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    Mac Nation Cafe

    4.4 (408 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Mac Nation Cafe Photos

    MAC NATION CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Mac Nation Cafe

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    Outside
    Walker C.

    Stopped by Mac Nation after a hike near Mount Falcon Park and it was the perfect way to wrap up the afternoon. This place is a hole in the wall roadside spot with a ton of outdoor seating, ideal if you're coming off the trail and want to relax for a bit. When we visited on a Sunday afternoon, they had live music going and the weather was beautiful, which made the whole experience even better. A heads up: everything is made from scratch, so it does take some time. We were quoted a 30-45 minute wait and that ended up being pretty accurate. Honestly, we didn't mind at all, it was great to grab a drink, hang out outside, chat, and enjoy the music while we waited. The portions are huge. I ordered the Philly cheesesteak mac and cheese and it was both filling and really tasty. You can tell they bake each dish fresh, which definitely explains the wait. Overall, I'd definitely recommend stopping here if you're in the area--especially after a hike. We'll most likely be back.

    The restaurant
    Morgan R.

    The ordering process via phone was painful, the food took forever to arrive, and then it wasn't great. It's a quirky and interesting place (hence 3-stars, rather than 2-stars), but it doesn't deserve the hype and raves it gets from other reviewers. We had a Sacramento baked macaroni and cheese (40 minutes or so waiting) - OK, but not worth the wait, a Caesar salad (bland), and water (which we had to pay for). Ordering was a nightmare - one had to use the web-based app, but it was finicky - you have to enter your table number but it turns out that the page requires a specific form, and if you get it wrong ("7" rather than "07", then it doesn't work. I had to ask a server for help, but then he wouldn't take my order, just helped me use the app (but getting his attention for that took a while). We will not be going back.

    Colorado Mac
    Jake N.

    Great Mac and cheese, great service, reasonably priced, and such a cute location. Great place to stop by before a Red Rocks show. I've gotten the flight and tried many of the flavors and my favorite is the Wisconsin especially for any cheese lovers. The soft pretzel is another recommendation not for the pretzel but mostly how great the cheese sauce goes with it. It can get a little bit busy and the wait times become a little bit long but just be prepared depending on what time you are going. Recommend for any pre Red Rocks shows.

    Lisa N.

    Mac is good- parking situation can get a lil iffy. They have an online ordering system- but it doesn't reflect all the menu items. We were trying to order a Mac flight and it said they're all sold out. Came before a show at Red Rocks, and it was pouring rain. There isn't an employee based inside (where seating is upstairs) so we either had to go downstairs in the rain or flag the server down when they delivered something. My friend waited 15 extra minutes for her food after we got ours. It was so weird- we finally flagged down our server but they didn't have any apology or justification.

    Mac and cheese trio!
    Elizabeth J.

    Such a fun and wonderful place! Mac and cheese was unreal and a great vibe. The patio was perfect us and our dog. We absolutely loved the people who worked here! They were so friendly and just a great atmosphere overall!

    East Carolina

    Food was excellent but damn that wait. It took an hour to get our food. Worth going back if the wait isn't so long. We ordered the East Carolina Mac and the buffalo chicken wrap. Both chef's kiss.

    Kara H.

    We came around noon on a Sunday and they were slammed busy. It took 45 minutes for our Mac and cheese, but it was worth it. We tried the Carolina, the New Mexico, the Philly cheesesteak, and one with pesto. The pesto was our least favorite- a lot of flavor but just a little too weird for Mac and cheese. My favorite was the New Mexico and the Carolina. The Carolina had a sweet bbq sauce and pulled pork that was really good with the cheesiness of the Mac. The New Mexico had jalapeños that were balanced by chunks of cream cheese. It was good, especially for evergreen. One full size is enough for two people to split, and they don't do the flights on weekends, sadly.

    Wisconsin I think
    Kat A.

    Mac nation is a must visit spot after a hike in the Indian hills/red rocks area. The building is super cute and is family owned, and all the Mac and cheese here I've tried is delicious. I was a vegetarian for a long time and they have some great veggie Mac and cheese.

    "Colorado" Mac.
    Andrea M.

    The 'Colorado' Mac is excellent. Amazing flavor and a generous portion size. The soft pretzel with cheese is amazing as well. The pretzel texture was soft and the cheese sauce was homemade in the best way. This place is definitely worth stopping for if you're in the area and want something delicious to eat. The staff is kind as well! Parking and seating is super limited, it's probably best to just order takeaway.

    Great food. Interesting location. Not real handicap friendly to eat indoors but there is outdoor seating at ground level. Definitely big enough to share.

    Decor
    Sara R.

    Delicious Mac and cheese! Funky decor and fun ambiance. Note: it take a very long time. We put the order in while the kids were napping in the car, and they woke up exactly when the food was ready-- so that worked out! Great spot for people with kids and dogs. Large portions, decent prices. Would return!

    Panko Mac and cheese with bacon and sprinkled with Parmesan
    Anay M.

    I've been wanting to try this location out and I finally went yesterday! The location is really close to red rocks so it would definitely be a good spot to eat before a concert there. I unfortunately went during one of The hottest days and I sat in the inside area which was pretty toasty but they had a fan going. But again, I went on a scorching hot day. I had the panko Mac and cheese and I added bacon and Parmesan on top. It was delicious! I wasn't able to eat it all for lunch but I finished it off for dinner and it was still as delicious. The great cold beer also helped with the heat a little. The service was great and I was checked on a few times which was nice. I would highly recommend if you're in the area. I will be going back to try a different Mac and cheese dish!

    Crystal R.

    Mac Nation was a lot of fun because it was so close to where we were staying with a friend and going to a Red Rocks show. The people here were all friendly. The food was yummy. Our friend had found this place from a tik tok so it was neat to try a place she had saw online that was so close by that we had never seen before! I tried their buffalo chicken one and thought it was a solid choice Buffalo chicken and blue cheese with cheeses spiral noodles. They are baked and it's a unique dish. My husband Ryan and my friend Danielle each tried a different one. (I don't remember the names but u can see how delicious they look in the video) We all enjoyed it and it was a lot of food... we all had leftovers! It's a little pricey but they are each specially made and baked individually which is also why there is a long wait. They put a sign out warning how long the wait for the food will be. Ours was a little over an hour so just a little longer than the sign said. I didn't know the wait time thing until we arrived there but now I would know for the future. The seating outdoors is close to the road on a corner and cars speed by here so quickly and there's also a lot of deer crossing so be careful everyone... especially with the littles. There's unique and cute decor everywhere as you can see from my video. They also play fun music and have a real nice vibe going on!

    Cuban sandwich

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    9 months ago

    Best mac and cheese ever! A favorite for our family, which includes a vegetarian and a meat lover.

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - Mac Nation Cafe

    Are there gluten free options?

    Yes, they do have gluten free noodles!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    I forgot to take photo of my food, but this mural of the barbecue master's history is pretty cool.

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    Mac Nation Cafe - soulfood - Updated July 2026

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