A Menu Full of Mac’n’Cheese?

By SARAH BAICKER

Updated 2:16 PM EST, Tue, Dec 2, 2008

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“Recession-proof” meals have replaced multi-course tasting menus as the hip culinary offering du jour. Across the city, restaurants have knocked down their prices and added more affordable options in attempts to lure diners out of their homes.

Starting Dec. 2, you can add Northern Liberties’ Swallow to the list of eateries dishing up discount gourmet. And they’re doing it with the ultimate comfort food: macaroni and cheese. An entire menu full of nothing but macaroni and cheese. Yes, really.

But Swallow’s mac’n’cheese isn’t just any bowlful of elbow-noodles-doused-in-cheddar. It’s still the upscale fare Philadelphians have come to expect from Liberties Walk’s cozy bistro. This is macaroni kicked up a notch.

Here’s how it works: First, choose a size (small for $5, large for $7), then choose a couple cheeses and a few extra ingredients from a hefty list that includes both meat and vegetarian offerings. Most concoctions top out at about $12.

Jason and Cindy, Swallow’s owners, offer up 10 of their own suggestions for diners overwhelmed by the variety, like the Californian (asiago, Monterey jack, chicken breast and sundried tomato), the Vegetarian (cheddar, broccoli, cauliflower, roasted garlic and sweet corn) and the Cheeseburger (American, cheddar and seasoned ground sirloin).

Eating on a budget never sounded so good.