I've dined at this location once on a Friday evening and gotten takeout once as well. Our food was brought out pretty quickly both times. I really like their Spicy Ricotta Meatballs and even ordered 2 orders for takeout. My favorite entrees are the Cremini Pork Shank and Chicken Milanese. The Cremini Pork Shank comes in a large portion; I got two meals out of it. The pork was so tender and flavorful. The vegetables that were served with the Chicken Milanese were really fresh and complimented the chicken well. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Erin B.
THEY REMOVED GLUTEN FREE PASTA FROM THEIR MENU. So now 1 in 4 American house holds can not go here. This is very upsetting as I use to come here all the time but now I can't accommodate the dietary needs of my family.
(1)
Sara S.
It's a chain, it's not authentic Italian, but it's a great place for kids and groups. Decent food for a reasonable price, clean and spacious, great service too. You'll get the nice dark feel of an Italian restaurant with the usual staples on the menu. Lasagna bolognese, caprese and other salads, pasta and chicken dishes. It's all there. Nothing is spectacular, but it all tastes fine and everything was fresh, so no disappointments. What impressed me was the truffle mac and cheese bites with truffle sauce. Yum! They look like large tator tots and the sauce looks like cheese sauce possibly made from powder, but I don't care. It was a pleasant surprise and delicious. I was even dipping broccolini in it. Service was spot on. Our host greeted us right away, he was friendly and courteous, Kyle our server was awesome, manager came by to check on us, others came by to clear plates. We were impressed.
(3)
Todd W.
After leaving a social event in downtown Tampa around 9pm, I was looking to grab a quick pizza on the way home for the evening. Macaroni Grill's TV ads have recently been promoting their new and better flatbread pizzas, so that was the choice since this location was conveniently located for me. On a previous visit to Macaroni Grill for their late Happy Hour, I remembered these being good and huge and at least on the Happy Hour it was only $5. Calling to place the order, we were told it would "only take about five minutes" which was perfect timing. And then we pulled up. I walked in and despite the restaurant being empty, there was nobody in the To-Go area and employees walking around really did not seem to notice I was standing there. When I was approached and eventually handed the bill, it was much more than I expected and was told my change and the pizza would be brought out to my vehicle. A few minutes later, she emerged with the change but said, "Your pizza was actually put it late, so it will be a few extra minutes." Ok? Why? Those "few extra minutes" were more like 10-12 additional minutes, which added to my time already spent there added up to at least three times longer than we were initially told on the phone for one simple item. If they had been busy, I might have understood. While the pizza was a good temperature and taste, we waited too long for it and could have saved time and money with any number of other pizza options in the area. At least by visiting this Macaroni Grill at 930pm on a weeknight, you can actually get in and out of this shopping area (which also includes Target, Whole Foods, Total Wine and Home Depot). Most of the time, this area is a mess because of the awful plan of only having one main entrance off Dale Mabry and one side entrance off Spruce.
(2)
Laurel G.
Returned two burnt crust Farmhouse Pizzas. The difference between the two burned and the two it took twenty minutes to replace is night and day. I didn't have my phone to take a picture which really would have blown you away, The dining area and the ladies room was clean. The servers were average. They sang happy birthday in Italian to our birthday guest. The Classic Italian bake had gigantic meat balls and everyone enjoyed their entrees. They brought the birthday guest their dessert free of charge and with a candle.
(3)
Scott B.
It's a great place to go accept for a Saturday or Friday night. The bread is amazing, you can taste it's fresh. Service was over attentive and great personality. I can tell when it is not the servers fault but I had ordered the spaghetti and meatballs. It came out with under cooked pasta which was no big deal just sent it back for a new one. Forty minutes later came out with the same dish, and it was still undercooked chewy hard noodles. Every other time I've been here I've really enjoyed it but avoid going on busy days
(3)
Nick D.
Just had a great dinner at Macaroni Grill. not sure why I haven't been in a year or two but it was spot on. Service was great, food was actually fantastic and the price was reasonable. We had Ali as our server with "Win" short for Winford as a trainee helper. They were both very friendly, smiling and made this a spectacular dining experience. So on to the food: house salad, yep - spot on. Bread = fresh and hot. Butternut squash tortellini = oh yeah! Bottle of Lamarca = icy cold, bubbly and delicious. We'll be back for the food, the service, and the value.
(5)
Gerald S.
The last four times we came to this restaurant, we were very impressed with the menu and food. However this time the portions were much smaller. The pasta last time that was served with the grilled chicken was exceptional. This time it was relatively bland and lacked the fresh tomatoes, slivers of cooked garlic, and most of all fresh basil. The tiramisu was wonderful as always. A restaurant's menu/recipe should ALWAYS be consistent.
(2)
Chad P.
I had dinner there on a Friday evening w my parents and the service was fantastic. The bartender Toshia was hilarious and went out of her way to make sure we were well taken care of even after we left the bar area. Amazing service and the food is very good. Sit at the bar w/ Toshia, she made the evening.
(5)
William M.
I sat at the bar and ordered the black olives as an appetizer. The chef brought them out. I asked him what he liked. Eggplant Parmesan and the sole he said. He could do a half of each and he did. The eggplant was delicious because he threw goat cheese on it but the sole was to die for. And the house red is always good here!
(4)
Maria M.
Great happy hour pricing everybody is very attentive and the food is very good for the price. I had the chicken milanese one of my favorites love the small arugula salad that comes with the chicken and roasted potatoes. The only thing i would complain about is all of the changes in the menu a lot of items i really liked have been removed. And who only has the one vegetable all the time.
(5)
April S.
Ty picked me up for lunch on Friday and we went to Macaroni Grill. I always enjoy going here. I had the Italian sausage and potatoes and I could only eat half. It was really good.
(5)
John J.
I went in there feeling blah bc it was my birthday and I was going out to eat alone. However there was exceptional customer service on my side. Thank
(5)
Katy S.
I've been going back and forth between a 2 and 3 star review. Here are my arguments for each: 2 star: Brown lettuce in the Caesar salad. Chicken spiedini boasts a healthy and delicious meal. It was healthy, but extremely bland. Fiance' ordered the butternut squash pasta and it just wasn't that great. 3 star: Great, friendly service. Affordable prices. Comically large bottle of wine for $30, which they vacuum sealed for us upon leaving. In the end, not the greatest experience and I was definitely glad I had a gift card. Next time I have a gift card, I may use it at Chilis instead of Macaroni Grille.
(2)
Bronze M.
Never eating here again. And if I do, I'm only going back for the bread. Because that was the best part of my meal. 1. The service - I sat at the bar and ate. My server/bartender was extremely nice, but a little rough around the edges. Not to be too snooty, but their uniforms were very...ununiformed. 2. I ordered the spicy ricotta meatballs and the crispy artichoke potato cakes. Avoid these. They both taste like cardboard. I also ordered the calamari. It was nothing special. I could get the same anywhere...but better. I don't know. Part of me wants to give it another chance, but my stomach is not so sure. B. Major Grade: D
(2)
Ryan H.
Overpriced for the quality of the food and service. Might be a decent place to grab some drinks for happy hour ($3 for Peroni).
(2)
Daniel H.
Saturday night and no wait? What voodoo is this? Surely, there must be something wrong with this place...right? I ordered the Chicken Cacciatore from the special fall menu and was very impressed. Even leftovers the next day were incredibly delicious. My kids gobbled up their food like there was no tomorrow either. The hostess was friendly and very nice to the kids. Our server was attentive and also very friendly. I will definitely come here again.
(5)
Milly D.
My friends are I came here tonight and we had a great experience! Our waiter was Kyle and he couldn't have been better! Super nice and attentive and funny! Will deff be back
(4)
Elana L.
The last time I ate at a Macaroni grill was about 7 years ago. I remember loving the eggplant parmesan and frequently talked about it whenever we would go to an Italian restaurant. Unfortunately, 7 years later, it just wasn't the same. (I should say that the two locations weren't in the same state) The pasta was to the side of the eggplant and very bland and dry. The eggplant itself was still as I remembered; fried and topped with mozzarella and tomatoes. YUM! Would have been better though, had it been on top of the pasta, maybe then the pasta would have been worth eating. For dessert, chocolate cake...hmmm I can make better out of a box! Truly disappointing, as the chocolate ganache was in a tiny dish to the side, of which my spoon didn't really fit in so I could dip the cake and the whipped cream was also to the side. Weird. The cake would have been better if the toppings were truly on top of it. On the plus side, our waitress was very friendly and checked on us a couple of times. It was a very quiet dining experience as there were only a handful of tables filled, which I thought was odd for 7pm on a Saturday night. I didn't mind the quiet though!
(3)
Waldo A.
Service was bad - Server didn't care much to make us confortable. Food was cold - Server took it back, when she returned it was the same plate just in and out of the oven with dried-out pasta. Charged us for THEIR mistakes - Chicken dish had NO chicken, and when I asked them for it they charged for "extra" chicken. In short: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!
(1)
Kt H.
Thursdays are half price wine bottles all day. If you mix that with happy hour flatbreads for $5 in the bar, you've got dinner for two including wine for under $30.
(5)
Emily H.
Warm bread and tasty olive oil...yum. Great meal for my family of four, rather picky eaters! I do not understand why there weren't more diners at this great restaurant! Great chicken and pasta dishes make another Italian chain seem like second class. The entree prices are more than reasonable. I cannot speak about other locations but this one has great service and attention. Recommended: Feta app Olives Chicken Parm Chicken Scallopine Chicken Caprese- not heavy.
(4)
Aimee G.
Would have been three-stars had we not waited over an hour for food. I normally really like Macaroni Grill, it's a chain but the food is typically better than something like Olive Garden. Inside is a lot of dark wood stain and dim lighting with an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs. Tables are covered with paper and kids are provided with crayons to entertain themselves during the meal. Our server was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, bless her heart. She offered me a sample of the house wine (which was just ok) and told me she'd leave the bottle on the table, and instructed me on the "crayon checkmark" honor system if I decided to have any. Apparently she forgot right away though and took off with the bottle. Although we were well-plied with hot loaves of tasty foccacia, our food took a good hour to arrive. I give the server credit for her frequent apologies and updates, I can't imagine what took so long as the restaurant was practically empty. We were informed that our "create your own" pasta selections were confusing for the chefs. I knew that spaghetti with marinara and meatballs would be tricky for an Italian restaurant but I guess we pushed too far when we asked for broccolini on it as well. However, the food was pretty good although it's sad when we've eaten so much bread waiting for our meal that most of it has to be taken home to be reheated anyway. Had I not been with a group of hungry kids I would have walked out.
(2)
Mike S.
Not bad, but there are much better non-chain options in Tampa for good Italian food, and many at lower prices & nicer settings. This is a chain of course, trying to hit the widest common denominator to draw in business, much like Carrabas or Olive Garden. Carefully designed dining room with fungible Italian-feel decor. Nothing we have had there is terrible, or particularly memorable. Just hope they are offering an experimental special that lets you sample something that is not middle of the road. Like most such chains, this is predictable and unexciting. This particular eatery is in West Tampa but could be Orlando, Atlanta, Denver or Hoggbutt.....but not Naples or Milan.
(3)
Renee S.
Ok so I have never actually sat in and dinned at this Macaroni Grill. I have on three occasions called in and ordered the lobster ravioli, which is really good by the way, but always seems to come out sort of cold. This Macaroni Grill offers curbs side service but when you drive up they ignore you. They seem to really be out of order there and have extremely slow service. The first time I came there to pick up my food, they sat it on the table with a very large order and the people that picked up that order picked up my food as well. What kind of sense does that make to put orders together, leave them on the table for customers to pick up at free will. Well any way, this place is very dim and gloomy and really needs a new owner or manager to come and spruce up the place and GET THINGS IN ORDER!!!
(3)
Danny L.
It's been a few years since my wife and I have been to a Macaroni Grill, and we were excited to have an opportunity to go back. We were greeted and seated immediately at peak dinner time on a Saturday night. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive, just as we remembered. Great! We ordered our favorites from back in the day, eggplant parmesan and the chicken marsala. Our entrees came out pretty quickly and both looked pretty good. However, the first thought when I took a bite: My memory is awful. The food was just not as good as we remembered it being. Maybe our taste buds have just matured and became more sophisticated as we aged, but this food just tasted bland and lackluster. Hanging on to our memories, we boxed up our half eaten plates and waited for the amazing chocolate cake. Only to be disappointed again... The cake was kind of dry, and I couldn't have said it better than my wife, "I could have made a better cake from a box".
(2)
Anthony A.
Disgusting absolutely disgusting. I had the mama s trio with lasagna, chicken Parmesan, and potatoes. It was just frozen disgustingness. The food was sticking to the plate. It was like Burger King chicken Parmesan I will never ever come back here again.
(1)
Marilyn B.
Close to Hotel, food was good, service was great! Would eat there again
(4)
Aaron M.
Food was sub par and I was ignored for most of my meal. Had to ask for bread. Poured my own water. Food was dried out... Chix burnt. I didn't ask for anything just let them know (after I was ready for bill as that was first time after dish came that someone checked on me). Was told since I ate most of it nothing they could do. I ate one bite of chix but I had the trio so I assume they meant of the dish. Next time I was told to let them know sooner. But I had saved it for last... Just not something you tell a customer... Just not cool.. I wasnt trying for anything just letting them know... How about. Let us recook that for you... Or here's a $5 gc to come back. Customer service was very low and food was worse. I felt obliged to tip the guy for pressing a button on the computer in theory as he did nothing more the rest of the day...
(1)
Jackeline F.
This is not my 1st visit to a Macaroni Grill...we have gone to one in Orlando, which we love...but the food at this one was horrible. The hostess was very nice, the waiter very polite. The food, ugghhh!! The apps, macaroni bites & ricotta meatballs were good. The parmesan crosted sole was bleh. The "penne a la vodka" was the worst i have ever tasted in my life & my husband and I eat out alot in many different places. The mashed potatoes were bland. We will never, ever, ever go back to this Macaroni Grill.
(1)
David J.
We hadn't been to Macaroni Grill in at least 5 years and loved it then so we figured it was a safe bet. We were surprised how empty the place was for a Friday night, but it was fine since we don't like crowds anyway. The host/bartender/waiter Jason was great, but the food wasn't as good as we remembered. It wasn't horrible, but we remembered it being much better. Not sure if it was just the dishes we chose so we'll probably give it another try.
(3)
Angela C.
Wow, the previous reviewers of this Maraconi Grill location are a tough crowd to please. I would give this restaurant a solid 3 stars, maybe 3.5. I thought the service was pretty good for a Friday night, and I appreciated that I didn't have to wait for a table during peak dinner time. One tip. The Mushroom Ravioli in Marsala Cream Sauce. Loved it. FYI Charlie Sheen, that is winning.
(3)
L S.
My meal was a To-Go order; I ordered two Shrimp Portofinos with extra shrimp. The shrimp were beyond overcooked, hardly any sauce, and what sauce there was had no flavor whatsoever. I called to complain; I wasn't looking for any compensations, just to let the manager know and maybe have him talk to the cooks and/or whoever packaged my meal. Manager Mark Gardner was too busy to take a complaint and there was no one available at the To-Go counter to speak to... Wow, HORRIBLE customer service! Worst $40+ I've spent in a long time. If you plan on eating here, eat in - that way if you have a complaint you can actually speak to someone who can do something about it. I did, however, post my comments to their corporate website... *Update* 4/2/13 Wow, the District Manager just called; that makes a HUGE difference. He was very apologetic for the Customer Service (or lack thereof) and was very receptive to my feedback and other concerns. Even though I told him I wasn't looking for a handout of any kind, he was very insistent (in a good way) on making up the bad experience for my wife and I. For that I changed my rating - like I said, getting a call from someone higher up makes a HUGE difference.
(3)
Mark P.
Waited at the hostess station to be seated for 5 mins. Restaurant was empty. Bartender was staring at us and did not offer assistance. We ended up leaving. Will never go back again.
(1)
Maria G.
Tapas 2 for 9... got meatballs n prochuito n cheese... pointless.. tasted microwaved...also ordered yheir polomoriano soup... said it had mozerella croutons...so it caught my eye... lies! It was tomato soup... waitress brandy was nice n friendly... and attentive... n place clean... food is half of ok.
(2)
David C.
This place I really like the decor and the low lit lights which make it more of a romantic feel to it. But as far as the service goes its slow. We sat down for a few minutes its more3 like 15 minutes before someone came to our table and while so many waiters or waitress walking around not doing nothing. But beside that everything else when smooth. I had the lobster ravioli while girlfriend had the pasta di Mara my ravioli had no flavor as well as the pasta di Mara honestly I have had better ravioli at carrabas the food and service is horrible I repeat horrible. Well at lease she loves their bread. Maybe next time it would be.better but for now this time it really bad.
(2)
Stephanie R.
I've never been here before, and I wasn't too impressed. The service was okay - we got our food fast - but drink refills had to be asked for. The taste of my food and the complimentary bread was a bit bland. My husband's chicken Parmesan was good, though. I think I'd only go here again if I got another gift card.
(3)
Roberto G.
Oh how the mighty have fallen! I used to depend on a great meal here every time. That is no longer the case. The always delicious Honey Balsamic chicken was a far cry from it's original conception. Over cooked chicken and the glaze didn't have even the hint of balsamic vinegar. The broccoli was always sprinked with garlic bits and Parmesan cheese was gone. It seems to be that they are cutting corners here. Another bad sign: place was DEAD on a Thursday night.
(2)
M S.
Went there for lunch. Not especially crowded, so the economy may be impacting them. Our server, David, was very good. Friendly, offering suggestions, and checking back regularly. I had the chicken scaloppine ($10.99) and a caesar salad ($2.50 with the lunch). The chicken dish was fair - nothing special. Just not enough flavor. The caesar was good, although the kitchen has no anchovies to add to it. My friend had the sausage spiedini ($8.99). The sausage tasted fine, but again, nothing really special. For a basic lunch that has really no hints of Italian food, it was decent but nothing to brag about. For what it is worth, I have eaten there before and enjoyed it more. I fear the quality is declining, perhaps due to economic times.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Helen L.
I've dined at this location once on a Friday evening and gotten takeout once as well. Our food was brought out pretty quickly both times. I really like their Spicy Ricotta Meatballs and even ordered 2 orders for takeout. My favorite entrees are the Cremini Pork Shank and Chicken Milanese. The Cremini Pork Shank comes in a large portion; I got two meals out of it. The pork was so tender and flavorful. The vegetables that were served with the Chicken Milanese were really fresh and complimented the chicken well. I will definitely be back.
(4)Erin B.
THEY REMOVED GLUTEN FREE PASTA FROM THEIR MENU. So now 1 in 4 American house holds can not go here. This is very upsetting as I use to come here all the time but now I can't accommodate the dietary needs of my family.
(1)Sara S.
It's a chain, it's not authentic Italian, but it's a great place for kids and groups. Decent food for a reasonable price, clean and spacious, great service too. You'll get the nice dark feel of an Italian restaurant with the usual staples on the menu. Lasagna bolognese, caprese and other salads, pasta and chicken dishes. It's all there. Nothing is spectacular, but it all tastes fine and everything was fresh, so no disappointments. What impressed me was the truffle mac and cheese bites with truffle sauce. Yum! They look like large tator tots and the sauce looks like cheese sauce possibly made from powder, but I don't care. It was a pleasant surprise and delicious. I was even dipping broccolini in it. Service was spot on. Our host greeted us right away, he was friendly and courteous, Kyle our server was awesome, manager came by to check on us, others came by to clear plates. We were impressed.
(3)Todd W.
After leaving a social event in downtown Tampa around 9pm, I was looking to grab a quick pizza on the way home for the evening. Macaroni Grill's TV ads have recently been promoting their new and better flatbread pizzas, so that was the choice since this location was conveniently located for me. On a previous visit to Macaroni Grill for their late Happy Hour, I remembered these being good and huge and at least on the Happy Hour it was only $5. Calling to place the order, we were told it would "only take about five minutes" which was perfect timing. And then we pulled up. I walked in and despite the restaurant being empty, there was nobody in the To-Go area and employees walking around really did not seem to notice I was standing there. When I was approached and eventually handed the bill, it was much more than I expected and was told my change and the pizza would be brought out to my vehicle. A few minutes later, she emerged with the change but said, "Your pizza was actually put it late, so it will be a few extra minutes." Ok? Why? Those "few extra minutes" were more like 10-12 additional minutes, which added to my time already spent there added up to at least three times longer than we were initially told on the phone for one simple item. If they had been busy, I might have understood. While the pizza was a good temperature and taste, we waited too long for it and could have saved time and money with any number of other pizza options in the area. At least by visiting this Macaroni Grill at 930pm on a weeknight, you can actually get in and out of this shopping area (which also includes Target, Whole Foods, Total Wine and Home Depot). Most of the time, this area is a mess because of the awful plan of only having one main entrance off Dale Mabry and one side entrance off Spruce.
(2)Laurel G.
Returned two burnt crust Farmhouse Pizzas. The difference between the two burned and the two it took twenty minutes to replace is night and day. I didn't have my phone to take a picture which really would have blown you away, The dining area and the ladies room was clean. The servers were average. They sang happy birthday in Italian to our birthday guest. The Classic Italian bake had gigantic meat balls and everyone enjoyed their entrees. They brought the birthday guest their dessert free of charge and with a candle.
(3)Scott B.
It's a great place to go accept for a Saturday or Friday night. The bread is amazing, you can taste it's fresh. Service was over attentive and great personality. I can tell when it is not the servers fault but I had ordered the spaghetti and meatballs. It came out with under cooked pasta which was no big deal just sent it back for a new one. Forty minutes later came out with the same dish, and it was still undercooked chewy hard noodles. Every other time I've been here I've really enjoyed it but avoid going on busy days
(3)Nick D.
Just had a great dinner at Macaroni Grill. not sure why I haven't been in a year or two but it was spot on. Service was great, food was actually fantastic and the price was reasonable. We had Ali as our server with "Win" short for Winford as a trainee helper. They were both very friendly, smiling and made this a spectacular dining experience. So on to the food: house salad, yep - spot on. Bread = fresh and hot. Butternut squash tortellini = oh yeah! Bottle of Lamarca = icy cold, bubbly and delicious. We'll be back for the food, the service, and the value.
(5)Gerald S.
The last four times we came to this restaurant, we were very impressed with the menu and food. However this time the portions were much smaller. The pasta last time that was served with the grilled chicken was exceptional. This time it was relatively bland and lacked the fresh tomatoes, slivers of cooked garlic, and most of all fresh basil. The tiramisu was wonderful as always. A restaurant's menu/recipe should ALWAYS be consistent.
(2)Chad P.
I had dinner there on a Friday evening w my parents and the service was fantastic. The bartender Toshia was hilarious and went out of her way to make sure we were well taken care of even after we left the bar area. Amazing service and the food is very good. Sit at the bar w/ Toshia, she made the evening.
(5)William M.
I sat at the bar and ordered the black olives as an appetizer. The chef brought them out. I asked him what he liked. Eggplant Parmesan and the sole he said. He could do a half of each and he did. The eggplant was delicious because he threw goat cheese on it but the sole was to die for. And the house red is always good here!
(4)Maria M.
Great happy hour pricing everybody is very attentive and the food is very good for the price. I had the chicken milanese one of my favorites love the small arugula salad that comes with the chicken and roasted potatoes. The only thing i would complain about is all of the changes in the menu a lot of items i really liked have been removed. And who only has the one vegetable all the time.
(5)April S.
Ty picked me up for lunch on Friday and we went to Macaroni Grill. I always enjoy going here. I had the Italian sausage and potatoes and I could only eat half. It was really good.
(5)John J.
I went in there feeling blah bc it was my birthday and I was going out to eat alone. However there was exceptional customer service on my side. Thank
(5)Katy S.
I've been going back and forth between a 2 and 3 star review. Here are my arguments for each: 2 star: Brown lettuce in the Caesar salad. Chicken spiedini boasts a healthy and delicious meal. It was healthy, but extremely bland. Fiance' ordered the butternut squash pasta and it just wasn't that great. 3 star: Great, friendly service. Affordable prices. Comically large bottle of wine for $30, which they vacuum sealed for us upon leaving. In the end, not the greatest experience and I was definitely glad I had a gift card. Next time I have a gift card, I may use it at Chilis instead of Macaroni Grille.
(2)Bronze M.
Never eating here again. And if I do, I'm only going back for the bread. Because that was the best part of my meal. 1. The service - I sat at the bar and ate. My server/bartender was extremely nice, but a little rough around the edges. Not to be too snooty, but their uniforms were very...ununiformed. 2. I ordered the spicy ricotta meatballs and the crispy artichoke potato cakes. Avoid these. They both taste like cardboard. I also ordered the calamari. It was nothing special. I could get the same anywhere...but better. I don't know. Part of me wants to give it another chance, but my stomach is not so sure. B. Major Grade: D
(2)Ryan H.
Overpriced for the quality of the food and service. Might be a decent place to grab some drinks for happy hour ($3 for Peroni).
(2)Daniel H.
Saturday night and no wait? What voodoo is this? Surely, there must be something wrong with this place...right? I ordered the Chicken Cacciatore from the special fall menu and was very impressed. Even leftovers the next day were incredibly delicious. My kids gobbled up their food like there was no tomorrow either. The hostess was friendly and very nice to the kids. Our server was attentive and also very friendly. I will definitely come here again.
(5)Milly D.
My friends are I came here tonight and we had a great experience! Our waiter was Kyle and he couldn't have been better! Super nice and attentive and funny! Will deff be back
(4)Elana L.
The last time I ate at a Macaroni grill was about 7 years ago. I remember loving the eggplant parmesan and frequently talked about it whenever we would go to an Italian restaurant. Unfortunately, 7 years later, it just wasn't the same. (I should say that the two locations weren't in the same state) The pasta was to the side of the eggplant and very bland and dry. The eggplant itself was still as I remembered; fried and topped with mozzarella and tomatoes. YUM! Would have been better though, had it been on top of the pasta, maybe then the pasta would have been worth eating. For dessert, chocolate cake...hmmm I can make better out of a box! Truly disappointing, as the chocolate ganache was in a tiny dish to the side, of which my spoon didn't really fit in so I could dip the cake and the whipped cream was also to the side. Weird. The cake would have been better if the toppings were truly on top of it. On the plus side, our waitress was very friendly and checked on us a couple of times. It was a very quiet dining experience as there were only a handful of tables filled, which I thought was odd for 7pm on a Saturday night. I didn't mind the quiet though!
(3)Waldo A.
Service was bad - Server didn't care much to make us confortable. Food was cold - Server took it back, when she returned it was the same plate just in and out of the oven with dried-out pasta. Charged us for THEIR mistakes - Chicken dish had NO chicken, and when I asked them for it they charged for "extra" chicken. In short: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!
(1)Kt H.
Thursdays are half price wine bottles all day. If you mix that with happy hour flatbreads for $5 in the bar, you've got dinner for two including wine for under $30.
(5)Emily H.
Warm bread and tasty olive oil...yum. Great meal for my family of four, rather picky eaters! I do not understand why there weren't more diners at this great restaurant! Great chicken and pasta dishes make another Italian chain seem like second class. The entree prices are more than reasonable. I cannot speak about other locations but this one has great service and attention. Recommended: Feta app Olives Chicken Parm Chicken Scallopine Chicken Caprese- not heavy.
(4)Aimee G.
Would have been three-stars had we not waited over an hour for food. I normally really like Macaroni Grill, it's a chain but the food is typically better than something like Olive Garden. Inside is a lot of dark wood stain and dim lighting with an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs. Tables are covered with paper and kids are provided with crayons to entertain themselves during the meal. Our server was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, bless her heart. She offered me a sample of the house wine (which was just ok) and told me she'd leave the bottle on the table, and instructed me on the "crayon checkmark" honor system if I decided to have any. Apparently she forgot right away though and took off with the bottle. Although we were well-plied with hot loaves of tasty foccacia, our food took a good hour to arrive. I give the server credit for her frequent apologies and updates, I can't imagine what took so long as the restaurant was practically empty. We were informed that our "create your own" pasta selections were confusing for the chefs. I knew that spaghetti with marinara and meatballs would be tricky for an Italian restaurant but I guess we pushed too far when we asked for broccolini on it as well. However, the food was pretty good although it's sad when we've eaten so much bread waiting for our meal that most of it has to be taken home to be reheated anyway. Had I not been with a group of hungry kids I would have walked out.
(2)Mike S.
Not bad, but there are much better non-chain options in Tampa for good Italian food, and many at lower prices & nicer settings. This is a chain of course, trying to hit the widest common denominator to draw in business, much like Carrabas or Olive Garden. Carefully designed dining room with fungible Italian-feel decor. Nothing we have had there is terrible, or particularly memorable. Just hope they are offering an experimental special that lets you sample something that is not middle of the road. Like most such chains, this is predictable and unexciting. This particular eatery is in West Tampa but could be Orlando, Atlanta, Denver or Hoggbutt.....but not Naples or Milan.
(3)Renee S.
Ok so I have never actually sat in and dinned at this Macaroni Grill. I have on three occasions called in and ordered the lobster ravioli, which is really good by the way, but always seems to come out sort of cold. This Macaroni Grill offers curbs side service but when you drive up they ignore you. They seem to really be out of order there and have extremely slow service. The first time I came there to pick up my food, they sat it on the table with a very large order and the people that picked up that order picked up my food as well. What kind of sense does that make to put orders together, leave them on the table for customers to pick up at free will. Well any way, this place is very dim and gloomy and really needs a new owner or manager to come and spruce up the place and GET THINGS IN ORDER!!!
(3)Danny L.
It's been a few years since my wife and I have been to a Macaroni Grill, and we were excited to have an opportunity to go back. We were greeted and seated immediately at peak dinner time on a Saturday night. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive, just as we remembered. Great! We ordered our favorites from back in the day, eggplant parmesan and the chicken marsala. Our entrees came out pretty quickly and both looked pretty good. However, the first thought when I took a bite: My memory is awful. The food was just not as good as we remembered it being. Maybe our taste buds have just matured and became more sophisticated as we aged, but this food just tasted bland and lackluster. Hanging on to our memories, we boxed up our half eaten plates and waited for the amazing chocolate cake. Only to be disappointed again... The cake was kind of dry, and I couldn't have said it better than my wife, "I could have made a better cake from a box".
(2)Anthony A.
Disgusting absolutely disgusting. I had the mama s trio with lasagna, chicken Parmesan, and potatoes. It was just frozen disgustingness. The food was sticking to the plate. It was like Burger King chicken Parmesan I will never ever come back here again.
(1)Marilyn B.
Close to Hotel, food was good, service was great! Would eat there again
(4)Aaron M.
Food was sub par and I was ignored for most of my meal. Had to ask for bread. Poured my own water. Food was dried out... Chix burnt. I didn't ask for anything just let them know (after I was ready for bill as that was first time after dish came that someone checked on me). Was told since I ate most of it nothing they could do. I ate one bite of chix but I had the trio so I assume they meant of the dish. Next time I was told to let them know sooner. But I had saved it for last... Just not something you tell a customer... Just not cool.. I wasnt trying for anything just letting them know... How about. Let us recook that for you... Or here's a $5 gc to come back. Customer service was very low and food was worse. I felt obliged to tip the guy for pressing a button on the computer in theory as he did nothing more the rest of the day...
(1)Jackeline F.
This is not my 1st visit to a Macaroni Grill...we have gone to one in Orlando, which we love...but the food at this one was horrible. The hostess was very nice, the waiter very polite. The food, ugghhh!! The apps, macaroni bites & ricotta meatballs were good. The parmesan crosted sole was bleh. The "penne a la vodka" was the worst i have ever tasted in my life & my husband and I eat out alot in many different places. The mashed potatoes were bland. We will never, ever, ever go back to this Macaroni Grill.
(1)David J.
We hadn't been to Macaroni Grill in at least 5 years and loved it then so we figured it was a safe bet. We were surprised how empty the place was for a Friday night, but it was fine since we don't like crowds anyway. The host/bartender/waiter Jason was great, but the food wasn't as good as we remembered. It wasn't horrible, but we remembered it being much better. Not sure if it was just the dishes we chose so we'll probably give it another try.
(3)Angela C.
Wow, the previous reviewers of this Maraconi Grill location are a tough crowd to please. I would give this restaurant a solid 3 stars, maybe 3.5. I thought the service was pretty good for a Friday night, and I appreciated that I didn't have to wait for a table during peak dinner time. One tip. The Mushroom Ravioli in Marsala Cream Sauce. Loved it. FYI Charlie Sheen, that is winning.
(3)L S.
My meal was a To-Go order; I ordered two Shrimp Portofinos with extra shrimp. The shrimp were beyond overcooked, hardly any sauce, and what sauce there was had no flavor whatsoever. I called to complain; I wasn't looking for any compensations, just to let the manager know and maybe have him talk to the cooks and/or whoever packaged my meal. Manager Mark Gardner was too busy to take a complaint and there was no one available at the To-Go counter to speak to... Wow, HORRIBLE customer service! Worst $40+ I've spent in a long time. If you plan on eating here, eat in - that way if you have a complaint you can actually speak to someone who can do something about it. I did, however, post my comments to their corporate website... *Update* 4/2/13 Wow, the District Manager just called; that makes a HUGE difference. He was very apologetic for the Customer Service (or lack thereof) and was very receptive to my feedback and other concerns. Even though I told him I wasn't looking for a handout of any kind, he was very insistent (in a good way) on making up the bad experience for my wife and I. For that I changed my rating - like I said, getting a call from someone higher up makes a HUGE difference.
(3)Mark P.
Waited at the hostess station to be seated for 5 mins. Restaurant was empty. Bartender was staring at us and did not offer assistance. We ended up leaving. Will never go back again.
(1)Maria G.
Tapas 2 for 9... got meatballs n prochuito n cheese... pointless.. tasted microwaved...also ordered yheir polomoriano soup... said it had mozerella croutons...so it caught my eye... lies! It was tomato soup... waitress brandy was nice n friendly... and attentive... n place clean... food is half of ok.
(2)David C.
This place I really like the decor and the low lit lights which make it more of a romantic feel to it. But as far as the service goes its slow. We sat down for a few minutes its more3 like 15 minutes before someone came to our table and while so many waiters or waitress walking around not doing nothing. But beside that everything else when smooth. I had the lobster ravioli while girlfriend had the pasta di Mara my ravioli had no flavor as well as the pasta di Mara honestly I have had better ravioli at carrabas the food and service is horrible I repeat horrible. Well at lease she loves their bread. Maybe next time it would be.better but for now this time it really bad.
(2)Stephanie R.
I've never been here before, and I wasn't too impressed. The service was okay - we got our food fast - but drink refills had to be asked for. The taste of my food and the complimentary bread was a bit bland. My husband's chicken Parmesan was good, though. I think I'd only go here again if I got another gift card.
(3)Roberto G.
Oh how the mighty have fallen! I used to depend on a great meal here every time. That is no longer the case. The always delicious Honey Balsamic chicken was a far cry from it's original conception. Over cooked chicken and the glaze didn't have even the hint of balsamic vinegar. The broccoli was always sprinked with garlic bits and Parmesan cheese was gone. It seems to be that they are cutting corners here. Another bad sign: place was DEAD on a Thursday night.
(2)M S.
Went there for lunch. Not especially crowded, so the economy may be impacting them. Our server, David, was very good. Friendly, offering suggestions, and checking back regularly. I had the chicken scaloppine ($10.99) and a caesar salad ($2.50 with the lunch). The chicken dish was fair - nothing special. Just not enough flavor. The caesar was good, although the kitchen has no anchovies to add to it. My friend had the sausage spiedini ($8.99). The sausage tasted fine, but again, nothing really special. For a basic lunch that has really no hints of Italian food, it was decent but nothing to brag about. For what it is worth, I have eaten there before and enjoyed it more. I fear the quality is declining, perhaps due to economic times.
(3)