Good: Food is tasty and great portions. Great atmosphere formal and yet casual dress. They have these family style all you can eat.. Bad: Pricey..

Good: Food is tasty and great portions. Great atmosphere formal and yet casual dress. They have these family style all you can eat.. Bad: Pricey..
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We first discovered Maggiano's when visiting Arizona two years ago. We went there for dinner twice in three nights and ate leftovers on the off night! I think that was a little extreme but it really... More

We first discovered Maggiano's when visiting Arizona two years ago. We went there for dinner twice in three nights and ate leftovers on the off night! I think that was a little extreme but it really is good food. And it is a great deal. For about $25 (a set price) you get to choose two appetizers, two salads (get the Maggiano's chop), two pasta dishes, two entrées and two desserts and they will bring you as much as you like of each. It is all served family style and it all tastes great. On one occasion we went with a large group and one of the people with us has terrible food allergies. She called ahead to see what options they would have for her and when we arrived the chef came out, chatted with her and created a wonderful meal just for her at no extra charge. Worth the drive across the lake and that is saying a lot!
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When Maggiano's Little Italy opened in Lincoln Square, the line was frequently out the door. Now that it has been around for awhile, the crowds have eased up, but you'll still have to wait. ... More

When Maggiano's Little Italy opened in Lincoln Square, the line was frequently out the door. Now that it has been around for awhile, the crowds have eased up, but you'll still have to wait. Maggiano's is like an upscale Buca di Beppo. The decor is nice and warmly lit, which distracts from the huge crowds, so the place feels smaller than it actually is. The huge portions are served family style, so all you need are a few dishes to pass around. 2 entrees and a salad between the two of us meant lots of leftovers. We really enjoyed our salad, which had big chunks of avocado and bacon. My absolute favorite is their homemade gnocchi, which they served in a creamy marinara sauce. They also have a special counter just for take-out orders which would be good if you really wanted to avoid the crowds.
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We went to the St. Louis MO location. Across from the Galleria. Holy cow are the portions at Maggiano's insane. You have an option of ordering for yourself (huge 1/2 portions and insane full... More

We went to the St. Louis MO location. Across from the Galleria. Holy cow are the portions at Maggiano's insane. You have an option of ordering for yourself (huge 1/2 portions and insane full portions) or family style. Since we all like way different things, our party ordered separate. The chicken parm came with 3 full large chicken breasts. The spaghetti was 4-6 servings (half portion) and the stuffed chicken was 2 large pieces of chicken plus mashed potatoes. We ordered a full appetizer of garlic bread, that showed up with our cheque, and was the size of approximately 12 slices. For $4.95 we assumed it would be smaller. Prices are on the higher side, but the portions make up for it. We would of had a 35 minute wait but I mentioned a table outside and they set it for us after confirming. A beautiful night, too much food, and a funky server even though he forgot our appetizer. He did take a salad off the bill. He tried.
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Twice we have gone to Maggiano's, and twice we have been 30 to 45 minutes late being seated. The first time actually approached an hour, and we finally got fed up and left (On the plus side,... More

Twice we have gone to Maggiano's, and twice we have been 30 to 45 minutes late being seated. The first time actually approached an hour, and we finally got fed up and left (On the plus side, corporate was very apologetic and sent us $50 gift certificate). Our second visit was actually at the Bellevue Maggiano's (Prior was in Costa Mesa, CA). Skipping past the long wait to be seated, once we made it into the dining room, the atmosphere was pleasant, the server very nice, and the smells quite good. Using their family style option seems to be the way to go most of the time, but I highly recommend having a party of at least four, because that much food for two people is majorly overwhelming. Certain dishes, such as the mushroom sausage pizza and the rigatoni D were quite excellent. Others, like the pot roast, while acceptable, were nothing special. Dessert was very good, and their selection of wine was ok, but in this case we bought a bottle of our own and took advantage of the $12 corkage fee (May have been $15, it's been a while), and enjoyed our own bottle. Overall, I'd recommend them, though try and pick lower traffic nights (Monday or Tuesday), or expect to wait a while, even with reservations. High Points: Good dining room service and enjoyable food. Low Points: Feeling like making reservations served no purpose. They really need to fix this aspect of their booking.
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OK I don't know that I would say Maggiano's has the greatest Italian food. Not even the best on the eastside. But they do nail takeout. A separate entrance to the restaurant just for takeout, a... More

OK I don't know that I would say Maggiano's has the greatest Italian food. Not even the best on the eastside. But they do nail takeout. A separate entrance to the restaurant just for takeout, a dedicated desk and staff for takeout. The only problem is parking at the new Lincoln Square building which can be a disaster especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
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