You can find Maggiano's all over the Chicago area, and for a chain restaurant, they do it pretty well. I have had some very good meals here and some lousy ones as well (usually in a group setting). My favorite Maggiano's is in the Old Orchard Mall; I give them a better rating than the downtown location for atmosphere and service. What you get at Maggiano's: tables with real table cloths, napkins, and silver; decent service; and huge portions of mainstream American-Italian fare, which will keep you in leftovers for a couple of days. This is not authentic Italian food by any stretch of the imagination; there are some lovely spots near the South Side in the old Italian neighborhood that would knock your socks off and put this place to shame. Still the food is certainly decent fare, and the restaurant can accomodate large groups easily. I'd stay away from the Chicken Marsala, but that's just me.
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