Macado's Restaurant and Bar - Boone, North Carolina

Macado's is a small chain of restaurants based mainly in the southeastern United States. With locations in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, this little chain is perhaps most recognizable for its gargantuan menu, which at last count contained a dozen appetizers and more than 40 varieties of sandwiches. In addition to sandwiches, Macado's also serves soups, salads, spuds, quesadillas, pitas, wraps, chicken, lasagna, alfredo and much much more. Unfortunately, what Macado's has in quantity doesn't necessary translate into quality.

A Whole Lot of Variety, Not a Whole Lot of Consistency

While Macado's has a large selection of items to choose from, a few visits and you will quickly realize that not every dish is a winner. Though Macado's offers over 40 sandwiches, a great number of them are forgettable and lack anything resembling a distinct flavor. There are exceptions to this; the Crazy Chris wrap, for example, uses a distinct buffalo sauce to create some interesting flavors, but even this sandwich is not exemplary. While there is nothing outwardly undesirable about most of Macado's sandwiches, there is also nothing to distinguish them from any competing sandwich. The large menu may cover many tastes but it does nothing to improve the actual taste of their items.

Likewise, many of Macado's alternative options are no more impressive than their sandwiches. The appetizers tend to be slightly more expensive than the competition for slightly less product and often arrive at the table feeling "warmed over," as if the dish were simply reheated to a moderate temperature. The soups suffer this same fate; while not wholly undesirable, it is apparent that little to no in-house effort goes into their creation, and they simply feel thrown into a bowl and reheated. As it stands, most all of the items available could be summed up with this sentiment; it appears that Macado's great variety has led them to an over-reliance on pre-cooked and pre-made items, and it shows.

In addition to underwhelming food, Macado's has a strange lack of variety when it comes to the "bar" aspect of their business. While they do have happy hour specials on various beers, you won't find much here beyond Corona, Bud Light and other similar domestics. Although you will occasionally find interesting specials to be had, why Macado's has such a large food menu and such a small beverage menu is a bit baffling.

Prices at Macado's are generally a tad high, again perhaps due to the variety of food they offer. Sandwiches typically range from $4.00 to $6.00 and include no drink, which will run you an extra $1.50 charge. Some sandwiches are close to good deals while many other prices appear to be completely unwarranted. In the end, the amount and quality of food that Macado's provides is simply not worth the money.

Great and Relaxed Environment Does Offer Positives

The upside of Macado's is its great in-house environment. Similar to a TGIF or an Applebee's, the walls are decorated with "old-time" memorabilia and local collegiate decorations. Lights are dim and relaxed without feeling as if you are in the dark and the wait staff are generally pleasant and timely. Patrons are seated in wooden booths that do all they can to offer the comfort and privacy necessary for a good time with friends and family. Light music is played in the background, typically vintage rock music, and is done so at a level that provides a comfortable conversation level while also tending to mask the conversation of those around you. In short, the environment at Macado's creates a relaxing, enjoyable atmosphere that you can easily enjoy with those around you.

Weighing the Good and the Bad

In the end, Macado's is hurt by their inconsistent food quality, their overpriced items and their strange menu decisions. I have had many enjoyable experiences at Macado's but this experience has had less to do with the restaurant itself than it had with the company I carried.

If you are looking for a nice, relaxing environment to share with a large group of friends, Macado's is a conducive location. Unfortunately, there are many other restaurants capable of providing the same. I cannot recommend Macado's without some rather large caveats: their food is mediocre at best, their prices on the unreasonable side, and their bar short-changed. Simply put, there are many superior restaurants out there for you to enjoy.

Restaurant Ratings
(Scale of 1 - 5; 1 being the worst possible rating, 5 being the best):
Food: 2
Ambiance: 4
Service: 3
Cost: 2
Overall: 3