Disappointed in Maggiano's.

[clarabelle]

We don't have lots of family owned italian restaurants here in the south - (not that many Italians!) maybe that is why the chains work -Maybe the west is the same way?

 

[mjkacmom]

I heard the one in Philly is good (across the street from the Marriott where we stay for a dance competition every year), but the NJ in me won't try it. There must be 100 Italian restaurants within 3 miles of my home, ranging from simple to fancy. Homemade pasta, fresh ingredients - OP, what were you thinking! It's like going to Mexico and eating at a taco bell!

 

[JerseyJanice]

O.K. mjkacmom, guilty as charged! I was just trying to be agreeable by going along with the suggestion of my coworker--she's of Irish descent so that explains her taste.

When I think about it, I generally don't care for chain restaurants around here. I don't know if it's because they're not so good on the whole or if they simply don't measure up next to the individually owned places.

The chains do a fabulous business around here anyway. I guess it's the volume of people. The restaurant part of the mall was packed yesterday with people at P.F. Chang, Rosa Mexicano, and Maggiano. I bet if we went around the bend and we'd have found the Cheesecake Factory and Houston's crowded too.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I like Maggiano's (Boston). Have been to many work events there and try to go once in a while with the family (though prefer North End for Italian). As Golf4 mentioned, it's always been good when I wasn't paying the bill and usually I leave with some bags of food anyway - how can you beat that?

 

[Kit'smommy]

I don't like Maggiano's either. I have been 4 times and have never had a good meal there.

Our Carrabba's on the other had is great. It is one of my favorite places to eat here, but I have been to ones when traveling that were not good.

I think with chains, it just depends on the individual management and chefs.

 

[ICF]

Odd - my location is exactly the opposite. Quiet and they give HUGE portions.

I agree....

Granted when we have been there it hasn't been overly busy, but unlike an Olive Garden or something similar there were very few kids around and it was a peaceful meal mostly made up of adults.

We've also never finished an entree there....we (and whome ever we've eaten with) have always had leftovers to take home.

 

[Sugardimples]

My experiences at Maggiano's has been good food and HUGE portions. I can't imagine anyone leaving Maggiano's hungry!

 

[mjkacmom]

I think with chains, it just depends on the individual management and chefs.

I've only worked at one chain (Pizzaria Uno), but there were no "chefs" - really just some cooks who spoke little english heating up the food from the freezer.

 

[JVL1018]

I like Maggianos better than Carmine's.. I love the 4 cheese ravioli.
I go to the same Maggiano's that you went to, and it is really loud there.

Parking is always hard because there are so many restaurants, but if you go into the parking garage right above the restaurant it's sometimes easier to find a spot than getting one in the lot in front of Maggianos.

Next time tell your coworkers to go to Sanducci's on Kinderkamack Rd in River Edge. Right down the street almost and great food! I think they have a lunch buffet now, too.

ETA: I've been 3 times, once for my HS reunion, and then the other 2 times we did family style, so skimpy portions were definitely not a problem, they keep bringing you as much as you want.

 

[Angelhalo]

My husband's Christmas party was at Maggiano's at SouthPark mall here in a banquet room. They had appetizers and an open bar when we arrived then family style for dinner. The food just kept coming and coming and all of it was fantastic. I'd definitely go back!

OP sorry you didn't enjoy it.

 

[luvwinnie]

Janice, what Italian girl from Jersey would be impressed by an Italian chain restaurant??? lol

 

[kimmar067]

We had a holiday lunch today for the four girls who work in my office. One of the ladies suggested Maggiano's which I understand is a chain that was inspired by NYC's Carmine's.

We went to the one in Riverside Square....

... Janice, Janice, Janice, ya should have gone to PFChang's next door.....AWESOME letttuce wraps!

 

[kimmar067]

Janice, what Italian girl from Jersey would be impressed by an Italian chain restaurant??? lol

...and there ya have it....

 

[kimmar067]

I heard the one in Philly is good (across the street from the Marriott where we stay for a dance competition every year), but the NJ in me won't try it. There must be 100 Italian restaurants within 3 miles of my home, ranging from simple to fancy. Homemade pasta, fresh ingredients - OP, what were you thinking! It's like going to Mexico and eating at a taco bell!

 

[JerseyJanice]

My experiences at Maggiano's has been good food and HUGE portions. I can't imagine anyone leaving Maggiano's hungry!

I was pretty hungry walking out of there yesterday. I can't believe what a tiny the piece of chicken they gave me. And this is a pet peeve of mine--I think every restaurant should serve a small house salad with an entree, especially a $13 lunch entree.

I like Maggianos better than Carmine's.. I love the 4 cheese ravioli.
I go to the same Maggiano's that you went to, and it is really loud there.

Parking is always hard because there are so many restaurants, but if you go into the parking garage right above the restaurant it's sometimes easier to find a spot than getting one in the lot in front of Maggianos.

Next time tell your coworkers to go to Sanducci's on Kinderkamack Rd in River Edge. Right down the street almost and great food! I think they have a lunch buffet now, too.

ETA: I've been 3 times, once for my HS reunion, and then the other 2 times we did family style, so skimpy portions were definitely not a problem, they keep bringing you as much as you want.

Sanducci's would have been a lot better! Especially for chicken francaise. We went there last time we had a luncheon because it's right down the road from my office, but we wanted something different this time. My suggestions were Charlie Brown's or the Emerson Hotel. We've done CB's recently too, so it wasn't something different, and the girl who picked Maggiano said she's heard bad things about Emerson lately.

I did wind up parking in the garage. I drove around the front lot a few times and got aggravated. When and if we ever go to that Mall to eat again, I'm driving straight to the garage.

 

[kimmar067]

...speaking of Carmine's, my DBrother was a chef there - the one that's down the block from Phantom....OMG, the servings are out-of-this-world....

 

[JerseyJanice]

I'll tell you, Michele and Kim, Carmine's to go is great!

We went to a Mets game back in the spring. Took the NYC bus on the corner, bought a Metrocard and took the #7 train out to Citifield. On the train ride back, I called Carmine's and placed an order for veal parmagiana and rigatoni with sausage and broccoli. We picked it up and brought it back on the bus, which was luckily the turnpike express. Got home, and it was all still hot and very, very yummy.

 

[kimmar067]

I'll tell you, Michele and Kim, Carmine's to go is great!

We went to a Mets game back in the spring. Took the NYC bus on the corner, bought a Metrocard and took the #7 train out to Citifield. On the train ride back, I called Carmine's and placed an order for veal parmagiana and rigatoni with sausage and broccoli. We picked it up and brought it back on the bus, which was luckily the turnpike express. Got home, and it was all still hot and very, very yummy.

 

[kimmar067]

...back in August, a GF and I went to the David Cook concert. Afterwrds, we went for dessert at Carmine's and had home-made strawberry cheesecake, eating it at one of the bar tables against the window...we were waiting for the band to come out.....

 

[karenos]

O.K. mjkacmom, guilty as charged! I was just trying to be agreeable by going along with the suggestion of my coworker--she's of Irish descent so that explains her taste.

When I think about it, I generally don't care for chain restaurants around here. I don't know if it's because they're not so good on the whole or if they simply don't measure up next to the individually owned places.

The chains do a fabulous business around here anyway. I guess it's the volume of people. The restaurant part of the mall was packed yesterday with people at P.F. Chang, Rosa Mexicano, and Maggiano. I bet if we went around the bend and we'd have found the Cheesecake Factory and Houston's crowded too.

I'm in Bergen County as well, and I have never gotten the crowds at these restaurants - don't people realize there are wonderful non-chain places to eat? Maybe I'm a food snob, but the idea of waiting in a line to eat in a loud, crowded (and sometimes overpriced) restaurant with mediocre food doesn't appeal.

Just my 2cents....
karenos