Macaroni Grill

Not to be too disagreeable, but ate at one just the other day. While the bread was ok they we’re using extra virgin olive oil with a bit of cracked pepper. I don’t believe that is appropriate for dipping, didn’t taste very good.

quote:

Originally posted by Theedge

Not to be too disagreeable, but ate at one just the other day. While the bread was ok they we’re using extra virgin olive oil with a bit of cracked pepper. I don’t believe that is appropriate for dipping, didn’t taste very good.

Many italian restaurants serve olive oil for dipping in lieu of butter. It is supposed to be healthier for you.

I really enjoy Macaroni Grill. There is one less than a mile from where I work and I go there with my coworkers probably once every two-three weeks. I love their peasant bread and their penne rustica.

--Jessica

We TRIED to eat at one in Boise Idaho, back in oh....2001. After Waiting well over an hour and 20 minutes, I finally got my, uh, they called it "food". It was absolutely the worst uh, Im going to go out on a limb here and call it "italian", (no offense italy).

Told the waitress, the "food" was the worst I'd ever seen. We got up and left and went to a real restauruant.

Never went back, will never go back inside one of them again.

quote:

Originally posted by Theedge

Not to be too disagreeable, but ate at one just the other day. While the bread was ok they we’re using extra virgin olive oil with a bit of cracked pepper. I don’t believe that is appropriate for dipping, didn’t taste very good.

The spiced olive oil for dipping is very common in a lot of Italian restaurants these days. A lot of others do it besides the Macaroni Grill. In fact I think I first encountered it at D'Amico Cucina in downtown Minneapolis. D'Amico Cucina is infinitely a cut above the Macaroni Grill.

The few times we have been to the Macaroni Grill we always got a singing waiter. In talking to them you find out they also are in theatre or schools for music. Some were good but in some ways it is kind of hokey and irritating.

quote:

Originally posted by MrKing.net

We TRIED to eat at one in Boise Idaho, back in oh....2001. After Waiting well over an hour and 20 minutes, I finally got my, uh, they called it "food". It was absolutely the worst uh, Im going to go out on a limb here and call it "italian", (no offense italy).

Told the waitress, the "food" was the worst I'd ever seen. We got up and left and went to a real restauruant.

Never went back, will never go back inside one of them again.

What was wrong with your food?

--Jessica

And are you saying that you waited at your table that long to be served your food? I don't think so. Must be that there was a wait and you decided to wait.

And your food could not have been that bad. I know Italian food and they serve some good food there. It may not be Northern Italian gourmet but it is certainly as good as most "red sauce" places and better than some.

quote:

Originally posted by Davydd


The few times we have been to the Macaroni Grill we always got a singing waiter. In talking to them you find out they also are in theatre or schools for music. Some were good but in some ways it is kind of hokey and irritating.

Just like that place in Texas with the hokey-pokey dancing wait staff and customers, a singing waiter would not only ruin any appetite I had, but probably induce vomiting at the same time.

The MG is not bad, but as is often the case with chains, I find the food too salty. I think it is because so much of the fare at chains is shipped in, so it is heavy on the salt and the preservatives.

Ok, how is the olive oil dipping sauce supposed to be made? I love to eat some good bread that way!
Joe

The Macaroni Grill in Knoxville was initially very good but the last time I went there, it appeared to me that it was on its last legs. I do not know what happened.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

The Macaroni Grill in Knoxville was initially very good but the last time I went there, it appeared to me that it was on its last legs. I do not know what happened.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Interesting observation...............but what do you mean?

quote:

Originally posted by Greymo

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

The Macaroni Grill in Knoxville was initially very good but the last time I went there, it appeared to me that it was on its last legs. I do not know what happened.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Interesting observation...............but what do you mean?

Very simple. I took my family there several times and the food and service was always very good. The last time I went there, the service was not good, the food quality was way down, the taste was not there and the staff appeared not motivated. I can only judge from what I observed.

I had been at the location probably 20 times. The last time I was there, I believe the general public had also made the same observation as their business was down at least 50%. The reason I made that observation is I always had to wait for a table. Not so any more.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

They "try too hard" on their spices. Most every dish "smells funny" to me and tastes metallic.

My wife loves their bread, so we have eaten at their Reston, VA, Fairfax, VA, Arlington, VA, Lake Mary, FL, and Plano, TX stores. I finally drew the line when I ordered "Maryland Crab Cakes" in Plano; they reeked of fish and tasted of metal.

Yuk!

Why would you order Maryland crab cakes in an Italian restaurant in Plano, Texas?
Edited to add: I just checked the menus for the Macaroni Grills in Plano and they don't have crabcakes, Maryland or otherwise, on their menus.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

Why would you order Maryland crab cakes in an Italian restaurant in Plano, Texas?
Edited to add: I just checked the menus for the Macaroni Grills in Plano and they don't have crabcakes, Maryland or otherwise, on their menus.

They had it as an appetizer special that day and I ordered it rather than to repeat my prior disappointments with their funny-smelling, metallic-tasting pasta dishes.

And sure enough they found a way to serve me a nasty dish that in no way resembled its effusive menu description. As I said above the only reason we were there is that my wife loves their bread. I, at least, won't be going back.

By the way, since we enjoyed a few great meals a decade ago in Virginia, Phil Romano sold the chain to Brinker and - to my taste at least - "crap ensued". Their present corporate chef is probably a failed kimchee cook!

I could understand going to Macaroni Grill if you didn't have any other good Italian restaurants in the area. It's definitely better than the Olive Garden (what's not). We've got one about a 3/4 of a mile away from us but will still drive a 1/2 hour away or further for better food. The prices aren't anything special, and living in the Chicago area, there are too many better choices available than to go there.

In my opinion Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill and Carabbas are just fast-food Italian. Each has it's own thing but most of the food is rather bland, pre-frozen and quickly thrown together, most of the time under a heavy sause that is overly salty. BUT they are convient and I have eaten there and would again with my small kids. To them it's a fun night out, on the same level as an Applebees. If I am looking to go out to a nice meal without the kids, I would never choose any of these places. In NJ there are so many really, really good, small intimate Italian resturants.

Jakerdog: then I would say you have not eaten at the Cincinnati location Macaroni Grills, as your portrayal is not accurate for these locations

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Jakerdog: then I would say you have not eaten at the Cincinnati location Macaroni Grills, a your portrayal is not accurate for these locations

I agree with TJ. And to compare Carrabba's with the Olive Garden and Crapplebee's is laughable.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Jakerdog: then I would say you have not eaten at the Cincinnati location Macaroni Grills, a your portrayal is not accurate for these locations

Fair enough. I have not tried either place out side of the NJ area, I assumed, maybe erroneously that all locations in a chain are basically the same with little variation, especially in the food, but I respect your comment and admit I have not tried them all.

quote:

Originally posted by porkbeaks

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Jakerdog: then I would say you have not eaten at the Cincinnati location Macaroni Grills, a your portrayal is not accurate for these locations

I agree with TJ. And to compare Carrabba's with the Olive Garden and Crapplebee's is laughable.

I said to them, being small kids. Granted Applebees is even worse. It is really no more then glorified bar food..but it serves a purpose. It's not laughable, it pretty darn close.

As far as the three places from the chains compared to each other in my home state of NJ, I think that the three are really close to tasteless Italian food and little spice, other then an abundance of salt, is added to appeal to the mass market. Maybe due to NJ's high Italian communioty the smaller resturants are everywhere serving really good food. Not all, but some do a nice job.

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

Jakerdog: then I would say you have not eaten at the Cincinnati location Macaroni Grills, as your portrayal is not accurate for these locations

Jakerdog, what TJ is trying to say is outside of Scotti's Italian on Vine Street the Macaroni Grill is maybe the best they have.

http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/dining/reviews/050203_scottis.html

ps. I first ate at Scotti's in 1964.

Nah, we got some really good spots, too -- but Macaroni Grill is much, much better than Applebee's