Where To Get the Best Mac and Cheese in Sonoma County

Hankering for a big bowl of comfort food? Here are 20 favorite local restaurants to celebrate National Mac and Cheese Day on July 14.


As is the case with most beloved pasta dishes, the origin of macaroni and cheese can be traced to Italy. A recipe called de lasanis in the 13th century Italian cookbook “Liber de Coquina” combined sheet pasta — cut into 2-inch squares and cooked in water — with grated cheese, such as Parmesan. The cheesy pasta dish became popular across Europe, but didn’t arrive in the United States until the early 19th century. 

In 1784, James Hemings, who was enslaved by president Thomas Jefferson, traveled to France with Jefferson for the purpose of training in French cooking techniques, becoming the first American to be trained as a French chef. It was on this trip where Jefferson first encountered and enjoyed macaroni and cheese, which Hemings recreated with his own twist. Jefferson preferred Hemings’ version, which ended up being served at a state dinner hosted by Jefferson at the White House in the early 1800s. 

After being introduced to America’s elite, macaroni and cheese became more widely enjoyed across the nation, especially once Kraft Foods created its easy and affordable Macaroni and Cheese Dinner in 1937. Ever since, this comforting, cheesy dish has been tantalizing the taste buds of people from all walks of life. 

Whichever way you like your mac and cheese — whether it’s in a baked casserole form or loaded with meats and veggies — here are 20 Sonoma County restaurants that will accommodate your favorite comfort food fix.

Mac and cheese
Macaroni and cheese was introduced to the United States in the 1800s, and has since become a staple comfort food for Americans. (Oksana Mizina / Shutterstock)

Check here for our dining editor’s top cheesy picks.

Santa Rosa

Belly Left Coast Kitchen

Three Hog Mac & Cheese, $19: With smoked applewood bacon, Mexican chorizo and Spanish chorizo, this mac is a meat lover’s paradise. 523 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-526-5787, bellyleftcoastkitchenandtaproom.com

Bird & the Bottle

Craft Mac & Cheese, $16: Smoked cheddar with crispy kale and a secret ingredient adds a touch of sophistication to this gooey, nostalgic craft mac and cheese. 1055 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-568-4000, birdandthebottle.com

Mac and Cheese
Craft Mac & Cheese with fried mortadella at Bird & The Bottle Restaurant in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)

Jackson’s Bar and Oven

Mac & Cheese, $18: A rich Gruyere mac topped with toasted bacon breadcrumbs. 135 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-6900, jacksonsbarandoven.com

Stark’s Steak and Seafood

Four Cheese Mac with Dijon, $16: Dijon-infused mac with four cheeses for an exceptionally rich, velvety dish. Black Truffle & Goat Cheese Mac, $20: The truffles and goat cheese add a savory, tangy bite to this mac, topped with chives for a touch of freshness. 521 Adams St., Santa Rosa, 707-546-5100, starkssteakhouse.com

Willie’s Wine Bar

Spring Mac & Cheese, $18: A vibrant mac with sweet peas, green garlic and goat cheese fondue. 1415 Town and Country Drive, Santa Rosa, 707-526-3096, williswinebar.net

Lobster mac and cheese
Lobster mac and cheese at Willi’s Wine Bar in Santa Rosa. Willi’s now has a spring mac and cheese. (Heather Irwin/Sonoma Magazine)
Kenwood

Salt & Stone

Truffle Mac & Cheese, $16: A rich, creamy mac in a four cheese sauce (Grana Padano, Gouda, Queso Ibérico, white cheddar) and topped with toasted breadcrumbs. 9900 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, 707-833-6326, saltstonekenwood.com

Rohnert Park

Amy’s Drive Thru

Broccoli Cheddar Mac, $7.29: This fast food mac with cheddar, tender broccoli and breadcrumb topping can be made vegan for an additional 50 cents. 58 Golf Course Drive W., Rohnert Park, 707-755-3629, amysdrivethru.com

Graton

Underwood Bar & Bistro

Macaroni & Cheese, $12.50: Bubbling, rich mac topped with toasted breadcrumbs. Add pancetta for $3. 9113 Graton Road, Graton, 707-823-7023, underwoodgraton.com

Underwood Bar & Bistro: The Graton restaurant serves up a delicious mac 'n' cheese with pancetta, topped with a breaded crumble. Is your mouth watering yet? .75. 9113 Graton Rd., Graton. (Photo: Foodspotting)
Underwood Bar & Bistro in Graton serves up a delicious mac and cheese with pancetta and topped with breadcrumbs. (Foodspotting)
Petaluma

Seared

Dungeness Crab Mac & Cheese, $22: Mac with local Dungeness crab, Nueske’s bacon, Delta asparagus, Valley Ford Highway 1 fondue, Parmesan and chives. 170 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-762-5997, petalumaseared.com

Speakeasy

Lobster Mac & Cheese, $18: Sweet, meaty lobster mingling with cheddar and fontina cheeses, topped with crumbled bacon and herbed breadcrumbs — a fan-favorite at Speakeasy. ​139 Petaluma Blvd. N., Suite B, Petaluma, 707-776-4631, speakeasypetaluma.com

Speakeasy in Petaluma Lobster mac and cheese
Lobster Mac & Cheese with crumbled bacon, lobster, cheddar and fontina cheese topped with herbed breadcrumbs from Speakeasy Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Petaluma. (John Burgess / The Press Democrat)

Brewsters Beer Garden

Mac & Cheese, $12: A super-gooey elbow macaroni and cheese baked in a cast iron skillet and topped with thyme breadcrumbs. 229 Water St. N., Petaluma, 707-981-8330, brewstersbeergarden.com

TAPS On The River

Mac ‘N’ Cheese, $11.95: Cavatappi pasta in a housemade cheese sauce topped with pecorino and breadcrumbs. 54 East Washington St., Petaluma, 707-763-6700

Windsor

KIN Windsor

Mac-Daddy Pizza, $18 for 10-inch, $27 for 14-inch: A thick crust pizza with red sauce, shredded mozzarella, applewood smoked bacon and KIN’s white cheddar mac and cheese (also great as its own entree for $19). Welcome to carb heaven. 740 McClelland Drive, Windsor, 707-837-7546, kinwindsor.com

Kin mac and cheese
Mac and cheese at Kin Restaurant in Windsor. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Sweet T's mac and cheese
Three-way Smoker Combo with ribs, chicken, brisket and sides of mac and cheese and an okra, corn and cherry tomato sauté from Sweet T’s Restaurant + Bar in Windsor. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Sweet T’s Restaurant

Loaded Mac & Cheese, $24: This perfectly cheesy mac side dish exemplifies the classic southern comfort food Sweet T’s is known for. A two-cheddar mac is topped with toasted breadcrumbs, bacon, jalapenos, barbecue sauce and a choice of smoked brisket, pulled pork or pulled chicken. 9098 Brooks Road, S., Windsor, 707-687-5185, sweettssouthern.com

Healdsburg

Kinsmoke

Mac & Cheese, $6 side: Shell pasta full of cheesy goodness is the ultimate side to barbecue favorites such as pulled pork or beef brisket. 304 Center St., Healdsburg, 707-473-8440, kinsmoke.com

Barbecue chicken, brisket, Brussels sprouts with bacon, macaroni and cheese, and hush puppies at Kinsmoke in Healdsburg. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
Barbecue chicken, brisket, Brussels sprouts with bacon, macaroni and cheese, and hush puppies at Kinsmoke in Healdsburg. (Beth Schlanker/The Press Democrat)
West County and Coast 

boon eat + drink

boon Mac-N-Cheese, $16: Mycopia mushrooms and truffle breadcrumbs make for an outstanding umami-rich mac. 16248 Main St., Guerneville, 707-869-0780, eatatboon.com

Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint

Mac & Cheese, $7: A creamy, gooey mac made with four types of cheeses. 16632 Highway 116, Guerneville, 707-604-7184, saucymamasjookjoint.com

mac and cheese at Saucy Mama's
Barbecue Pork Rib platter with sides of melon, cornbread waffle, mac and cheese, and collard greens at Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint in Guerneville. (Heather Irwin / The Press Democrat)
Negri's mac and cheese
The Mac + Cheese with smoked Gouda and Monterey Jack cheeses topped with panko from Negri’s Italian Dinners and Joe’s Bar in Occidental. (John Burgess/The Press Democrat)

Negri’s

Mac + Cheese, $13.50: This mac and cheese, served as a side dish at the historic Italian restaurant in Occidental, includes smoked Gouda and Monterey Jack, topped with breadcrumbs. Add pancetta for $4. 3700 Bohemian Highway, Occidental, 707-874-0301, negrisrestaurant.com

Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery

Mac & Cheese, price varies: This coastal cheese company regularly rotates its menu specials, including the mac. But you can expect any number of Valley Ford cheeses, such as the popular Highway 1 and Estero Gold, and add-on combos like sausage and peppers or flank steak and bok choy. 14390 Valley Ford Road, Valley Ford, 707-875-7073, valleyfordcheese.com

Mac & Cheese at Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Mac & Cheese at Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery. (Heather Irwin/The Press Democrat)
Tasca Tasca mac and cheese
Portuguese Mac & Cheese at Tasca Tasca in Sonoma. (Erik Castro/for The Press Democrat)
Sonoma

Tasca Tasca

Mac & Cheese, price varies on number of tasting plates: Portuguese-style mac and cheese with smoky, mildly spicy linguica. ​​122 West Napa St., Sonoma, 707-996-8272, tascatasca.com