A ‘community favorite,’ this Boise restaurant has closed: ‘What the hell. This sucks’

A unique Idaho restaurant has dished up its last bowl of comfort food.

Mad Mac closed recently at 7709 W. Overland Road, next to Regal Edwards Cinemas in Boise. The final days were during the week after Christmas, according to posts on the pasta purveyor’s social media accounts.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the permanent closing of our Mad Mac restaurant at Boise Spectrum. We can’t express enough our immense appreciation for every single person who has come through our doors and supported our small business over the past five years. We are grateful for the friendships we have made and look forward to seeing you again soon.”

Opened in late 2017, Mad Mac was the first of its kind in the Treasure Valley: a restaurant dedicated to macaroni and cheese. The brick-and-mortar destination was an expansion of Mad Mac’s food truck, which began rolling in early 2016.

Like other hospitality businesses, Mad Mac struggled after the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. Short on employees, the counter-service restaurant shuttered in 2021 before eventually returning to action.

But the reincarnation didn’t last.

In addition to the restaurant now going dark, Mad Mac’s food truck has turned off its lights, too — but only for a few months. “The truck will be closed for the winter, per usual,” Mad Mac posted, “but will reopen again in the spring.”

Customers are stoked about that. After Mad Mac announced the demise of its restaurant, comments piled up online.

“Oh man this is so so so so so so sad,” one person wrote on Facebook. “Absolutely love it! At least the truck is still going.”

Another reaction illustrated the challenges that restaurants face getting word out about business changes.

“Wait, I didn’t know the restaurant was back open??” wrote another commenter. “I think it was closed during COVID. What the hell. This sucks. At least the food truck is still going to be here. This is a staple and a community favorite.”

Offering mouthwatering mac ‘n’ cheese concoctions, the Mad Mac menu targets cheesy palates. Dishes range from the classic Mad Mac (in a five-cheese sauce) and Buffalo Chicken Mac (chicken thighs in cayenne pepper sauce over Mad Mac with ranch dressing) to Philly Cheesesteak Mac (thinly sliced rib eye steak with sauteed peppers and onions over Mad Mac).

Online: madmacboise.com.

This story was originally published January 3, 2023 at 3:15 PM.