Say Mac and Cheese: S’MAC Will Make You Smile

Sarita’s Macaroni & Cheese at 197 First Ave.

What do you get when you combine 70-degree weather, the East Village, a bargain sundress, good company and macaroni and cheese? The ingredients to a perfect Saturday afternoon — and also lunchtime at S’MAC. Weather and wardrobe not guaranteed, the eatery’s sunny, homespun atmosphere is still sure to brighten your day.

“We come here about every three months or so,” says Alex Quintero, gesturing to his wife Maggie and their two children who are happily munching on the cheesy goodness. “We love it and the kids love it.” Alex and Maggie have lived in Chelsea for the past ten years, and, they tell me, will definitely keep coming back to S’MAC.

Sarita’s Macaroni & Cheese, or S’MAC, opened its doors back in 2006, when husband and wife engineers-turned-innovators, Sarita and Caesar Ekya were inspired by other NYC comfort food-themed restaurants, like the now sadly defunct Peanut Butter & Co.

S’MAC offers 12 different house varieties of macaroni and cheese from the classic All-American, made with American and Cheddar cheeses, to the Parisienne, made with brie, roasted figs, shiitake mushrooms and fresh rosemary. They also have an eight-flavor sampler and a Philly cheesesteak special. If these options, all served up in a skillet, fresh out of the oven, fail to make your stomach growl, S’MAC has a build-your-own option with assorted cheese, meat and veggie mix-in choices. All dishes come in sizes ranging from Nosh, to Major Munch, Mongo and Partay!. With prices starting at $7.25, even the smallest size is so filling you will likely bring home leftovers.

“I love mac and cheese,” says three-time customer Chris Tschiderer as he sips Coca-Cola with his girlfriend and second-time customer, Mackenzie O’Dell.

“I really like it,” Mackenzie says. “I’m lactose intolerant and so it’s great to be able to enjoy mac and cheese without the lactose repercussions.”

Perhaps one of the most interesting things about S’MAC is that they offer vegan cheese and gluten free macaroni options, including gluten free breadcrumbs, that can be substituted into any dish. In terms of favorites, Chris recommends the Alpine flavor, with Swiss, gruyere, and bacon, while Mackenzie and Alex both recommend the Cheeseburger, with cheddar, American, and ground beef.

I must confess that I am partial to S’MAC and have been a repeat customer since my friends and I discovered it last year. For someone like myself, who suffers from both gluten and dairy allergies, finding a place that can disarm my biological kryptonite — mac and cheese — is nothing short of a miracle.

Gluten free macaroni with vegan cheese, andouille sausage and spinach. Price: $10.07

It is worth noting that everyone I spoke with was either a repeat customer or said they would return.

“It was really good. I’ll probably be back,” says Victoria Smith from the Bronx. She says the Cajun could be spicier and the prices could be better, though she admits that it is a lot of food for the price. “I think people are willing to pay for the unique experience. You don’t usually have macaroni and cheese as a full meal. It’s typically a side dish, so it’s not something you eat every day – it’s something special.”

With its wobbly wooden tables, metallic tangerine chairs and neon yellow-orange walls, S’MAC feels instantly vibrant, memorable, and homey. You are at once welcome — and hungry. The window-paned doors, painted orange, let in the warm sunshine and send a cheesy breeze out along the avenue. Passersby peer in hungrily.

In 2014, S’MAC was briefly shut down for violations at its previous 345 East 12th St. location by the NYC Department of Health after the restaurant’s walk-in freezer died on the morning of inspection, and a small hole was found in the employee locker room which allegedly allowed access for vermin, DNAinfo reported.

S’MAC has since relocated to its new home at 197 First Ave. and 12th St. As of March 13th of this year, S’MAC received a shiny A rating from the Department of Health.

In addition to the main entree, S’MAC offers salads, cookies, brownies and cold drinks, including beer and wine.

Yone Hernandez has been working at Sarita’s for the past seven years. While he does sometimes get sick of macaroni and cheese, he says he loves working at S’MAC.

“I’m still here [after seven years],” answers Yone. “That means something.” He says the strangest thing that people order is salad with their mac and cheese.

And Yone’s personal favorite?

He laughs, “Cajun.”