitors as there is nothing like it. Many restaurants just have one basic Mac and cheese, but seeing all these different options makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop. There are a decent amount of vegetarian options - my go to is the Jalapeño Popper Mac n cheese. My friends got the Elote Mac n cheese, the Garden Pesto Mac n cheese, and a side of chicken. We got a Baby Kale Salad complimentary from the kitchen which we appreciated! Jalapeño Popper Mac N Cheese (3.5/5): I love the combo of cheese and spice so I always get this dish every time I go to homeroom. Generous portion size and I like the breadcrumbs on top. Me personally, the dish could be even spicier. Couldn't taste the jalapeños that much Baby Kale salad (5/5): The salad was huge! Ingredients tastes fresh. Solid meal Elote Mac N Cheese (5/5): My friend really like this. If you are a fan of Takis, you would probably enjoy this dish because it has that spicy and sour flavor combo. Garden Pesto Mac N Cheese (4/5): Very unique! We all liked the pairing of pesto and tomatoes. Thought it could have included more seasoning as the cheesiness and creaminess of the Mac n cheese was a little overpowering Overall, great customer service and unique dishes. Huge portion sizes so expect to take home leftovers. The mac n cheeses could have been spicier/more flavorful, but I would still recommend trying out Homeroom! read more

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Oh my gosh, the nostalgia! For most of my childhood, Mac and cheese was my favorite food. Homeroom quickly became my favorite restaurant when it opened when I was in middle school and has continued to be a favorite with me and my friends. Homeroom has had a recent makeover. I loved the old-school vibes but now it's more sleek, modern, and homey. There's a decent amount of cushy seating inside and outside in their parklet. There's also a Homeroom to go down the block. I've always found the service to be friendly and not overbearing. They occasionally check on you and your food comes out relatively fast. Okay so, as a kid I loved their Gilroy Garlic Mac! I had a phase of trying all their different mac and cheese. Now, sadly, I don't eat dairy. But, I'm so glad they offer vegan options! I enjoyed their Vegan Mac and added Broccoli and Breadcrumbs. Breadcrumbs are always a must with their mac and cheese. The vegan one is good but not as cheesy in terms of taste of consistency. The dish is like a less creamy pasta dish but still good. What I've always liked were the portion sizes of their food. Take-out boxes are always necessary! Whether a kid or adult, you will satisfy some sort of craving at Homeroom! This is a nostalgic and decadent place for me, but one I'll never say no to. I'll always be a Homeroom girl! Find them off 40th Street with street parking around. read more

Homeroom mac and cheese is so delicious. Very gooey and feels like a warm hug. I've been ordering the flight when I go with my friends so I could share the mac since the portion is so large. My favorite from the flight is the Elote and Buffalo. The garlic one is pretty standard and feels a little boring compared to the elote and buffalo. The inner decor was cute and i love the theme. servers were friendly and took care of our large party. We found street parking on the side near residential area so it wasn't too bad. They also have a "Homeroom To Go" for mac and cheese to go orders a block down. read more

Homeroom - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

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I've been hearing about this place for 10+ years, and FINALLY got to try it! We went on a Wednesday around noon and it was empty. Sounds like on weekends it can get packed, so plan accordingly. Can't even start this review without a shoutout to our waitress Bridgette-- she was so full of joy and made us feel welcome. It was literally like getting served by family. The mac... THE MAC! So flavorful and hit the spot for cozy food on a foggy day. I tried the Jalapeno Mac, which included cream cheese. I didn't expect to love it so much, the jalapeno really packed a punch and that cream cheese addition was fantastic. I also loved that it had the breadcrumbs on top for that crunch. The interior is super cute, great for a big group too. Down the street there's also a "to-go" location if you don't have time to dine in. I didn't realize that there are also now locations in the South Bay, but this was 100000% worth the trip to Oakland. read more

Homeroom - Jalapeno Popper Mac - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

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I've been coming to Homeroom for years, and it's truly an Oakland staple. All of their mac and cheese options are unique and delicious, with my absolute favorite being the elote mac. I also love their cheddar jalapeño biscuits--though they're warm and fresh in person, they can taste a little dry when delivered. I've been many times and will definitely keep coming back! read more

Homeroom - Elote Mac and Baked Potato Mac - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

Wow!!! Been wanting to try this place for several years and somehow never did until now. The kale, sunflower seed and lemon vinaigrette salad was truly outstanding. One of the best salads we've had in a restaurant in a long time and so glad we ordered it on a whim. We got the aged white cheddar mac which was to die for. Can't wait to come back to try their other flavors and add fun toppings like broccoli. The server also went above and beyond, making our experience even more enjoyable. Don't skip this one! read more

Three vegan options and lots of add-ins give plenty of opportunity to build the vegan mac 'n cheese of your dreams! I love that they have a vegan sausage option to add extra protein. Nice staff and relaxed vibes. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Homeroom is a worth the stop! read more

Homeroom - mexican Vegan Mac and rootbeer - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

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If you love mac and cheese, this is absolutely the place for you. Lots of varieties for every palate and dietary restriction. You may surprised yourself when you get the plentiful serving and say, "I can't eat all this!" and then find yourself scraping the bottom of the dish and wondering where it all went. Note that the sit-down restaurant is separate from the take-out...if you're in Homeroom To Go, you're in the take-out side. But you're only about a block or two away from the sit-down restaurant, further east on 41st. Always nice service and you get your food pretty quickly. Give it a shot! read more

Their Chicken Pot Pie Mac is my go-to comfort food, paired with their house made Oreo. I usually order the Brussels sprouts as well and wish they'd be maybe a littttttle bit crispier, but I still enjoy. The Gilroy Garlic and classic Mac is also good- but the chicken pot pie macs always been my favorite! read more

SO and I came here midday on a Saturday around 2:30 to avoid the lunch rush. We got seated in less than 5 minutes and ordered in less than 10 minutes after that. Service was friendly and quick, offering us another water pitcher nearly as soon as the carafe was empty. We got the Brussel sprouts, side Caesar salad, chicken pot pie Mac and elote Mac. Everything was super delicious. The salad was perfectly dressed and lettuce was fresh and crisp. The Brussels were a bit saucy but cooked well. Our Mac and cheeses were so savory and filling. We were both happy with the portions- after eating our fill at the restaurant we also had enough for 2 more meals. I've always enjoyed homeroom and was first introduced to them when they partnered with my high school choir for a fundraiser. They haven't let me down! read more

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I was very excited to visit this location and enjoy the wonderful food. Who doesn't love Mac and Cheese? Unfortunately it fell short of my expectations. First the inside area is lovely but we were met by a grumpy older female employee who clearly doesn't like her job. We tried to soften the vibe by being overly nice but it didn't work. She was rude every time we engaged with her. We ordered the Elote and Short Rib Mac and Cheese. Also the brussel sprouts. The Elote was the favorite along with the brossel sprouts. Both we're very good but not as good as I remember. Fortunately the rude lady helping us left and we got a very friendly young gentleman so it at least helped the end of our experience. I would still recommend this place but maybe try the original location. I always had great food and service there. read more

Homeroom - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

Homeroom is my favorite mac n cheese restaurant on my list! I always make a point to visit the Oakland or Berkeley location when I am in the bay area. I've never had a creamier, cheesier, smokier mac n cheese than the dishes I've enjoyed here. The gilroy garlic is my favorite - I've tried to replicate it myself to no avail. The decor is school-themed (as expected by a place named Homeroom) and the booths are always clean. Service is attentive and friendly- ask them about their favorite mac n cheese! read more

Homeroom - Jalapeno Popper Mac - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

I'll be back for every Mac they have. The Elote Mac was scrumptious 10/5 and they've got that vegan cheese down 10/5. read more

Homeroom - Elote Mac Vegan Mac - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

6/15/17 I understand why a lot of people love Homeroom. Solid mac, no doubt. But that doesn't change the fact that mac is a side, and not a main. I'm good off Homeroom. - @beebslikes read more

Homeroom - 6/15/17 Mac is a side, not a main. I'm good. - @beebslikes - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

The vegan Mac and cheese was not good. The noodles were gummy. The vegan Brussel sprouts are good. Ordered via door dash so I can speak to service or ambiance. Not a repeat place for me. read more

Homeroom - Vegan Brussels Sprouts - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

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I've been here a few times and it always hits the spot when I'm craving something comforting, cheesy, and decadent! I recently came on a Friday night as part of Oakland restaurant week. Around 5:30 it wasn't too busy, but if certainly got busier as we were there. We didn't have a reservation and I don't think one is needed generally. The atmosphere is casual and tasteful. The service was professional and attentive. They have a mac n cheese flight as part of Oakland Restaurant week (not sure if it will be a standard menu item) but it is a great deal! Their full size mac n cheese is a big overwhelming for me, it is a lot of the same mac n cheese to eat! But the flight is perfect! Three different mac n cheeses for $22. I split it with a friend and we both had enough to take home after so worth the deal! The cacio de pepe is new and a new favorite of mine, I highly recommend it. The truffle was my next favorite, strong truffle smell and flavor. The last one was the buffalo chicken which although was my least favorite of the 3, was still very good! I'd get them all again and the oreo cookie for dessert was tasty as well. read more

Homeroom - Mac flight (front to back: buffalo chicken, truffle, cacio de pepe) - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

In honor of Homeroom's #GoldenBirthday, I'll share my very favorite Homeroom memory: getting the restaurant featured on Check, Please! Bay Area and being a guest on the show. It was 2018 and I'd been submitting applications for Check, Please! from time to time, though I'd been trying to get a different restaurant featured on the show. After discovering Homeroom and falling in love with the food, I submitted yet another application to be on the show, but this time my restaurant of choice was Homeroom. I got a call from a PBS employee working on the show, who asked if they could talk to me about my application. They were intrigued by Homeroom and said that a mac and cheese restaurant "filled a hole" they needed to fill, as they'd never before featured a mac-and-cheese-focused restaurant on Check, Please! They called me into the studio, gave me a screening, and asked me to just start talking about the restaurant as though I was one of the guests on the show. I spoke on the fly for a short while before one of the producers stopped me, told me that was great, and said they wanted me on the show. They told me they'd have to get into contact with the owners of Homeroom to see if they'd be willing to be featured and let their camera crews into the restaurant. Sure enough, they were, and the rest was history. I went into the studio in May to film the episode with the two other guests and got my first behind-the-scenes experience of how TV shows get made. (In my case, lots of reapplications of face powder for my oily skin were a necessity to eliminate the shine on camera.) When the episode first aired in October, my family and I all got plates of Homeroom to go and ate them at my grandma's house in Oakland while we all watched together. My grandma passed away in 2020 and my mom passed away last year, so I cherish that memory: all of us eating Homeroom, which I love and introduced to them, being blown away seeing me on this show we'd all been watching my entire life, hyping up an Oakland restaurant with pride. My dad's side is from East Oakland and he's always been a proud Oaklander, so it was cool getting to show the city some love on TV while giving some much-deserved praise to some of the best mac and cheese I've ever eaten. My mom also LOVED mac and cheese, so whenever I eat it, I think of her. Absolutely not just one of my favorite Homeroom memories, but one of my favorite experiences of my life. read more

My favorite location with the best service and best music! It's always my first suggestion to meet friends at for lunch, dinner, or dessert jalapeño popper mac with some bacon will make any day better! read more

Homeroom was our go-to when my family moved to Oakland and before my dad and I cut back on carbs (sad). It's truly the ultimate comfort food stop. We've gone for dine-in and takeout. Staff are always friendly and attentive. And we always leave with leftovers, which is such a treat the next day :) Our favorites are the Gilroy Garlic mac and Garlicky Bacon mac - and you gotta get them with breadcrumbs. The crunch is great. Looking forward to going back again to try their new flavors. read more

Homeroom - Gilroy garlic mac w/ breadcrumbs, Buffalo chicken mac (back) - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

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The bbq pulled pork mac & cheese was delicious. It's really hard to stop yourself because it's so tasty! It definitely fills you up. I always look forward to the leftovers! It's a solid choice if you just want something comforting; no frills, that's it. Also, they have lots of plant based options so you can't really go wrong here! read more

Good spot for some Mac and cheese Caesar Salad: 3/5 - Average but fresh Elote Corn: 4/5 - Solid. Lots of flavor Kogi Short Rib Mac: 4/5 - Solid. Fan favorite Oreo Cookie: 1/5 - Had 1 bite read more

I was here a few weeks ago for a reunion lunch with an old friend/ coworker. We order the Mac trio (garlic, truffle and buffalo) and Brussels sprouts. The Macs was tasty but a bit heavy which we could not consume in one seating. The sprouts were good with bacon and balsamic vinegar glaze. Our server, Queen B was great and attentive along with the rest of the staff that checked with us occasion. Would come here when I crave some fancy Mac n cheese read more

A little overrated and over priced but kids love this stuff. Good food, good value. This place is good. The cheese, the noodles.. the little crunchy topping. But with so many carbs and so many calories how could it not be good? Served hot and attention to detail - my favorite part was the brussel sprouts. Flavor and cooked very well. Overall I think the mac lacked depth. I've had better at gourmet buffets in Vegas - you know, the expensive ones that are $50 a person. THe biggest problem is here the mac is the main attraction. I'm used to it being in the shadows of something else more spectacular on my dinner plate. I'm a big fan of variety too. This was way too much portion. Half would have been better. Value is good. I think if the price were a little lower I would rate higher. I just don't like paying too much unless its meat. A meat heavy dish I know is expensive but noodles - IDK last time I checked it wasn't that much. I make my own noodles at home. I suppose the problem is I like my own cooking more. I don't make things so salty and I trust ingredients that I buy more. I think a lot about 'the dirty dozen' and wonder where vegetables came from. These days with Amazon buy out of WF I even wonder about them. I used to trust their hot food bar - not sure anymore. read more