Cheese Please

I Heart Mac & Cheese in Elkhart Keeps the Delicious Options Coming

Writer & Photographer / Ali Snyder

Nayi and Nilesh Soni, owners of I Heart Mac & Cheese in Elkhart, opened their doors about two years ago. Although it was a rough time to open a business due to the pandemic, they pushed through and business has been more than steady ever since.

The owners always knew they wanted to be in the restaurant industry. With Nayi’s passion for cooking at home and Nilesh’s knowledge of business, the dream became a reality. The idea to own a franchise of I Heart Mac & Cheese seemed like a perfect fit, as it is the only one located in the region.

When you step inside the doors, you will find modern, clean decor with plenty of seating. The walls are lined with catchy sayings, neon signs, TVs, and a handmade “I Heart Mac & Cheese” quilt displayed on the back wall. Head on over to the counter and you will find a large variety of meal options to choose from.

The restaurant offers a “build your own” concept, or you can choose from one of the many delicious signature menu items. If you decide to build your own, you will start by choosing whether you want a bowl or grilled cheese. For the bowls, you can choose your base of pasta, quinoa, cauliflower, tater tots, or a combination. Bowls come with a choice of protein including chicken, short rib, lobster or vegetables. You can top your bowl with sauces like buffalo, pesto, ranch, mango habanero, barbecue, marinara, and sesame ginger.

If you decide to go with one of their signature bowls, you may have a hard time choosing just one. Some of the most popular choices are the Chicken Parmesan Mac & Cheese, Buffalo Blue Mac & Cheese, Short Rib Philly Mac & Cheese, and Lobster & White Truffle Mac & Cheese.

Not sure what to order? No problem. The helpful staff will assist you in building the perfect bowl, or even suggest “The Best of Both Worlds,” which is a combination of a bowl with a sandwich. The creative sandwich options are much more than your typical grilled cheese, although you can get a classic one if desired. The sandwich options include short rib, bacon, ham, pulled pork, and of course…cheese. The cook will take your choice of fillings, add mac and cheese on top, and smother it between your choice of bread. They then send it to the grill, where it gets toasted and melted.

All sandwiches are served with a side and a bowl of tomato soup for dipping. You can choose from sides such as Signature Mac Bites, Tater Tots, Chips, Cheesy Broccoli or Tomato Soup Cup. Upgrade your side to Signature Mac Bites, available in flavors like buffalo, pepperoni, classic, and bacon jalapeño.

As if those options aren’t crazy enough, you can even get mac and cheese in one of their Tacaronis. This is a unique menu item, and you can build your own delicious mac and cheese stuffed inside a crunchy taco shell. Some customers may prefer something a little healthier or customized for dietary needs. The restaurant offers gluten-free and vegan options, and they offer Beyond Meat in place of typical proteins.

The restaurant also has a catering option, and you can build your own tray, consisting of your choice of menu items. You can even add on some sweet treats like their Cheesecake Bites, Cookies or Dessert Bars. Whether you are a party of 10 or 100, they will gladly accommodate. Next time you have a gathering, consider choosing I Heart Mac and Cheese.

The options are nearly limitless and there is something for everyone at this unique restaurant.

I Heart Mac and Cheese is located at 2101 Bypass Road in Elkhart. They can be reached by phone at 574-333-3251. You can follow them on Facebook @iheartmacandcheeseelkhart, or visit the company website at iheartmacandcheese.com.