Macaroni & cheese….everyone’s favorite childhood food.  That tender pasta smothered in smooth cheese–comfort food at its best!!  Who would have ‘thunk’ that a restaurant dedicated to serving this awesome deliciousness would open its doors in the greatest city on earth.  Ok, perhaps I’m taking this a bit too far.  Houston may not be the greatest city on earth, but it’s pretty cool having a laid back restaurant like this right in our backyard nonetheless.   

It’s a cloudy day, I’m feeling lazy and so over this diet thing. I’ve got a taste for a good hot meal and knew Jus’ Mac could do the trick.  I convinced a coworker to join me in seeing just what the hype is all about.  Naturally we both took to the Internet to read the reviews.  Hmmmm…a restaurant reviewer (moi) taking to restaurant review sites for advice. The irony, right?  Although most of the reviews were favorable we proceeded with caution considering Jus’ Mac  is the new kid on the block and really has not had enough time to settle within itself.  My taste buds were set – no turning back now.   We arrived pretty early in anticipation of the lunch crowd and the parking disaster that many mentioned in their reviews.  Our strategy panned out as we took one of the last 2 available parking spaces.  Although the parking situation worked out for the lunch hour, I can only imagine that things can get pretty tight on the weekend and evenings.   If you happen to arrive and can’t find parking in Jus’ Mac’s lot, parking is available across the street at Kindall Automotive.  Strange, I know.  But trust me it’s OK to park there. Just let them know you’re heading over to Jus’ Mac so there’s no confusion.     

We scanned the gargantuan menu on the wall that listed each type of mac & cheese creation along with a description.  It’s hard to make a decision among the 18 types.  Who knew there could be so many variations of this stuff anyway?   Either way, I’m sold.   

You’ve got a choice of two sizes – personal ($4.25 – $7.95) and regular ($6.10 to $10.10).  I decided on a personal size of Taco Mexi mac & cheese ($7.10) and my coworker went for the Rustic mac & cheese (same size for $6.25).  Our dishes were delivered fairly quickly, but after I saw the size of our meal I felt an initial sense of disappointment.  By now it should be pretty obvious that I like to eat and among other things, I like my portions big.  I already knew this was not going to enough food to satisfy my hunger.  The personal size is served in a cast iron skillet approximately 4-5 inches in diameter.  Think of something the size of the average bagel, maybe a little bigger.  Got that visual? ‘Nuff said.  Although one would expect more for the price, I would say that both dishes were great.  My fav was the Rustic – roasted tomatoes, garlic, basil with both mozzarella and parmesan cheese, existing together in perfect harmony.  The cheese was creamy and the flavors took center stage.  Too bad I didn’t order this one (at least not on this visit).  The Taco Mexi was good, but it wouldn’t be voted as my ‘go to’ dish.  I expected and wanted the meat to have a stronger taco seasoning flavor, but it fell a little short in that area.  Also, it was a little on the dry side compared to the Rustic mac & cheese.  Not sure if the cooking team were off their game this day or if this is just how it’s served.  So, it’s a no-go on the Taco Mexi mac & cheese. 

 As I consumed that last spoonful of mac & cheese, I felt like something was missing.  Jus’ Mac offers several add-ons (ie. Frito’s, chicken), but there’s still something lacking.  I guess my brain is programmed to think of mac & cheese as a side dish, not the main fare. I think a Panini with a “side” of mac & cheese will help things make sense in my head.   

If you’re ever in the Heights area, this is joint you’ve got to try.   I think overall you’ll be pleased. 

Until next time…Cheers!!