I found the Truffle Mac and Cheese somewhat bland, but a nice consistency. I am not sure I tasted truffle, just regular mushrooms. My son seemed to enjoy his pulled pork Mac and Cheese, so maybe it's best to order a dish with salty or fatty meat for the flavor. Service is efficient. Lots a families with small kids here, for obvious reasons. Several dashes of cayenne pepper would have gone far for me here. Co-located with The Melt, which is convenient. read more

Great food that came out quickly and was clearly made fresh to order. Service was good and attentive. I like the kid area because my kid could hop over and come back to the table once their mac and cheese had cooled down and this enabled them to take breaks to play in between bites also. Lots of families with young kids and the price is reasonable. Recommend for the food and an easy dinner out. Enjoyed the classic Mac and cheese, kale salad, Brussels sprouts, and the chicken pot pie Mac and cheese. read more

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The food here was great! Everything was so flavorful and the dishes were unique! I ordered their artichoke mac and my partner ordered their gilroy garlic. Both cheesy and flavorful. The service was great as well! Friendly staff. Ambiance was great as well. Very nicely decorated and clean. read more

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At the recent Gilman Street Fair, Homeroom had a stall serving two types of mac n cheese. We tried the Gilroy Garlic Mac and thought it was delicious. Not like the typical mac n cheese that I've tried. Found out there restaurant was a couple block away and we vowed to check it out for dinner. So we finally came for dinner on a Saturday at 5:50. It's located in a building with a couple other restaurants. Its street parking and we found a space just down the block. There's an outdoor dining patio but we opted to dine inside on this cool evening. There's a pickup/order counter with a bar counter in front. Our waitress walked us to our table. Restaurant was busy with several families dining there. Kids were playing in the play area at the back corner. So it was on the nosier side with the kids. Menu consists of 14 mac choices and with add in options to your mac. There are salad and side choices and desserts. We opted for: Crab Mac - a decadent mac with blue crab, Gouda, pecorino, caramelized shallots, garlic butter and Old Bay seasoning topped with breadcrumbs. A taste of crab with eat bite was so delish. Calling all crab lovers! Truffle Mac - for the 'shroom lovers. The mac had Gouda, pecorino, truffle oil, sautéed mushrooms and topped with breadcrumbs. A mac with plenty of earthy and umami flavor. We enjoyed both of our macs in their own way. Will be back again. Delicious macs and friendly service. read more

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As a vegan, I was so impressed by this place. I got the vegan Buffalo Mac and my friend got the normal Buffalo Mac and they looked the same! The dishes are so comforting and flavorful; I'll definitely be back to try the other vegan Mac options. Food: 10/10 Drinks: 8/10 Affordable: 10/10 Atmosphere: 5/10 Vegan-friendly: 9/10 read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Vegan Buffalo Mac - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

I took my grandson and his very favorite food is macaroni and cheese. And he says this is the best he's ever had! He always gets the garlic mac & cheese, and some kind of shake. Eduardo always recognizes us and says hello - he's the best waiter! I am not a mac & cheese, girl, so I always get the brussels sprouts with maple and balsamic vinegar and the garlic green beans. They are delicious! read more

Depends on the location. I've had great experiences which is why I still eat it and I've had a food poisoning attempt when I ordered at another location. Maybe they got rid of the guy but if they lost business, I'm sure that he is why. read more

I ordered the Hawaiian Mac, overall the taste was good, but I surprising they are not using fresh pineapple, they used canned pineapple and I believe the canned pineapple band is not Del Monte or Dole, the pineapple taste so plain and not taste good! read more

I absolutely love Homeroom! I come here frequently with my mom and have had nothing but incredible service. The food is always incredible, the staff is so so friendly! Bridgette makes you feel like you're part of her family and is so welcoming. I feel like I'm stepping into a family members home. All employees are incredible. Bridget, Anthony, and every server I've encountered has treated us so well. It means a lot as frequent visitors that they remember our order and always seem happy to see us. I can't recommend this place enough. I've been coming here for years and travel 25 minutes to get there each time because the whole experience is amazing! read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

I usually go to the Homeroom in Oakland, but when I found out there was a closer location, I knew I wanted to try their Berkeley location. My group of three went in for a dinner on a Saturday and there was no wait. Parking was easy, there is a small parking lot as well as street parking. Upon entering, no one greeted us so we were not sure if we just sit down on our own or if someone guides us to a table. One of the music speakers is right next to the entrance so when a worker was calling out to us, we could barely here what they were saying. They were yelling at us from by the counter while we were at the entrance. No one met with us at the entrance, the worker just started moving towards the tables. We just assumed based on body language where we needed to go. Once we were seated, we noticed the table had some imbalance/were wobbly. We just decided to step on the legs so it would stay in place, but we did not mind that too much. However, what made our experience disappointing was the service. In general, we did not really feel welcomed. We felt like we were being an inconvenience which we were surprised by because we do not expect too much to begin with; just the bare minimum- a simple greeting, serving our food, checking in on us, answering our questions, etc. However, when we ordered our food, our server would make faces whenever we ordered something. They seemed also judgmental that my partner and I decided to share food. We would like to not waste food so I am not sure what the problem was. We were not sure if that meant we ordered something gross or what. It just felt uncomfortable. We also ordered some condiments on the side, but my partner had to get up after a while because it never came to our table. He had to go up to the counter and ask two different people. Everyone just seemed disinterested and it was hard to get things. At this point, we would have wanted to just order the food at a kiosk if that is the type of service we will be getting. The food itself was yummy, but the overall experience just made it feel overpriced and disappointing. It was my friend's first time at Homeroom and she felt disappointed by the overall service as well. We got the crab and the gilroy garlic w/ bacon. The crab tasted really well with sriracha so I definitely recommend adding that! The gilroy garlic is a classic and always yummy. However, the gilroy garlic was a bit more on the dry side this time. We also tried their peanut butter pie which was not good. The chocolate syrup they used had a weird after taste that reminded us of cherry medicine and the crust just did not taste good, but besides that, the filling was good. I just would not get this again. We would like to assume that the people working there that day were just tired, it's a weekend and they would rather be at home, we get it. Hoping our experience next time will be better if we decide to go back. read more

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This Mac n chz OMG! Got the Kogi short rib mac and it was heaven. The meat is so tender and the noodles are cooked perfectly. The combo of cheeses was so creamy! Service was quick and excellent as well. The whole experience was great and we will be back as often as possible. read more

Disappointed in the quality of food. Been awhile since I have been here and was craving some comforting Mac & Cheese. Ordered the white cheddar cheese Mac & Cheese with sautéed mushrooms. I really think they forgot the cheese. Tasted like it was just white sauce - no cheese whatsoever. The mushrooms also tasted like they were cooked in burnt oil or butter. Hoping it was a bad fluke, but will be awhile before I consider ordering there again. read more

Bomb mac and cheese spot, it was couple night so we got the buffalo chicken and we got the rib koji bbq mac and cheese, i gave a 10/10 for the buffalo chicken and 7/10 for koji. We also got the elote it was good 6/10 corn could be cooked a little longer. We also got hot cheetos on the side !. I want to go back and try the rest of them it was bomb. Service was amazing we had a lovely waitress & the dining area was huge great for large parties! read more

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Loyal Customer Since High School Still the Best Mac and Cheese Around! I've been a loyal fan of Homeroom since my high school days, back when their Oakland location first captured my heart. Over the years, I've tried so many of their flavors, and the magic of this place is that everything tastes amazing. No matter which mac you choose, you're in for something special! The Berkeley location deserves a special shoutout. I love that this location is close to me and how spacious it is. The service is always friendly, and the space feels so inviting--it's the perfect spot to enjoy some comfort food. My go-to macs are the Buffalo Mac, Chicken Pot Pie Mac, and Elote Mac (extra amazing with chorizo!). Adding to that, I love how customizable everything is, and it's easy to see why Homeroom is still my favorite. Consistently delicious, comforting, and worth every visit! I always bring my friends from out of town to check this place out and I will be continuing to do so read more

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I recommend eating at Homeroom. It is cozy dinning inside the restaurant. They have indoor and outdoor dinning. The service at Homeroom is amazing. I never had best service at other restaurants and Homeroom goes out of the way to give you the best service. I have tried Homeroom for the second time and my service was amazing. She made sure that my food was good and offer me desert after finishing my meal. I got offer a refill on my drink and she went out of her way to make sure I was doing OK. A definite plus that I will dine at Homeroom again. read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Vegan Mac...with Broccoli - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

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First time here and it was a very slow Friday night. No one acknowledged us when we walked in. We stood by the host desk for 5 minutes and finally decided to sit at the bar in hopes of maybe getting acknowledged. Staff were super unfriendly and inattentive. Food was subpar. Over hyped mac and cheese. Had to continuously flag down a staff member to get anything (mind you, we were sitting right in front of them at the bar). I understand places are short staffed but this place was dead while we were there and not even acknowledging customers basically the entire time, is ridiculous. Will not be back here. read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Literally sitting front and center at the bar and service was awful. - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

Homeroom is truly a staple of the Bay. My husband and I usually go to the Oakland location, but recently moved to Berkeley so had to hit this location up. We always get the following, which we feel is the perfect amount for two people to share (if both parties aren't TOO hungry): - 2 Cheddar Jalapeño Biscuits - 1 Elote Bowl - 1 Kogi Short Rib Mac The kogi short rib is our all time favorite, but our other top contenders are: - Truffle Mac - Elote Mac If we're both feeling ravenous, then we'll usually skip out on the apps and the two of us order our own Macs read more

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Easy to find location with lots of parking off of Gilman. Ended up here on a Saturday around lunch and decided to grab a table outside. There's a fire pit that felt nice as the day was pretty cold. Our server was very attentive, checking in to make sure we didn't need anything a handful of times. We shared a Brussel sprout appetizer and two Mac & Cheeses between three people and had some leftovers. We ordered the chicken pot pie and kogi short rib mac. I thought I'd love the kogi more, but the pot pie turned out to be the winner. The kogi short ribs were very tender, but the flavor was overall off. There was a slight sriracha taste and the beef was very sweet which didn't mix well together. The pot pie was more of a classic. read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Chicken Pot Pie Mac - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Had no idea what to expect, but en route back to Marin from a baseball game with kiddos, stopped here on a whim. One of my kids is an aficionado. Classic Mac & Cheese with breadcrumbs was a massive hit. Killed the whole thing (and had to share with his sisters. See below re: standard grilled cheese). The others had grilled cheese (standard. So one star deducted. Not bad. Just not amazeballs to warrant the fifth star. I'm stingy on those). I worked thru half an order of the Buffalo Mac. Contrary to some of the one star reviews, I found enough chicken, good flavor, and right amount of spice. Very heavy. Dense. Also, contrary to others comments, service was good. Friendly staff. Attentive. Dessert: brownie sundae and root beer floats. The latter were typical. The sundae was "really good," per the kids. From the one small bite they allowed me, I concur. Overall, worth the stop. read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Buffalo Chicken Mac - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

Disclaimer I only go here for the vegan mac. It's not a Mac and cheese replacement at all, but it's really good! The flavor is original, I've never had anything like it so I crave it often. Im disappointed in their lack of consistency though, I've found that sometimes they give a lot of sauce and it's thick and creamy and delicious and other times there's a lack of sauce and it can be really thin. read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

Staying with a friend who was recuperating from surgery and ordered delivery. We shared the vegan brussel sprouts and the Kogi Short Rib Mac and cheese with gluten free noodles. The order was large enough for the two of us with enough leftover Mac for one lunch serving the next day. The brussel sprouts were nicely seasoned and cooked. They were tender and not bitter. The Mac was spicy but not over powering. I would have liked a little more short rib. The noodles were al dente. The cheese covered everything. I would order both items again. read more

I have no complaints about this location. Parking is available on the street. Staff are very efficient. The baked macaroni was so good. The garlic flavor definitely comes through. I wasn't able to finish it for lunch and had leftovers for dinner and to share. The inside of this establishment is clean. read more

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Soo we can in last weekend I never seen so many different types of mac and chzzz so I'm in love First I'm big on how clean a restaurant and bathrooms are..Very clean bathroom very nice and clean The bacon sprouts...bomb soo good My husband had the bacon mac I had the Buffalo mac big portions very pleasant host and our server was on point an funny!!! Oh yeah the brownies must have I really also like how the management treats the staff they seem happy he was super nice!! I felt like I knew him for years by the time we left..his name is Kevin i believe. I like my food really really hot and he went above an beyond for us!! Good music good vibes will definitely be back!!!! read more

Awesome Ambiance, Superior Service, and most importantly.... Fantastic Food, A++!!!! read more

I've been to both the Oakland and Berkeley Homeroom locations... and wow, what a difference! After a terrible experience at the Oakland location, I wasn't sure I'd come back, but Berkeley completely changed my mind. The food was fresh and delicious, the space was trendy and spotless, and my kids loved the little kids' corner. The staff was super friendly, and even though they seemed a bit short-staffed, the manager was everywhere - - greeting guests, helping his team, and making sure everyone felt welcome. This is hands-down the only Homeroom location we'll visit from now on! read more

The garlicy bacon Mac n cheese: No garlic flavor and not much cheese taste. My son who loves Mac and cheese and bacon didn't not enjoy this. read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Garlicky Bacon Mac - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is one of my favorite spots! Their food is always delicious and fresh and the service is excellent. I love all their mac and cheese and their Cobb salad is a must try!! read more

Homeroom brings my cheesy smile out! As a child, mac and cheese was my all-time favorite food--comforting, cheesy, gooey, something I'd always order and ask for. When I found out about Homeroom's original location in middle school it instantly became my favorite restaurant. Through a Yelp Elite Event, I learned that there was a new location that was closer to my house--fate! Compared to the Oakland location, Homeroom in Berkeley is extremely roomy, casual, quiet, and family-friendly! There's even a bar inside and a quaint waiting area. With ample booths and tables available for all party sizes and a play area for children, you won't be waiting for a table like its original location. On this particular visit, the worker who greeted us was upbeat. It did take them time to take our order but our food came out hot and speedy. In my time dining here, I've never had a hiccup with their service. I'll preface this review by stating it's solely for their vegan mac and cheese. I do not eat dairy so Homeroom's non-vegan options are out for me. Prior to being dairy-free, I devoured their Gilroy Garlic and Garlicky Bacon Mac. Adding toppings is a must here, especially breadcrumbs! I've always been skeptical about vegan mac but ended up being surprised by theirs! I ordered their Vegan Mexican Mac and added Peas and Seasoned Breadcrumbs. This dish doesn't taste like mac and cheese but more like pasta with a semi-creamy, smoked, and slightly sweet sauce. The noodles are always cooked al dente--not too soft or hard. What I love about Homeroom is the ability to customize your mac and cheese. You can either build your bowls or add toppings to some of their specialty creations. Regardless, this is a wonderful option for all mac and cheese lovers providing an infinite amount of options. Portions here are always on the bigger end and take-out boxes are a must. If you're craving a good ole comforting or spruced-up version of a classic dish--Homeroom is the place you wanna be! They're located off of Gilman Ave. in Berkeley's Gilman District with parking in the shared lot as well as in Oakland. This is a neighborhood restaurant for all ages serving comforting food with smiling service. I grate-ly enjoy supporting my favorite childhood restaurant and even more so since they serve vegan mac and cheese! read more

When I was in college, I loved the SuzyQ cake. It was chocolate (my fave) and had the cream inside and reminded me of an elongated Ding Dong. I was willing to give up the flap of frosting on the top to enjoy cream in every bite! After years of eating lots of junk food and constantly getting sick, I went to a health food store and started buying food and cooking for myself. I made soups, salads, healthy snacks and meals that were similar to the ones I'd grown up on. One day, I saw my beloved Suzy Q and bought one. I took it home and took a bite and it tasted bitter. I took it back the next day and told the clerk and exchanged it for another one. Took this one home and bitter again. The third time, I took a bite in the store and I realized that in the months of good homemade cooking, that my taste must have changed. The sweet treat that was once my favorite was bitter. I never ate one again. I'm afraid that's happened with this place. I ordered my favorite, the decadent Truffle Pasta with mushrooms and no bread crumbs on top. I could have eaten a tub of this in the past, it's that good. I was late picking it up, not because I was late, but it was ready ten minutes early. That should not have been a problem. I've schlepped pasta from Oakland to my home in the past and it's been fine. I have to say that there was no one in there which probably explains why my pasta was ready so soon. They have a beautiful interior, which you can see in my pictures. The person working there greeted me. There was a young man waiting but I imagine that he was waiting for an order to deliver. But my order was the only one on the shelf. Other places have had issues here and they've been pretty good so I hope they have a brisk to go business. But the reason I brought up the Suzy Q story is because I feel like my taste may have changed a lot. Since the pandemic, my husband and I started cooking and eating at home, with the occasional treat brought in from the outside. We favored mom and pop joints. The junk food that I ate before (it never was my husband's thing) became a thing of the past. And I think that my taste just changed. Now I stand by my original review of this spot. But this time, the pasta tasted like Pasta with a bunch of mushrooms. Just pasta and mushrooms. I could've made this at home and saved the money and the trip. There was no truffle essence, unlike the past when I had this. The pasta was filled to the brim, but I wanted something a bit more. The only way to test this would be to go to the one and Oakland and try it. I was going to go after I had my stapes removed, but was so tired after my trip to Fentman's I just wanted to grab a car service and go home. But I probably wouldn't try this one. Too much money for that level of disappointment. read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Counter to place or pickup order. - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I was looking for a good burger and came across the Homeroom. The waitress was nice, lacking knowledge of the beers they served, but nice. The ambiance was good. The beer was very bitter, even though I asked for a beer that was not an IPA, it was. The burger came to my table not cooked all the way, I had asked for it to be well done, some people like their burger pink, not me. The fries were good. I asked for mustard, but they didn't have any. If I return, I will try their Mac & cheese. read more

Homeroom Berkeley - My pink burger - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

If you're looking for a nice large bowl of mac n cheese, look no further. I love that this place also offers vegan and gluten free options. I don't care how full you are, you HAVE to try their Brownie! * Pizza Mac * Kogi Short Rib Mac * Vegan Mexican Mac w/ Chorizo * Gilroy Garlic Mac * Vegan Buffalo Mac * Bacon Brussels Sprouts * Elote Bowl * Vegan Brownie read more

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Update: I recently went back to visit Homeroom in Berkeley. Leilani was very helpful and made sure that my family had a great experience this time. The food quality was much better and left us with a very pleasant experience. So thankful for Homeroom for fixing it for us. We will be back. read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

I had high expectations for Homeroom. The inside and outdoor seating was great but the unexpected surprises really caught my attention. The cocktails are good. The food was alright only because I ordered the aged white cheddar Mac. It was bland, I lost my appetite. God damn, I never had horrible Mac until this spot. I should've trusted my intuition. My other two friends ordered the garden pesto Mac and elote Mac. That was delicious. But something unexpected happened where I saw one cockroach crawling under the table and one where I used the men's restroom. That's fucking disgusting, what the fuck. I really hope the Oakland location isn't as bad as this Berkeley spot. read more

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Since pasta and cheese are two of my favorite things, I was so excited to try a restaurant centered around gourmet mac and cheese. After much deliberation, I went with the Garden Pesto Mac. I loved the fresh flavor profile thanks to the notes of pesto and bright cherry tomatoes. The creamy sauce was amplified by the Gouda and pecorino cheeses. The layer of breadcrumbs on top added a delicious crunch to every bite. The pasta itself was cooked perfectly. I really liked the laid back atmosphere inside. I hope to return soon explore more of the menu, which was packed with other scrumptious offerings. read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Garden Pesto Mac - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

3/5 food 5/5 kid-friendly Before becoming a parent, I never chose where to eat based on ambiance alone. Now I know that environment is everything; otherwise, we don't even get to eat our food. That is precisely why I am giving Homeroom 4/5 stars despite not entirely enjoying the mac and cheese. I like my mac and cheese creamy and this was not. Also, I would have liked to have another pasta shape option as macaroni will always feel like a side to me. The positives are that the restaurant is spacious, food comes out quick, and the kids section has bright enticing games that are attractive to toddlers. In my opinion, Homeroom would be an excellent venue for a mom meet-up or other parent and kid-oriented activity! read more

Mac n Staples :( Absolutely love the elote mac n cheese here & I make a point to get it whenever I'm in Berkeley. Vibes & customer service were great but my pictures explain the rest. Cmon y'all you can do better. read more

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I've tried Homeroom in Oakland a decade ago and was not a fan. But I wanted to give Homeroom another try at their new, nicely decorated Berkeley location. Tastes the same- big pass. The mac never has enough sauce...I want it gooey! The garlic bacon mac was way better than the kogi short rib mac- which had a weird taste to the sauce and overly sweet beef. I'm a mac n cheese fan, but Homeroom is not it for me. read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I use to go all the time in Oakland! Gilroy garlic was my go to! I recent stumbled upon his location, it's next to Phil's across from Whole Foods and it's a great walking distance when I drop off my car for service a block away. I tried the short rib Mac and it was sooo good! I'm not sure if it's new or for a limited time but it's my new favorite! Mac and cheese and always so cheesy and creamy and the short rib was so tender. Compliments the mac and cheese very well! Location is nice and spacious. The ambiance is nicer than Oakland. It wasn't crowded at all, probably two other families. I did go in a weekday afternoon. read more

Had the kids Mac and cheese with caramelized shallots and garlic butter. Mmm mmm mmm! Our waitress Jane was just a peach! read more

Homeroom Berkeley - Kids Mac and cheese with shallots and garlic butter - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food was amazing! We ordered the pulled pork mac and it was delicious. A bit spicy but not too much!! Service was awesome!!! Will come back. read more

Homeroom Berkeley - BBQ PULLED PORK MAC - Comfort Food Near Me - Berkeley, California