Your favorite and least favorite CHAIN restaurant for Italian?

[Big Cuddly Bear]

Spinoff of the Olive Garden thread.

What is your favorite / least favorite chain restaurant for Italian? Mine is Maggiano's.... and my least favorite - actually I don't like it at all - is Buca Di Peppo....

 

[dislaney]

My favorite is Maggiano's too! I also like Carrabba's Italian Grill. Least favorite -Olive Garden. The only time I go to Olive Garden anymore is lunch and I order soup and salad. Every time I've ordered a regular entree, I've been disappointed.

 

[LilyWDW]

Favorite: Carrabbas

Least favorite: Olive Garden

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Favorite: Macaroni Grill Least: Olive Garden

I'm dying to try Maggiano's but the opportunity just isn't presenting itself.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

Love Maggianos! Also love Carrabas! I hate the Macaroni Grill. Ick.

 

[Barbossa]

Worst: Buca Di Beppo. (Dishonorable mention: Olive Garden)

Favorite: Old Spaghetti Factory (There are other Italian restaurants that I like better, but they're not chains.)

Carrabbas is great but they don't have restaurants in California (I ate at one in Colorado Springs).

 

[nathalee81]

My favorite is Maggiano's too! I also like Carrabba's Italian Grill. Least favorite -Olive Garden. The only time I go to Olive Garden anymore is lunch and I order soup and salad. Every time I've ordered a regular entree, I've been disappointed.

I love Carrabba's. I like Olive Garden though, too. I guess I am in the minority there, though .

 

[mtemm]

for chains I love bertuccis. have heard good things about carrabas but have never been to one. I want to like macaroni grill, but find it too salty. hate olive garden. blech.

 

[Wall-E1]

Favorite: Carrabbas

Least favorite: Olive Garden

Same here

 

[NMAmy]

I'm not a huge fan of Italian restaurants but I'll drive way across town for Chicken Brian at Carabbas.

 

[WDWBarb]

Johnny Carinos.

 

[SondraC]

Favorite: Bravos, although love Carrabbas too! (Carinos isn't bad either)

Least: Olive Garden

 

[beattyfamily]

Favorite: Maggiano's
I like Vinny T's too.

Least: Olive Garden

 

[mjkacmom]

I've never been to one, but got some take-out from Maggiano's in Philly, and it wasn't bad! This is the only Italian chain restaurant I've ever heard anyone around her admit to liking (we have tons of mom and pop Italian restaurants here - rustic to upscale - it's a running joke here that the last thing we need is more Italian restaurants).

 

[Robinrs]

Favorite: Maggianos and Romano's

Least: Olive Garden (joke)

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

Love Maggianos! Also love Carrabas! I hate the Macaroni Grill. Ick.

I was at Macaroni Grill 2x.... once down near Disney, and LOVED it. Then I tied the one near my home and hated it. It is now closed and has become a Mexican restaurant.

 

[Disnydad]

I love Carrabba's. I like Olive Garden though, too. I guess I am in the minority there, though .

I'm with you.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Favorite - Carrabba's
Least Favorite - Pandini's, although it's not bad.

Never heard of most of the others in this thread (besides Olive Garden, of course).

 

[jen0610]

The only chain Italian we have around here is Olive Garden. And it's not on our list of place to eat at. It's been 6 years since we've gone there. We have a local place - 5 of them actual that are way better than OG.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The only chain Italian we have around here is Olive Garden. And it's not on our list of place to eat at. It's been 6 years since we've gone there. We have a local place - 5 of them actual that are way better than OG.

I agree that local places are usually better. For example, we have an awesome family run Mexican restaurant we go to instead of On the Border. Although we still hit up Taco Bell for the occasional quick fix.