Maggiano’s isn’t my first choice for quality italian, but when you want to have a group event and a LOT of food it’s hard to beat. All the locations are huge and this one is no exception. There’s a large dining room upstairs and one downstairs with some private rooms. Last time I was here, they were having a murder mystery in the room which was entertaining b/c there were fake gun shots while we were eating.

For maximum food intake, you do the all you can eat option with your group and be sure to order seconds. By the end of the meal, you’ll have so many leftover bags you won’t know what to do with them all.

Don’t kid yourself: this is manufactured Italian. All of it. The food, the music (Sinatra, holla!), the atmosphere is very calculated. Not that that’s a bad thing: you get good food & it’s a good deal at that. (The marinara sauce deserves your tears of joy.) If you’re a skinny chick, actually, split a plate with a friend.
But don’t go there expecting a cute little restaurant with dark, bricked corners. And if you try to get all romantic, know there’s going to be an older lady with blue hair next to you loudly saying, “Oh, I love Tony Bennet!”

maggiano’s is a great option for big groups w/big appetites. i say this b/c at maggiano’s, if you do the group menu, you get unlimited refills on all your dishes! (even if you don’t do the group menu, the individual dishes are ginormous, so no loss for couple diners.)

this place is a step up from buca’s – a classier ambience and better prepared dishes.

if you do decide to eat here, beware of the crowds! it’s ridiculous how busy this place can get on a saturday night. also, the service is thumbs-down…maybe it’s b/c they’re so busy. otherwise, the food is good (as good as can be for mass produced dishes).

best stuffed mushrooms i’ve ever had. went during a downpour, but service was really good. attentive waitress.