Very disappointed with the food here tonight. Service was terrible. Never will we come back here.
(1)
Mary Y.
Absolutely fantastic! We had great service. Rashad was our server and he was so sweet and attentive. Managers and chef stopped by our table multiple times to check on us. Quick, efficient, and delicious! Loved my chicken parm. Will return.
(5)
Naseer R.
Hicham was awesome! Make sure he's there when you come and ask for him. The food is awesome as always. Girlfriend wasn't to hot on the sausage and potatoes (a little burnt, it happens), but the service was incredible.
(4)
Tracy D.
Over the years this place has really become a hit or miss. I love their bread: dipped in olive oil, basalmic vinegar, cracked pepper, and some salt. Their peach iced tea is uber yummy! I like to create my own pasta but from time to time I'll order something off of their menu. The servers can be hit or miss as well. Some are helpful but some are snotty and not very attentive. I strictly come here for convenience as I live close to the Kingstowne area.
(3)
Alex P.
Sat down at 5 pm. Left at 5:18 pm after no server ever appeared. Even after asking the hostess to find our server. We don't have especially high service standards, but showing up would be nice.
(1)
Kevin C.
I liked the decor of the establisment. The toasted Mac N Cheese Bites with the Truffle Dip appetizer was a bit interesting. The Calabrese Steak entree with the potatoes and the broccolini I had was reasonably good, served in a hot pan. I was on vacation so we chose RMG for Dinner one evening as there is not one where I am from.
(3)
Kimberly K.
A Good Day: - The food is seasoned well. Everything is plated well and tastes even better. - The Mango Iced tea has just the right amounts of sweetness and mango flavor - The bread is FRESH, warm and crispy on the outside but soft inside - Our server knows exactly what to do without us having to ask him/her a billion times. He or She is friendly and on point. A Bad Day: - The food lacks flavor and doesn't taste the same as it did on a good day. - The Mango Iced tea isn't sweet at all and tastes like regular iced tea - The bread is cold and tastes stale. We'll ask for another one. The new one they bring out is now warm BUT still STALE. - The service is off (no refills, our meals arrive before the appetizers, we are invisible to our server) In Conclusion: I really like you Macaroni Grill. I've been dining at your restaurants for about 10 years now and I am a fan of your food (on the good days). However, you guys really need to be more CONSISTENT.
(2)
Tom R.
Cold food. Long wait
(2)
Beck E.
The food is just whatever--it's a Macaroni Grill, for crying out loud. But the service can be HORRENDOUS (not always, but it feels like a gamble whenever I go here). Family: *waits at table for 20 minutes* Waiter: *finally walks by* Lil Sis: "Excuse me, could we please get some waters?" Waiter (super flamboyant but not in a fabulous way): *grabs glasses from the table across, slams on the table* There. Was that so hard? My little sister had to grab cutlery from the same table--seemed like fair game after what had just transpired, and it's not like the waiter was going to be too helpful. When the $28 bill came, my grandma paid with a $50. The waiter looked at it and asked: Waiter: "Will you be needing any change?" (A $22 tip on shitty, disrespectful, TERRIBLE service? YEAH, right!) Lil Sis: "Yes. We need the change." Waiter: *comes back* "Here. Instead of bringing you the change for the bill, I broke the fifty into smaller pieces so that you *actually* have the money to pay. WTF?? Does this guy have some sort of social disorder or is he really that big an asshole? He got a $1 tip, which I honestly think is about $1 more than he deserved.
(1)
Patrick J. M.
We're huge fans of Romano's Macaroni Grill, but avoid this location in Kingstowne like the plague! It's sad to say that the best part of the dinner were the salads, as the rest of the meals were completely downhill from there. We had both Mushroom Ravioli, which was completely 'off' in taste, rather bland, and the Chicken Marsala, which seemed to be a very small dove, in relation to the size of the portion, which was amazingly small, and was equally as bland in taste. We were surprised at how many 'one star' ratings this location has already, and we would give this it a minus star, as well, as we were equally as shocked at just how bad and bland the food was. We're just stunned at how bad of an experience we had at this location. It's obvious that the management of this location apparently doesn't have a clue as to how bad their reputation is on the street, either. They seemingly don't care. Gordon Ramsay need to come in and turn the place around. Like many other reviewers, we absolutely won't be back and we'll tell everyone we know in the area to pass on dining at this location, too.
(1)
Tamara O.
Over the years my husband I have watched what was once a favorite restaurant with attentive service turn into high-priced, served cold fast food. After our last visit we vowed never to return, our waiter who was charming but clearly not suited for waiting tables could not get our order correct and brought the food cold. I am very tolerant and really don't like to fuss, but it was over the top with wilted lettuce in the salad, etc. we did speak with manager and he comped our meal, but frankly I would rather pay for my dinner and have it be delightful.
(1)
Melissa P.
This restaurant appears to be sorely mismanaged. I did not write a review after our bad experience on New Year's Eve in which we were told that a member of the kitchen staff called out & the manager was working the line alone. It took 15 minutes to be seated in a nearly empty restaurant, and the food took so long to arrive that we had to ask for it to be boxed up to go an hour later. I wrote it off the experience as bad luck. By the reviews, I can see this isn't the case. If you're thinking about stopping by, pick up a frozen dinner instead. Michaelangelo's frozen meals makes a great chicken parm, which seems to be comparible in size, but it will cost you a fraction of the price and time.
(1)
Della O.
I always see this place when I'm at the Kingstowne shopping center so I figured I'd give it try. We went on a Sunday around 6pm and it was quiet empty. Service was great, we were served really fast, drinks were refilled on time. The waitress was really friendly think her name was Ebony. The food on the other hand was not what I expected. It's on the pricier side so you expect better quality. Chicken Parmesan Pasta tasted like a frozen meal from a grocery store. Just expected more taste lol... Don't think I would rush back here!
(3)
Timothy P.
I should know better to expect anything great from a chain such as this, but unfortunately my experiences have been 1-star worthy. Food: - overly creamy and buttery - heavy-handed in the sauce for every dish (greens, meats, pastas, fish) - we ordered cheesecake for a special occasion and it wasn't fully defrosted when it came to the table. Pro: we did have it sent back and I believe they took it off our check. Price: - overpriced, bland food not worth the money Ambiance: - freezing cold temperatures - awkward entrance to the restaurant from the parking lot Parking: full, free lot available
(1)
Rick G.
Pasta is plasta & sauce is no coup de grâce! When I know the restaurant's a big box or a national chain, I cringe at the inevitable - this Romano's was no exception! Although I obviously have not tried everything on the menu, what limited portion I and those with me did have, showed that their focus on ambience, food prep and overall attention to detail and quality hits the mark only slightly, and appeared to me to be short of fabulous! Their pastas in general appear to have nothing to say, but lay there and smell good! What's with the crayons! I am sure you'll find something better elsewhere and urge you to do your homework if you really want an exceptional Italian-American experience, though their attentive service and food quality food is good overall, I think I can do better... may come back on occaision.
(3)
Jennifer D.
Went with the staff of my school for an end of year luncheon. Service was good despite the circumstances (they were still open though we came as a massive group). My salad and entree were good - I had the chicken parm and a regular green salad. The tiramisu was...weird. When the server sat it down in front of me it looked like pudding. It's hard to describe but it was super sweet and I couldn't finish it. Disappointing.
(3)
joe w.
I am a fan of this restaurant generally. We ordered lasagna and shrimp pasta. However, we got cannelloni and a sampler instead. The food was A-OK however the servers had a careless mistake of bringing us dishes that should have gone to an adjacent table. The servers were lightning fast so I forgave them. I highly recommend writing down what you ordered or checking it before biting into it. Our server was very nice about correcting this quickly without needing to complain.
(3)
Deb E.
Macaroni Grill used to be one of my favorite restaurants until today. I had the sea bass for the first time and found it disappointing. The service was mediocre and impersonal. I would have offered feedback in person but I was not asked. I will not be back.
(1)
Gregg M.
I went to Macaroni Grill with a dozen of my co-workers for a farewell luncheon. I've been to Macaroni Grills many times around the country so it's a known quantity. Needless to say, the Kingstowne edition is virtually identical to every Macaroni Grill in America. Macaroni Grill is very good at being able to accommodate large groups. Service from Moises, our server, was quite good. He kept our orders straight, brought out extra focaccia bread, and split up our bill into separate checks with nary a complaint. The food was was nicely-proportioned for lunch, although perhaps a bit pricey. That said, my seafood linguine had good-sized shrimp and scallops which were perfectly cooked. Despite the positives, what I find most disconcerting about Macaroni Grill is the nutritional "value" of their food. One of my co-workers printed out Macaroni Grill's nutrition info from their website. The fat and sodium content in some of their dishes is SHOCKING!!! Definitely not heart-healthy! Oh well, it does taste good. Bottom-line...the Kingstowne Macaroni Grill offers no surprises good or bad. Still, sometimes that's a very good thing.
(3)
Emily A.
I am usually insanely skeptical about eating at any Macaroni Grill chain. I don't really have much reason why that is just that I prefer mom and pop spots to chain restaurants I guess. However my daughter does like Romanos Macaroni Grill so we decided to head there and grab a bite to eat. I ordered the chicken caprese and was amazingly surprised how flavorful and delicious it was. My daughter scarfed down her fettucini alfredo, and did some serious damage to the yummy bread they give you as an appetizer before your meal. The price is decent, the food was good, and the waiter was okay. I didn't think that it was pretty cool that they had someone going around singing in Italian to the patrons in the restaurant. Through the atmosphere definitely gets a plus . I wouldn't make it an everyday kind of spot but it's definitely going to be in my rotation of restaurants if I need a decently priced Italian/American meal.
(3)
Eric F.
My wife and I had lunch at Macaroni Grill the day after Thanksgiving. The food was decent. I had the Carmela's Chicken, a dish that contains so much butter, cream, and cheese that it has to be good. My wife had the sole, which was fresh and delicious in spite of the preparation and not because of it. The service is definitely bad in comparison to the rest of the United States. Our waiter took about 10 minutes before even taking our initial drink order, the main course arrived really late, and there was a general lackadaisicalness among the busboys and hosts. But compared to the rest of DC, that is par for the course. 6/10.
(3)
Barry A.
I did not have high expectations, I was not disappointed. 2 hours to get our pre ordered lunch for a Christmas party. Glad the boss picked up the check. Food was terrible and they were understaffed. Guess the manager just didn't care. Don't waste your time
(1)
Ed G.
I have to say first, that I went with Macaroni grill because it's a chain and should be reliable and consistent. I was wrong with this assumption. I ordered the mushroom ravioli and my first thought when seeing the plate was it looked meager and made the comment to the waitress of that it looked like an appetizer with such a small portion. She replied back that all ravioli are served at this portion size and it was surprisingly filling. She was so very wrong, I filled up on the bread thankfully after the ravioli which were not even worth it. All in all, I feel like me and wife can make better versions of their own food and local Italian restaurants will give you better and larger portion food than this place.
(2)
Rebecca S.
Our experience at Macaroni Grill last night was a comedy of errors. It wasn't my first time at this location; it was a work lunch option occasionally. We'd always been happy enough with the place. There was a wait for a table, so we decided to sit at the bar. We should have changed our mind when there were dirty dishes all over the bar, but we sat anyways. The bartender was so swamped with the bar and the service well that he couldn't keep up. He was obviously trying, but he just couldn't hack it. After not realizing there was a 2 for 25 deal until long after we'd ordered, having boyfriend's order come out as totally the wrong thing, the right order coming out crappy, and watching this guy just have an overall hard time, we called over a manager. He was nice enough, but didn't seem to think there was that big of a problem. Which was pretty disappointing. We didn't penalize the bartender - he was basically set up for failure, and was doing the best he could. As much as I've always enjoyed Macaroni Grill for what it is, I was disappointed enough this time around that I likely won't be back anytime soon.
Service was good, food was the definition of "meh". What was I expecting? Not quite sure considering this is a chain. The issue I had was I left with a taste in my mouth that even Altoids couldn't cover. I can't tell if it was the lobster ravioli I had or the water. I know it's simple tap water in those jars, but man, something was just not right. My daughter and I dined here on a Sunday night and it was pretty full the entire time we were there. Can't see myself going back ever again, but that's just me. Hope you enjoy and see for yourself.
(2)
John B.
Food was really good. Had to jump up and down to get drink refills. Wondered who the waiter was cause he barely came around. Had to ask for the desert menu...etc.
(2)
Dorcel L.
If there was a minus star I would select it. My family (party of 3) went there for a Friday night dinner out. We were provided a buzzer to notify us when our table was ready. We were told the wait time was approximately 25 minutes. Upon arrival there were about 4 parties waiting before us. The number of parties waiting continued to grow and after about 20 minutes we noticed parties leaving but none of the waiting parties were being being sat. Several people began to complain about the number of empty table and the amount to time and parties waiting. After we were sat (about 40 minutes later) we waited another 7 to 10 minutes for the waiter to come over to inquire about our drink order. My husband made the horrible mistake of leaving to go wash his hands which the waiter determined was a sign to avoid our table until he returned. He continued to ask us if we wanted another bread while we waited for our meal, yet he never brought it. We waited another 30 minutes for our food. The appetizer arrived after the main course. I ordered the lobster stuff clams and the warmed spinach with Shrimp. My husband ordered the Panini and my daughter ordered the mushroom ravioli. In making a long story short, if the food was worth the wait, I would be writing a different review. The dishes contained too much seasoning, heavily sodium laden and lacked freshness. I wish we'd selected a different place to enjoy our night out. :(
(1)
Nico L.
So let me tell you how much I LOVE Macaroni Grill! It's Yumtastic but this particular location is were customer service goes to DIE! On two ocassions I've had HORRENDOUS service. My family & I waited an hr for our food and it came out cold.- STRIKE 1 The manager had the nerve ask us if we wanted him to heat the food in the microwave or to just make a new order. (Seriously?!) - STRIKE 2 Already with 2 strikes under their belt I RETURNED (yes I was DUMB enough to return) This time I bought a bottle of wine on special that the waiter assured me could be corked and taken home.... except... Wait What was that You DONT have WINE BAGS?! (Wine bags are sealed bags that allow you to carry an opened bottle of wine in your car with out recieving an open container charge). The manager (SAME GUY AS ABOVE) just kind of shrugged and said "What do you want me to do?" I suggested charging me for a glass. He came back and had charged me $19 for ONE GLASS when the bottle was selling for $25! STRIKE THREE-YOUR OUT! Not to mention what I expected to be a 1.5 hr meal ended up being THREE HOURS and I ended up missing a movie for which I had already purchased tickets. Now I drive the 30 minutes to Fairfax or Woodbridge for Macaroni Grill instead of this DUMP that's only 8 minutes from my house. RUN AWAY, QUICKLY!
(1)
Narendra B.
Where should I start..hmm series of disappointments. The waiter forget the basic service i.e. water. Then he places a tiny plate with olive oil , pepper and salt and now I get all excited thinking I will get some warm bread...He comes takes the order and walks away and me and my bf are looking at each other thinking are we expecting something wrong so we check tables around and thinking if others got bread and they surely did, so we ask our waiter he responds by saying I have too many tables and busy so I don't know if you got everything or not. Then my appetizer calamari and bruschetta were served. Calamari is seafood just incase some one did not know so it was cold and soggy. Then the bruschetta with a regular sandwich bread toasted with garlic butter and tomato salsa stuff. Guess being from Europe I was introduced to real Italian food such a blunder eh!.. Lolz. To top it off the entree comes with pasta Alfredo sauce and uncooked raw chicken now that's a delicacy only for kingstowne Romano macaroni grille unfortunately my body rejected it right away. Thanks to the next table waiter who immediately came by to see why we turned purple and blue and he took the dish back to the kitchen. Thought my troubles for the night eating there were over well how can you finish a dinner without dessert it was in store. They take our credit cards and don't show up for 25 mins so we start the game "go fetch" and we found our credit cards laying around and the host quickly swipes them wishing us by saying have a great night and we just run run run so we don't have to look back. Never again the worst restaurant ever.
(1)
Autumn G.
This is my second time attempting this restaurant as my husband and I used to frequent this chain in CA, however I have decided that I will never return. I went with my two children ages 5 and 8. As soon as we sat down our waitress said she would bring bread and water. After 15 minutes of nothing and hungry children I flagged her down for the bread. I had to ask her about the bread TWO more times before it came out and then she never poured the oil dip to go with it. The water never came either. My dish came out cold and unflavorful and had to ask for my side salad. Really? My 8 year olds food was cold as well. Horrible food and horrible service. Spend your money elsewhere!!
(1)
Tracey M.
Went here to celebrate my daughters graduation...something I will always regret. Our server was a doll and she really tried her best to accommodate us but the food was absolute garbage. The steaks were so bad I took a bite and thought it was just me. I let my son take a bite and he spit it out. Strawberry daiquiris were horrible and chunks of ice so big I couldn't use my straw. Eggplant was like rubber...couldn't even cut it! First time here and most definitely last time! I spent $150.00 for my dinner and I left feeling really cheated.
(1)
Olivia A.
The two stars is for the service, which hasn't changed since I first visited this place. However, the food has gone down. WAAAAAAAAY down. I'm not quite sure what happened there, but it's definitely not as good as it was way back when. Will I still go there? Every time nostalgia hits. Which isn't often. :(
(2)
Ryan C.
Was there for a office Christmas lunch. They knew we were coming and how large of a party it was, a large number of us ordered our food a head of time and the people who ordered on the spot got their food much faster. It took almost 2 hours before i received my salad, When i finally got my entree the chicken parmesan tasted like grouper. We were there for right about 3 hours and a couple people just had their food brought to them in boxes so they could take it home since our work day was almost done. I will never be returning to this location and most likely will not visit any other again.
(1)
Chefonism W.
This is truly one of the most horrendous dining experiences I have EVER had. After we were seated, we waited fifteen minutes for some water, the simple task of getting the water order right seemed to be challenging for our waitress. Two adults and two kids should get two adult glasses and two children's glasses, but our child was not given her ordered beverage, she got nothing... Then we stared longingly at our olive oil for another 15 minutes dreaming of the moment we get to dip a warm piece of bread into its goodness. Then we waited, and waited, AND waited! An hour later our order arrives, and guess what? The order is wrong! The kids eat because had they not then the cops would have been called for juvenile disorderly conduct. The kids were not offered cheese for their pasta, tables that came after us came and left and arrived in a different country, babies were born, people died and we were pissed. By the way the manager was a joke..
(1)
Melissa M.
Been here twice, will not go back. Service is the worst I've ever encoutered, trust the other negative reviews... I felt like I was reading my own. Food was ok, but each time we've been, there have been ingredients missing or something added that shouldn't be there. Not a safe bet if you have ANY food allergy. Good luck getting your drink refilled or more bread. I think this is where all the waiters go when they get fired working somewhere else.
(1)
Karl L.
Its decent. Sadly, I feel like a bloated whale every time I leave, since the menu is so heavy. That's to be expected for what they serve, I think tho. Had Eggplant Parmesan the last time the wife and I were in there and it was dope. Certainly better than any Olive Garden, tho if they rocked the salad and breadsticks like OG, they'd cop an extra star from me.
(3)
Alex H.
Food was mediocre, the server in the bar area was not particularly attentive. I kind of felt like he was profiling me for being in my 20's and expected I wouldn't be a big spender, so didn't pay attention. Mussel app was ok, but the mussels were overcooked. I informed the waiter that I would like wine with dinner, but he never came back after dropping the appetizer. The bartender noticed me looking around and brought me a glass of wine. I had the pesto pasta and my girlfriend had the carbonara. Both were adequate, but waiter never checked back to see if we needed anything. After he cleared dinner plates, I asked for the dessert menu. He nodded and walked away. ten minutes later he came and brought me the check. Saving grace of the dinner was that the bar stocks Buffalo Trace bourbon and the bartender made a decent manhattan. Conclusion: meh, don't bother. Food is on par with an Olive Garden and the pretentious environment and lackluster service are a deal killer.
(2)
jenny f.
"AMAZING EXPERIENCE" We celebrating our 2 years Anniversary last week & the singing server Eric greet us with welcoming smile, offer us a wine taste and he share to us his favorite sea food, grill steak, pork chops & a new chicken Parmesan on the menu. My husband like his direct & honest response. He always offer us to refill house wine Chianti. The food arrived to our table in 10 minutes & was delivered by another person but Eric offered to serve the food himself. Interesting that most server we never seen when food arrive at our table. Eric like to personalize the service. Impressive! The best part of the whole dining experience that no other restaurant we have ever been that Eric sing to us an italian love song. This is out of this world experience. Eric has no Idea that we came to Romano's because it was recommend to see & hear him sing. Great talent & Great service."
(4)
Jon K.
A solid 4 stars.... I know, I know this is a chain. However, it's a pretty decent chain and hasn't disappointed me in the past. I've had many of the standard italian fare dishes here (spaghetti, lasagna, chicken parmesan, fettuccine alfredo, etc.). The foccaccia bread they bring out to you before the meal with olive oil is an added plus. Everything is pretty damn good and goes down mighty nice with a few beers or a bottle of wine (if I am with my wife). The servers and bartenders here have always been pretty attentive and nice to us so no complaints there. I have to mention that I really like this location as it's right in the middle of Kingstowne. You can go see a movie if need be or go shopping. Definitely a chain restaurant worth checking out....
(4)
Melissa K.
Im not a fan of the food here. I went there today for lunch. I had the calamari for app. only because they were out of the crab stuffed mushrooms. Calamari was decent. My entree was the chicken parmesan....Oh hell No. It was really weak like MY chicken parm that I can make at home was better than this and I want my restaurant food to taste better than my home cooked food! No flavor or enough sauce...the cheese wasnt melted on top enough the cappenelli pasta was bland too. They really need to step it up in the seasoning there. Our waitress was very nice though.....1 star for her and 1 for the bread and calamari.
(2)
Qwerty -.
I would've sent back my eggplant pasta--there were at best half a dozen itty bitty pieces of eggplant hidden in an enormous bowl of bland, overcooked pasta--except I'd already sent back my watery cocktail. It just seemed like overkill.
(1)
Marianne L.
Popped in here last weekend for dinner after a day of xmas shopping. Amazingly - got seated right away and though the restaurant was doing a brisk business, we pretty much didn't have to wait for anything. Our waiter (Stefan) was attentive and amusing. But he gets big stars for ensuring our cibatta bread came piping hot from the oven each time. A lot of the menu is homogenized italian fare in this chain restaurant, but that doesn't mean there aren't some great times to be had. 1st the complimentary cibatta bread is GREAT!!!!! (especially fresh from the oven) The olive oil (bottles on every table) is VERY good as well. ME - .5 ML bottle of San Pellegrino w/ a nice fresh juicy lemon wedge - Mozzarella alla Caprese - little mozzarella balls instead of the traditional slices, but very fresh; as were the slices of tomato; but its the balsamic vinaigrette MAKES THE DISH (any excess got mopped up with the bread) - Create your own pasta w/ spaghetti, italian sausage, roasted garlic cream sauce, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, artichokes and diced red onions - good enough that it was no decision if the leftovers were going home and the portion size easily made this into 2 meals MY FRIEND (adding since we did share bites) - Iced tea (did not try) - Caesar della Casa (typical caesar salad) - Pinot Grigio Chicken (I might have to hurt someone to get this. I was happy with my dish, but this was wonderful too, esp. the many cloves of roasted garlic and the sauce) Again, I've had plenty more authentic italian food. But for chain fare, this was reasonably priced, a pleasant dining experience, and a good way to end a day shopping. A nice touch - the "learn italian" lessons playing in the restrooms. :)
(3)
China W.
Please people do not visit this location. Management/service are horrible. As soon as I walked in the door and waited 7-10mins to be seated, a manager seemed to not have any concern. I wonder if he forgot he was on duty that night? I had to walk over to him and asked to be seated. He carelessly said, "Oh" walked over to the podium, grabbed a couple of menus and seated my party without so much as a hello or welcome. He blatantly walked off.....Looking at the reviews for this crappy facility, it needs to undergo new management quick and in a hurry. The location in Woodbridge, Va is so much better.
(1)
Greg W.
Not bad. Cozier than the last time I was here. Lots of menu changes, dropping a few things I liked. Go here instead of Woodbridge. That's exactly what we did. Server was attentive and heloful. I get the sense the business is struggling. Lots of coupons a gimmicks to bring people in. Good food, though, and prices to match, will keep them there. Music a bit too loud, but overall a good but not great place to go.
(3)
Dana M.
The salmon was dry and fishy. The bread had way too much rosemary in it. The salad my boyfriend ordered was awful. I do have one comment....the Sangria's were awesome. So I guess its not a bad place to go sit at the bar and have some drinks :) Oh and the service was super slow.
(1)
Venkatesh B.
My wife and I ate here tonight. If you read my previous post, we were not terribly impressed but figured it may have been an off night. Tonight was again not good overall and so I am not sure we will ever come here again....there are just too many better places to go. Recap: We were seated promptly. The waiter was juggling a number of tables and could not get to us very quickly, but he was friendly and accurate with his care through the night. The appetizers we got were the bruschetta which was very average. The tomatoes were truly average, and the bread was okay too. We also got the goat cheese peppers which were horrendous. It may be my palate but I nearly threw up from the taste combination. Our entrees were served reasonably timed, and look beautiful, but the tastes were disappointing. My chicken parmigiana was variably cooked as some pieces were properly cooked and others were undercooked. The pasta was very bland tasting and would have been better if the water it was boiled in would have been seasoned with salt. Again the tomatoes were just okay. My wife's pork chop had overcooked, and undercooked areas as well and her risotto was just okay. Overall, if we are looking for chain italian, I think the olive garden is going to be our stand by from now on. The food is always consistent and we leave feeling happy about the evening. This place has disappointed us too many times to try again....maybe another location may eventually get our business, but not the kingstowne one. The one thing they consistently do well, however, is ambiance...but if thats all we wanted there are many lounges in DC....we need good food too!
(2)
Mariah G.
On a normal day I love Macaroni Grill, but the one in Kingstowne has terrible service. The food isn't bad, but today I didn't even get that far. I was seated and looked over the menu. I had decided what to order, but nobody had even come over to acknowledge me, much less take my drink order. I watched 4 waiters and a waitress wait on the tables around me, but not one so much as made eye contact. I counted 7 tables with people at them, but I was the only one eating alone. I went back to the host/hostess counter and told her nobody had waited on me. The host said he would get someone. I waited another 5 min when a waiter finally came to my table with water and bread. I told him I didn't want any bread, but I would like to order. He said he was just bringing me water and bread to help Sarah out. I continued to wait for Sarah who I saw arguing with the waiter who brought be bread and water and thought she was on her way to my table. Instead she went to another table then walked away again. I finished my glass of water, and still no order had been taken. She walked towards me again, but turned away and went back. At that point I grabbed my purse and walked out. The restaurant was by no means full, so I don't understand why in the 20min I was there my waitress had not even come to greet me. I've had Sarah as a waitress before, and she has always been slow. If I ever go back to that Macaroni Grill I will ask not to have her as a waitress, or sit at the bar. I guess if you are eating alone, the wait staff doesn't think you are worth the time because you are less of a tip. But I was a waitress and treating customers that way isn't right.
(1)
Watrbb W.
Friend and I went for lunch, it was only the second time I have eaten at Macaroni Grill and both times - not really a fan. On this occasion we split the calamari - or tried to split it - neither one of us liked it. It was totally bland and lacking the spicy sauce and hot peppers it was supposed to have. On to the salad.....mine was OK, nothing to get excited about. My friends though had brown lettuce and did not have one walnut (when it was supposed to have many). Both of the things (calamari & salad) we pointed out to the waiter and a gold star to him, he actually told the manager who came to our table. While she really did not seem all that surprised, she did remove both items from our bill - thank you to her! The main course for both of us was VERY GOOD - they redeemed their selves for sure. I had the lobster ravioli and my friend had the pasta di mare. It was explained that the salads and the appetizers come from one side of the kitchen, while the entrees come from the chef supervised side. Note to self - always order from the chef side! Not sure we will ever go back - except the all summer long 1/2 price bottles or glasses of wine are a real seller!
(2)
Dee Dee S.
I came to this restaurant because we went to the same one in Silver Spring, M.D. and let me tell you there food and service was EXCELLENT to the point i was hooked on this restaurant and i thought let me go to this one being as though they the same branch boy was i so WRONG.... so we walk in and waited for 10 min which is not an issue. When we where seated our waitress KRIS came over and took our order. When she left, 10 min later i noticed she is also working at the bar which seemed strange to me why would a restaurant gives us a waiter working the bar and serving people. So everything was fine until we received our food we waited like 45 min for our food to get to us. Two of the dishes come with a side order of salad which we did not get!!!! our pasta was COLD, HARD AND BLAND. So we called our waiter over which was not difficult to find her being a though she working the bar so she can get the manager. Our manger JOHN comes over and we tell him our issues and he takes our dishes back and brings back supposedly "fresh" food NOPE food still bland and hard and note STILL NO SALAD. At this point we are disappointed in the service of this restaurant we lost our appetite. I WILL NOT BE COMING BACK HERE FOOD SUCKS AND SO DOES THE SERVICE IF YOU WANT YOUR MONEY WORTH I SUGGEST YOU GO TO THE ONE IN SILVER SPRING YOU WILL LEAVE VERY HAPPY AND PLEASE WITH EVERYTHING THERE!!
(1)
K D.
I haven't been to a Macaroni Grill in several years, since I lived elsewhere, and decided to go with two other couples. We got there early and sat at the bar. They were out of the peach nectar for bellinis. When we ordered dinner, they were out of all the merlots and malbecs, but the waitress seemed confused as to what wine they might have available. She said they gave us glasses that are normally available only by the bottle, but the menu said they were sold by the glass. They were out of the goat cheese peppadew peppers. The meatball appetizer came 15 min after all the others, and we never got our orders of olives. One of the eggplant pasta entrees had no eggplant, so they offered to bring extra, which showed up 20 minutes later, swimming in oil on a plate. Then the waitress asked if we wanted dessert, but said they were out of dessert menus. What?! The food we got tasted ok, but we won't be back to this location.
(1)
Heather W.
Horrible and cold food. Food was worse than Chef Boyardee (namely meatball sliders). Service was horrible...no table grooming...no drink or water refills...food took an hour to get to us ( 2 sandwiches and a bowl of pasta). Food was inedible. Restaurant was only 1/4 full...no excuse for bad food or bad service despite waiter's complaint of being "slammed". Waiter was rude when we asked for check and defensive and said we can talk to manager and this was before we even complained. Manager was rude to my 94 yo grandmother, mother and myself and did nothing to make things right. This place has gone downhill and prices have gone up. I will never ever eat here again nor will I suggest this place to anyone. Worst restaurant ever!
(1)
vanessa g.
This chain has progressively gotten worse since I tried it over 8 years ago. Their food is very bland & forgetable. There is absolutely no fusion of flavor or interesting variety, and youre not even getting much for your buck. The staff is friendly but food can take a while to get to you. I would have to be either really hungry or forced to go back here. The only thing they have going for them is their decent customer service and their ok dessert menu.
(2)
Dan B.
Always had good service, though the place is always busy and there is wait. Sitting at the bar is usually best for us. Food is good, not great
(4)
Fireball D.
Food was great! Only reason why I dont give a 5th star was because I had to grab someones attention and let them know my friends and I were sitting there for 35 minutes and still no one waited on us. They apologized and discounted our food.
(4)
Lily B.
Wasn't so great. We had to ask who as our server after seated for 15 mins. The old waiter was working hard running around. However his forehead sweats were actively dripping down to his eye brows when taking our order. We were afraid he would be dripping on our bread when brought to our table. I think it is so gross. He should at least wear a hat to absorb the sweats. The water glasses were wet with food particles and finger prints. We asked to exchange the glasses. The waiter took them in the corner and wipe them dry with the towel from his waist. Not sure if he gave us the same glasses back but the glasses remained wet and have dried up food particles. We just help ourselves to get new glasses from an emptied table. I had the seafood del mare. It was not worth $18. Only had few over cooked scrimps with two tender scallops. However there were enough mussels. The tomato sauce was too spicy. Definitely will not go back there.
(1)
Emily H.
I used to work around the corner from this Macaroni Grill and only visited it a couple of times. After the past few lunches that I have had here I am relatively impressed and can't figure out why it took me this long to eat there. I was having lunch with my father who still works in that area and we sat at the bar. Our waiter was very helpful and, even though they weren't very busy, he wasn't intrusive. I had the Parmesan Crusted chicken Salad which was really good. I ordered the salad with Balsamic vinaigrette on the side, though the salad came with ranch dressing which I thought was odd. Regardless of how I feel about the dressing and salad pairing, the service was great as was the atmosphere. I would definitely dine at Macaroni Grill in Springfield again.
(4)
Jocelyn B.
The worst food and service in YEARS. Even with a reservation made a week in advance took them 45 min to seat us and when we got to the table there were no glasses, silverware, or napkins. Our appetizers came out before our drinks. Dinner came out cold...not even warm...and it was disgusting! Really greasy and not flavorful.
(1)
Kenneth F.
My wife and I dined this evening. We arrived about 530 and were promply seated. The wait staff welcomed us and took drink and appetizer orders. The bread, oh the bread, was wonderful with the itialian butter. We both chose the relatively new Trio....a salad, main dish and dessert for $11.99. We started out with the bruchetta, for which we had a "free coupon" that we received in the Post. I chose the garden salad with balsalmic, pasta milano, and the smothered chocolate cake. My bride had the garden salad with fat free italian, the layered lasagna, and lemon cake. We very much enjoyed the dishes, dining in the casual atmosphere. We boxed a nice portio which we will have for lunch tomorrow. I will definitely return for another delicious meal!
(4)
Tonya L.
I have been going here and to their other locations for a few years and the food is normally good. I love the lobster ravioli, the bread is always fresh and great. My only issue is with the staff, its hit or miss with them. My recent trip a few days ago was a little frustrating because the servers would gather at the front desk chatting and not being very attentive.
(4)
nicey b.
For years now, we've been looking past Macaroni Grill. The name just does not sound appealing. I've never been interested in trying it, but my love, my best friend decided to give it a try. The two of us wanted Italian, but just couldn't decide where so we thought we'd give something new a shot. Upon arriving, I do have to say that I was very impressed with the decor of the restaurant. We waited probably a total of 10 minutes for our table, which was not long at all. Our server brought us our drinks, poured olive oil in a dish, cracked some black pepper and served us our piping hot bread, fresh from the oven. DELICIOUS... The bread was perfectly crisp and flaky on the outside, and when you tear it on the inside, it was fluffy and soft. I couldn't help but notice the rosemary inside. Its a perfect way to welcome some VERY hungry guests. :) We loved it. For appetizer, we ordered the Mozzarella Fritta. (I needed my cheese fix.) I was expecting the usual, plain mozzarella sticks you can get at a diner, but we were pleasantly surprised with its arrival. They were in a half-moon shape, and there were 3 of them. They were pretty big in size too. They were fanned out on top of one another on a bed of hot, amazing marinara, and a trail of pesto was lined on top. I think the shape of the mozzarella frittas really changed the way that it tasted. Instead of little mozzarella sticks drenched in grease, these were perfectly crisp but not too greasy. The marinara tasted like it was made with lots of love. We devoured it in no time, and were so excited to see our main courses next. I ordered the Pollo Limone Rustica, while he ordered the Seafood Linguini with garlic cream sauce instead of the EVOO sauce that comes with it normally. Wow, it was a good choice he made, because that garlic cream sauce was astounding with the seafood he ordered. My Pollo Limone Rustica was delicious as well, and I was so happy with the amount of spinach they put in it. The sauce was a little watery in texture, but when the server asked the chef, they said thats how it was supposed to be? Oh well, still tasted fantastic... My dish tasted like a fusion between Thai and Italian and I LOVED IT. The decor inside is very nice as well. I love the fact that it takes all the beautiful things of an outdoor BBQ area, and combines it with the comfort of being indoors. The lights along the columns are outdoor lights,very unique and creative. I also LOVE how they use Paper for the tables, and provide every table with crayons. It definitely gave us something to do while waiting for the food. :) I can only imagine how convenient this is for families with kids. Parents get to enjoy delicious food in a beautiful environment, and the kids can remain occupied to draw on the tables :) Overall, I'm a fan. The food is delicious!! My only issue is the price. For the amount you're paying, couldn't they throw in some salad or something? For Italian food, I think this is expensive, so I wouldn't become a regular. I'd definitely eat here again though.
(4)
Sabrina R.
My friend and I went there for dinner and only ordered sodas and a main entree. Our waiter was great! Sodas came out quick, and when the food was taking too long to come out, he gave us a complimentary dessert to makeup for it, which was a welcome surprise. He was great. The food (minus the dessert which was great) was so so. Nothing to rave about.
(3)
Bonnie C.
I arrived with my sister the other day for a (late?) lunch about 1:30... The dining room was almost empty. We sat for a good 10 minutes before I had to go up to the hostess to ask for a waiter. When one did arrive, he poured the olive oil into the dish for our bread and heavily peppered it without even asking if we wanted too much pepper in our olive oil. The service was indifferent when we finally did get it and the food was very slow to come out of the kitchen even though there was no business. I could SEE the kitchen and the waiters and kitchen staff standing around doing nothing but take bread out of the oven. The salads were decent, fresh with nice dressing and ingredients. The chicken dish I had was a step above a Lean Cuisine, the bread was good but when asked if we wanted more, with some of our loaf left, we said no, what we had was fine-the bread was promptly taken away! This is the LAST time I will be going to this place where the only fresh food seems to be the salad.
(1)
Terri B.
Food was great as was the service today!
(4)
Laila A.
I used to love Macaroni Grill, but the terrible service and food on our latest visit has convinced my husband and I to never go back. Some of the highlights of the evening: --Watching four or five couples getting seated immediately after walking in while we waited half an hour with our buzzer (we were told a 15 minute wait). --Ordering a flavored ice tea listed on the menu only to be told "we don't have any flavored ice teas" by our perpetually-flustered waitress, who, when prompted to check with the bar staff, found out that mango ice tea did exist after all. --Note to kitchen: calamari should be golden, not burnt brown. Also, was disappointed to see plastic take-out style ramekins for the dipping sauce instead of ceramic. --My lobster ravioli, which I normally love for its usually creamy sauce, came out in a transparent, watery sauce, that I can only assume was 99% pasta water with a hint of sauce. When our waitress finally checked on us (after my husband and I had finished eating most of his carbonara entree while mine went untouched), and I pointed this error out to her, she argued with me that the sauce is supposed to be that way before finally agreeing to check with a manager, who confirmed that the sauce was not supposed to be that way at all. I received a 'corrected' version of the dish (which had clearly been microwaved based on the rock-hard, shrunken bits of lobster that came out the second time), but no apology. --When our waitress dropped off our credit card receipts, she launched into a tirade about how we'd better not steal her pen like all of the other customers do (I wonder why?). Being accused of theft felt especially ironic, since we were the ones that were being robbed by the restaurant of the $70 we paid for a total disaster of a saturday evening out.
(1)
Chris D.
I really like Macaroni Grill, but this one has some really bad customer service. Food is great but the staff is not into it.
(2)
Thomas L.
Unfortunately downgrading to two stars because the portions have shrunk, and the prices remain the same or have increased. For example, the Lemon Passion cake portion is now the size you used to get for free as a birthday cake, but the price is the same as it was when it was twice the size!
(2)
J B.
So, I decided to take the family to Macaroni Grill for dinner. It was a Tuesday night, we were seated right away. The restaurant did not seem busy. But, it took a wait staff roughly 10 min. to greet us. After explaining the menu specials, we gave the waiter our drink and appetizer order. We were still deciding on our entree. Another 10 min. goes by, any the waiter delivers an incomplete drink order. Another 10 min. goes by and he finally brings the complementary Focaccia bread, but forgets to set-up the olive oil and crack pepper dip. At this point, my kids are getting restless. I give them a piece of the bread, and some water. Another few minutes goes by and the waiter final take our entree order. My wife orders the Pasta di Mar (a seafood platter) and I order Mama's trio, which is a compilation of 3 basic Italian dishes. Something any Italian restaurant can make and not "screw-up". Oh yeah....did I forget to say that it took another 10 minutes to get our appetizer and salads out. After the salads and appetizer were finish, the wait was a little shorter to clear the table of the salad and appetizer dishes. However, it took a little bit longer for us to get our dinner. At this point, I felt like was a customer in reality show "Hell's Kitchen". The waiting was getting old quick. Finally, our dishes arrive and I evaluate mine. I knew that I was not going to be happy with my dish, by it's presentation. Mama trio consist of a meat lasagna, chicken parmesan over spaghetti and tomato sauce, and chicken cannelloni. I've had all three dishes at other Italian restaurants, made by Italian chefs and cooks, and I have had it made by a friend's mom, who's recipe have been past on from generation to generation. After working in a authentic Italian restaurant, while I was going to college, I've been told my my mentors that train me, while I was a line cook and by a friend's mom that still cooks old world Italian style dishes, a person can determine how good a restaurant's dishes are by the way the tomato sauce is make and present on a basic spaghetti dish. Well, mine was crap. I asked for a side of tomato sauce, because there was barely any on the chicken parm dish. The side of sauce was lukewarm. That pretty much did it for me. I tried the lasagna, which was barely edible. The cannelloni ends were dried out, like it was under a heat lamp...waiting. I did not even attempt to eat it. I asked my wife about her meal, she was not really happy about it either. She really picked at the seafood parts of the dish, but it was the pasta and the sauce that she did not like. The pasta seem to taste like lo-mien from a Chinese restaurant. If she wanted Chinese food, then we would have went to a Chinese restaurant. I know I've been to other Macaroni Grill restaurant before and had really good experience, but this was the third and final time that I going to spend money at this restaurant. From the bad service, poor quality of preparation of the dishes, and just a bad experience overall, for the third time. I just think they need to either fire everyone or hire all new managers and retrain the staff.
(1)
Bridgette S.
Terrible food. If you have any Italian in your background you will be utterly disapponted. My husband and I went last weekend and were reimbursed for the entire meal. Both appetizers were overcooked. My husband's veal was like leather and my pasta was overcooked, bland and had very few mushrooms or onions. Everything was greasy and heavy. I didn't expect it to be great, but this was ridiculous.
(1)
C M.
Food only... I recall nothing of the service or the establishment. Spaghetti w/ Meatballs: A well executed rendition of a classic Italian staple. The application is presented with a 3 serving bed of Thin Spaghetti that's topped with an abundance of Meat Sauce and three large sized Meatballs. Patrons will discover that the hearty nature of this application is well presented during the initial tasting of this dish. Various flavors ranging from salty to savory are evident during consumption. The robust nature of the tomato sauce is favorably enhanced by the addition of the meat in the sauce. Despite the sauce being a bit runny at times, the flavors of the sauce coated the pasta well, thus providing a well executed balanced flavor. Lastly, the meatballs were mildly firm, with little give. Tasting revealed a balance of flavors ranging from a brash saltiness from the Parmesan to the delicate abundance of fat from the 80/20 ground chuck. A well executed rendition to an Italian Classic.
(3)
Ann B.
My husband and I went to dinner on Saturday and we were very disappointed with the new menu. Why change a good thing. Not only did the menu change but they give you less food. I ordered a chicken dish with a side of pasta. The chicken was so small I ate it in about 6 bites and the pasta was dry. I have being going to macaroni grill for many years and have never had a bad meal. I will never go back and that saddens me because it was my favorite restaurant. Ann
(1)
Nanou A.
I don't even know where to start, I took 2 of my girlfriends there because they wanted to try it. We ordered 2 Starters and asked that the Mussels come without pepperoni as I don't eat pork. The waiter comes back with the Mussels stating they have no peppers. I said no pepperoni, do you know what he said to me?? "This doesn't have pepperoni",I told him that it did as the menu stated it. he continued to tell me to just eat it and pepperoni can't been seen anyways. I could not believe it. They were out of my favorite entree , I asked him for the check and that's when he caught an attitude. He showed no care for out table and told me to just leave the check on the table. the Server's name is Leslie, and Thanks to him I will never step foot there again. I am a big fan of dining out and great costumer service, this was not even close. I called the manager the next day and I hope that waiter gets trained.
(1)
Tiny B.
i've been to this restaurant many times (not of my choosing of course) and have never had a good experience. the food is mediocre at best and the service is lacking. during my last visit, and believe me it will be my last, i notified my server that my food had some herb in it that i can't tolerate and i would like to order something else instead. she notified her d-bag of a manager who came to our table and argued with me. he told me that it's my own fault that i didn't like the food because i was the one who ordered it. umm, no. it was not noted on the description that they added nasty terragon to the sauce! his response was not appreciated and we went at it for a little bit until he agreed to give me a substitute, which i did not eat because i didn't know if he would spit in my food. this chain restaurant is always packed and it's really not worth it. take your money elsewhere where you will get quality food and service.
(1)
Patricia T.
Had dinner at this location last night; have been here several times but not recently. Now, never again. First thing, was a 50 minute wait even though there were many, many empty tables. When we were finally seated our table had NOT been completely set, missing utensils and glasses. Our waiter did bring the remaining set ups quickly and take our drink orders promptly. He brought bread without being asked as well. The real downer was the food: it was almost cold and my shrimp could have been used for golf balls they were so over cooked. I ordered a dish that was supposed to have shrimp, mushrooms, spinach, pine nuts and lemon sauce. It in fact only had a few over cooked tiny pieces of mushroom, the above mentioned severely over cooked shrimp and a few scraps of spinach. The pine nuts were totally missing, and the lemon sauce was an unflavored oily concoction without a trace of lemon. The angel hair pasta was ok. Another member of my party ordered a dish that was supposed to contain chicken and mushrooms with cheese. His dish consisted of a few bits of a meat that could have been described as chicken and one whole mushroom. The third member had lasagna which she thought was good. If you like cold over cooked food, that is not served as the menu described, after a long unnecessary wait then this is the place for you. I would not even give this place one star except I don't want anyone to think I forgot to rate it and our waiter did deserve at least one star. Stay away from this place!!!!!!!!
(1)
Angela B.
Went there w/ co-workers to celebrate today and I'm very pleased with my overall experience. The place was suprisiing quiet and patrons visible. We (group of 15 people) came for someone's bday and had plenty of space to make ourselves comfortable. I had an appetizer and was more than pleased with the portion and the taste. Everything else though....meh, I'll pass.
(4)
Jayden D.
Bread was great!!! Sunday afternoon lunch had wonderful service. Thanks Brian.... We had a simple meal I had tomato soup and caprese salad. Both were great love the spice on the soup. Husband had the Chicken Alfredo he liked it but it needs a little something. Next time I will request thin cut tomatoes on my salad because some parts were really think... Meal would have been a three but the great service made it a four.
(4)
Bill D.
I regret I have to drop one of our long-standing favorites off my list. We learned today they no longer have a gluten free menu or have GF menu options. This is no longer safe for celiacs.
(1)
Ruby L.
With all the different restaurants in the area to choose from, Macaroni Grill is becoming one of my family's favorites. There are so many different dishes we really love. The Steak Calabrese is my husband's absolute favorite! We also can't get enough of the Chicken Milanese, have never had anything leftover to take home because it was soo delicious. All the pasta options for children are not only inexpensive, they are really good. It's nice to have our entire family get something they enjoy eating and not having to cook it myself. Definitely worth going here if we are dining out. The service here has always been great. We feel like each time we came back the waitstaff and managment genuinely wanted to serve us and wanted us to have a good time. Will definitely be going back
(5)
Duran M.
First time here and the food is great! After my girl & I went to see "Ant-Man" at Regal Kingstowne 16, we decided to stop here for some dinner; after we took our seats and ordered our drinks (Peach Lemonade for her, Raspberry Lemonade for me), we ordered our meals. She had the Penne Rustica with a small Caesar salad while I had the Parmesan-Crusted Chicken salad with Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp (as I said, the food was delicious and filling)... it was also the first time I ever thanked the manager for a well-done meal.
(4)
Faye H.
Our family has just started making this place one of our favorite places to eat when we dine out. The Steak Calabrese and Chicken Milanese are our favorites. Oh, and the sausage and peppers! I have noticed lately this place is much more crowded which I am assuming is to all the new specials they have been advertising. We went there for brunch last weekend and got $2 bloody Mary's and $2 mimosas along with one pepperoni and one artisan pizza which were only $5 each. I'm really impressed with this place, the food, and the service we recieve. There are so many food options to choose from. I love the make your own pasta which they even have for kids, although our little one gets the mac and cheese every time. Definitely coming back.
(5)
David L.
I ordered a meal to go. Lasagna with side salad and cheesecake. The salad was not prepared correctly. The Lasagna was ok but partially overlooked. The cheesecake was decent. The meal was ready but it took about 5 minutes to checkout. Not a long wait but the restaurant was pretty empty. I was just standing there waiting for someone to acknowledge my presence. Overall I give the place 2-3 stars.
(3)
Chris D.
Good food, service was t the best. Sat in the bar area and the server left allot to be desired. Bummer
(3)
Florence N.
The location is fine but not the dishes, Most if not all on the menu is salty not tasty. Enjoyed the singing waiter but that's it. The place looks ok but won't recommend it at all. Tasted like cheap Italian chain resto. Been here once and have no desire to come back. I'd rather go to Delia's.
(1)
debbie a.
I was hesitant to give such a poor rating, but I felt as though I had no choice despite the manager's best attempts to rememdy the experience. Service: The food came out warm, but missing key elements in the dish. On the menu I thought my dish (Sea Bass) said it came with a Lemon-Wine sauce, when it was missing, I asked my server if 1) this was infact sea bass bc it REALLY looked like dover sole. 2) where was the lemon wine sauce - he told me it didnt come with it. When i asked to see the menu, he never brought it over and went straight to the kitchens to get it fixed and then later told me that it never came with the dish and that I was mistaking it for the dover sole dish.. He was right, but it would have been nice to see the menu when i asked. The maanger came and discussed the sea bass vs dover issue basically said that this sea bass came from the mediterranean and was smaller and lokoed more like sole (yeah.. still convinced it was dover sole) he offered to make me something for lunch on the house and paid for our entire meal, but I was... in too much of a rush to leave and disappointed with the service (the arguing from the server despite his attending to every other need) and the flavor of our food. Food: The calamari was good, but it should not be hard to fry something. The lemon -wine suace they brought after I had waited after arguing with the server, it came to me as lemon juice poured into warm white wine (as you can imagine.. it was disgusting) The chicken under a brick was flavorless and boring.. the potoates were good but far too greasy. I promised the manager I would come back, but i don't know if i can muster up the courage.
(1)
Ashley R.
Went here last night under the boys recommendation. We got there around 730 and there was no wait. We each ordered the house wine - I had white and he had red. He ordered the chicken scallopini and wasn't too satisfied. I had the spaghetti and meatballs and got penne pasta instead. I asked the waiter if the meatballs were spicy and it took him a second and he said "yeah a little spicy" but they weren't at all. He didn't seem very well versed in the menu, but was a nice guy. The food was flavorful but not outstanding. I was happy the singers never made it to our table :) I think we may choose Olive Garden the next time we're craving chain restaurant Italian.
(3)
Michaele M.
I should've heeded prior reviews. Mac&cheese bites - fried cholesterol balls. I didn't care too much for the coating, so I just opened them up and ate whatever mac&cheese I could. Not my fave app. Parmesan-crusted Sole - drenched in sauce and very salty orzo pasta. I found it so unappetizing, I returned the dish. Sorbet - not bad Limoncello Valaroso Martini - waaaaay too sweet Was VERY unsatisfied with the meal and will not be returning.
(2)
Jenna H.
The food here was really tasty and the feel of the restraunt itself was satisfactory. The waitress was funny and nice but the manager definitely outshines her. The manager made sure we had enough bread and that our food would come out on time. The margherita pizza was a little burnt on the edges but the middle was good. The Alfredo was eh. However, the sausage was great! Also, the dessert was phenomenal. We got the cheesecake, vanilla gelato, and chocolate cake. (the chocolate cake was the best!) The only thing that I think could be improved is the bathroom cleanliness. The paper towel container was open, the trash can area was a mess, and the soap dispenser was open and spilling.
(4)
William S.
Me and my brother went out for lunch on a Saturday. I started with the Calamari Fritti. Even it was put in the frier at the same time and it was clump together. But the Calamari was very good. Also for my main dish was the shrimp Portofino. Jumbo shrimp was very good. and the angel hair pasta was out of this world. lemon butter and lasagna bolognese top it off. But my brother had the spaghetti and meat balls with arabists sauces. End of his meal he should have gone with the angel hair as well. We was well come at the desk. First tabled and the first nervier came up talked when away. Second server came up and write his name at the table ask what drink we whetted. At the same time we ask for bread. Even when he put the olive oil and parmesan cheese. So I told him way and he was going to put the parmesan cheese in the oil. So I ask for the bread. After waiting and someone else had to get it for us. He came back and we place owner order for the meal. I could see in his eye and way he acted he was not in his job. But the way he was with the other table he was interested in the large group instead. We enjoyed the meal but end up giving a $3.00 tip in the end. Another reason that this one of the place that me and my mother enjoy the food. Before going to Walmart. And it was the nice memory. Plus going to miss her. I will come back here again and hope get another person to service up.
(3)
Jade M.
I feel disappointed for other diners who had a negative experience at this restaurant. Each time I've been here, I have had no complaints about the service. I find the waiters and waitresses to be very professional, classy, and friendly. Its rarely ever crowded which creates a peaceful and flowing atmosphere. This is a good place for a date. The platters are very mature and rich.
(4)
Jan S.
Actually the food was pretty good despite the horrible reviews. At the end of the day it's not a Michelin restaurant so I find it humorous that some people act like they're expecting some sort of awakening. The servers were great, drinks were good (didn't try the random house wine...I never do), and the food didn't take forever. The two "foodies" behind us gave the server a horrible time because they didn't bother to figure out what chicken scaloppini actually is before ordering their food. Cute, really cute, naturally they were a bit surprised due to the lack of marinara sauce on their plate:/ The server and manager actually came over and tried to replace their plates, and/or comp their meal. They rudely refused but went ahead and cleaned their plates:)
(4)
Alicia H.
If it is possible to give a zero, I would. Never eat here, just spent an evening in the ER with food poisoning after eating the lasagna and Caesar salad Friday night.
(1)
Joseph M.
This place has really gone downhill. But, I guess if you live in the burbs and don't want to venture out, you can eat the same over priced, bland food that this place has been serving up for the past 8 years. In the beginning, well late 90's early 2000's when Kingstowne was new and had life, this was excellent. Now, it's odd servers, burnt/undercooked food, soggy/greasy sandwiches, and spaghetti dishes that are bland. It's not worth the prices. Kind of a shame, beautiful restaurant.
(1)
Kat P.
After trying to get into another restaurant for a drink and discovering their bar was packed, my friend and I decided to pop into Macaroni Grill. Imagine our surprise when we found out they still had happy hour specials on a Saturday! Apparently their HH is every day from 4-7. My friend got 2 glasses of their house red for $3, and I got 2 different cocktails for $5 each. The first was a margarita which was very good, but sweet, so if you don't like sweet drinks I would tend to shy away. The second was called the Ultimate Bellini. I got it, after seeing the bartender make it for another table. It was a tall frozen peach bellini with black raspberry, as Rachel Ray would say "yum-O". We also ordered a $5 pepperoni flatbread which was a great deal too! We were definitely glad we stumbled upon some great deals in Kingstowne.
(4)
Vincent N.
We've been to macaroni grill quite a few times and the food has always been good. The same held true this time around as the food is presented well, good portion and reasonably priced. Where this place loses stars though is in the service. I'm not sure what happened but it just seems that it is unreasonably slow even when the restaurant has a light crowd. We ordered salads with our meal but they weren't brought before dinner. We cancelled them altogether and the manager offered a free dessert which was nice, we did not use it. Drinks were slow to come by and the check took about 10 minutes even after all of the plates had been cleared. I like this place, I really hope they can get their act back together. Maybe it was just the Sunday dinner staff that made the difference.
(2)
Tracy X.
I went there with my husband for dinner,and we were very disappointed. We went there hungry, and waited about 35 minutes, finally the waiter brought appetizer mussels. We looked at it, it has broken shells, but we were too hungry, didn't bother to argue with them, so we had to pay extremely attention, try not to get mouth cut, and anyway it tastes pretty bad. Then the waiter brought my pesto pasta, which has veggie like the end of asparagus which is the part people usually cut them off and throw them away. The veggie they put in my pesto pasta is so tough, which nobody can chew and digest. So we paid and left hungry. Next day, my husband couldn't find his verdict card. We went back, but nobody knew it. So we decided that we will never go back there again. Never! We live right in Kingstown, it is shame that how they run business like this! It's their loss!
(1)
Bobby I.
Great customer service, I've been to this location a few times. My food look beautiful but it was okay far the taste. My chicken was over cooked a little and the spinach in the pasta was not fresh. The greens had a after taste to it. I taste the same thing with my salad, so I was happy with my salad. Maybe I should not go at the close of business like I've done last time. The other time that I have visit this restaurant I had the chicken n arugula flatbread and I was very good. So I will return, it's a good restaurant, they just need to check the vegetable to make sure there fresh.
(3)
Scott S.
Very disappointing. 1. Waited for 15 minutes after we were seated, and were never greeted, although the table next to us was seated 10 minutes after us, and greeted within two minutes. 2. I walked up to the bar and asked both employees behind it if I could bring my 13 year old nephew and we have dinner. Both, said it would be fine. So we did so. 3. Towards the end of our meal, we were notified by an unidentified manager that it was unlawful for my nephew to be dining at the bar ( note neither of us obviously were drinking ) and that they could be shut down, so we needed to leave the chairs and were told we could move to another table, after it was bussed of course. 4. I decided to box the remainder of our food, paid our check, and exited before the table promised was indeed ready. This was an overall TERRIBLE experience. The staff and management was not only able to treat us with complete disrespect, they also felt it necessary to embarrass us in front of the entire bar and cocktail section. Do you really think you handled this the proper way MACARONI GRILL? I'm in just utter awe of how we were mistreated, simply amazing...what exactly did we add customers do to deserve this? We came to spend our money and have a nice dinner. We waited patiently, we took it upon ourselves to ask to be accommodated somewhere else since we were not being attended to, which we were by the barstaff. Then were all but thrown out. So I didn't complain, but I did mention politely to the manager, that he might check with their ABC agent to verify his accusations. I am unaware of any law that states it is unlawful for either of us to go into a restaurant and dine at the bar? So if that's the case...then you basically just full out discriminated against us! And just for kicks, say it was.....Well maybe if you had treated properly the first 15 minutes we were there, or if your employees knew about your So called law, or maybe, just maybe you dealt with the the situation with a little class, none of this would have been so terrible. Way to make such a wonderful memory for my nephew and I who get to eat out together every other year :'( really fantastic guys, absolutely fantastic. I'm so disappointed with you Macaroni Grill and your management I'm pretty sure I'll be letting EVERY single last person I know, how rude and disrespecting your company is. Scott
(1)
M F.
I sat at the bar for dinner and the service was great. The food, however, left a lot to be desired. I ordered pasta milano and the bow tie pasta was not done. There were a few crunchy pieces of pasta in there. I had a ceasar salad and the complimentary bread that were good. I expected my dish to be better than that after waiting over 30 minutes for my food. The other issues were the hostess was running around and the phone constantly rang and rang and rang. To top it all they were not busy at all. Yikes if they get busy!
(2)
Jim W.
We made reservations on Friday for a Saturday night -- table for four at 7 PM. We arrived and mentioned our reservation. The hostess started to look for the reservation and said. "well nevermind." They weren't that busy. We sat down, looked at the menu, and waited for the waiter to come take our drinks order. He came brought some bread and said, "i'll be right back." This happened several times before we ordered our drinks as well as our entrees. Luckily, we were not in a hurry. Hubby ordered salmon and I ordered italian sausage with potatoes. I couldn't finish my meal because i ate one of those pieces bread. I took my leftover home. It'll make a good meal. The food tasted good. The service needs improvement. Not sure we will go back.
(3)
Ed D.
Decent food. Def not my style of choices of food but it passes. Good selection of wine and cocktails happy hour runs from about 4 to 7 and is pretty decent given some of the choices that they have although the flat breads are delicious sometimes they could do better... The bar staff in the wait staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and will be very honest if they're not clear on something so if you want a truthful answer if you'll get it from them
(4)
Brenda R.
After having not been there for about 15 years, my husband wanted to try it. I raved about their manicotti and thought we made a good choice. As soon as we walked in we had second thoughts. There was no wait but the lights were very bright and the atmosphere was very cafeteria like. We were seated pretty much in the middle of the room and throughout our meal servers kept bumping into my chair. We thought we should leave but then decided to give it a try. We were seated and after a long wait we got a server who did not seem thrilled to be waiting our table or even sure she was supposed to. We ordered drinks and looked at the paper one page menu (this should have been our first clue). The table cloth had paper over it and we started to wonder. Our waitress finally came back after a long wait with drinks and quickly left again. After another long wait we ordered and appetizer of calamari that was so-so when finally delivered. After more long waiting my husband ordered another beer and when it was finally delivered it was wrong. We finally got to order food and when that was brought out it was terrible. Not to mention they had little Italian option to choose from and no longer had manicotti at all. I had the mushroom ravioli which was dry and tasted terrible. My husband had the sausage and peppers and he said the potatoes was the best thing on the plate. The waitress seemed uninterested in our table at all and came by only rarely to check on us. We will NEVER go to this restaurant again and it was a waste of time and money to go here.
(1)
Steven O.
One of the worst Carry out food experience ever. If you want a foreign objects in your food come to this restaurant. Found a piece of plastic tube in my pasta as upsetting as that could be i was sharing my dish with my son who could've choked on it !!!! I called the corporate office to file a formal complaint only to be told to mail in the object so investigation can be done. Got a call from Houston I guess that's where their headquarters are at only to be told there was nothing we can do. The piece of plastic tube, and by the way I bit down on had loosen my crown, was not an object that was associated with the recipe? Well no poop sherlocks!!! But why was it in my dish??? So I was told we can't do anything for your crown? Like I was after their money ? I was beyond insulted! I wanted my damn apology!!! This is how corporate America is! Always thinking about the money!Own up to your mistakes instead I have to warn people about how lousy their customer service is and how when you order food here it's like a Cracker Jack box meal everyone might get a prize in their meal. Don't count on me coming back ever I wish all the diners good luck if you want to eat here. Next stop Better Business Bureau site . Over and out!
(1)
Kurt K.
Had to be the absolutely worst service and food I've had in a restaurant in a very long time. There were only about 6 other tables seated when the family and I sat for lunch. When seating us our server said they had a free appetizer special. Either one large or 2 small apps for free. He came back a while later and took our drink orders. Took about 10 min to get the kids drinks. We then ordered our meals and "free" apps. We went for 2 small ones. We weren't that hungry but they were free so why not? It took another 10 min for the wife to get her wine. Then we wait for at least another 15 min when I finally flagged down the setver and asked if I could get the beer I ordered. He said "oh my bad, I'll add a 2nd one for free." About ANOTHER 15 min later the entrees show up with my beer. No apps. So we ask about it and he says again, "oh my bad, I'll give ya one for free." Ummm aren't they both supposed to be free?? And speaking of the food, it was terrible! I've ate at Macsroni Grill several times and always top notch. But this was so greasy, the pork in my pasta had huge pieces of grissel, bones and some other unidentifiable stuff. We finish eating (well sort if. None of us could finish the awful food) when our apps finally show up. After waiting quite a while, again, the bill finally shows up. We were charged for one of the apps and not only did I not get a 2nd beer free I was charged for the first. We were already running late since everything took SO long so couldn't wait for the manager unfortunately. Absolutely terrible, TERRIBLE experience.
(1)
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Address :5925 Kingstowne Ctr
Alexandria, VA, 22315
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Sugar I.
Very disappointed with the food here tonight. Service was terrible. Never will we come back here.
(1)Mary Y.
Absolutely fantastic! We had great service. Rashad was our server and he was so sweet and attentive. Managers and chef stopped by our table multiple times to check on us. Quick, efficient, and delicious! Loved my chicken parm. Will return.
(5)Naseer R.
Hicham was awesome! Make sure he's there when you come and ask for him. The food is awesome as always. Girlfriend wasn't to hot on the sausage and potatoes (a little burnt, it happens), but the service was incredible.
(4)Tracy D.
Over the years this place has really become a hit or miss. I love their bread: dipped in olive oil, basalmic vinegar, cracked pepper, and some salt. Their peach iced tea is uber yummy! I like to create my own pasta but from time to time I'll order something off of their menu. The servers can be hit or miss as well. Some are helpful but some are snotty and not very attentive. I strictly come here for convenience as I live close to the Kingstowne area.
(3)Alex P.
Sat down at 5 pm. Left at 5:18 pm after no server ever appeared. Even after asking the hostess to find our server. We don't have especially high service standards, but showing up would be nice.
(1)Kevin C.
I liked the decor of the establisment. The toasted Mac N Cheese Bites with the Truffle Dip appetizer was a bit interesting. The Calabrese Steak entree with the potatoes and the broccolini I had was reasonably good, served in a hot pan. I was on vacation so we chose RMG for Dinner one evening as there is not one where I am from.
(3)Kimberly K.
A Good Day: - The food is seasoned well. Everything is plated well and tastes even better. - The Mango Iced tea has just the right amounts of sweetness and mango flavor - The bread is FRESH, warm and crispy on the outside but soft inside - Our server knows exactly what to do without us having to ask him/her a billion times. He or She is friendly and on point. A Bad Day: - The food lacks flavor and doesn't taste the same as it did on a good day. - The Mango Iced tea isn't sweet at all and tastes like regular iced tea - The bread is cold and tastes stale. We'll ask for another one. The new one they bring out is now warm BUT still STALE. - The service is off (no refills, our meals arrive before the appetizers, we are invisible to our server) In Conclusion: I really like you Macaroni Grill. I've been dining at your restaurants for about 10 years now and I am a fan of your food (on the good days). However, you guys really need to be more CONSISTENT.
(2)Tom R.
Cold food. Long wait
(2)Beck E.
The food is just whatever--it's a Macaroni Grill, for crying out loud. But the service can be HORRENDOUS (not always, but it feels like a gamble whenever I go here). Family: *waits at table for 20 minutes* Waiter: *finally walks by* Lil Sis: "Excuse me, could we please get some waters?" Waiter (super flamboyant but not in a fabulous way): *grabs glasses from the table across, slams on the table* There. Was that so hard? My little sister had to grab cutlery from the same table--seemed like fair game after what had just transpired, and it's not like the waiter was going to be too helpful. When the $28 bill came, my grandma paid with a $50. The waiter looked at it and asked: Waiter: "Will you be needing any change?" (A $22 tip on shitty, disrespectful, TERRIBLE service? YEAH, right!) Lil Sis: "Yes. We need the change." Waiter: *comes back* "Here. Instead of bringing you the change for the bill, I broke the fifty into smaller pieces so that you *actually* have the money to pay. WTF?? Does this guy have some sort of social disorder or is he really that big an asshole? He got a $1 tip, which I honestly think is about $1 more than he deserved.
(1)Patrick J. M.
We're huge fans of Romano's Macaroni Grill, but avoid this location in Kingstowne like the plague! It's sad to say that the best part of the dinner were the salads, as the rest of the meals were completely downhill from there. We had both Mushroom Ravioli, which was completely 'off' in taste, rather bland, and the Chicken Marsala, which seemed to be a very small dove, in relation to the size of the portion, which was amazingly small, and was equally as bland in taste. We were surprised at how many 'one star' ratings this location has already, and we would give this it a minus star, as well, as we were equally as shocked at just how bad and bland the food was. We're just stunned at how bad of an experience we had at this location. It's obvious that the management of this location apparently doesn't have a clue as to how bad their reputation is on the street, either. They seemingly don't care. Gordon Ramsay need to come in and turn the place around. Like many other reviewers, we absolutely won't be back and we'll tell everyone we know in the area to pass on dining at this location, too.
(1)Tamara O.
Over the years my husband I have watched what was once a favorite restaurant with attentive service turn into high-priced, served cold fast food. After our last visit we vowed never to return, our waiter who was charming but clearly not suited for waiting tables could not get our order correct and brought the food cold. I am very tolerant and really don't like to fuss, but it was over the top with wilted lettuce in the salad, etc. we did speak with manager and he comped our meal, but frankly I would rather pay for my dinner and have it be delightful.
(1)Melissa P.
This restaurant appears to be sorely mismanaged. I did not write a review after our bad experience on New Year's Eve in which we were told that a member of the kitchen staff called out & the manager was working the line alone. It took 15 minutes to be seated in a nearly empty restaurant, and the food took so long to arrive that we had to ask for it to be boxed up to go an hour later. I wrote it off the experience as bad luck. By the reviews, I can see this isn't the case. If you're thinking about stopping by, pick up a frozen dinner instead. Michaelangelo's frozen meals makes a great chicken parm, which seems to be comparible in size, but it will cost you a fraction of the price and time.
(1)Della O.
I always see this place when I'm at the Kingstowne shopping center so I figured I'd give it try. We went on a Sunday around 6pm and it was quiet empty. Service was great, we were served really fast, drinks were refilled on time. The waitress was really friendly think her name was Ebony. The food on the other hand was not what I expected. It's on the pricier side so you expect better quality. Chicken Parmesan Pasta tasted like a frozen meal from a grocery store. Just expected more taste lol... Don't think I would rush back here!
(3)Timothy P.
I should know better to expect anything great from a chain such as this, but unfortunately my experiences have been 1-star worthy. Food: - overly creamy and buttery - heavy-handed in the sauce for every dish (greens, meats, pastas, fish) - we ordered cheesecake for a special occasion and it wasn't fully defrosted when it came to the table. Pro: we did have it sent back and I believe they took it off our check. Price: - overpriced, bland food not worth the money Ambiance: - freezing cold temperatures - awkward entrance to the restaurant from the parking lot Parking: full, free lot available
(1)Rick G.
Pasta is plasta & sauce is no coup de grâce! When I know the restaurant's a big box or a national chain, I cringe at the inevitable - this Romano's was no exception! Although I obviously have not tried everything on the menu, what limited portion I and those with me did have, showed that their focus on ambience, food prep and overall attention to detail and quality hits the mark only slightly, and appeared to me to be short of fabulous! Their pastas in general appear to have nothing to say, but lay there and smell good! What's with the crayons! I am sure you'll find something better elsewhere and urge you to do your homework if you really want an exceptional Italian-American experience, though their attentive service and food quality food is good overall, I think I can do better... may come back on occaision.
(3)Jennifer D.
Went with the staff of my school for an end of year luncheon. Service was good despite the circumstances (they were still open though we came as a massive group). My salad and entree were good - I had the chicken parm and a regular green salad. The tiramisu was...weird. When the server sat it down in front of me it looked like pudding. It's hard to describe but it was super sweet and I couldn't finish it. Disappointing.
(3)joe w.
I am a fan of this restaurant generally. We ordered lasagna and shrimp pasta. However, we got cannelloni and a sampler instead. The food was A-OK however the servers had a careless mistake of bringing us dishes that should have gone to an adjacent table. The servers were lightning fast so I forgave them. I highly recommend writing down what you ordered or checking it before biting into it. Our server was very nice about correcting this quickly without needing to complain.
(3)Deb E.
Macaroni Grill used to be one of my favorite restaurants until today. I had the sea bass for the first time and found it disappointing. The service was mediocre and impersonal. I would have offered feedback in person but I was not asked. I will not be back.
(1)Gregg M.
I went to Macaroni Grill with a dozen of my co-workers for a farewell luncheon. I've been to Macaroni Grills many times around the country so it's a known quantity. Needless to say, the Kingstowne edition is virtually identical to every Macaroni Grill in America. Macaroni Grill is very good at being able to accommodate large groups. Service from Moises, our server, was quite good. He kept our orders straight, brought out extra focaccia bread, and split up our bill into separate checks with nary a complaint. The food was was nicely-proportioned for lunch, although perhaps a bit pricey. That said, my seafood linguine had good-sized shrimp and scallops which were perfectly cooked. Despite the positives, what I find most disconcerting about Macaroni Grill is the nutritional "value" of their food. One of my co-workers printed out Macaroni Grill's nutrition info from their website. The fat and sodium content in some of their dishes is SHOCKING!!! Definitely not heart-healthy! Oh well, it does taste good. Bottom-line...the Kingstowne Macaroni Grill offers no surprises good or bad. Still, sometimes that's a very good thing.
(3)Emily A.
I am usually insanely skeptical about eating at any Macaroni Grill chain. I don't really have much reason why that is just that I prefer mom and pop spots to chain restaurants I guess. However my daughter does like Romanos Macaroni Grill so we decided to head there and grab a bite to eat. I ordered the chicken caprese and was amazingly surprised how flavorful and delicious it was. My daughter scarfed down her fettucini alfredo, and did some serious damage to the yummy bread they give you as an appetizer before your meal. The price is decent, the food was good, and the waiter was okay. I didn't think that it was pretty cool that they had someone going around singing in Italian to the patrons in the restaurant. Through the atmosphere definitely gets a plus . I wouldn't make it an everyday kind of spot but it's definitely going to be in my rotation of restaurants if I need a decently priced Italian/American meal.
(3)Eric F.
My wife and I had lunch at Macaroni Grill the day after Thanksgiving. The food was decent. I had the Carmela's Chicken, a dish that contains so much butter, cream, and cheese that it has to be good. My wife had the sole, which was fresh and delicious in spite of the preparation and not because of it. The service is definitely bad in comparison to the rest of the United States. Our waiter took about 10 minutes before even taking our initial drink order, the main course arrived really late, and there was a general lackadaisicalness among the busboys and hosts. But compared to the rest of DC, that is par for the course. 6/10.
(3)Barry A.
I did not have high expectations, I was not disappointed. 2 hours to get our pre ordered lunch for a Christmas party. Glad the boss picked up the check. Food was terrible and they were understaffed. Guess the manager just didn't care. Don't waste your time
(1)Ed G.
I have to say first, that I went with Macaroni grill because it's a chain and should be reliable and consistent. I was wrong with this assumption. I ordered the mushroom ravioli and my first thought when seeing the plate was it looked meager and made the comment to the waitress of that it looked like an appetizer with such a small portion. She replied back that all ravioli are served at this portion size and it was surprisingly filling. She was so very wrong, I filled up on the bread thankfully after the ravioli which were not even worth it. All in all, I feel like me and wife can make better versions of their own food and local Italian restaurants will give you better and larger portion food than this place.
(2)Rebecca S.
Our experience at Macaroni Grill last night was a comedy of errors. It wasn't my first time at this location; it was a work lunch option occasionally. We'd always been happy enough with the place. There was a wait for a table, so we decided to sit at the bar. We should have changed our mind when there were dirty dishes all over the bar, but we sat anyways. The bartender was so swamped with the bar and the service well that he couldn't keep up. He was obviously trying, but he just couldn't hack it. After not realizing there was a 2 for 25 deal until long after we'd ordered, having boyfriend's order come out as totally the wrong thing, the right order coming out crappy, and watching this guy just have an overall hard time, we called over a manager. He was nice enough, but didn't seem to think there was that big of a problem. Which was pretty disappointing. We didn't penalize the bartender - he was basically set up for failure, and was doing the best he could. As much as I've always enjoyed Macaroni Grill for what it is, I was disappointed enough this time around that I likely won't be back anytime soon.
(2)Elated J.
Not that I expect much from this place buuuut...My fiancé and I visited this location recently. When we approached the hostess desk there were 3 employees with their back turned, while talking about things unrelated to work, and not acknowledging the customers. I finally said, "Hello, are you all seating guests?" The hostess rolled her eyes and said, "For two...give me a second." We waited for about 5 minutes and were finally seated. We got to our seats, no water, menus, napkins, bread, ANYTHING and waited...as several waiters passed our table (including what was later acknowledged as the mgr) avoiding eye contact. After 15 minutes, we were annoyed and decided to leave. On our way out I requested the mgr. I told one of the servers, who then pointed me toward the mgr. The mgr approached and asked, "How can I help you?" I told him my complaint and his response was, "Ok" and he walked away. I expect sub par service on busy nights, at times, but this was a VERY slow night.
(1)Zach J.
Service was good, food was the definition of "meh". What was I expecting? Not quite sure considering this is a chain. The issue I had was I left with a taste in my mouth that even Altoids couldn't cover. I can't tell if it was the lobster ravioli I had or the water. I know it's simple tap water in those jars, but man, something was just not right. My daughter and I dined here on a Sunday night and it was pretty full the entire time we were there. Can't see myself going back ever again, but that's just me. Hope you enjoy and see for yourself.
(2)John B.
Food was really good. Had to jump up and down to get drink refills. Wondered who the waiter was cause he barely came around. Had to ask for the desert menu...etc.
(2)Dorcel L.
If there was a minus star I would select it. My family (party of 3) went there for a Friday night dinner out. We were provided a buzzer to notify us when our table was ready. We were told the wait time was approximately 25 minutes. Upon arrival there were about 4 parties waiting before us. The number of parties waiting continued to grow and after about 20 minutes we noticed parties leaving but none of the waiting parties were being being sat. Several people began to complain about the number of empty table and the amount to time and parties waiting. After we were sat (about 40 minutes later) we waited another 7 to 10 minutes for the waiter to come over to inquire about our drink order. My husband made the horrible mistake of leaving to go wash his hands which the waiter determined was a sign to avoid our table until he returned. He continued to ask us if we wanted another bread while we waited for our meal, yet he never brought it. We waited another 30 minutes for our food. The appetizer arrived after the main course. I ordered the lobster stuff clams and the warmed spinach with Shrimp. My husband ordered the Panini and my daughter ordered the mushroom ravioli. In making a long story short, if the food was worth the wait, I would be writing a different review. The dishes contained too much seasoning, heavily sodium laden and lacked freshness. I wish we'd selected a different place to enjoy our night out. :(
(1)Nico L.
So let me tell you how much I LOVE Macaroni Grill! It's Yumtastic but this particular location is were customer service goes to DIE! On two ocassions I've had HORRENDOUS service. My family & I waited an hr for our food and it came out cold.- STRIKE 1 The manager had the nerve ask us if we wanted him to heat the food in the microwave or to just make a new order. (Seriously?!) - STRIKE 2 Already with 2 strikes under their belt I RETURNED (yes I was DUMB enough to return) This time I bought a bottle of wine on special that the waiter assured me could be corked and taken home.... except... Wait What was that You DONT have WINE BAGS?! (Wine bags are sealed bags that allow you to carry an opened bottle of wine in your car with out recieving an open container charge). The manager (SAME GUY AS ABOVE) just kind of shrugged and said "What do you want me to do?" I suggested charging me for a glass. He came back and had charged me $19 for ONE GLASS when the bottle was selling for $25! STRIKE THREE-YOUR OUT! Not to mention what I expected to be a 1.5 hr meal ended up being THREE HOURS and I ended up missing a movie for which I had already purchased tickets. Now I drive the 30 minutes to Fairfax or Woodbridge for Macaroni Grill instead of this DUMP that's only 8 minutes from my house. RUN AWAY, QUICKLY!
(1)Narendra B.
Where should I start..hmm series of disappointments. The waiter forget the basic service i.e. water. Then he places a tiny plate with olive oil , pepper and salt and now I get all excited thinking I will get some warm bread...He comes takes the order and walks away and me and my bf are looking at each other thinking are we expecting something wrong so we check tables around and thinking if others got bread and they surely did, so we ask our waiter he responds by saying I have too many tables and busy so I don't know if you got everything or not. Then my appetizer calamari and bruschetta were served. Calamari is seafood just incase some one did not know so it was cold and soggy. Then the bruschetta with a regular sandwich bread toasted with garlic butter and tomato salsa stuff. Guess being from Europe I was introduced to real Italian food such a blunder eh!.. Lolz. To top it off the entree comes with pasta Alfredo sauce and uncooked raw chicken now that's a delicacy only for kingstowne Romano macaroni grille unfortunately my body rejected it right away. Thanks to the next table waiter who immediately came by to see why we turned purple and blue and he took the dish back to the kitchen. Thought my troubles for the night eating there were over well how can you finish a dinner without dessert it was in store. They take our credit cards and don't show up for 25 mins so we start the game "go fetch" and we found our credit cards laying around and the host quickly swipes them wishing us by saying have a great night and we just run run run so we don't have to look back. Never again the worst restaurant ever.
(1)Autumn G.
This is my second time attempting this restaurant as my husband and I used to frequent this chain in CA, however I have decided that I will never return. I went with my two children ages 5 and 8. As soon as we sat down our waitress said she would bring bread and water. After 15 minutes of nothing and hungry children I flagged her down for the bread. I had to ask her about the bread TWO more times before it came out and then she never poured the oil dip to go with it. The water never came either. My dish came out cold and unflavorful and had to ask for my side salad. Really? My 8 year olds food was cold as well. Horrible food and horrible service. Spend your money elsewhere!!
(1)Tracey M.
Went here to celebrate my daughters graduation...something I will always regret. Our server was a doll and she really tried her best to accommodate us but the food was absolute garbage. The steaks were so bad I took a bite and thought it was just me. I let my son take a bite and he spit it out. Strawberry daiquiris were horrible and chunks of ice so big I couldn't use my straw. Eggplant was like rubber...couldn't even cut it! First time here and most definitely last time! I spent $150.00 for my dinner and I left feeling really cheated.
(1)Olivia A.
The two stars is for the service, which hasn't changed since I first visited this place. However, the food has gone down. WAAAAAAAAY down. I'm not quite sure what happened there, but it's definitely not as good as it was way back when. Will I still go there? Every time nostalgia hits. Which isn't often. :(
(2)Ryan C.
Was there for a office Christmas lunch. They knew we were coming and how large of a party it was, a large number of us ordered our food a head of time and the people who ordered on the spot got their food much faster. It took almost 2 hours before i received my salad, When i finally got my entree the chicken parmesan tasted like grouper. We were there for right about 3 hours and a couple people just had their food brought to them in boxes so they could take it home since our work day was almost done. I will never be returning to this location and most likely will not visit any other again.
(1)Chefonism W.
This is truly one of the most horrendous dining experiences I have EVER had. After we were seated, we waited fifteen minutes for some water, the simple task of getting the water order right seemed to be challenging for our waitress. Two adults and two kids should get two adult glasses and two children's glasses, but our child was not given her ordered beverage, she got nothing... Then we stared longingly at our olive oil for another 15 minutes dreaming of the moment we get to dip a warm piece of bread into its goodness. Then we waited, and waited, AND waited! An hour later our order arrives, and guess what? The order is wrong! The kids eat because had they not then the cops would have been called for juvenile disorderly conduct. The kids were not offered cheese for their pasta, tables that came after us came and left and arrived in a different country, babies were born, people died and we were pissed. By the way the manager was a joke..
(1)Melissa M.
Been here twice, will not go back. Service is the worst I've ever encoutered, trust the other negative reviews... I felt like I was reading my own. Food was ok, but each time we've been, there have been ingredients missing or something added that shouldn't be there. Not a safe bet if you have ANY food allergy. Good luck getting your drink refilled or more bread. I think this is where all the waiters go when they get fired working somewhere else.
(1)Karl L.
Its decent. Sadly, I feel like a bloated whale every time I leave, since the menu is so heavy. That's to be expected for what they serve, I think tho. Had Eggplant Parmesan the last time the wife and I were in there and it was dope. Certainly better than any Olive Garden, tho if they rocked the salad and breadsticks like OG, they'd cop an extra star from me.
(3)Alex H.
Food was mediocre, the server in the bar area was not particularly attentive. I kind of felt like he was profiling me for being in my 20's and expected I wouldn't be a big spender, so didn't pay attention. Mussel app was ok, but the mussels were overcooked. I informed the waiter that I would like wine with dinner, but he never came back after dropping the appetizer. The bartender noticed me looking around and brought me a glass of wine. I had the pesto pasta and my girlfriend had the carbonara. Both were adequate, but waiter never checked back to see if we needed anything. After he cleared dinner plates, I asked for the dessert menu. He nodded and walked away. ten minutes later he came and brought me the check. Saving grace of the dinner was that the bar stocks Buffalo Trace bourbon and the bartender made a decent manhattan. Conclusion: meh, don't bother. Food is on par with an Olive Garden and the pretentious environment and lackluster service are a deal killer.
(2)jenny f.
"AMAZING EXPERIENCE" We celebrating our 2 years Anniversary last week & the singing server Eric greet us with welcoming smile, offer us a wine taste and he share to us his favorite sea food, grill steak, pork chops & a new chicken Parmesan on the menu. My husband like his direct & honest response. He always offer us to refill house wine Chianti. The food arrived to our table in 10 minutes & was delivered by another person but Eric offered to serve the food himself. Interesting that most server we never seen when food arrive at our table. Eric like to personalize the service. Impressive! The best part of the whole dining experience that no other restaurant we have ever been that Eric sing to us an italian love song. This is out of this world experience. Eric has no Idea that we came to Romano's because it was recommend to see & hear him sing. Great talent & Great service."
(4)Jon K.
A solid 4 stars.... I know, I know this is a chain. However, it's a pretty decent chain and hasn't disappointed me in the past. I've had many of the standard italian fare dishes here (spaghetti, lasagna, chicken parmesan, fettuccine alfredo, etc.). The foccaccia bread they bring out to you before the meal with olive oil is an added plus. Everything is pretty damn good and goes down mighty nice with a few beers or a bottle of wine (if I am with my wife). The servers and bartenders here have always been pretty attentive and nice to us so no complaints there. I have to mention that I really like this location as it's right in the middle of Kingstowne. You can go see a movie if need be or go shopping. Definitely a chain restaurant worth checking out....
(4)Melissa K.
Im not a fan of the food here. I went there today for lunch. I had the calamari for app. only because they were out of the crab stuffed mushrooms. Calamari was decent. My entree was the chicken parmesan....Oh hell No. It was really weak like MY chicken parm that I can make at home was better than this and I want my restaurant food to taste better than my home cooked food! No flavor or enough sauce...the cheese wasnt melted on top enough the cappenelli pasta was bland too. They really need to step it up in the seasoning there. Our waitress was very nice though.....1 star for her and 1 for the bread and calamari.
(2)Qwerty -.
I would've sent back my eggplant pasta--there were at best half a dozen itty bitty pieces of eggplant hidden in an enormous bowl of bland, overcooked pasta--except I'd already sent back my watery cocktail. It just seemed like overkill.
(1)Marianne L.
Popped in here last weekend for dinner after a day of xmas shopping. Amazingly - got seated right away and though the restaurant was doing a brisk business, we pretty much didn't have to wait for anything. Our waiter (Stefan) was attentive and amusing. But he gets big stars for ensuring our cibatta bread came piping hot from the oven each time. A lot of the menu is homogenized italian fare in this chain restaurant, but that doesn't mean there aren't some great times to be had. 1st the complimentary cibatta bread is GREAT!!!!! (especially fresh from the oven) The olive oil (bottles on every table) is VERY good as well. ME - .5 ML bottle of San Pellegrino w/ a nice fresh juicy lemon wedge - Mozzarella alla Caprese - little mozzarella balls instead of the traditional slices, but very fresh; as were the slices of tomato; but its the balsamic vinaigrette MAKES THE DISH (any excess got mopped up with the bread) - Create your own pasta w/ spaghetti, italian sausage, roasted garlic cream sauce, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, artichokes and diced red onions - good enough that it was no decision if the leftovers were going home and the portion size easily made this into 2 meals MY FRIEND (adding since we did share bites) - Iced tea (did not try) - Caesar della Casa (typical caesar salad) - Pinot Grigio Chicken (I might have to hurt someone to get this. I was happy with my dish, but this was wonderful too, esp. the many cloves of roasted garlic and the sauce) Again, I've had plenty more authentic italian food. But for chain fare, this was reasonably priced, a pleasant dining experience, and a good way to end a day shopping. A nice touch - the "learn italian" lessons playing in the restrooms. :)
(3)China W.
Please people do not visit this location. Management/service are horrible. As soon as I walked in the door and waited 7-10mins to be seated, a manager seemed to not have any concern. I wonder if he forgot he was on duty that night? I had to walk over to him and asked to be seated. He carelessly said, "Oh" walked over to the podium, grabbed a couple of menus and seated my party without so much as a hello or welcome. He blatantly walked off.....Looking at the reviews for this crappy facility, it needs to undergo new management quick and in a hurry. The location in Woodbridge, Va is so much better.
(1)Greg W.
Not bad. Cozier than the last time I was here. Lots of menu changes, dropping a few things I liked. Go here instead of Woodbridge. That's exactly what we did. Server was attentive and heloful. I get the sense the business is struggling. Lots of coupons a gimmicks to bring people in. Good food, though, and prices to match, will keep them there. Music a bit too loud, but overall a good but not great place to go.
(3)Dana M.
The salmon was dry and fishy. The bread had way too much rosemary in it. The salad my boyfriend ordered was awful. I do have one comment....the Sangria's were awesome. So I guess its not a bad place to go sit at the bar and have some drinks :) Oh and the service was super slow.
(1)Venkatesh B.
My wife and I ate here tonight. If you read my previous post, we were not terribly impressed but figured it may have been an off night. Tonight was again not good overall and so I am not sure we will ever come here again....there are just too many better places to go. Recap: We were seated promptly. The waiter was juggling a number of tables and could not get to us very quickly, but he was friendly and accurate with his care through the night. The appetizers we got were the bruschetta which was very average. The tomatoes were truly average, and the bread was okay too. We also got the goat cheese peppers which were horrendous. It may be my palate but I nearly threw up from the taste combination. Our entrees were served reasonably timed, and look beautiful, but the tastes were disappointing. My chicken parmigiana was variably cooked as some pieces were properly cooked and others were undercooked. The pasta was very bland tasting and would have been better if the water it was boiled in would have been seasoned with salt. Again the tomatoes were just okay. My wife's pork chop had overcooked, and undercooked areas as well and her risotto was just okay. Overall, if we are looking for chain italian, I think the olive garden is going to be our stand by from now on. The food is always consistent and we leave feeling happy about the evening. This place has disappointed us too many times to try again....maybe another location may eventually get our business, but not the kingstowne one. The one thing they consistently do well, however, is ambiance...but if thats all we wanted there are many lounges in DC....we need good food too!
(2)Mariah G.
On a normal day I love Macaroni Grill, but the one in Kingstowne has terrible service. The food isn't bad, but today I didn't even get that far. I was seated and looked over the menu. I had decided what to order, but nobody had even come over to acknowledge me, much less take my drink order. I watched 4 waiters and a waitress wait on the tables around me, but not one so much as made eye contact. I counted 7 tables with people at them, but I was the only one eating alone. I went back to the host/hostess counter and told her nobody had waited on me. The host said he would get someone. I waited another 5 min when a waiter finally came to my table with water and bread. I told him I didn't want any bread, but I would like to order. He said he was just bringing me water and bread to help Sarah out. I continued to wait for Sarah who I saw arguing with the waiter who brought be bread and water and thought she was on her way to my table. Instead she went to another table then walked away again. I finished my glass of water, and still no order had been taken. She walked towards me again, but turned away and went back. At that point I grabbed my purse and walked out. The restaurant was by no means full, so I don't understand why in the 20min I was there my waitress had not even come to greet me. I've had Sarah as a waitress before, and she has always been slow. If I ever go back to that Macaroni Grill I will ask not to have her as a waitress, or sit at the bar. I guess if you are eating alone, the wait staff doesn't think you are worth the time because you are less of a tip. But I was a waitress and treating customers that way isn't right.
(1)Watrbb W.
Friend and I went for lunch, it was only the second time I have eaten at Macaroni Grill and both times - not really a fan. On this occasion we split the calamari - or tried to split it - neither one of us liked it. It was totally bland and lacking the spicy sauce and hot peppers it was supposed to have. On to the salad.....mine was OK, nothing to get excited about. My friends though had brown lettuce and did not have one walnut (when it was supposed to have many). Both of the things (calamari & salad) we pointed out to the waiter and a gold star to him, he actually told the manager who came to our table. While she really did not seem all that surprised, she did remove both items from our bill - thank you to her! The main course for both of us was VERY GOOD - they redeemed their selves for sure. I had the lobster ravioli and my friend had the pasta di mare. It was explained that the salads and the appetizers come from one side of the kitchen, while the entrees come from the chef supervised side. Note to self - always order from the chef side! Not sure we will ever go back - except the all summer long 1/2 price bottles or glasses of wine are a real seller!
(2)Dee Dee S.
I came to this restaurant because we went to the same one in Silver Spring, M.D. and let me tell you there food and service was EXCELLENT to the point i was hooked on this restaurant and i thought let me go to this one being as though they the same branch boy was i so WRONG.... so we walk in and waited for 10 min which is not an issue. When we where seated our waitress KRIS came over and took our order. When she left, 10 min later i noticed she is also working at the bar which seemed strange to me why would a restaurant gives us a waiter working the bar and serving people. So everything was fine until we received our food we waited like 45 min for our food to get to us. Two of the dishes come with a side order of salad which we did not get!!!! our pasta was COLD, HARD AND BLAND. So we called our waiter over which was not difficult to find her being a though she working the bar so she can get the manager. Our manger JOHN comes over and we tell him our issues and he takes our dishes back and brings back supposedly "fresh" food NOPE food still bland and hard and note STILL NO SALAD. At this point we are disappointed in the service of this restaurant we lost our appetite. I WILL NOT BE COMING BACK HERE FOOD SUCKS AND SO DOES THE SERVICE IF YOU WANT YOUR MONEY WORTH I SUGGEST YOU GO TO THE ONE IN SILVER SPRING YOU WILL LEAVE VERY HAPPY AND PLEASE WITH EVERYTHING THERE!!
(1)K D.
I haven't been to a Macaroni Grill in several years, since I lived elsewhere, and decided to go with two other couples. We got there early and sat at the bar. They were out of the peach nectar for bellinis. When we ordered dinner, they were out of all the merlots and malbecs, but the waitress seemed confused as to what wine they might have available. She said they gave us glasses that are normally available only by the bottle, but the menu said they were sold by the glass. They were out of the goat cheese peppadew peppers. The meatball appetizer came 15 min after all the others, and we never got our orders of olives. One of the eggplant pasta entrees had no eggplant, so they offered to bring extra, which showed up 20 minutes later, swimming in oil on a plate. Then the waitress asked if we wanted dessert, but said they were out of dessert menus. What?! The food we got tasted ok, but we won't be back to this location.
(1)Heather W.
Horrible and cold food. Food was worse than Chef Boyardee (namely meatball sliders). Service was horrible...no table grooming...no drink or water refills...food took an hour to get to us ( 2 sandwiches and a bowl of pasta). Food was inedible. Restaurant was only 1/4 full...no excuse for bad food or bad service despite waiter's complaint of being "slammed". Waiter was rude when we asked for check and defensive and said we can talk to manager and this was before we even complained. Manager was rude to my 94 yo grandmother, mother and myself and did nothing to make things right. This place has gone downhill and prices have gone up. I will never ever eat here again nor will I suggest this place to anyone. Worst restaurant ever!
(1)vanessa g.
This chain has progressively gotten worse since I tried it over 8 years ago. Their food is very bland & forgetable. There is absolutely no fusion of flavor or interesting variety, and youre not even getting much for your buck. The staff is friendly but food can take a while to get to you. I would have to be either really hungry or forced to go back here. The only thing they have going for them is their decent customer service and their ok dessert menu.
(2)Dan B.
Always had good service, though the place is always busy and there is wait. Sitting at the bar is usually best for us. Food is good, not great
(4)Fireball D.
Food was great! Only reason why I dont give a 5th star was because I had to grab someones attention and let them know my friends and I were sitting there for 35 minutes and still no one waited on us. They apologized and discounted our food.
(4)Lily B.
Wasn't so great. We had to ask who as our server after seated for 15 mins. The old waiter was working hard running around. However his forehead sweats were actively dripping down to his eye brows when taking our order. We were afraid he would be dripping on our bread when brought to our table. I think it is so gross. He should at least wear a hat to absorb the sweats. The water glasses were wet with food particles and finger prints. We asked to exchange the glasses. The waiter took them in the corner and wipe them dry with the towel from his waist. Not sure if he gave us the same glasses back but the glasses remained wet and have dried up food particles. We just help ourselves to get new glasses from an emptied table. I had the seafood del mare. It was not worth $18. Only had few over cooked scrimps with two tender scallops. However there were enough mussels. The tomato sauce was too spicy. Definitely will not go back there.
(1)Emily H.
I used to work around the corner from this Macaroni Grill and only visited it a couple of times. After the past few lunches that I have had here I am relatively impressed and can't figure out why it took me this long to eat there. I was having lunch with my father who still works in that area and we sat at the bar. Our waiter was very helpful and, even though they weren't very busy, he wasn't intrusive. I had the Parmesan Crusted chicken Salad which was really good. I ordered the salad with Balsamic vinaigrette on the side, though the salad came with ranch dressing which I thought was odd. Regardless of how I feel about the dressing and salad pairing, the service was great as was the atmosphere. I would definitely dine at Macaroni Grill in Springfield again.
(4)Jocelyn B.
The worst food and service in YEARS. Even with a reservation made a week in advance took them 45 min to seat us and when we got to the table there were no glasses, silverware, or napkins. Our appetizers came out before our drinks. Dinner came out cold...not even warm...and it was disgusting! Really greasy and not flavorful.
(1)Kenneth F.
My wife and I dined this evening. We arrived about 530 and were promply seated. The wait staff welcomed us and took drink and appetizer orders. The bread, oh the bread, was wonderful with the itialian butter. We both chose the relatively new Trio....a salad, main dish and dessert for $11.99. We started out with the bruchetta, for which we had a "free coupon" that we received in the Post. I chose the garden salad with balsalmic, pasta milano, and the smothered chocolate cake. My bride had the garden salad with fat free italian, the layered lasagna, and lemon cake. We very much enjoyed the dishes, dining in the casual atmosphere. We boxed a nice portio which we will have for lunch tomorrow. I will definitely return for another delicious meal!
(4)Tonya L.
I have been going here and to their other locations for a few years and the food is normally good. I love the lobster ravioli, the bread is always fresh and great. My only issue is with the staff, its hit or miss with them. My recent trip a few days ago was a little frustrating because the servers would gather at the front desk chatting and not being very attentive.
(4)nicey b.
For years now, we've been looking past Macaroni Grill. The name just does not sound appealing. I've never been interested in trying it, but my love, my best friend decided to give it a try. The two of us wanted Italian, but just couldn't decide where so we thought we'd give something new a shot. Upon arriving, I do have to say that I was very impressed with the decor of the restaurant. We waited probably a total of 10 minutes for our table, which was not long at all. Our server brought us our drinks, poured olive oil in a dish, cracked some black pepper and served us our piping hot bread, fresh from the oven. DELICIOUS... The bread was perfectly crisp and flaky on the outside, and when you tear it on the inside, it was fluffy and soft. I couldn't help but notice the rosemary inside. Its a perfect way to welcome some VERY hungry guests. :) We loved it. For appetizer, we ordered the Mozzarella Fritta. (I needed my cheese fix.) I was expecting the usual, plain mozzarella sticks you can get at a diner, but we were pleasantly surprised with its arrival. They were in a half-moon shape, and there were 3 of them. They were pretty big in size too. They were fanned out on top of one another on a bed of hot, amazing marinara, and a trail of pesto was lined on top. I think the shape of the mozzarella frittas really changed the way that it tasted. Instead of little mozzarella sticks drenched in grease, these were perfectly crisp but not too greasy. The marinara tasted like it was made with lots of love. We devoured it in no time, and were so excited to see our main courses next. I ordered the Pollo Limone Rustica, while he ordered the Seafood Linguini with garlic cream sauce instead of the EVOO sauce that comes with it normally. Wow, it was a good choice he made, because that garlic cream sauce was astounding with the seafood he ordered. My Pollo Limone Rustica was delicious as well, and I was so happy with the amount of spinach they put in it. The sauce was a little watery in texture, but when the server asked the chef, they said thats how it was supposed to be? Oh well, still tasted fantastic... My dish tasted like a fusion between Thai and Italian and I LOVED IT. The decor inside is very nice as well. I love the fact that it takes all the beautiful things of an outdoor BBQ area, and combines it with the comfort of being indoors. The lights along the columns are outdoor lights,very unique and creative. I also LOVE how they use Paper for the tables, and provide every table with crayons. It definitely gave us something to do while waiting for the food. :) I can only imagine how convenient this is for families with kids. Parents get to enjoy delicious food in a beautiful environment, and the kids can remain occupied to draw on the tables :) Overall, I'm a fan. The food is delicious!! My only issue is the price. For the amount you're paying, couldn't they throw in some salad or something? For Italian food, I think this is expensive, so I wouldn't become a regular. I'd definitely eat here again though.
(4)Sabrina R.
My friend and I went there for dinner and only ordered sodas and a main entree. Our waiter was great! Sodas came out quick, and when the food was taking too long to come out, he gave us a complimentary dessert to makeup for it, which was a welcome surprise. He was great. The food (minus the dessert which was great) was so so. Nothing to rave about.
(3)Bonnie C.
I arrived with my sister the other day for a (late?) lunch about 1:30... The dining room was almost empty. We sat for a good 10 minutes before I had to go up to the hostess to ask for a waiter. When one did arrive, he poured the olive oil into the dish for our bread and heavily peppered it without even asking if we wanted too much pepper in our olive oil. The service was indifferent when we finally did get it and the food was very slow to come out of the kitchen even though there was no business. I could SEE the kitchen and the waiters and kitchen staff standing around doing nothing but take bread out of the oven. The salads were decent, fresh with nice dressing and ingredients. The chicken dish I had was a step above a Lean Cuisine, the bread was good but when asked if we wanted more, with some of our loaf left, we said no, what we had was fine-the bread was promptly taken away! This is the LAST time I will be going to this place where the only fresh food seems to be the salad.
(1)Terri B.
Food was great as was the service today!
(4)Laila A.
I used to love Macaroni Grill, but the terrible service and food on our latest visit has convinced my husband and I to never go back. Some of the highlights of the evening: --Watching four or five couples getting seated immediately after walking in while we waited half an hour with our buzzer (we were told a 15 minute wait). --Ordering a flavored ice tea listed on the menu only to be told "we don't have any flavored ice teas" by our perpetually-flustered waitress, who, when prompted to check with the bar staff, found out that mango ice tea did exist after all. --Note to kitchen: calamari should be golden, not burnt brown. Also, was disappointed to see plastic take-out style ramekins for the dipping sauce instead of ceramic. --My lobster ravioli, which I normally love for its usually creamy sauce, came out in a transparent, watery sauce, that I can only assume was 99% pasta water with a hint of sauce. When our waitress finally checked on us (after my husband and I had finished eating most of his carbonara entree while mine went untouched), and I pointed this error out to her, she argued with me that the sauce is supposed to be that way before finally agreeing to check with a manager, who confirmed that the sauce was not supposed to be that way at all. I received a 'corrected' version of the dish (which had clearly been microwaved based on the rock-hard, shrunken bits of lobster that came out the second time), but no apology. --When our waitress dropped off our credit card receipts, she launched into a tirade about how we'd better not steal her pen like all of the other customers do (I wonder why?). Being accused of theft felt especially ironic, since we were the ones that were being robbed by the restaurant of the $70 we paid for a total disaster of a saturday evening out.
(1)Chris D.
I really like Macaroni Grill, but this one has some really bad customer service. Food is great but the staff is not into it.
(2)Thomas L.
Unfortunately downgrading to two stars because the portions have shrunk, and the prices remain the same or have increased. For example, the Lemon Passion cake portion is now the size you used to get for free as a birthday cake, but the price is the same as it was when it was twice the size!
(2)J B.
So, I decided to take the family to Macaroni Grill for dinner. It was a Tuesday night, we were seated right away. The restaurant did not seem busy. But, it took a wait staff roughly 10 min. to greet us. After explaining the menu specials, we gave the waiter our drink and appetizer order. We were still deciding on our entree. Another 10 min. goes by, any the waiter delivers an incomplete drink order. Another 10 min. goes by and he finally brings the complementary Focaccia bread, but forgets to set-up the olive oil and crack pepper dip. At this point, my kids are getting restless. I give them a piece of the bread, and some water. Another few minutes goes by and the waiter final take our entree order. My wife orders the Pasta di Mar (a seafood platter) and I order Mama's trio, which is a compilation of 3 basic Italian dishes. Something any Italian restaurant can make and not "screw-up". Oh yeah....did I forget to say that it took another 10 minutes to get our appetizer and salads out. After the salads and appetizer were finish, the wait was a little shorter to clear the table of the salad and appetizer dishes. However, it took a little bit longer for us to get our dinner. At this point, I felt like was a customer in reality show "Hell's Kitchen". The waiting was getting old quick. Finally, our dishes arrive and I evaluate mine. I knew that I was not going to be happy with my dish, by it's presentation. Mama trio consist of a meat lasagna, chicken parmesan over spaghetti and tomato sauce, and chicken cannelloni. I've had all three dishes at other Italian restaurants, made by Italian chefs and cooks, and I have had it made by a friend's mom, who's recipe have been past on from generation to generation. After working in a authentic Italian restaurant, while I was going to college, I've been told my my mentors that train me, while I was a line cook and by a friend's mom that still cooks old world Italian style dishes, a person can determine how good a restaurant's dishes are by the way the tomato sauce is make and present on a basic spaghetti dish. Well, mine was crap. I asked for a side of tomato sauce, because there was barely any on the chicken parm dish. The side of sauce was lukewarm. That pretty much did it for me. I tried the lasagna, which was barely edible. The cannelloni ends were dried out, like it was under a heat lamp...waiting. I did not even attempt to eat it. I asked my wife about her meal, she was not really happy about it either. She really picked at the seafood parts of the dish, but it was the pasta and the sauce that she did not like. The pasta seem to taste like lo-mien from a Chinese restaurant. If she wanted Chinese food, then we would have went to a Chinese restaurant. I know I've been to other Macaroni Grill restaurant before and had really good experience, but this was the third and final time that I going to spend money at this restaurant. From the bad service, poor quality of preparation of the dishes, and just a bad experience overall, for the third time. I just think they need to either fire everyone or hire all new managers and retrain the staff.
(1)Bridgette S.
Terrible food. If you have any Italian in your background you will be utterly disapponted. My husband and I went last weekend and were reimbursed for the entire meal. Both appetizers were overcooked. My husband's veal was like leather and my pasta was overcooked, bland and had very few mushrooms or onions. Everything was greasy and heavy. I didn't expect it to be great, but this was ridiculous.
(1)C M.
Food only... I recall nothing of the service or the establishment. Spaghetti w/ Meatballs: A well executed rendition of a classic Italian staple. The application is presented with a 3 serving bed of Thin Spaghetti that's topped with an abundance of Meat Sauce and three large sized Meatballs. Patrons will discover that the hearty nature of this application is well presented during the initial tasting of this dish. Various flavors ranging from salty to savory are evident during consumption. The robust nature of the tomato sauce is favorably enhanced by the addition of the meat in the sauce. Despite the sauce being a bit runny at times, the flavors of the sauce coated the pasta well, thus providing a well executed balanced flavor. Lastly, the meatballs were mildly firm, with little give. Tasting revealed a balance of flavors ranging from a brash saltiness from the Parmesan to the delicate abundance of fat from the 80/20 ground chuck. A well executed rendition to an Italian Classic.
(3)Ann B.
My husband and I went to dinner on Saturday and we were very disappointed with the new menu. Why change a good thing. Not only did the menu change but they give you less food. I ordered a chicken dish with a side of pasta. The chicken was so small I ate it in about 6 bites and the pasta was dry. I have being going to macaroni grill for many years and have never had a bad meal. I will never go back and that saddens me because it was my favorite restaurant. Ann
(1)Nanou A.
I don't even know where to start, I took 2 of my girlfriends there because they wanted to try it. We ordered 2 Starters and asked that the Mussels come without pepperoni as I don't eat pork. The waiter comes back with the Mussels stating they have no peppers. I said no pepperoni, do you know what he said to me?? "This doesn't have pepperoni",I told him that it did as the menu stated it. he continued to tell me to just eat it and pepperoni can't been seen anyways. I could not believe it. They were out of my favorite entree , I asked him for the check and that's when he caught an attitude. He showed no care for out table and told me to just leave the check on the table. the Server's name is Leslie, and Thanks to him I will never step foot there again. I am a big fan of dining out and great costumer service, this was not even close. I called the manager the next day and I hope that waiter gets trained.
(1)Tiny B.
i've been to this restaurant many times (not of my choosing of course) and have never had a good experience. the food is mediocre at best and the service is lacking. during my last visit, and believe me it will be my last, i notified my server that my food had some herb in it that i can't tolerate and i would like to order something else instead. she notified her d-bag of a manager who came to our table and argued with me. he told me that it's my own fault that i didn't like the food because i was the one who ordered it. umm, no. it was not noted on the description that they added nasty terragon to the sauce! his response was not appreciated and we went at it for a little bit until he agreed to give me a substitute, which i did not eat because i didn't know if he would spit in my food. this chain restaurant is always packed and it's really not worth it. take your money elsewhere where you will get quality food and service.
(1)Patricia T.
Had dinner at this location last night; have been here several times but not recently. Now, never again. First thing, was a 50 minute wait even though there were many, many empty tables. When we were finally seated our table had NOT been completely set, missing utensils and glasses. Our waiter did bring the remaining set ups quickly and take our drink orders promptly. He brought bread without being asked as well. The real downer was the food: it was almost cold and my shrimp could have been used for golf balls they were so over cooked. I ordered a dish that was supposed to have shrimp, mushrooms, spinach, pine nuts and lemon sauce. It in fact only had a few over cooked tiny pieces of mushroom, the above mentioned severely over cooked shrimp and a few scraps of spinach. The pine nuts were totally missing, and the lemon sauce was an unflavored oily concoction without a trace of lemon. The angel hair pasta was ok. Another member of my party ordered a dish that was supposed to contain chicken and mushrooms with cheese. His dish consisted of a few bits of a meat that could have been described as chicken and one whole mushroom. The third member had lasagna which she thought was good. If you like cold over cooked food, that is not served as the menu described, after a long unnecessary wait then this is the place for you. I would not even give this place one star except I don't want anyone to think I forgot to rate it and our waiter did deserve at least one star. Stay away from this place!!!!!!!!
(1)Angela B.
Went there w/ co-workers to celebrate today and I'm very pleased with my overall experience. The place was suprisiing quiet and patrons visible. We (group of 15 people) came for someone's bday and had plenty of space to make ourselves comfortable. I had an appetizer and was more than pleased with the portion and the taste. Everything else though....meh, I'll pass.
(4)Jayden D.
Bread was great!!! Sunday afternoon lunch had wonderful service. Thanks Brian.... We had a simple meal I had tomato soup and caprese salad. Both were great love the spice on the soup. Husband had the Chicken Alfredo he liked it but it needs a little something. Next time I will request thin cut tomatoes on my salad because some parts were really think... Meal would have been a three but the great service made it a four.
(4)Bill D.
I regret I have to drop one of our long-standing favorites off my list. We learned today they no longer have a gluten free menu or have GF menu options. This is no longer safe for celiacs.
(1)Ruby L.
With all the different restaurants in the area to choose from, Macaroni Grill is becoming one of my family's favorites. There are so many different dishes we really love. The Steak Calabrese is my husband's absolute favorite! We also can't get enough of the Chicken Milanese, have never had anything leftover to take home because it was soo delicious. All the pasta options for children are not only inexpensive, they are really good. It's nice to have our entire family get something they enjoy eating and not having to cook it myself. Definitely worth going here if we are dining out. The service here has always been great. We feel like each time we came back the waitstaff and managment genuinely wanted to serve us and wanted us to have a good time. Will definitely be going back
(5)Duran M.
First time here and the food is great! After my girl & I went to see "Ant-Man" at Regal Kingstowne 16, we decided to stop here for some dinner; after we took our seats and ordered our drinks (Peach Lemonade for her, Raspberry Lemonade for me), we ordered our meals. She had the Penne Rustica with a small Caesar salad while I had the Parmesan-Crusted Chicken salad with Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp (as I said, the food was delicious and filling)... it was also the first time I ever thanked the manager for a well-done meal.
(4)Faye H.
Our family has just started making this place one of our favorite places to eat when we dine out. The Steak Calabrese and Chicken Milanese are our favorites. Oh, and the sausage and peppers! I have noticed lately this place is much more crowded which I am assuming is to all the new specials they have been advertising. We went there for brunch last weekend and got $2 bloody Mary's and $2 mimosas along with one pepperoni and one artisan pizza which were only $5 each. I'm really impressed with this place, the food, and the service we recieve. There are so many food options to choose from. I love the make your own pasta which they even have for kids, although our little one gets the mac and cheese every time. Definitely coming back.
(5)David L.
I ordered a meal to go. Lasagna with side salad and cheesecake. The salad was not prepared correctly. The Lasagna was ok but partially overlooked. The cheesecake was decent. The meal was ready but it took about 5 minutes to checkout. Not a long wait but the restaurant was pretty empty. I was just standing there waiting for someone to acknowledge my presence. Overall I give the place 2-3 stars.
(3)Chris D.
Good food, service was t the best. Sat in the bar area and the server left allot to be desired. Bummer
(3)Florence N.
The location is fine but not the dishes, Most if not all on the menu is salty not tasty. Enjoyed the singing waiter but that's it. The place looks ok but won't recommend it at all. Tasted like cheap Italian chain resto. Been here once and have no desire to come back. I'd rather go to Delia's.
(1)debbie a.
I was hesitant to give such a poor rating, but I felt as though I had no choice despite the manager's best attempts to rememdy the experience. Service: The food came out warm, but missing key elements in the dish. On the menu I thought my dish (Sea Bass) said it came with a Lemon-Wine sauce, when it was missing, I asked my server if 1) this was infact sea bass bc it REALLY looked like dover sole. 2) where was the lemon wine sauce - he told me it didnt come with it. When i asked to see the menu, he never brought it over and went straight to the kitchens to get it fixed and then later told me that it never came with the dish and that I was mistaking it for the dover sole dish.. He was right, but it would have been nice to see the menu when i asked. The maanger came and discussed the sea bass vs dover issue basically said that this sea bass came from the mediterranean and was smaller and lokoed more like sole (yeah.. still convinced it was dover sole) he offered to make me something for lunch on the house and paid for our entire meal, but I was... in too much of a rush to leave and disappointed with the service (the arguing from the server despite his attending to every other need) and the flavor of our food. Food: The calamari was good, but it should not be hard to fry something. The lemon -wine suace they brought after I had waited after arguing with the server, it came to me as lemon juice poured into warm white wine (as you can imagine.. it was disgusting) The chicken under a brick was flavorless and boring.. the potoates were good but far too greasy. I promised the manager I would come back, but i don't know if i can muster up the courage.
(1)Ashley R.
Went here last night under the boys recommendation. We got there around 730 and there was no wait. We each ordered the house wine - I had white and he had red. He ordered the chicken scallopini and wasn't too satisfied. I had the spaghetti and meatballs and got penne pasta instead. I asked the waiter if the meatballs were spicy and it took him a second and he said "yeah a little spicy" but they weren't at all. He didn't seem very well versed in the menu, but was a nice guy. The food was flavorful but not outstanding. I was happy the singers never made it to our table :) I think we may choose Olive Garden the next time we're craving chain restaurant Italian.
(3)Michaele M.
I should've heeded prior reviews. Mac&cheese bites - fried cholesterol balls. I didn't care too much for the coating, so I just opened them up and ate whatever mac&cheese I could. Not my fave app. Parmesan-crusted Sole - drenched in sauce and very salty orzo pasta. I found it so unappetizing, I returned the dish. Sorbet - not bad Limoncello Valaroso Martini - waaaaay too sweet Was VERY unsatisfied with the meal and will not be returning.
(2)Jenna H.
The food here was really tasty and the feel of the restraunt itself was satisfactory. The waitress was funny and nice but the manager definitely outshines her. The manager made sure we had enough bread and that our food would come out on time. The margherita pizza was a little burnt on the edges but the middle was good. The Alfredo was eh. However, the sausage was great! Also, the dessert was phenomenal. We got the cheesecake, vanilla gelato, and chocolate cake. (the chocolate cake was the best!) The only thing that I think could be improved is the bathroom cleanliness. The paper towel container was open, the trash can area was a mess, and the soap dispenser was open and spilling.
(4)William S.
Me and my brother went out for lunch on a Saturday. I started with the Calamari Fritti. Even it was put in the frier at the same time and it was clump together. But the Calamari was very good. Also for my main dish was the shrimp Portofino. Jumbo shrimp was very good. and the angel hair pasta was out of this world. lemon butter and lasagna bolognese top it off. But my brother had the spaghetti and meat balls with arabists sauces. End of his meal he should have gone with the angel hair as well. We was well come at the desk. First tabled and the first nervier came up talked when away. Second server came up and write his name at the table ask what drink we whetted. At the same time we ask for bread. Even when he put the olive oil and parmesan cheese. So I told him way and he was going to put the parmesan cheese in the oil. So I ask for the bread. After waiting and someone else had to get it for us. He came back and we place owner order for the meal. I could see in his eye and way he acted he was not in his job. But the way he was with the other table he was interested in the large group instead. We enjoyed the meal but end up giving a $3.00 tip in the end. Another reason that this one of the place that me and my mother enjoy the food. Before going to Walmart. And it was the nice memory. Plus going to miss her. I will come back here again and hope get another person to service up.
(3)Jade M.
I feel disappointed for other diners who had a negative experience at this restaurant. Each time I've been here, I have had no complaints about the service. I find the waiters and waitresses to be very professional, classy, and friendly. Its rarely ever crowded which creates a peaceful and flowing atmosphere. This is a good place for a date. The platters are very mature and rich.
(4)Jan S.
Actually the food was pretty good despite the horrible reviews. At the end of the day it's not a Michelin restaurant so I find it humorous that some people act like they're expecting some sort of awakening. The servers were great, drinks were good (didn't try the random house wine...I never do), and the food didn't take forever. The two "foodies" behind us gave the server a horrible time because they didn't bother to figure out what chicken scaloppini actually is before ordering their food. Cute, really cute, naturally they were a bit surprised due to the lack of marinara sauce on their plate:/ The server and manager actually came over and tried to replace their plates, and/or comp their meal. They rudely refused but went ahead and cleaned their plates:)
(4)Alicia H.
If it is possible to give a zero, I would. Never eat here, just spent an evening in the ER with food poisoning after eating the lasagna and Caesar salad Friday night.
(1)Joseph M.
This place has really gone downhill. But, I guess if you live in the burbs and don't want to venture out, you can eat the same over priced, bland food that this place has been serving up for the past 8 years. In the beginning, well late 90's early 2000's when Kingstowne was new and had life, this was excellent. Now, it's odd servers, burnt/undercooked food, soggy/greasy sandwiches, and spaghetti dishes that are bland. It's not worth the prices. Kind of a shame, beautiful restaurant.
(1)Kat P.
After trying to get into another restaurant for a drink and discovering their bar was packed, my friend and I decided to pop into Macaroni Grill. Imagine our surprise when we found out they still had happy hour specials on a Saturday! Apparently their HH is every day from 4-7. My friend got 2 glasses of their house red for $3, and I got 2 different cocktails for $5 each. The first was a margarita which was very good, but sweet, so if you don't like sweet drinks I would tend to shy away. The second was called the Ultimate Bellini. I got it, after seeing the bartender make it for another table. It was a tall frozen peach bellini with black raspberry, as Rachel Ray would say "yum-O". We also ordered a $5 pepperoni flatbread which was a great deal too! We were definitely glad we stumbled upon some great deals in Kingstowne.
(4)Vincent N.
We've been to macaroni grill quite a few times and the food has always been good. The same held true this time around as the food is presented well, good portion and reasonably priced. Where this place loses stars though is in the service. I'm not sure what happened but it just seems that it is unreasonably slow even when the restaurant has a light crowd. We ordered salads with our meal but they weren't brought before dinner. We cancelled them altogether and the manager offered a free dessert which was nice, we did not use it. Drinks were slow to come by and the check took about 10 minutes even after all of the plates had been cleared. I like this place, I really hope they can get their act back together. Maybe it was just the Sunday dinner staff that made the difference.
(2)Tracy X.
I went there with my husband for dinner,and we were very disappointed. We went there hungry, and waited about 35 minutes, finally the waiter brought appetizer mussels. We looked at it, it has broken shells, but we were too hungry, didn't bother to argue with them, so we had to pay extremely attention, try not to get mouth cut, and anyway it tastes pretty bad. Then the waiter brought my pesto pasta, which has veggie like the end of asparagus which is the part people usually cut them off and throw them away. The veggie they put in my pesto pasta is so tough, which nobody can chew and digest. So we paid and left hungry. Next day, my husband couldn't find his verdict card. We went back, but nobody knew it. So we decided that we will never go back there again. Never! We live right in Kingstown, it is shame that how they run business like this! It's their loss!
(1)Bobby I.
Great customer service, I've been to this location a few times. My food look beautiful but it was okay far the taste. My chicken was over cooked a little and the spinach in the pasta was not fresh. The greens had a after taste to it. I taste the same thing with my salad, so I was happy with my salad. Maybe I should not go at the close of business like I've done last time. The other time that I have visit this restaurant I had the chicken n arugula flatbread and I was very good. So I will return, it's a good restaurant, they just need to check the vegetable to make sure there fresh.
(3)Scott S.
Very disappointing. 1. Waited for 15 minutes after we were seated, and were never greeted, although the table next to us was seated 10 minutes after us, and greeted within two minutes. 2. I walked up to the bar and asked both employees behind it if I could bring my 13 year old nephew and we have dinner. Both, said it would be fine. So we did so. 3. Towards the end of our meal, we were notified by an unidentified manager that it was unlawful for my nephew to be dining at the bar ( note neither of us obviously were drinking ) and that they could be shut down, so we needed to leave the chairs and were told we could move to another table, after it was bussed of course. 4. I decided to box the remainder of our food, paid our check, and exited before the table promised was indeed ready. This was an overall TERRIBLE experience. The staff and management was not only able to treat us with complete disrespect, they also felt it necessary to embarrass us in front of the entire bar and cocktail section. Do you really think you handled this the proper way MACARONI GRILL? I'm in just utter awe of how we were mistreated, simply amazing...what exactly did we add customers do to deserve this? We came to spend our money and have a nice dinner. We waited patiently, we took it upon ourselves to ask to be accommodated somewhere else since we were not being attended to, which we were by the barstaff. Then were all but thrown out. So I didn't complain, but I did mention politely to the manager, that he might check with their ABC agent to verify his accusations. I am unaware of any law that states it is unlawful for either of us to go into a restaurant and dine at the bar? So if that's the case...then you basically just full out discriminated against us! And just for kicks, say it was.....Well maybe if you had treated properly the first 15 minutes we were there, or if your employees knew about your So called law, or maybe, just maybe you dealt with the the situation with a little class, none of this would have been so terrible. Way to make such a wonderful memory for my nephew and I who get to eat out together every other year :'( really fantastic guys, absolutely fantastic. I'm so disappointed with you Macaroni Grill and your management I'm pretty sure I'll be letting EVERY single last person I know, how rude and disrespecting your company is. Scott
(1)M F.
I sat at the bar for dinner and the service was great. The food, however, left a lot to be desired. I ordered pasta milano and the bow tie pasta was not done. There were a few crunchy pieces of pasta in there. I had a ceasar salad and the complimentary bread that were good. I expected my dish to be better than that after waiting over 30 minutes for my food. The other issues were the hostess was running around and the phone constantly rang and rang and rang. To top it all they were not busy at all. Yikes if they get busy!
(2)Jim W.
We made reservations on Friday for a Saturday night -- table for four at 7 PM. We arrived and mentioned our reservation. The hostess started to look for the reservation and said. "well nevermind." They weren't that busy. We sat down, looked at the menu, and waited for the waiter to come take our drinks order. He came brought some bread and said, "i'll be right back." This happened several times before we ordered our drinks as well as our entrees. Luckily, we were not in a hurry. Hubby ordered salmon and I ordered italian sausage with potatoes. I couldn't finish my meal because i ate one of those pieces bread. I took my leftover home. It'll make a good meal. The food tasted good. The service needs improvement. Not sure we will go back.
(3)Ed D.
Decent food. Def not my style of choices of food but it passes. Good selection of wine and cocktails happy hour runs from about 4 to 7 and is pretty decent given some of the choices that they have although the flat breads are delicious sometimes they could do better... The bar staff in the wait staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and will be very honest if they're not clear on something so if you want a truthful answer if you'll get it from them
(4)Brenda R.
After having not been there for about 15 years, my husband wanted to try it. I raved about their manicotti and thought we made a good choice. As soon as we walked in we had second thoughts. There was no wait but the lights were very bright and the atmosphere was very cafeteria like. We were seated pretty much in the middle of the room and throughout our meal servers kept bumping into my chair. We thought we should leave but then decided to give it a try. We were seated and after a long wait we got a server who did not seem thrilled to be waiting our table or even sure she was supposed to. We ordered drinks and looked at the paper one page menu (this should have been our first clue). The table cloth had paper over it and we started to wonder. Our waitress finally came back after a long wait with drinks and quickly left again. After another long wait we ordered and appetizer of calamari that was so-so when finally delivered. After more long waiting my husband ordered another beer and when it was finally delivered it was wrong. We finally got to order food and when that was brought out it was terrible. Not to mention they had little Italian option to choose from and no longer had manicotti at all. I had the mushroom ravioli which was dry and tasted terrible. My husband had the sausage and peppers and he said the potatoes was the best thing on the plate. The waitress seemed uninterested in our table at all and came by only rarely to check on us. We will NEVER go to this restaurant again and it was a waste of time and money to go here.
(1)Steven O.
One of the worst Carry out food experience ever. If you want a foreign objects in your food come to this restaurant. Found a piece of plastic tube in my pasta as upsetting as that could be i was sharing my dish with my son who could've choked on it !!!! I called the corporate office to file a formal complaint only to be told to mail in the object so investigation can be done. Got a call from Houston I guess that's where their headquarters are at only to be told there was nothing we can do. The piece of plastic tube, and by the way I bit down on had loosen my crown, was not an object that was associated with the recipe? Well no poop sherlocks!!! But why was it in my dish??? So I was told we can't do anything for your crown? Like I was after their money ? I was beyond insulted! I wanted my damn apology!!! This is how corporate America is! Always thinking about the money!Own up to your mistakes instead I have to warn people about how lousy their customer service is and how when you order food here it's like a Cracker Jack box meal everyone might get a prize in their meal. Don't count on me coming back ever I wish all the diners good luck if you want to eat here. Next stop Better Business Bureau site . Over and out!
(1)Kurt K.
Had to be the absolutely worst service and food I've had in a restaurant in a very long time. There were only about 6 other tables seated when the family and I sat for lunch. When seating us our server said they had a free appetizer special. Either one large or 2 small apps for free. He came back a while later and took our drink orders. Took about 10 min to get the kids drinks. We then ordered our meals and "free" apps. We went for 2 small ones. We weren't that hungry but they were free so why not? It took another 10 min for the wife to get her wine. Then we wait for at least another 15 min when I finally flagged down the setver and asked if I could get the beer I ordered. He said "oh my bad, I'll add a 2nd one for free." About ANOTHER 15 min later the entrees show up with my beer. No apps. So we ask about it and he says again, "oh my bad, I'll give ya one for free." Ummm aren't they both supposed to be free?? And speaking of the food, it was terrible! I've ate at Macsroni Grill several times and always top notch. But this was so greasy, the pork in my pasta had huge pieces of grissel, bones and some other unidentifiable stuff. We finish eating (well sort if. None of us could finish the awful food) when our apps finally show up. After waiting quite a while, again, the bill finally shows up. We were charged for one of the apps and not only did I not get a 2nd beer free I was charged for the first. We were already running late since everything took SO long so couldn't wait for the manager unfortunately. Absolutely terrible, TERRIBLE experience.
(1)