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

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.

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, 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 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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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 "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!

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

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

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