Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Say cheese: S'MAC celebrates 19 years in business

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

S'MAC (aka Sarita's Macaroni & Cheese) celebrated its 19th birthday over the weekend at its NW corner space on First Avenue and 12th Street. 

Owners — and longtime East Village residents — Sarita and Caesar Ekya, both trained engineers, opened the restaurant in the summer of 2006 with a creative twist on the classic comfort food. 

Originally located at 345 E. 12th St., S'MAC moved to its current spot in 2017. 

In addition to serving up cheesy concoctions (we mean that in a good way), S'MAC has also been a generous neighbor. For several years, the Ekyas partnered with East Village Neighbors, a local volunteer group, to provide meals for community members in need through a fridge and pantry outside the restaurant. (The initiative ended after tenant complaints led the landlord to ask for its removal.) 

Nearly two decades in, S'MAC remains a comforting constant in a neighborhood that seems to be constantly changing.
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2 comments:

  1. lfmcgJuly 29, 2025 at 12:04 PM

    S'MAC was a required stop on nights out in the East Village during the aughts. Glad it's still thriving!

    ReplyDelete
  2. MarjorieJuly 29, 2025 at 3:32 PM

    They've been SUCH good neighbors! Sarita seems like a total mensch. Wishing S'MAC many more happy birthdays.

    ReplyDelete

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