This was my first visit ever to Mac Grill. Service was good-not great. Fett. Alfredo had a disgusting flavor. Manager admitted they changed the recipe and not too many people like it. Eggplant Parma was undercooked so it had a weird texture. Manager comped both meals. I will not be going back.
(1)
Bethany F.
If you're comparing to Olive Garden I think there are pro's and cons. When I go to Olive Garden I enjoy the breadsticks, and the the salad. Comparing to Macaroni they charge extra for the salad and hand you a hunk of bread, what am I supposed to do with that? (yes, I know, cut it, break, whatever, it's still a little annoying, I could do that at home) The food was very good though. I ordered the Chicken Fettucini Alfredo and had cheesecake for desert, both were very good, and better than what I've had at Olive Garden. I'm giving it a 2 because the service was not fantastic, and the wait was very long, for everything. I was also given wine in a whisky cup, and told about 20 minutes after I ordered my appetizer that they didn't have anymore.
(2)
Marty S.
I was bummed to find out that Macaroni Grill jumped the shark. First clue was the half empty restaurant on a Friday night. Then it took forever to get our food. When we saw somebody perhaps the manager ( since our waitress was nowhere to be found) and complained they said: it happens. Then our food was cold, my medium steak was very rare, and nobody seemed to care. They took two entrees off the bill, something I have never even asked for before. I give this place six months and its dark.
(1)
Elle H.
I was out running errands with my neighbor when our stomachs started to grumble. My neighbor suggested to grab lunch here because it is one of her favorite restaurants. I've never been to this restaurant before, and I love trying new places, so I happily agreed. We were greeted and seated immediately. The restaurant wasn't packed, but there were quite a few tables taken up, and this was around 1:15pm on a Thursday. Our server was polite and checked on us often. Our server gave us some bread olive oil for the table. The bread was delicious and warm. My neighbor and I each ordered the 3-course lunch deal for $10. The appetizer was a mozzarella fritta, which we both enjoyed. The second course was a decent sized caesar salad. The salad had the perfect amount of caesar dressing. The lettuce was fresh. For the third course, I ordered the fettuccine gorgonzola and my neighbor ordered the sausage and peppers rigatoni. We both really loved our pasta. The pasta portions were HUGE and we ended up taking more than half of the meal home. I was really surprised with the quality and the amount of food we got for $10! I will definitely be back!
(4)
Danny I.
I really like this place. Good food and the service and staff are always very pleasant. My wife feels the same way. I also like the location.
(5)
Mady J.
Presentation looks good but the food is just MEH. Decent portion, nice ambience, and personable staff. The food just didn't taste as it looks on this visit.
(2)
D W.
I was pleasantly surprised with my recent visit to Romano's Macaroni Grill. My daughter and I stopped in for our final mother daughter lunch outing of the summer. I ordered the 3 course lunch special for $10. It included a mozzarella appetizer ( a fancy mozzarella stick), Caesar salad, and the fettuccine Gorgonzola. I really enjoyed it. I love Gorgonzola cheese. If you like it, you will enjoy this dish as well. Everything was brought out in a timely manner. My daughter had the kids pepperoni pizza. Our waitress, Patty, was great. She was polite, prompt, and efficient. The only thing I didn't love was the bread that was served while waiting for your order. It's flavorful, but I don't love the texture of it.
(4)
Carl S.
Cheap date with wife. $7 expess lunch was buy one get one with online coupon through retailmenot. Excellent as usual. You can buy gift cards at restaurant worth $10 for a $5 donation, to use in Oct. and Nov. So eating here costs less. Even better service than usual.
(5)
Daniel M.
Prices expensive, food mediocre, service abysmal. Classic bait and switch advertising pulls customers in with "$9.99 dinner choices in 9 minutes", only to reveal that is for take out only. The real cost for dining in will be around $30 per person if you would like a drink and appetizer or dessert. The freshly baked loaf of bread is good, and I like it that my kids can doodle on the paper table cloth. However, the appetizers and entrees were not at all impressive for the cost, and in some cases were a bit salty and overcooked. If you want authentic Italian food in Annapolis, try Bella Italia over by the Academy.
(2)
Lori V.
This truly used to be one of our favorite restaurants and we have many great memories eating there overseas. The Annapolis Macaroni Grill was an awful experience. Every single order (except one) messed up, no water, no silverware, no plates...literally...I had to go on my own to find some throughout our meal, rude and inattentive waitress, she even dropped the pen on the floor (and states "Oh..I dropped my pen") and my husband had to walk around the table to get it to sign the check because she left. If I did not have my two year old with me and my eight month old on my lap, I would have asked to speak to a manager. At that point, we just wanted to leave and take our future service elsewhere. Not the kind of place I like to spend my evening (or my money) at. Never again. I left a comment on their website to let them know what kind of business was being run...on a Wednesday. I don't know if this is the norm but not going to return to find out! :::Update::: The Manager called to quickly say he apologized for our experience. Even if he has offered something for our horrendous experience, we would have declined. Still won't be returning.
(1)
Jon D.
This is a go-to spot for our date nights. Chain aside, we just like it. Go on Thursday for 1/2 price wine and you get a double size bottle of house red wine for $15. Chicken parm is great, as is the mac n cheese. I wouldn't recommend the build your own pasta because they char the tomatoes, garlic etc and it tastes burnt. One con is the staff can be TOO attentive. Give us some space. And they almost go on a script as far as up-sells. They have a new waiter named Scudder who is great.
(4)
pseudo n.
Decent, good portions, and pretty inexpensive. All in all a solid choice for an inexpensive lunch. If you want good, fresh kitchen Italian food Maggiano's is better but also more expensive.
(3)
Mich S.
Bread had the consistency of a rock on the bottom, my butternut asiago tortellacci was messy, luke warm and the prosciutto was tough. Waiter was great. Hostess had no idea what a restaurant grade was.
(2)
TravelPro P.
I've been a fan of Macaroni Grill's forever and have been to them all over the country. This one seems to have more service issues than the others I have been to. Both at the bar and in the restaurant, I've had pretty slow service and orders coming out incorrectly. So if I need a Macaroni Grill fix, I'll visit one while I'm traveling instead of going here. The food, when it comes out correctly, is as good as the other locations.
(3)
Richard H.
Yikes! I was served here two years ago and nothing has changed for the better. The absolutely disgusting state of the kitchen was inexcusable. HVAC spewing out filth on the walls directly above the kitchen service counter and above the prepped food. Manager was a joke. I asked for a make your own dish. Asparagus was raw, roasted tomatoes weren't seasoned or roasted, sauce was bland beyond belief, shrimp was rubber, chicken tasted strange.
(1)
Michelle K.
This review is strictly regarding service. I come here every now and then, but recently I've been making it my Tuesday working lunch spot. Patty works behind the bar and remembered me instantly when I arrived for the second Tuesday in a row. She remembered my drink and food and was kinder than kind. The general manager is also extremely kind. This wasn't the service I thought to have received from a chain restaurant, but I certainly am so glad I did! I'll keep coming back because I know I'll be treated as if I walked into a good friend's house.
(5)
Terry T.
Why so negative Annapolis! We visited town for my son's birthday and were there on Sunday for lunch and we have no complaints at all. Our server was an attentive and nice young lady, lot's of extra bread for our five hungry college students, great Cesar salad (added anchovies; no problem) and everyone enjoyed their food. After reading about the food poisoning, I did stay away from seafood, but my chicken parm was very good.
It's a really bad sign when the free bread is the best part of your meal. Macaroni Grill used to be a decent place to grab what amounts to Italian fast-food but recently the food has gone seriously downhill. I don't know if it's new management or what but the dishes have no flavor, the pasta is weirdly sticky, and everything seems to arrive lukewarm at best. They do deserve props for service though. The place always seems to be overwhelmingly crowded but the waitstaff has always been cheery and on top of things. However, I don't believe spending $13 on a pasta dish I could make better at home so I won't be going back.
(1)
Roberto N.
Gorgeous interior, good sized portions, tasty... It's a GREAT escape from your day of shopping, or, for us, a day spent almost next door at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). The interior is beautiful (just like all MGs- they're all the same, so far as I know). Wait staff is trained to within an inch of their lives, and they know JUST what to do to make your dining experience worthwhile. To be honest, the food seems slightly too cheap for the interior decor and quality/portions of food.
(3)
Heather W.
I ordered take out so I can't rate wait service but I can rate the food :) Im teetering between 3-4 stars because I am not dying to go back or anything. I ordered the seafood linguini which was delicious. Huge shrimp scallops and mussles still in the shell. They were delicious but I've definately had better. The portion was huge for a lunch portion. I only mention it because people have mentioned tiny portions. I've noticed that sometimes you get a lot more than normal or a lot less than normal when you order take out at certain restaurants. The bread was a disaster. It came right out of the oven and put it into my bag. By the time i got it home it was cold and grainy. I hated it and the seasoning that they gave you with it was not as scrumptious as I was expecting. I think they would have gotten a better rating from me if they didnt give me the bread at all. Oh! I change my mind to 3 stars as of this paragraph. My son got chicken tenders and they were WAY overcooked. like black, why would you serve something that over cooked. Throw it out and start over again! He is a chicken addict and he wouldn't even touch them.
(3)
Ma-e M.
It's lunch time. Who can refuse a choose 2 combo? It's quick and I enjoyed every bit of it. As a budget conscious, this meal is a deal - under $10. The dish is fantastic. Would you stand in line when you can have a hassle free environment in RMG? Although I don't like penne pasta, the carmalized chicken is so flavorful. I'm a critic but I'm humble and appreciative of it.
(4)
David R.
Service and food were excellent. The server, Warren was fantastic. Not sure about all the negative reviews but our service was awesome. Perfectly timed ad the food came out at the right time, at the right temperature, and with flavor.
(5)
Dave S.
Dependable. Unfortunately what is dependable is mediocrity. Service is poor to middling and the food often (not always) tastes like it came from the freezer at a local grocery. In a town that has low standards for food, Macaroni Grill is -- well -- meh.
(2)
Christine C.
We did the take out the other night. It was just so late, we had just moved here and my husband was sent out to scavenge some food for us while I did some laundry from our long road trip from San Antonio. He got some Veal Marsala with spaghetti and a lemon chicken with shrimp and mushrooms. He also brought home and unidentifiable fried appetizer that seemed to be an artichoke mush of some sort. It was all sooooo good, and he said the wait staff that helped him was nice. The food lasted us two days. Take out from this place was great. I recommend it for a good movie night or for those guys that need to impress at home and just can't do the cooking. IT WORKS.
(3)
Miranda T.
We used to go to Macaroni Grill all the time, the service and food was always consistently good. Then it started to go downhill and after a few bad experiences in a row, we just stopped going. We missed the old Macaroni Grill. It's been about a year so we thought we'd give it another try. Big mistake. The hostess was very nice, the server and manager very polite as well. They had no problem taking our burnt chicken parmesan off the bill, along with the Caesar salad that was drenched in awful dressing. The Italian nachos would have been better if they didn't have peppers, as we had requested. The pizza was very, very soggy. Surprising for a Sunday afternoon, with a less than half full restaurant that the service was painfully slow. The "nail in the coffin' for any future visits was when a female employee, not in uniform, was finger-combing her hair into a ponytail *in the food service area*! She went off to find a barrette to secure her hair and returned to take food to the dining room; I am doubtful that she washed her hands. It's sad that it was such a great restaurant but now, they obviously just don't care.
(1)
Ted K.
This is great family place. The price is pretty reasonable and the the service is acceptable. We have visited this establishment over 20-30 times over the last 3-5 years, and I we have never been disappointed. I guess my favorite part the place is the food is consistently good, and the pricing is decent.
(4)
Kelly B.
Been going here since I was a little kid. Always have loved the atmosphere. As a child I loved drawing all over the white paper table tops with crayons. As an adult, I love the dim lighting and the loud yet calm madness that can descend there on a busy night. I miss the Italian lessons in the bathroom, though. About $50 for a meal for two, including a glass of wine each, an appetizer, and two entrees with side salad. And of course free bread and olive oil! Beverage: House Red, dry but good Appetizer: Mediterranean Olives, on special with bread for $3 and that's a damn good deal and these are some damn good olives; and caesar salad Main courses: Carmela's Chicken Rigatoni, creamy but not too heavy; Create Your Own Pasta with penne, eggplant, mushrooms, spinach and tomato sauce (I believe the marinara) and granted, they are a "generic" chain, but their food is always incredible
(4)
William J.
I have been to this location 4 or 5 times. It has become less busy ( I m guessing by the explosion of local competition ) so it's been easy to get it, with no wait. My girlfriend loves the wine selection, although I don't drink. The free oil and bread can be addicting as you wait for your order. :)
(4)
Kate M.
Extremely family friendly. Reasonable prices. Service is fairly fast and the food is always consistent. The bread they serve while you wait is delish. A must go if you have a family, but nice to check out if on a date too.
(5)
Veda F.
O my! I don't know how this place stays open. I had a Christmas party for 12 last night and the food was not good. The waiter was great. But the place was so dark we could not take pictures. But worse could not read the menu. I would never go back.
(1)
Jeff R.
Went there to celebrate my wife's twin sisters' birthday. Not much to add to what has already been said in other reviews. Macaroni Grill is "A-OK" as yelp suggests, and basically a step above Olive Garden. What we always go for is the awesome, unlimited bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Though it's only good when it's fresh out of the oven. In fact, I'd probably go there just for the bread. That and the crayons (Although, they neglected to give them to us this time. Just because we're a table full of adults doesn't mean we don't want to draw all over the table!). The entree I chose this time (Shrimp Portofino) was only ok. The shrimp was indeed jumbo, but unfortunately overcooked. I've had the Penne Rustica a few times before, and it's always been quite good. The Annapolis Macaroni Grill also gets points for not skimping on the free birthday desserts, and bringing out 2 pieces of huge chocolate cake for the twins. We went on a Friday night, and it was pretty packed, so we had to wait a while for a table. Though all the restaurants in the mall area are usually packed on the weekends (Macaroni Grill was actually our second or third choice of places to eat nearby). Proceed with caution when venturing out on the weekends.
(3)
John K.
I used to consider Maraconi Grill a cut above Olive Garden. No more. I've seen a downturn in the quality of food over the last 9 years at the Annapolis location. The salad dressing that came with the house salad was inedible. The supposedly medium-rare Calabrese Steak was medium to medium well. The Amalfi Chicken Soup had no broth. Our server, Tina, was indifferent, perhaps because it was close to closing time. Sorry, I won't be back to the Annapolis location. Oh, and what happened to the Eros Ramazotti and Laura Pausini music? Since when did the edgy alternative soundtrack replace Italian songs?
(2)
Guy F.
If you read nothing else: The portions are a joke for the price, and the manager is rude. Stay away. If you would like to know why read below. I have been an avid fan of the Macaroni Grill growing up around here. My family has gone for years and I would have written them a 5 star review then. Last September I went with my wife and we did the create your own pasta, what came out was a whole lot of pasta with literally two pieces of small chicken that were the size of a pinky and a few of the other items. Not much else, a 10 dollar bowl of pasta that wasn't very good. I had a coupon for a free appetizer so I went with the bruchetta. The tomatoes tasted a bit old and were more than room temperature. When I told the manager she claimed that's how it's supposed to be. News to me. We also were seated near the kitchen and watched in awe how a piece of cake that was sitting out on the serving line for over 40 minutes was served to the table next to us. Because I never learn, I went back to Macaroni Grill last Friday night with my wife. I knew to avoid the create my own pasta so I went with the Pasta Milano. It seriously had a single small piece of chicken on top and they have figured out how to make the bowls smaller. I laughed again and sent it back, I'm not paying 13 dollars for 39 cents worth of pasta, they said they would put chicken in it but i'm not stupid. You never eat anything you send back to the kitchen. The waitress confronted me on it and was displeased that I'm a confrontational person. In short, stay away from this place.
(1)
Linda D.
Terrible service. And they were not even full. WIll never go back again. Saw my appetizer sitting up under lights for 20 minutes before it was brought to me. Forgot to bring us bread. Food was so so. Went there for my anniversary very disappointing.
(1)
Dawn M.
My husband and I recently ate at Macaroni Grill for the first time and enjoyed our experience. The interior was classier than I was expecting, although, I found the paper table cloths took away from that as did the waiter writing his name on the table cloth in crayon. Along with the paper table cloths, I'd have to complain about the size of the tables. The two of us were seated at an uncomfortably long table that appeared to sit 8 people even though smaller tables were available. We found the food to be very good. The bread at the table was fresh and tasty especially with the herb and olive oil dip. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan which I really enjoyed, though I can't comment on the side of pasta as I never eat that. My husband had the Lasagna Bolognese and loved it. Although we thought it was a little pricey, the food and service was good so we will visit here again.
(4)
Janet K.
Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of chain restaurants--it is sad but mostly true that they are almost always mediocre at best. But, I had a last minute lunch to put together for a vegetarian friend and her kids. And since my cooking days are over, this seemed like a one stop place to cover everybody. The service at the carry out area couldn't have been better. Many thanks and kudos to the sweet waiters who put this all together for me in short order. And not one thing was forgotten or mixed up. Very nice! The food, however ranged from tasty to inedible: I ordered the honey balsamic chicken for myself and found it pretty decent. Mind you, I would never go there craving it--it wasn't that good, but at least if someone really wanted to go, I know I could find something I would like. The eggplant parmesan for my friend was beyond awful. The pieces were cut in huge, thick slices (I measured just under an inch in places on the eggplant) and undercooked even raw in spots. We tried cooking it further in the oven, but that just made it hard and worse (if possible) The portions for the kidlets were huge and 2 of the 3 not bad: the cheese pizza was a big hit and big enough for an adult. The crust was nice, decent cheese, and the sauce pretty good, if not a little bitter for my taste (I like a sweeter sauce) The crispy fish is a great selection for someone whose kids like fish sticks and want something a little healthier (I think) and a bit more upscale. I was able to sneak off a bit of this as well and found it good. If I had kids I might go out of my way for this dish in order to get fish on the menu regularly. The spaghetti was not good. (Although the portion was enormous--way more than any child would eat) First of all, the noodles are almost angel hair thickness--kids like them thicker. Then, the sauce was mostly chunks of ground beef with little liquid--again, not a big hit. Thirdly, there were lots of bits of tomatoes--not what most kids want to eat. And finally there was a strange crunchy texture in the dish which I was not able to figure out--undercooked onion? I never could find what it was, but according to the kids (and me) it was "icky" So, some good, some bad...not ever going to be a go-to place for me, but maybe of use to someone in the mall area who wants a variety of choices. And by the way, I didn't try it but they had a "make your own pasta" dish which I thought was intriguing (but I don't understand why the choices are so limited. Why waren't all of their pastas included?? I don't get it) Hope this is helpful if you haven't been there...
(2)
Maria C.
I used to really like Macaroni Grill and would regularly eat in and also takeout. However, the quality at this one has degraded over the last few years while the portions decreased by half. Take out service is fast, but the food is so so at best. Such a disappointment.
(2)
Craig R.
This is your middle to high tier stop for all things occasional. Romantic date, check. Anniversary, check. Birthday parties, check. The two best things about any Macaroni Grill are their cheap (but good according to my wife) house wines and the lobster ravioli. Merrill F. hit the atmosphere right on the head. There are a lot of tables and not enough booths. As such, everyone seems to be having dinner together because the tables are so close to each other. It is definitely loud. We had the pleasure of sitting between two really loud parties so it was hard to talk and hear each other. I could go on forever about the lobster ravioli. I'm not a fan of asparagus, but it does add some nice flavor to the butter sauce that covers the ravioli. I'm drooling thinking about it. The waiters(tresses) take a while in checking up on you as you eat, so ration out your drinks and bread because it may be awhile before you see them again. The neat thing though is that, if your birthday falls on a weekend, they have singers who sing Happy Birthday in Italian. It gets a tad old after you hear it more than once or twice, but it's still pretty neat. If you plan on going there on the weekend, make sure you call ahead as they consistently have a line. They do have a take out section if you don't feel like eating in the restaurant.
(3)
S H.
Food is ok- its corporate. But expensive for all pasta and no meat in a very small bowl. (1/4 the size they were 2 years ago) Photos are deceiving. Having had another experience with poor service, I will not go back. This is the third time in a row that the bread "would be ready in a few minutes". But our appetizers, and in some cases our dinner came before the bread. 50% tables empty- 30 people waiting with buzzers. Why? The bar tender was our waiter. Why? Bar was packed 18 people in it. (Who also had buzzers) Needless to say we couldn't get food, drink, or check in an appropriate amount of time. The host has to get our drinks, another waitress had to get our bread- but even she missed the mark and a passing cook brought our bread. We had to call the manager to get our check. Its clear that the management has NO idea how to run things or to schedule enough staff. There are so many better places to eat in Annapolis- I shouldn't need to go back here again.
(2)
Miranda T.
We used to go to Macaroni Grill all the time, the service and food was always consistently good. Then it started to go downhill and after a few bad experiences in a row, we just stopped going. We missed the old Macaroni Grill. It's been about a year so we thought we'd give it another try. Big mistake. The hostess was very nice, the server and manager very polite as well. They had no problem taking our burnt chicken parmesan off the bill, along with the Caesar salad that was drenched in awful dressing. The Italian nachos would have been better if they didn't have peppers, as we had requested. The pizza was very, very soggy. Surprising for a Sunday afternoon, with a less than half full restaurant that the service was painfully slow. The "nail in the coffin' for any future visits was when a female employee, not in uniform, was finger-combing her hair into a ponytail *in the food service area*! She went off to find a barrette to secure her hair and returned to take food to the dining room; I am doubtful that she washed her hands. It's sad that it was such a great restaurant but now, they obviously just don't care.
(1)
Elle H.
I was out running errands with my neighbor when our stomachs started to grumble. My neighbor suggested to grab lunch here because it is one of her favorite restaurants. I've never been to this restaurant before, and I love trying new places, so I happily agreed. We were greeted and seated immediately. The restaurant wasn't packed, but there were quite a few tables taken up, and this was around 1:15pm on a Thursday. Our server was polite and checked on us often. Our server gave us some bread olive oil for the table. The bread was delicious and warm. My neighbor and I each ordered the 3-course lunch deal for $10. The appetizer was a mozzarella fritta, which we both enjoyed. The second course was a decent sized caesar salad. The salad had the perfect amount of caesar dressing. The lettuce was fresh. For the third course, I ordered the fettuccine gorgonzola and my neighbor ordered the sausage and peppers rigatoni. We both really loved our pasta. The pasta portions were HUGE and we ended up taking more than half of the meal home. I was really surprised with the quality and the amount of food we got for $10! I will definitely be back!
(4)
Danny I.
I really like this place. Good food and the service and staff are always very pleasant. My wife feels the same way. I also like the location.
(5)
Mady J.
Presentation looks good but the food is just MEH. Decent portion, nice ambience, and personable staff. The food just didn't taste as it looks on this visit.
(2)
D W.
I was pleasantly surprised with my recent visit to Romano's Macaroni Grill. My daughter and I stopped in for our final mother daughter lunch outing of the summer. I ordered the 3 course lunch special for $10. It included a mozzarella appetizer ( a fancy mozzarella stick), Caesar salad, and the fettuccine Gorgonzola. I really enjoyed it. I love Gorgonzola cheese. If you like it, you will enjoy this dish as well. Everything was brought out in a timely manner. My daughter had the kids pepperoni pizza. Our waitress, Patty, was great. She was polite, prompt, and efficient. The only thing I didn't love was the bread that was served while waiting for your order. It's flavorful, but I don't love the texture of it.
(4)
Carl S.
Cheap date with wife. $7 expess lunch was buy one get one with online coupon through retailmenot. Excellent as usual. You can buy gift cards at restaurant worth $10 for a $5 donation, to use in Oct. and Nov. So eating here costs less. Even better service than usual.
(5)
Daniel M.
Prices expensive, food mediocre, service abysmal. Classic bait and switch advertising pulls customers in with "$9.99 dinner choices in 9 minutes", only to reveal that is for take out only. The real cost for dining in will be around $30 per person if you would like a drink and appetizer or dessert. The freshly baked loaf of bread is good, and I like it that my kids can doodle on the paper table cloth. However, the appetizers and entrees were not at all impressive for the cost, and in some cases were a bit salty and overcooked. If you want authentic Italian food in Annapolis, try Bella Italia over by the Academy.
(2)
Ted K.
This is great family place. The price is pretty reasonable and the the service is acceptable. We have visited this establishment over 20-30 times over the last 3-5 years, and I we have never been disappointed. I guess my favorite part the place is the food is consistently good, and the pricing is decent.
(4)
Kelly B.
Been going here since I was a little kid. Always have loved the atmosphere. As a child I loved drawing all over the white paper table tops with crayons. As an adult, I love the dim lighting and the loud yet calm madness that can descend there on a busy night. I miss the Italian lessons in the bathroom, though. About $50 for a meal for two, including a glass of wine each, an appetizer, and two entrees with side salad. And of course free bread and olive oil! Beverage: House Red, dry but good Appetizer: Mediterranean Olives, on special with bread for $3 and that's a damn good deal and these are some damn good olives; and caesar salad Main courses: Carmela's Chicken Rigatoni, creamy but not too heavy; Create Your Own Pasta with penne, eggplant, mushrooms, spinach and tomato sauce (I believe the marinara) and granted, they are a "generic" chain, but their food is always incredible
(4)
William J.
I have been to this location 4 or 5 times. It has become less busy ( I m guessing by the explosion of local competition ) so it's been easy to get it, with no wait. My girlfriend loves the wine selection, although I don't drink. The free oil and bread can be addicting as you wait for your order. :)
(4)
Kate M.
Extremely family friendly. Reasonable prices. Service is fairly fast and the food is always consistent. The bread they serve while you wait is delish. A must go if you have a family, but nice to check out if on a date too.
(5)
Veda F.
O my! I don't know how this place stays open. I had a Christmas party for 12 last night and the food was not good. The waiter was great. But the place was so dark we could not take pictures. But worse could not read the menu. I would never go back.
(1)
Dave S.
Dependable. Unfortunately what is dependable is mediocrity. Service is poor to middling and the food often (not always) tastes like it came from the freezer at a local grocery. In a town that has low standards for food, Macaroni Grill is -- well -- meh.
(2)
Christine C.
We did the take out the other night. It was just so late, we had just moved here and my husband was sent out to scavenge some food for us while I did some laundry from our long road trip from San Antonio. He got some Veal Marsala with spaghetti and a lemon chicken with shrimp and mushrooms. He also brought home and unidentifiable fried appetizer that seemed to be an artichoke mush of some sort. It was all sooooo good, and he said the wait staff that helped him was nice. The food lasted us two days. Take out from this place was great. I recommend it for a good movie night or for those guys that need to impress at home and just can't do the cooking. IT WORKS.
(3)
Michelle K.
This review is strictly regarding service. I come here every now and then, but recently I've been making it my Tuesday working lunch spot. Patty works behind the bar and remembered me instantly when I arrived for the second Tuesday in a row. She remembered my drink and food and was kinder than kind. The general manager is also extremely kind. This wasn't the service I thought to have received from a chain restaurant, but I certainly am so glad I did! I'll keep coming back because I know I'll be treated as if I walked into a good friend's house.
(5)
Terry T.
Why so negative Annapolis! We visited town for my son's birthday and were there on Sunday for lunch and we have no complaints at all. Our server was an attentive and nice young lady, lot's of extra bread for our five hungry college students, great Cesar salad (added anchovies; no problem) and everyone enjoyed their food. After reading about the food poisoning, I did stay away from seafood, but my chicken parm was very good.
Went there to celebrate my wife's twin sisters' birthday. Not much to add to what has already been said in other reviews. Macaroni Grill is "A-OK" as yelp suggests, and basically a step above Olive Garden. What we always go for is the awesome, unlimited bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Though it's only good when it's fresh out of the oven. In fact, I'd probably go there just for the bread. That and the crayons (Although, they neglected to give them to us this time. Just because we're a table full of adults doesn't mean we don't want to draw all over the table!). The entree I chose this time (Shrimp Portofino) was only ok. The shrimp was indeed jumbo, but unfortunately overcooked. I've had the Penne Rustica a few times before, and it's always been quite good. The Annapolis Macaroni Grill also gets points for not skimping on the free birthday desserts, and bringing out 2 pieces of huge chocolate cake for the twins. We went on a Friday night, and it was pretty packed, so we had to wait a while for a table. Though all the restaurants in the mall area are usually packed on the weekends (Macaroni Grill was actually our second or third choice of places to eat nearby). Proceed with caution when venturing out on the weekends.
(3)
John K.
I used to consider Maraconi Grill a cut above Olive Garden. No more. I've seen a downturn in the quality of food over the last 9 years at the Annapolis location. The salad dressing that came with the house salad was inedible. The supposedly medium-rare Calabrese Steak was medium to medium well. The Amalfi Chicken Soup had no broth. Our server, Tina, was indifferent, perhaps because it was close to closing time. Sorry, I won't be back to the Annapolis location. Oh, and what happened to the Eros Ramazotti and Laura Pausini music? Since when did the edgy alternative soundtrack replace Italian songs?
(2)
Lori V.
This truly used to be one of our favorite restaurants and we have many great memories eating there overseas. The Annapolis Macaroni Grill was an awful experience. Every single order (except one) messed up, no water, no silverware, no plates...literally...I had to go on my own to find some throughout our meal, rude and inattentive waitress, she even dropped the pen on the floor (and states "Oh..I dropped my pen") and my husband had to walk around the table to get it to sign the check because she left. If I did not have my two year old with me and my eight month old on my lap, I would have asked to speak to a manager. At that point, we just wanted to leave and take our future service elsewhere. Not the kind of place I like to spend my evening (or my money) at. Never again. I left a comment on their website to let them know what kind of business was being run...on a Wednesday. I don't know if this is the norm but not going to return to find out! :::Update::: The Manager called to quickly say he apologized for our experience. Even if he has offered something for our horrendous experience, we would have declined. Still won't be returning.
(1)
Jon D.
This is a go-to spot for our date nights. Chain aside, we just like it. Go on Thursday for 1/2 price wine and you get a double size bottle of house red wine for $15. Chicken parm is great, as is the mac n cheese. I wouldn't recommend the build your own pasta because they char the tomatoes, garlic etc and it tastes burnt. One con is the staff can be TOO attentive. Give us some space. And they almost go on a script as far as up-sells. They have a new waiter named Scudder who is great.
(4)
pseudo n.
Decent, good portions, and pretty inexpensive. All in all a solid choice for an inexpensive lunch. If you want good, fresh kitchen Italian food Maggiano's is better but also more expensive.
(3)
Mich S.
Bread had the consistency of a rock on the bottom, my butternut asiago tortellacci was messy, luke warm and the prosciutto was tough. Waiter was great. Hostess had no idea what a restaurant grade was.
(2)
TravelPro P.
I've been a fan of Macaroni Grill's forever and have been to them all over the country. This one seems to have more service issues than the others I have been to. Both at the bar and in the restaurant, I've had pretty slow service and orders coming out incorrectly. So if I need a Macaroni Grill fix, I'll visit one while I'm traveling instead of going here. The food, when it comes out correctly, is as good as the other locations.
(3)
Richard H.
Yikes! I was served here two years ago and nothing has changed for the better. The absolutely disgusting state of the kitchen was inexcusable. HVAC spewing out filth on the walls directly above the kitchen service counter and above the prepped food. Manager was a joke. I asked for a make your own dish. Asparagus was raw, roasted tomatoes weren't seasoned or roasted, sauce was bland beyond belief, shrimp was rubber, chicken tasted strange.
(1)
Michelle B.
It's a really bad sign when the free bread is the best part of your meal. Macaroni Grill used to be a decent place to grab what amounts to Italian fast-food but recently the food has gone seriously downhill. I don't know if it's new management or what but the dishes have no flavor, the pasta is weirdly sticky, and everything seems to arrive lukewarm at best. They do deserve props for service though. The place always seems to be overwhelmingly crowded but the waitstaff has always been cheery and on top of things. However, I don't believe spending $13 on a pasta dish I could make better at home so I won't be going back.
(1)
Roberto N.
Gorgeous interior, good sized portions, tasty... It's a GREAT escape from your day of shopping, or, for us, a day spent almost next door at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). The interior is beautiful (just like all MGs- they're all the same, so far as I know). Wait staff is trained to within an inch of their lives, and they know JUST what to do to make your dining experience worthwhile. To be honest, the food seems slightly too cheap for the interior decor and quality/portions of food.
(3)
Linda D.
Terrible service. And they were not even full. WIll never go back again. Saw my appetizer sitting up under lights for 20 minutes before it was brought to me. Forgot to bring us bread. Food was so so. Went there for my anniversary very disappointing.
(1)
Heather W.
I ordered take out so I can't rate wait service but I can rate the food :) Im teetering between 3-4 stars because I am not dying to go back or anything. I ordered the seafood linguini which was delicious. Huge shrimp scallops and mussles still in the shell. They were delicious but I've definately had better. The portion was huge for a lunch portion. I only mention it because people have mentioned tiny portions. I've noticed that sometimes you get a lot more than normal or a lot less than normal when you order take out at certain restaurants. The bread was a disaster. It came right out of the oven and put it into my bag. By the time i got it home it was cold and grainy. I hated it and the seasoning that they gave you with it was not as scrumptious as I was expecting. I think they would have gotten a better rating from me if they didnt give me the bread at all. Oh! I change my mind to 3 stars as of this paragraph. My son got chicken tenders and they were WAY overcooked. like black, why would you serve something that over cooked. Throw it out and start over again! He is a chicken addict and he wouldn't even touch them.
(3)
Ma-e M.
It's lunch time. Who can refuse a choose 2 combo? It's quick and I enjoyed every bit of it. As a budget conscious, this meal is a deal - under $10. The dish is fantastic. Would you stand in line when you can have a hassle free environment in RMG? Although I don't like penne pasta, the carmalized chicken is so flavorful. I'm a critic but I'm humble and appreciative of it.
(4)
David R.
Service and food were excellent. The server, Warren was fantastic. Not sure about all the negative reviews but our service was awesome. Perfectly timed ad the food came out at the right time, at the right temperature, and with flavor.
(5)
S H.
Food is ok- its corporate. But expensive for all pasta and no meat in a very small bowl. (1/4 the size they were 2 years ago) Photos are deceiving. Having had another experience with poor service, I will not go back. This is the third time in a row that the bread "would be ready in a few minutes". But our appetizers, and in some cases our dinner came before the bread. 50% tables empty- 30 people waiting with buzzers. Why? The bar tender was our waiter. Why? Bar was packed 18 people in it. (Who also had buzzers) Needless to say we couldn't get food, drink, or check in an appropriate amount of time. The host has to get our drinks, another waitress had to get our bread- but even she missed the mark and a passing cook brought our bread. We had to call the manager to get our check. Its clear that the management has NO idea how to run things or to schedule enough staff. There are so many better places to eat in Annapolis- I shouldn't need to go back here again.
(2)
Marty S.
I was bummed to find out that Macaroni Grill jumped the shark. First clue was the half empty restaurant on a Friday night. Then it took forever to get our food. When we saw somebody perhaps the manager ( since our waitress was nowhere to be found) and complained they said: it happens. Then our food was cold, my medium steak was very rare, and nobody seemed to care. They took two entrees off the bill, something I have never even asked for before. I give this place six months and its dark.
(1)
Janet K.
Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of chain restaurants--it is sad but mostly true that they are almost always mediocre at best. But, I had a last minute lunch to put together for a vegetarian friend and her kids. And since my cooking days are over, this seemed like a one stop place to cover everybody. The service at the carry out area couldn't have been better. Many thanks and kudos to the sweet waiters who put this all together for me in short order. And not one thing was forgotten or mixed up. Very nice! The food, however ranged from tasty to inedible: I ordered the honey balsamic chicken for myself and found it pretty decent. Mind you, I would never go there craving it--it wasn't that good, but at least if someone really wanted to go, I know I could find something I would like. The eggplant parmesan for my friend was beyond awful. The pieces were cut in huge, thick slices (I measured just under an inch in places on the eggplant) and undercooked even raw in spots. We tried cooking it further in the oven, but that just made it hard and worse (if possible) The portions for the kidlets were huge and 2 of the 3 not bad: the cheese pizza was a big hit and big enough for an adult. The crust was nice, decent cheese, and the sauce pretty good, if not a little bitter for my taste (I like a sweeter sauce) The crispy fish is a great selection for someone whose kids like fish sticks and want something a little healthier (I think) and a bit more upscale. I was able to sneak off a bit of this as well and found it good. If I had kids I might go out of my way for this dish in order to get fish on the menu regularly. The spaghetti was not good. (Although the portion was enormous--way more than any child would eat) First of all, the noodles are almost angel hair thickness--kids like them thicker. Then, the sauce was mostly chunks of ground beef with little liquid--again, not a big hit. Thirdly, there were lots of bits of tomatoes--not what most kids want to eat. And finally there was a strange crunchy texture in the dish which I was not able to figure out--undercooked onion? I never could find what it was, but according to the kids (and me) it was "icky" So, some good, some bad...not ever going to be a go-to place for me, but maybe of use to someone in the mall area who wants a variety of choices. And by the way, I didn't try it but they had a "make your own pasta" dish which I thought was intriguing (but I don't understand why the choices are so limited. Why waren't all of their pastas included?? I don't get it) Hope this is helpful if you haven't been there...
(2)
Maria C.
I used to really like Macaroni Grill and would regularly eat in and also takeout. However, the quality at this one has degraded over the last few years while the portions decreased by half. Take out service is fast, but the food is so so at best. Such a disappointment.
(2)
Craig R.
This is your middle to high tier stop for all things occasional. Romantic date, check. Anniversary, check. Birthday parties, check. The two best things about any Macaroni Grill are their cheap (but good according to my wife) house wines and the lobster ravioli. Merrill F. hit the atmosphere right on the head. There are a lot of tables and not enough booths. As such, everyone seems to be having dinner together because the tables are so close to each other. It is definitely loud. We had the pleasure of sitting between two really loud parties so it was hard to talk and hear each other. I could go on forever about the lobster ravioli. I'm not a fan of asparagus, but it does add some nice flavor to the butter sauce that covers the ravioli. I'm drooling thinking about it. The waiters(tresses) take a while in checking up on you as you eat, so ration out your drinks and bread because it may be awhile before you see them again. The neat thing though is that, if your birthday falls on a weekend, they have singers who sing Happy Birthday in Italian. It gets a tad old after you hear it more than once or twice, but it's still pretty neat. If you plan on going there on the weekend, make sure you call ahead as they consistently have a line. They do have a take out section if you don't feel like eating in the restaurant.
(3)
Guy F.
If you read nothing else: The portions are a joke for the price, and the manager is rude. Stay away. If you would like to know why read below. I have been an avid fan of the Macaroni Grill growing up around here. My family has gone for years and I would have written them a 5 star review then. Last September I went with my wife and we did the create your own pasta, what came out was a whole lot of pasta with literally two pieces of small chicken that were the size of a pinky and a few of the other items. Not much else, a 10 dollar bowl of pasta that wasn't very good. I had a coupon for a free appetizer so I went with the bruchetta. The tomatoes tasted a bit old and were more than room temperature. When I told the manager she claimed that's how it's supposed to be. News to me. We also were seated near the kitchen and watched in awe how a piece of cake that was sitting out on the serving line for over 40 minutes was served to the table next to us. Because I never learn, I went back to Macaroni Grill last Friday night with my wife. I knew to avoid the create my own pasta so I went with the Pasta Milano. It seriously had a single small piece of chicken on top and they have figured out how to make the bowls smaller. I laughed again and sent it back, I'm not paying 13 dollars for 39 cents worth of pasta, they said they would put chicken in it but i'm not stupid. You never eat anything you send back to the kitchen. The waitress confronted me on it and was displeased that I'm a confrontational person. In short, stay away from this place.
(1)
Dawn M.
My husband and I recently ate at Macaroni Grill for the first time and enjoyed our experience. The interior was classier than I was expecting, although, I found the paper table cloths took away from that as did the waiter writing his name on the table cloth in crayon. Along with the paper table cloths, I'd have to complain about the size of the tables. The two of us were seated at an uncomfortably long table that appeared to sit 8 people even though smaller tables were available. We found the food to be very good. The bread at the table was fresh and tasty especially with the herb and olive oil dip. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan which I really enjoyed, though I can't comment on the side of pasta as I never eat that. My husband had the Lasagna Bolognese and loved it. Although we thought it was a little pricey, the food and service was good so we will visit here again.
(4)
Melissa S.
This was my first visit ever to Mac Grill. Service was good-not great. Fett. Alfredo had a disgusting flavor. Manager admitted they changed the recipe and not too many people like it. Eggplant Parma was undercooked so it had a weird texture. Manager comped both meals. I will not be going back.
(1)
Bethany F.
If you're comparing to Olive Garden I think there are pro's and cons. When I go to Olive Garden I enjoy the breadsticks, and the the salad. Comparing to Macaroni they charge extra for the salad and hand you a hunk of bread, what am I supposed to do with that? (yes, I know, cut it, break, whatever, it's still a little annoying, I could do that at home) The food was very good though. I ordered the Chicken Fettucini Alfredo and had cheesecake for desert, both were very good, and better than what I've had at Olive Garden. I'm giving it a 2 because the service was not fantastic, and the wait was very long, for everything. I was also given wine in a whisky cup, and told about 20 minutes after I ordered my appetizer that they didn't have anymore.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet 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.
Melissa S.
This was my first visit ever to Mac Grill. Service was good-not great. Fett. Alfredo had a disgusting flavor. Manager admitted they changed the recipe and not too many people like it. Eggplant Parma was undercooked so it had a weird texture. Manager comped both meals. I will not be going back.
(1)Bethany F.
If you're comparing to Olive Garden I think there are pro's and cons. When I go to Olive Garden I enjoy the breadsticks, and the the salad. Comparing to Macaroni they charge extra for the salad and hand you a hunk of bread, what am I supposed to do with that? (yes, I know, cut it, break, whatever, it's still a little annoying, I could do that at home) The food was very good though. I ordered the Chicken Fettucini Alfredo and had cheesecake for desert, both were very good, and better than what I've had at Olive Garden. I'm giving it a 2 because the service was not fantastic, and the wait was very long, for everything. I was also given wine in a whisky cup, and told about 20 minutes after I ordered my appetizer that they didn't have anymore.
(2)Marty S.
I was bummed to find out that Macaroni Grill jumped the shark. First clue was the half empty restaurant on a Friday night. Then it took forever to get our food. When we saw somebody perhaps the manager ( since our waitress was nowhere to be found) and complained they said: it happens. Then our food was cold, my medium steak was very rare, and nobody seemed to care. They took two entrees off the bill, something I have never even asked for before. I give this place six months and its dark.
(1)Elle H.
I was out running errands with my neighbor when our stomachs started to grumble. My neighbor suggested to grab lunch here because it is one of her favorite restaurants. I've never been to this restaurant before, and I love trying new places, so I happily agreed. We were greeted and seated immediately. The restaurant wasn't packed, but there were quite a few tables taken up, and this was around 1:15pm on a Thursday. Our server was polite and checked on us often. Our server gave us some bread olive oil for the table. The bread was delicious and warm. My neighbor and I each ordered the 3-course lunch deal for $10. The appetizer was a mozzarella fritta, which we both enjoyed. The second course was a decent sized caesar salad. The salad had the perfect amount of caesar dressing. The lettuce was fresh. For the third course, I ordered the fettuccine gorgonzola and my neighbor ordered the sausage and peppers rigatoni. We both really loved our pasta. The pasta portions were HUGE and we ended up taking more than half of the meal home. I was really surprised with the quality and the amount of food we got for $10! I will definitely be back!
(4)Danny I.
I really like this place. Good food and the service and staff are always very pleasant. My wife feels the same way. I also like the location.
(5)Mady J.
Presentation looks good but the food is just MEH. Decent portion, nice ambience, and personable staff. The food just didn't taste as it looks on this visit.
(2)D W.
I was pleasantly surprised with my recent visit to Romano's Macaroni Grill. My daughter and I stopped in for our final mother daughter lunch outing of the summer. I ordered the 3 course lunch special for $10. It included a mozzarella appetizer ( a fancy mozzarella stick), Caesar salad, and the fettuccine Gorgonzola. I really enjoyed it. I love Gorgonzola cheese. If you like it, you will enjoy this dish as well. Everything was brought out in a timely manner. My daughter had the kids pepperoni pizza. Our waitress, Patty, was great. She was polite, prompt, and efficient. The only thing I didn't love was the bread that was served while waiting for your order. It's flavorful, but I don't love the texture of it.
(4)Carl S.
Cheap date with wife. $7 expess lunch was buy one get one with online coupon through retailmenot. Excellent as usual. You can buy gift cards at restaurant worth $10 for a $5 donation, to use in Oct. and Nov. So eating here costs less. Even better service than usual.
(5)Daniel M.
Prices expensive, food mediocre, service abysmal. Classic bait and switch advertising pulls customers in with "$9.99 dinner choices in 9 minutes", only to reveal that is for take out only. The real cost for dining in will be around $30 per person if you would like a drink and appetizer or dessert. The freshly baked loaf of bread is good, and I like it that my kids can doodle on the paper table cloth. However, the appetizers and entrees were not at all impressive for the cost, and in some cases were a bit salty and overcooked. If you want authentic Italian food in Annapolis, try Bella Italia over by the Academy.
(2)Lori V.
This truly used to be one of our favorite restaurants and we have many great memories eating there overseas. The Annapolis Macaroni Grill was an awful experience. Every single order (except one) messed up, no water, no silverware, no plates...literally...I had to go on my own to find some throughout our meal, rude and inattentive waitress, she even dropped the pen on the floor (and states "Oh..I dropped my pen") and my husband had to walk around the table to get it to sign the check because she left. If I did not have my two year old with me and my eight month old on my lap, I would have asked to speak to a manager. At that point, we just wanted to leave and take our future service elsewhere. Not the kind of place I like to spend my evening (or my money) at. Never again. I left a comment on their website to let them know what kind of business was being run...on a Wednesday. I don't know if this is the norm but not going to return to find out! :::Update::: The Manager called to quickly say he apologized for our experience. Even if he has offered something for our horrendous experience, we would have declined. Still won't be returning.
(1)Jon D.
This is a go-to spot for our date nights. Chain aside, we just like it. Go on Thursday for 1/2 price wine and you get a double size bottle of house red wine for $15. Chicken parm is great, as is the mac n cheese. I wouldn't recommend the build your own pasta because they char the tomatoes, garlic etc and it tastes burnt. One con is the staff can be TOO attentive. Give us some space. And they almost go on a script as far as up-sells. They have a new waiter named Scudder who is great.
(4)pseudo n.
Decent, good portions, and pretty inexpensive. All in all a solid choice for an inexpensive lunch. If you want good, fresh kitchen Italian food Maggiano's is better but also more expensive.
(3)Mich S.
Bread had the consistency of a rock on the bottom, my butternut asiago tortellacci was messy, luke warm and the prosciutto was tough. Waiter was great. Hostess had no idea what a restaurant grade was.
(2)TravelPro P.
I've been a fan of Macaroni Grill's forever and have been to them all over the country. This one seems to have more service issues than the others I have been to. Both at the bar and in the restaurant, I've had pretty slow service and orders coming out incorrectly. So if I need a Macaroni Grill fix, I'll visit one while I'm traveling instead of going here. The food, when it comes out correctly, is as good as the other locations.
(3)Richard H.
Yikes! I was served here two years ago and nothing has changed for the better. The absolutely disgusting state of the kitchen was inexcusable. HVAC spewing out filth on the walls directly above the kitchen service counter and above the prepped food. Manager was a joke. I asked for a make your own dish. Asparagus was raw, roasted tomatoes weren't seasoned or roasted, sauce was bland beyond belief, shrimp was rubber, chicken tasted strange.
(1)Michelle K.
This review is strictly regarding service. I come here every now and then, but recently I've been making it my Tuesday working lunch spot. Patty works behind the bar and remembered me instantly when I arrived for the second Tuesday in a row. She remembered my drink and food and was kinder than kind. The general manager is also extremely kind. This wasn't the service I thought to have received from a chain restaurant, but I certainly am so glad I did! I'll keep coming back because I know I'll be treated as if I walked into a good friend's house.
(5)Terry T.
Why so negative Annapolis! We visited town for my son's birthday and were there on Sunday for lunch and we have no complaints at all. Our server was an attentive and nice young lady, lot's of extra bread for our five hungry college students, great Cesar salad (added anchovies; no problem) and everyone enjoyed their food. After reading about the food poisoning, I did stay away from seafood, but my chicken parm was very good.
(4)Marian P.
Went there on a Sunday with my mom, we got the $15 meal, appetizer, salad and entrée. It was all right, I mean what you going to do? It is a chain restaurant.
(2)Michelle B.
It's a really bad sign when the free bread is the best part of your meal. Macaroni Grill used to be a decent place to grab what amounts to Italian fast-food but recently the food has gone seriously downhill. I don't know if it's new management or what but the dishes have no flavor, the pasta is weirdly sticky, and everything seems to arrive lukewarm at best. They do deserve props for service though. The place always seems to be overwhelmingly crowded but the waitstaff has always been cheery and on top of things. However, I don't believe spending $13 on a pasta dish I could make better at home so I won't be going back.
(1)Roberto N.
Gorgeous interior, good sized portions, tasty... It's a GREAT escape from your day of shopping, or, for us, a day spent almost next door at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). The interior is beautiful (just like all MGs- they're all the same, so far as I know). Wait staff is trained to within an inch of their lives, and they know JUST what to do to make your dining experience worthwhile. To be honest, the food seems slightly too cheap for the interior decor and quality/portions of food.
(3)Heather W.
I ordered take out so I can't rate wait service but I can rate the food :) Im teetering between 3-4 stars because I am not dying to go back or anything. I ordered the seafood linguini which was delicious. Huge shrimp scallops and mussles still in the shell. They were delicious but I've definately had better. The portion was huge for a lunch portion. I only mention it because people have mentioned tiny portions. I've noticed that sometimes you get a lot more than normal or a lot less than normal when you order take out at certain restaurants. The bread was a disaster. It came right out of the oven and put it into my bag. By the time i got it home it was cold and grainy. I hated it and the seasoning that they gave you with it was not as scrumptious as I was expecting. I think they would have gotten a better rating from me if they didnt give me the bread at all. Oh! I change my mind to 3 stars as of this paragraph. My son got chicken tenders and they were WAY overcooked. like black, why would you serve something that over cooked. Throw it out and start over again! He is a chicken addict and he wouldn't even touch them.
(3)Ma-e M.
It's lunch time. Who can refuse a choose 2 combo? It's quick and I enjoyed every bit of it. As a budget conscious, this meal is a deal - under $10. The dish is fantastic. Would you stand in line when you can have a hassle free environment in RMG? Although I don't like penne pasta, the carmalized chicken is so flavorful. I'm a critic but I'm humble and appreciative of it.
(4)David R.
Service and food were excellent. The server, Warren was fantastic. Not sure about all the negative reviews but our service was awesome. Perfectly timed ad the food came out at the right time, at the right temperature, and with flavor.
(5)Dave S.
Dependable. Unfortunately what is dependable is mediocrity. Service is poor to middling and the food often (not always) tastes like it came from the freezer at a local grocery. In a town that has low standards for food, Macaroni Grill is -- well -- meh.
(2)Christine C.
We did the take out the other night. It was just so late, we had just moved here and my husband was sent out to scavenge some food for us while I did some laundry from our long road trip from San Antonio. He got some Veal Marsala with spaghetti and a lemon chicken with shrimp and mushrooms. He also brought home and unidentifiable fried appetizer that seemed to be an artichoke mush of some sort. It was all sooooo good, and he said the wait staff that helped him was nice. The food lasted us two days. Take out from this place was great. I recommend it for a good movie night or for those guys that need to impress at home and just can't do the cooking. IT WORKS.
(3)Miranda T.
We used to go to Macaroni Grill all the time, the service and food was always consistently good. Then it started to go downhill and after a few bad experiences in a row, we just stopped going. We missed the old Macaroni Grill. It's been about a year so we thought we'd give it another try. Big mistake. The hostess was very nice, the server and manager very polite as well. They had no problem taking our burnt chicken parmesan off the bill, along with the Caesar salad that was drenched in awful dressing. The Italian nachos would have been better if they didn't have peppers, as we had requested. The pizza was very, very soggy. Surprising for a Sunday afternoon, with a less than half full restaurant that the service was painfully slow. The "nail in the coffin' for any future visits was when a female employee, not in uniform, was finger-combing her hair into a ponytail *in the food service area*! She went off to find a barrette to secure her hair and returned to take food to the dining room; I am doubtful that she washed her hands. It's sad that it was such a great restaurant but now, they obviously just don't care.
(1)Ted K.
This is great family place. The price is pretty reasonable and the the service is acceptable. We have visited this establishment over 20-30 times over the last 3-5 years, and I we have never been disappointed. I guess my favorite part the place is the food is consistently good, and the pricing is decent.
(4)Kelly B.
Been going here since I was a little kid. Always have loved the atmosphere. As a child I loved drawing all over the white paper table tops with crayons. As an adult, I love the dim lighting and the loud yet calm madness that can descend there on a busy night. I miss the Italian lessons in the bathroom, though. About $50 for a meal for two, including a glass of wine each, an appetizer, and two entrees with side salad. And of course free bread and olive oil! Beverage: House Red, dry but good Appetizer: Mediterranean Olives, on special with bread for $3 and that's a damn good deal and these are some damn good olives; and caesar salad Main courses: Carmela's Chicken Rigatoni, creamy but not too heavy; Create Your Own Pasta with penne, eggplant, mushrooms, spinach and tomato sauce (I believe the marinara) and granted, they are a "generic" chain, but their food is always incredible
(4)William J.
I have been to this location 4 or 5 times. It has become less busy ( I m guessing by the explosion of local competition ) so it's been easy to get it, with no wait. My girlfriend loves the wine selection, although I don't drink. The free oil and bread can be addicting as you wait for your order. :)
(4)Kate M.
Extremely family friendly. Reasonable prices. Service is fairly fast and the food is always consistent. The bread they serve while you wait is delish. A must go if you have a family, but nice to check out if on a date too.
(5)Veda F.
O my! I don't know how this place stays open. I had a Christmas party for 12 last night and the food was not good. The waiter was great. But the place was so dark we could not take pictures. But worse could not read the menu. I would never go back.
(1)Jeff R.
Went there to celebrate my wife's twin sisters' birthday. Not much to add to what has already been said in other reviews. Macaroni Grill is "A-OK" as yelp suggests, and basically a step above Olive Garden. What we always go for is the awesome, unlimited bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Though it's only good when it's fresh out of the oven. In fact, I'd probably go there just for the bread. That and the crayons (Although, they neglected to give them to us this time. Just because we're a table full of adults doesn't mean we don't want to draw all over the table!). The entree I chose this time (Shrimp Portofino) was only ok. The shrimp was indeed jumbo, but unfortunately overcooked. I've had the Penne Rustica a few times before, and it's always been quite good. The Annapolis Macaroni Grill also gets points for not skimping on the free birthday desserts, and bringing out 2 pieces of huge chocolate cake for the twins. We went on a Friday night, and it was pretty packed, so we had to wait a while for a table. Though all the restaurants in the mall area are usually packed on the weekends (Macaroni Grill was actually our second or third choice of places to eat nearby). Proceed with caution when venturing out on the weekends.
(3)John K.
I used to consider Maraconi Grill a cut above Olive Garden. No more. I've seen a downturn in the quality of food over the last 9 years at the Annapolis location. The salad dressing that came with the house salad was inedible. The supposedly medium-rare Calabrese Steak was medium to medium well. The Amalfi Chicken Soup had no broth. Our server, Tina, was indifferent, perhaps because it was close to closing time. Sorry, I won't be back to the Annapolis location. Oh, and what happened to the Eros Ramazotti and Laura Pausini music? Since when did the edgy alternative soundtrack replace Italian songs?
(2)Guy F.
If you read nothing else: The portions are a joke for the price, and the manager is rude. Stay away. If you would like to know why read below. I have been an avid fan of the Macaroni Grill growing up around here. My family has gone for years and I would have written them a 5 star review then. Last September I went with my wife and we did the create your own pasta, what came out was a whole lot of pasta with literally two pieces of small chicken that were the size of a pinky and a few of the other items. Not much else, a 10 dollar bowl of pasta that wasn't very good. I had a coupon for a free appetizer so I went with the bruchetta. The tomatoes tasted a bit old and were more than room temperature. When I told the manager she claimed that's how it's supposed to be. News to me. We also were seated near the kitchen and watched in awe how a piece of cake that was sitting out on the serving line for over 40 minutes was served to the table next to us. Because I never learn, I went back to Macaroni Grill last Friday night with my wife. I knew to avoid the create my own pasta so I went with the Pasta Milano. It seriously had a single small piece of chicken on top and they have figured out how to make the bowls smaller. I laughed again and sent it back, I'm not paying 13 dollars for 39 cents worth of pasta, they said they would put chicken in it but i'm not stupid. You never eat anything you send back to the kitchen. The waitress confronted me on it and was displeased that I'm a confrontational person. In short, stay away from this place.
(1)Linda D.
Terrible service. And they were not even full. WIll never go back again. Saw my appetizer sitting up under lights for 20 minutes before it was brought to me. Forgot to bring us bread. Food was so so. Went there for my anniversary very disappointing.
(1)Dawn M.
My husband and I recently ate at Macaroni Grill for the first time and enjoyed our experience. The interior was classier than I was expecting, although, I found the paper table cloths took away from that as did the waiter writing his name on the table cloth in crayon. Along with the paper table cloths, I'd have to complain about the size of the tables. The two of us were seated at an uncomfortably long table that appeared to sit 8 people even though smaller tables were available. We found the food to be very good. The bread at the table was fresh and tasty especially with the herb and olive oil dip. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan which I really enjoyed, though I can't comment on the side of pasta as I never eat that. My husband had the Lasagna Bolognese and loved it. Although we thought it was a little pricey, the food and service was good so we will visit here again.
(4)Janet K.
Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of chain restaurants--it is sad but mostly true that they are almost always mediocre at best. But, I had a last minute lunch to put together for a vegetarian friend and her kids. And since my cooking days are over, this seemed like a one stop place to cover everybody. The service at the carry out area couldn't have been better. Many thanks and kudos to the sweet waiters who put this all together for me in short order. And not one thing was forgotten or mixed up. Very nice! The food, however ranged from tasty to inedible: I ordered the honey balsamic chicken for myself and found it pretty decent. Mind you, I would never go there craving it--it wasn't that good, but at least if someone really wanted to go, I know I could find something I would like. The eggplant parmesan for my friend was beyond awful. The pieces were cut in huge, thick slices (I measured just under an inch in places on the eggplant) and undercooked even raw in spots. We tried cooking it further in the oven, but that just made it hard and worse (if possible) The portions for the kidlets were huge and 2 of the 3 not bad: the cheese pizza was a big hit and big enough for an adult. The crust was nice, decent cheese, and the sauce pretty good, if not a little bitter for my taste (I like a sweeter sauce) The crispy fish is a great selection for someone whose kids like fish sticks and want something a little healthier (I think) and a bit more upscale. I was able to sneak off a bit of this as well and found it good. If I had kids I might go out of my way for this dish in order to get fish on the menu regularly. The spaghetti was not good. (Although the portion was enormous--way more than any child would eat) First of all, the noodles are almost angel hair thickness--kids like them thicker. Then, the sauce was mostly chunks of ground beef with little liquid--again, not a big hit. Thirdly, there were lots of bits of tomatoes--not what most kids want to eat. And finally there was a strange crunchy texture in the dish which I was not able to figure out--undercooked onion? I never could find what it was, but according to the kids (and me) it was "icky" So, some good, some bad...not ever going to be a go-to place for me, but maybe of use to someone in the mall area who wants a variety of choices. And by the way, I didn't try it but they had a "make your own pasta" dish which I thought was intriguing (but I don't understand why the choices are so limited. Why waren't all of their pastas included?? I don't get it) Hope this is helpful if you haven't been there...
(2)Maria C.
I used to really like Macaroni Grill and would regularly eat in and also takeout. However, the quality at this one has degraded over the last few years while the portions decreased by half. Take out service is fast, but the food is so so at best. Such a disappointment.
(2)Craig R.
This is your middle to high tier stop for all things occasional. Romantic date, check. Anniversary, check. Birthday parties, check. The two best things about any Macaroni Grill are their cheap (but good according to my wife) house wines and the lobster ravioli. Merrill F. hit the atmosphere right on the head. There are a lot of tables and not enough booths. As such, everyone seems to be having dinner together because the tables are so close to each other. It is definitely loud. We had the pleasure of sitting between two really loud parties so it was hard to talk and hear each other. I could go on forever about the lobster ravioli. I'm not a fan of asparagus, but it does add some nice flavor to the butter sauce that covers the ravioli. I'm drooling thinking about it. The waiters(tresses) take a while in checking up on you as you eat, so ration out your drinks and bread because it may be awhile before you see them again. The neat thing though is that, if your birthday falls on a weekend, they have singers who sing Happy Birthday in Italian. It gets a tad old after you hear it more than once or twice, but it's still pretty neat. If you plan on going there on the weekend, make sure you call ahead as they consistently have a line. They do have a take out section if you don't feel like eating in the restaurant.
(3)S H.
Food is ok- its corporate. But expensive for all pasta and no meat in a very small bowl. (1/4 the size they were 2 years ago) Photos are deceiving. Having had another experience with poor service, I will not go back. This is the third time in a row that the bread "would be ready in a few minutes". But our appetizers, and in some cases our dinner came before the bread. 50% tables empty- 30 people waiting with buzzers. Why? The bar tender was our waiter. Why? Bar was packed 18 people in it. (Who also had buzzers) Needless to say we couldn't get food, drink, or check in an appropriate amount of time. The host has to get our drinks, another waitress had to get our bread- but even she missed the mark and a passing cook brought our bread. We had to call the manager to get our check. Its clear that the management has NO idea how to run things or to schedule enough staff. There are so many better places to eat in Annapolis- I shouldn't need to go back here again.
(2)Miranda T.
We used to go to Macaroni Grill all the time, the service and food was always consistently good. Then it started to go downhill and after a few bad experiences in a row, we just stopped going. We missed the old Macaroni Grill. It's been about a year so we thought we'd give it another try. Big mistake. The hostess was very nice, the server and manager very polite as well. They had no problem taking our burnt chicken parmesan off the bill, along with the Caesar salad that was drenched in awful dressing. The Italian nachos would have been better if they didn't have peppers, as we had requested. The pizza was very, very soggy. Surprising for a Sunday afternoon, with a less than half full restaurant that the service was painfully slow. The "nail in the coffin' for any future visits was when a female employee, not in uniform, was finger-combing her hair into a ponytail *in the food service area*! She went off to find a barrette to secure her hair and returned to take food to the dining room; I am doubtful that she washed her hands. It's sad that it was such a great restaurant but now, they obviously just don't care.
(1)Elle H.
I was out running errands with my neighbor when our stomachs started to grumble. My neighbor suggested to grab lunch here because it is one of her favorite restaurants. I've never been to this restaurant before, and I love trying new places, so I happily agreed. We were greeted and seated immediately. The restaurant wasn't packed, but there were quite a few tables taken up, and this was around 1:15pm on a Thursday. Our server was polite and checked on us often. Our server gave us some bread olive oil for the table. The bread was delicious and warm. My neighbor and I each ordered the 3-course lunch deal for $10. The appetizer was a mozzarella fritta, which we both enjoyed. The second course was a decent sized caesar salad. The salad had the perfect amount of caesar dressing. The lettuce was fresh. For the third course, I ordered the fettuccine gorgonzola and my neighbor ordered the sausage and peppers rigatoni. We both really loved our pasta. The pasta portions were HUGE and we ended up taking more than half of the meal home. I was really surprised with the quality and the amount of food we got for $10! I will definitely be back!
(4)Danny I.
I really like this place. Good food and the service and staff are always very pleasant. My wife feels the same way. I also like the location.
(5)Mady J.
Presentation looks good but the food is just MEH. Decent portion, nice ambience, and personable staff. The food just didn't taste as it looks on this visit.
(2)D W.
I was pleasantly surprised with my recent visit to Romano's Macaroni Grill. My daughter and I stopped in for our final mother daughter lunch outing of the summer. I ordered the 3 course lunch special for $10. It included a mozzarella appetizer ( a fancy mozzarella stick), Caesar salad, and the fettuccine Gorgonzola. I really enjoyed it. I love Gorgonzola cheese. If you like it, you will enjoy this dish as well. Everything was brought out in a timely manner. My daughter had the kids pepperoni pizza. Our waitress, Patty, was great. She was polite, prompt, and efficient. The only thing I didn't love was the bread that was served while waiting for your order. It's flavorful, but I don't love the texture of it.
(4)Carl S.
Cheap date with wife. $7 expess lunch was buy one get one with online coupon through retailmenot. Excellent as usual. You can buy gift cards at restaurant worth $10 for a $5 donation, to use in Oct. and Nov. So eating here costs less. Even better service than usual.
(5)Daniel M.
Prices expensive, food mediocre, service abysmal. Classic bait and switch advertising pulls customers in with "$9.99 dinner choices in 9 minutes", only to reveal that is for take out only. The real cost for dining in will be around $30 per person if you would like a drink and appetizer or dessert. The freshly baked loaf of bread is good, and I like it that my kids can doodle on the paper table cloth. However, the appetizers and entrees were not at all impressive for the cost, and in some cases were a bit salty and overcooked. If you want authentic Italian food in Annapolis, try Bella Italia over by the Academy.
(2)Ted K.
This is great family place. The price is pretty reasonable and the the service is acceptable. We have visited this establishment over 20-30 times over the last 3-5 years, and I we have never been disappointed. I guess my favorite part the place is the food is consistently good, and the pricing is decent.
(4)Kelly B.
Been going here since I was a little kid. Always have loved the atmosphere. As a child I loved drawing all over the white paper table tops with crayons. As an adult, I love the dim lighting and the loud yet calm madness that can descend there on a busy night. I miss the Italian lessons in the bathroom, though. About $50 for a meal for two, including a glass of wine each, an appetizer, and two entrees with side salad. And of course free bread and olive oil! Beverage: House Red, dry but good Appetizer: Mediterranean Olives, on special with bread for $3 and that's a damn good deal and these are some damn good olives; and caesar salad Main courses: Carmela's Chicken Rigatoni, creamy but not too heavy; Create Your Own Pasta with penne, eggplant, mushrooms, spinach and tomato sauce (I believe the marinara) and granted, they are a "generic" chain, but their food is always incredible
(4)William J.
I have been to this location 4 or 5 times. It has become less busy ( I m guessing by the explosion of local competition ) so it's been easy to get it, with no wait. My girlfriend loves the wine selection, although I don't drink. The free oil and bread can be addicting as you wait for your order. :)
(4)Kate M.
Extremely family friendly. Reasonable prices. Service is fairly fast and the food is always consistent. The bread they serve while you wait is delish. A must go if you have a family, but nice to check out if on a date too.
(5)Veda F.
O my! I don't know how this place stays open. I had a Christmas party for 12 last night and the food was not good. The waiter was great. But the place was so dark we could not take pictures. But worse could not read the menu. I would never go back.
(1)Dave S.
Dependable. Unfortunately what is dependable is mediocrity. Service is poor to middling and the food often (not always) tastes like it came from the freezer at a local grocery. In a town that has low standards for food, Macaroni Grill is -- well -- meh.
(2)Christine C.
We did the take out the other night. It was just so late, we had just moved here and my husband was sent out to scavenge some food for us while I did some laundry from our long road trip from San Antonio. He got some Veal Marsala with spaghetti and a lemon chicken with shrimp and mushrooms. He also brought home and unidentifiable fried appetizer that seemed to be an artichoke mush of some sort. It was all sooooo good, and he said the wait staff that helped him was nice. The food lasted us two days. Take out from this place was great. I recommend it for a good movie night or for those guys that need to impress at home and just can't do the cooking. IT WORKS.
(3)Michelle K.
This review is strictly regarding service. I come here every now and then, but recently I've been making it my Tuesday working lunch spot. Patty works behind the bar and remembered me instantly when I arrived for the second Tuesday in a row. She remembered my drink and food and was kinder than kind. The general manager is also extremely kind. This wasn't the service I thought to have received from a chain restaurant, but I certainly am so glad I did! I'll keep coming back because I know I'll be treated as if I walked into a good friend's house.
(5)Terry T.
Why so negative Annapolis! We visited town for my son's birthday and were there on Sunday for lunch and we have no complaints at all. Our server was an attentive and nice young lady, lot's of extra bread for our five hungry college students, great Cesar salad (added anchovies; no problem) and everyone enjoyed their food. After reading about the food poisoning, I did stay away from seafood, but my chicken parm was very good.
(4)Marian P.
Went there on a Sunday with my mom, we got the $15 meal, appetizer, salad and entrée. It was all right, I mean what you going to do? It is a chain restaurant.
(2)Jeff R.
Went there to celebrate my wife's twin sisters' birthday. Not much to add to what has already been said in other reviews. Macaroni Grill is "A-OK" as yelp suggests, and basically a step above Olive Garden. What we always go for is the awesome, unlimited bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Though it's only good when it's fresh out of the oven. In fact, I'd probably go there just for the bread. That and the crayons (Although, they neglected to give them to us this time. Just because we're a table full of adults doesn't mean we don't want to draw all over the table!). The entree I chose this time (Shrimp Portofino) was only ok. The shrimp was indeed jumbo, but unfortunately overcooked. I've had the Penne Rustica a few times before, and it's always been quite good. The Annapolis Macaroni Grill also gets points for not skimping on the free birthday desserts, and bringing out 2 pieces of huge chocolate cake for the twins. We went on a Friday night, and it was pretty packed, so we had to wait a while for a table. Though all the restaurants in the mall area are usually packed on the weekends (Macaroni Grill was actually our second or third choice of places to eat nearby). Proceed with caution when venturing out on the weekends.
(3)John K.
I used to consider Maraconi Grill a cut above Olive Garden. No more. I've seen a downturn in the quality of food over the last 9 years at the Annapolis location. The salad dressing that came with the house salad was inedible. The supposedly medium-rare Calabrese Steak was medium to medium well. The Amalfi Chicken Soup had no broth. Our server, Tina, was indifferent, perhaps because it was close to closing time. Sorry, I won't be back to the Annapolis location. Oh, and what happened to the Eros Ramazotti and Laura Pausini music? Since when did the edgy alternative soundtrack replace Italian songs?
(2)Lori V.
This truly used to be one of our favorite restaurants and we have many great memories eating there overseas. The Annapolis Macaroni Grill was an awful experience. Every single order (except one) messed up, no water, no silverware, no plates...literally...I had to go on my own to find some throughout our meal, rude and inattentive waitress, she even dropped the pen on the floor (and states "Oh..I dropped my pen") and my husband had to walk around the table to get it to sign the check because she left. If I did not have my two year old with me and my eight month old on my lap, I would have asked to speak to a manager. At that point, we just wanted to leave and take our future service elsewhere. Not the kind of place I like to spend my evening (or my money) at. Never again. I left a comment on their website to let them know what kind of business was being run...on a Wednesday. I don't know if this is the norm but not going to return to find out! :::Update::: The Manager called to quickly say he apologized for our experience. Even if he has offered something for our horrendous experience, we would have declined. Still won't be returning.
(1)Jon D.
This is a go-to spot for our date nights. Chain aside, we just like it. Go on Thursday for 1/2 price wine and you get a double size bottle of house red wine for $15. Chicken parm is great, as is the mac n cheese. I wouldn't recommend the build your own pasta because they char the tomatoes, garlic etc and it tastes burnt. One con is the staff can be TOO attentive. Give us some space. And they almost go on a script as far as up-sells. They have a new waiter named Scudder who is great.
(4)pseudo n.
Decent, good portions, and pretty inexpensive. All in all a solid choice for an inexpensive lunch. If you want good, fresh kitchen Italian food Maggiano's is better but also more expensive.
(3)Mich S.
Bread had the consistency of a rock on the bottom, my butternut asiago tortellacci was messy, luke warm and the prosciutto was tough. Waiter was great. Hostess had no idea what a restaurant grade was.
(2)TravelPro P.
I've been a fan of Macaroni Grill's forever and have been to them all over the country. This one seems to have more service issues than the others I have been to. Both at the bar and in the restaurant, I've had pretty slow service and orders coming out incorrectly. So if I need a Macaroni Grill fix, I'll visit one while I'm traveling instead of going here. The food, when it comes out correctly, is as good as the other locations.
(3)Richard H.
Yikes! I was served here two years ago and nothing has changed for the better. The absolutely disgusting state of the kitchen was inexcusable. HVAC spewing out filth on the walls directly above the kitchen service counter and above the prepped food. Manager was a joke. I asked for a make your own dish. Asparagus was raw, roasted tomatoes weren't seasoned or roasted, sauce was bland beyond belief, shrimp was rubber, chicken tasted strange.
(1)Michelle B.
It's a really bad sign when the free bread is the best part of your meal. Macaroni Grill used to be a decent place to grab what amounts to Italian fast-food but recently the food has gone seriously downhill. I don't know if it's new management or what but the dishes have no flavor, the pasta is weirdly sticky, and everything seems to arrive lukewarm at best. They do deserve props for service though. The place always seems to be overwhelmingly crowded but the waitstaff has always been cheery and on top of things. However, I don't believe spending $13 on a pasta dish I could make better at home so I won't be going back.
(1)Roberto N.
Gorgeous interior, good sized portions, tasty... It's a GREAT escape from your day of shopping, or, for us, a day spent almost next door at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). The interior is beautiful (just like all MGs- they're all the same, so far as I know). Wait staff is trained to within an inch of their lives, and they know JUST what to do to make your dining experience worthwhile. To be honest, the food seems slightly too cheap for the interior decor and quality/portions of food.
(3)Linda D.
Terrible service. And they were not even full. WIll never go back again. Saw my appetizer sitting up under lights for 20 minutes before it was brought to me. Forgot to bring us bread. Food was so so. Went there for my anniversary very disappointing.
(1)Heather W.
I ordered take out so I can't rate wait service but I can rate the food :) Im teetering between 3-4 stars because I am not dying to go back or anything. I ordered the seafood linguini which was delicious. Huge shrimp scallops and mussles still in the shell. They were delicious but I've definately had better. The portion was huge for a lunch portion. I only mention it because people have mentioned tiny portions. I've noticed that sometimes you get a lot more than normal or a lot less than normal when you order take out at certain restaurants. The bread was a disaster. It came right out of the oven and put it into my bag. By the time i got it home it was cold and grainy. I hated it and the seasoning that they gave you with it was not as scrumptious as I was expecting. I think they would have gotten a better rating from me if they didnt give me the bread at all. Oh! I change my mind to 3 stars as of this paragraph. My son got chicken tenders and they were WAY overcooked. like black, why would you serve something that over cooked. Throw it out and start over again! He is a chicken addict and he wouldn't even touch them.
(3)Ma-e M.
It's lunch time. Who can refuse a choose 2 combo? It's quick and I enjoyed every bit of it. As a budget conscious, this meal is a deal - under $10. The dish is fantastic. Would you stand in line when you can have a hassle free environment in RMG? Although I don't like penne pasta, the carmalized chicken is so flavorful. I'm a critic but I'm humble and appreciative of it.
(4)David R.
Service and food were excellent. The server, Warren was fantastic. Not sure about all the negative reviews but our service was awesome. Perfectly timed ad the food came out at the right time, at the right temperature, and with flavor.
(5)S H.
Food is ok- its corporate. But expensive for all pasta and no meat in a very small bowl. (1/4 the size they were 2 years ago) Photos are deceiving. Having had another experience with poor service, I will not go back. This is the third time in a row that the bread "would be ready in a few minutes". But our appetizers, and in some cases our dinner came before the bread. 50% tables empty- 30 people waiting with buzzers. Why? The bar tender was our waiter. Why? Bar was packed 18 people in it. (Who also had buzzers) Needless to say we couldn't get food, drink, or check in an appropriate amount of time. The host has to get our drinks, another waitress had to get our bread- but even she missed the mark and a passing cook brought our bread. We had to call the manager to get our check. Its clear that the management has NO idea how to run things or to schedule enough staff. There are so many better places to eat in Annapolis- I shouldn't need to go back here again.
(2)Marty S.
I was bummed to find out that Macaroni Grill jumped the shark. First clue was the half empty restaurant on a Friday night. Then it took forever to get our food. When we saw somebody perhaps the manager ( since our waitress was nowhere to be found) and complained they said: it happens. Then our food was cold, my medium steak was very rare, and nobody seemed to care. They took two entrees off the bill, something I have never even asked for before. I give this place six months and its dark.
(1)Janet K.
Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of chain restaurants--it is sad but mostly true that they are almost always mediocre at best. But, I had a last minute lunch to put together for a vegetarian friend and her kids. And since my cooking days are over, this seemed like a one stop place to cover everybody. The service at the carry out area couldn't have been better. Many thanks and kudos to the sweet waiters who put this all together for me in short order. And not one thing was forgotten or mixed up. Very nice! The food, however ranged from tasty to inedible: I ordered the honey balsamic chicken for myself and found it pretty decent. Mind you, I would never go there craving it--it wasn't that good, but at least if someone really wanted to go, I know I could find something I would like. The eggplant parmesan for my friend was beyond awful. The pieces were cut in huge, thick slices (I measured just under an inch in places on the eggplant) and undercooked even raw in spots. We tried cooking it further in the oven, but that just made it hard and worse (if possible) The portions for the kidlets were huge and 2 of the 3 not bad: the cheese pizza was a big hit and big enough for an adult. The crust was nice, decent cheese, and the sauce pretty good, if not a little bitter for my taste (I like a sweeter sauce) The crispy fish is a great selection for someone whose kids like fish sticks and want something a little healthier (I think) and a bit more upscale. I was able to sneak off a bit of this as well and found it good. If I had kids I might go out of my way for this dish in order to get fish on the menu regularly. The spaghetti was not good. (Although the portion was enormous--way more than any child would eat) First of all, the noodles are almost angel hair thickness--kids like them thicker. Then, the sauce was mostly chunks of ground beef with little liquid--again, not a big hit. Thirdly, there were lots of bits of tomatoes--not what most kids want to eat. And finally there was a strange crunchy texture in the dish which I was not able to figure out--undercooked onion? I never could find what it was, but according to the kids (and me) it was "icky" So, some good, some bad...not ever going to be a go-to place for me, but maybe of use to someone in the mall area who wants a variety of choices. And by the way, I didn't try it but they had a "make your own pasta" dish which I thought was intriguing (but I don't understand why the choices are so limited. Why waren't all of their pastas included?? I don't get it) Hope this is helpful if you haven't been there...
(2)Maria C.
I used to really like Macaroni Grill and would regularly eat in and also takeout. However, the quality at this one has degraded over the last few years while the portions decreased by half. Take out service is fast, but the food is so so at best. Such a disappointment.
(2)Craig R.
This is your middle to high tier stop for all things occasional. Romantic date, check. Anniversary, check. Birthday parties, check. The two best things about any Macaroni Grill are their cheap (but good according to my wife) house wines and the lobster ravioli. Merrill F. hit the atmosphere right on the head. There are a lot of tables and not enough booths. As such, everyone seems to be having dinner together because the tables are so close to each other. It is definitely loud. We had the pleasure of sitting between two really loud parties so it was hard to talk and hear each other. I could go on forever about the lobster ravioli. I'm not a fan of asparagus, but it does add some nice flavor to the butter sauce that covers the ravioli. I'm drooling thinking about it. The waiters(tresses) take a while in checking up on you as you eat, so ration out your drinks and bread because it may be awhile before you see them again. The neat thing though is that, if your birthday falls on a weekend, they have singers who sing Happy Birthday in Italian. It gets a tad old after you hear it more than once or twice, but it's still pretty neat. If you plan on going there on the weekend, make sure you call ahead as they consistently have a line. They do have a take out section if you don't feel like eating in the restaurant.
(3)Guy F.
If you read nothing else: The portions are a joke for the price, and the manager is rude. Stay away. If you would like to know why read below. I have been an avid fan of the Macaroni Grill growing up around here. My family has gone for years and I would have written them a 5 star review then. Last September I went with my wife and we did the create your own pasta, what came out was a whole lot of pasta with literally two pieces of small chicken that were the size of a pinky and a few of the other items. Not much else, a 10 dollar bowl of pasta that wasn't very good. I had a coupon for a free appetizer so I went with the bruchetta. The tomatoes tasted a bit old and were more than room temperature. When I told the manager she claimed that's how it's supposed to be. News to me. We also were seated near the kitchen and watched in awe how a piece of cake that was sitting out on the serving line for over 40 minutes was served to the table next to us. Because I never learn, I went back to Macaroni Grill last Friday night with my wife. I knew to avoid the create my own pasta so I went with the Pasta Milano. It seriously had a single small piece of chicken on top and they have figured out how to make the bowls smaller. I laughed again and sent it back, I'm not paying 13 dollars for 39 cents worth of pasta, they said they would put chicken in it but i'm not stupid. You never eat anything you send back to the kitchen. The waitress confronted me on it and was displeased that I'm a confrontational person. In short, stay away from this place.
(1)Dawn M.
My husband and I recently ate at Macaroni Grill for the first time and enjoyed our experience. The interior was classier than I was expecting, although, I found the paper table cloths took away from that as did the waiter writing his name on the table cloth in crayon. Along with the paper table cloths, I'd have to complain about the size of the tables. The two of us were seated at an uncomfortably long table that appeared to sit 8 people even though smaller tables were available. We found the food to be very good. The bread at the table was fresh and tasty especially with the herb and olive oil dip. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan which I really enjoyed, though I can't comment on the side of pasta as I never eat that. My husband had the Lasagna Bolognese and loved it. Although we thought it was a little pricey, the food and service was good so we will visit here again.
(4)Melissa S.
This was my first visit ever to Mac Grill. Service was good-not great. Fett. Alfredo had a disgusting flavor. Manager admitted they changed the recipe and not too many people like it. Eggplant Parma was undercooked so it had a weird texture. Manager comped both meals. I will not be going back.
(1)Bethany F.
If you're comparing to Olive Garden I think there are pro's and cons. When I go to Olive Garden I enjoy the breadsticks, and the the salad. Comparing to Macaroni they charge extra for the salad and hand you a hunk of bread, what am I supposed to do with that? (yes, I know, cut it, break, whatever, it's still a little annoying, I could do that at home) The food was very good though. I ordered the Chicken Fettucini Alfredo and had cheesecake for desert, both were very good, and better than what I've had at Olive Garden. I'm giving it a 2 because the service was not fantastic, and the wait was very long, for everything. I was also given wine in a whisky cup, and told about 20 minutes after I ordered my appetizer that they didn't have anymore.
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