I was pleasantly surprised by Maggianos. I generally would rather cook than go to Italian. I generally dislike going out to eat in the mall. And you have to literally drag me to a chain restaurant for dinner. Maggiano's hits the trifecta ... yet I enjoyed myself. Some background - Maggiano's is the "upscale" chain (50 locations) of Chili's. They are still very value minded, targeting Olive Garden (by one for dinner, take one home for free deals), and attempting to attract a more foodie driven customer (truffled cheese raviolis, claims of fresh food). The menu ranges from 15 dollar deals (with a second take home dish) to 30+ splurge items. The food, while a tad salty for my taste, was really tasty. I had a ravioli that was mixed with asparagus and spinach and dollups of a truffled soft cheese. Fairly tasty, and though somewhat light dinner. I also took home an eggplant parm that my fiance loved when she got home from her road trip that evening. The thing that really stood out was the staff. They were incredibly friendly and helpful, and genuinely seemed to be having a great time there. That really does increase your enjoyment of your meal. As an added bonus, the "courtyard" of the mall that it is in is fairly pleasant if you can grab an outdoor seat. Granted, lots of kids will be running around, but can still be relaxing as you pretend you are not in the most generic mall in the first planned suburb in America. Would I go out of my way to go to Maggiano's? - No, I'd rather support a local business, I would much rather go into the city (either one), and really - italian has to be out of this world amazing for me to suggest going there (I miss being miles from the North End of Boston). But, despite all those disclaimers - I really have to say, for Italian chain mall food - this place is unbeatable, and a great option post shopping or going to the movies.
(4)
Melanie R.
Wow what a difference a location and a party of 3 verses 25 makes! (Read my DC location review) Anyway...when I go to a restaurant, I tend to go to places that make dishes far superior to what I can create at home. I cook a lot, but I do have limits..and clams is one of them. So, thankfully my linguine with white clams was the best thing ever. I really wanted to sop up my broth with my bread, but I was too embarrassed. The broth was just the right mix or garlic, white wine, and clams...sitting on a bed of delicious linguine noodles. I could really go back today! I also had the bruschetta which was done very well with crusty bread, light balsamic, heirloom tomatoes, and basil. Mmmmm My son had cheese ravioli; husband had Caprese Chicken, which he cannot pronounce, but he basically licked the plate. Did I mention, the Sangria is really good here..and they sell it by the pitcher. Trust me..a pitcher is necessary. Finally, the dessert (we shared) was this brownie thing served with a side of icy strawberries drenched in some kind of heavy whipping cream! Holy strawberry...forget the brownie..we were fighting over that strawberry/whip cream thing. Overall..this may be my new favorite place. It is a little pricey but totally worth it.
(5)
Joanna S.
Great food but... Slow service and rude hostess. My waiter stopped checking up on me and passing by my area for 20-30 min. so he could attend to a larger party. One of the hostesses (short black girl) almost bumped into me without apologizing as she rushed to open the door for HERSELF so she could talk to a coworker, and right after she opened the door, she just stood there.... At the entrance. Blocking me from exiting the restaurant. She just stood there chatting with her coworker outside. I held the door open and looked at her, waiting for her to step aside. She looked over her shoulder at me, looked at me up and down, and waited for ME to say something. I finally said "excuse me" and her response was "Um... Okay??" while giving me a nasty look, like I was inconsiderate for almost bumping into HER. The nerve.
(2)
Joanna B.
Arrived for our reservation, they were in absolute chaos, the hostess was impatient with fellow employees, no control or order was apparent. My reservation was acknowledged and I was told they were just cleaning a few tables and were handed a buzzer and then left waiting, waiting and waiting. We left, total waste of time, very different from Annapolis which is fantastic. I will not bother with Columbia again.
(1)
Tiffany L.
Waited over an hour for our entrees. Prob around 45 mins for our mussel app. Ridiculous! And over an hour and a half for the entrees. It took so long that the server kept walking around in circles cause there was nothing he could help us with or check on. Absolutely ridiculous. Luckily my friend and I were chatting so we weren't soooo upset. And this family gave us a coupon for 10$ off 30$ which helped make the night a little better. Prob will not be coming back seeing as how I'm not a huge fan of pat anymore and this place didn't give me a good reason to come back.
(2)
Jody Z.
It has been years since I've been to a Maggiano's, but I used to go to the locations in Boston and DC a lot. My husband and I went for an early dinner on a Sunday and I am SO glad we made reservations!! 4:00 on a Sunday and it was PACKED and LOUD! That is definitely one of the negatives for me. I do not remember the other locations being so loud and when it's that loud it makes me feel like I'm at Red Robin, not Maggianos. Our waiter was great and we started with the delicious bread and olive oil combo. My husband and I split the chicken parmigiana and rigatoni d dishes and still had plenty of leftovers. The chicken was cooked nicely and I liked the sauce. This was my first time trying riagatoni d and I know its one of their most popular dishes, but I just wasn't crazy about it. Something about a hint of sweetness in the sauce that I didn't care for. Overall, it was a nice meal, but I'm not dying to go back. I'd much prefer to go to Little Italy for better atmosphere and some homemade pasta....but Maggianos is not a bad meal and it's great for groups. Love that they are taking reservations!
(3)
Ellen L.
mangia...grande! yes, those words mean "eat" and "big" in italian! this is where you come when you want to eat a LOT b/c they offer huge portions of everything! although not quite ideal for a taiwanese family like mine, who don't have huge appetites, at least we can order 1-2 things and share and take the rest home for later! we arrived just before 5pm on a friday since we had tickets for a show later that evening. i was surprised at how many patrons were already dining here at that hour...but maybe they had theatre tickets too? we were just glad to be seated right away without a reservation. mom, dad, and i ordered the following to share: +side order of spinach salad: a bed of spinach tossed with blue cheese, pine nuts, and white balsamic vinaigrette. we requested no bacon on the salad and the dressing served on the side. +side of order of spaghetti aglio olio: spaghetti tossed with olive oil. +parmesan-crusted tilapia: the tilapia was served with capers, tomatoes, fresh sage, lemon butter with spinach. preceding the meal was, of course, the complimentary basket of bread, with bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. even though we weren't too hungry, and wanted to save our appetites for what we ordered, we couldn't resist having a little bit of their warm, house bread with "italian butter" (a mixture of olive oil and balsamic). the spinach salad was fresh, the spaghetti slightly al dente, and the fish broiled just right. i could have done with the parmesan-crusted bit, but dad likes it that way. everything was pretty good and i think we had just the right amount of food considering we weren't that hungry at 5pm (having had a late lunch earlier in the day). our waitress was very attentive considering the number of tables she had to wait on, so i will give her props got getting everything correct on our orders, delivering the food rapidly, and getting us out on time (we had mentioned that were in a slight rush before we ordered). great location, just outside the main building at columbia mall. valet parking is available if needed.
(4)
Jackie A.
OMG OMG OMG - this place is so delicious and if you get the buy one get one deal, you'll feast for two days afterwards. Service has always been impeccable. The other night, our waitress was Nancy, who was practically at our beck and call. The hubby can be needy at times, especially when spoiled at the dinner table. Go during a week night, it's less crowded. We were too full to eat dessert, but it looked scrumptious. Spaghetti and meatball tonight. As always, that sucker was BIG and tasty. My hubby was asking me, what's in it? I'm like, just hush and eat! You just wanna eat and eat and eat; and I think we did, that night.
(5)
Barathi S.
Part of the new square at the Columbia Mall (where LL Bean used to be.. RIP) Maggianos was a better than most Italian chain. Came here for dinner on a Sunday night and was pleasantly surprised by the elegant decor and nice lighting. They get 5 stars for ambiance as I forgot we were at the mall. Unfortunately they were very unusually busy for a Sunday so we didn't get to try the stuffed mushrooms or the dessert we wanted. The free bread was just a plain roll but the olive oil was delicious! The calamari was standard nothing special but not greasy. I appreciated the lighter take options they had so you can enjoy good italian food without breaking the calorie budget. I enjoyed the chicken dish but the highlight was the hand cut fettuccini that came with it. It was cooked perfectly and was thick and chewy , I was planning on saving some to take home but couldn't help but finish every bite. Next time I'm definitely going to order a dish with that pasta! All in all a solid choice for Italian food in columbia! 3.5/5 stars
(3)
Kris L.
3.5 stars for a perfect Maggianos experience...this is as good as this chain can get! :) Cheers to Columbia Mall! Went on a double date on a Friday during the holiday seasons. It was packed. Had rez for 7 pm. Arrived at 7 pm. We were seated promptly at 7:05 PM. Our server was fabulous and considerate, allowed us time to open presents and catch up over drinks and bread. For entrees, I can't steer away from the Rigatoni D and order it every time. I actually don't love creamy sauces but there is something about the caramelized onions that gets me every time! My husband loves the "buy one take one home" pastas and always gets one of those options. Two meals for $12.95 is hard to beat! And their meatballs are XXL. Loved the tiramisu dessert. It was more on the fluffy/creamy side and not heavy on lady fingers, but it was great! Overall, I have gained trust in this chain and will be back! TIP: Park anywhere and get there through the mall. Find Lululemon or True Religion and walk OUTSIDE through the double doors past them. Maggiano's will be on your right!
(4)
Ann K.
My colleague told me to make a reservation ahead of time. I have a higher expectations for any restaurants that are so booked up and full during 6-8 pm. It turns out to be a family friendly Americanized Italian restaurant. The dining hall is packed and noisy. It will be good for pre prom or teenage birthday group party. I was warned about the serving size. One plate can be shared. The creamy white sauce is not too salty but very thick and too creamy for my taste. At the end of the meal, I feel stuffed with starch. Not really my kind of food.
(2)
Rebeca F.
The food is wonderful! Good service. Love the deal where you can take a meal home so you can enjoy it all again the next day! This place is a winner!
(5)
Caroline L.
Came here for lunch over the holiday season and the decor was gorgeous inside. Maggiano's to me has always been a more upscale Olive Garden. I've only been to the Maggiano's in Chevy Chase a few times and had great experiences. This was my first time at this location and for lunch. The service was great! Very prompt and professional but not stuffy in any way. Love their fresh bread. I always ask for balsamic vinegar so I can make my own dipping sauce concoction w/ the olive oil. Tried their bruschetta which was good (although somewhat repetitive of my dipping sauce minus the tomatoes). Got their lunch combo- tomato soup, salmon sandwich, and roasted potatoes. Everything was great. My cousin seemed to enjoy is chicken marsala dish and wiped it clean. The best tomato soup trophy will always go to La Madeleine though. I had coffee and she was great w/ the refills. Overall great decor, service, food and a price tag that won't set you back too much.
(5)
Lowell S.
Saturday was my first experience at Maggiano's and I was very impressed. Just after we were seated we found out one more was going to be joining our group so we would need a bigger table. They put two tables together and moved us immediately and without complaint. My 1/2 sandwich (the size of a whole sandwich by regular standards!) and spinach salad were just absolutely delicious. The soup I tasted was also impeccable. Someone shared their crusted zucchini appetizer and it couldn't have tasted better. They cordially split the checks and did not rush us in any way. Loved the experience! Will definitely go back!
(5)
Maria M.
Ate at Maggianos today for lunch with my friend. Our server was Terry and he was amazing. He was very professional, nice and knowledgeable. He gave us both great food recommendations, despite us not having placed a big order he treated us great. I highly recommend stopping in for food and ask for Terry.
(5)
Luznery A.
Ahhhhhh I've tried this place over and over guess I'm a gluten for punishment. But not NJ nor MD is worth the visit to me the shrimp frame diavlo had no diavlo the baked ziti was watery and my kid was not impressed with the penne or the lemon cookies I mean really what kid doesn't like cookies... im good on this place
(1)
Cyndi A.
We dined family style after my college graduation. The food was amazing, we had more than we could possibly eat! The stuffed mushrooms were delicious & Ma favorite appetizer. Our entrees- 3 cheese ravioli, Lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo & chicken marseille - we loved all of them. The desserts were huge and delicious! We chose the NY Cheese Cake and Double Chocolate Brownie. Our waiter was responsive, friendly & did not mind that we walked in more than ready for drinks!!
(5)
Kem W.
So I went back a second time on a very busy Saturday night. I had reservations but I still had to wait 20 minutes for my table to be ready. But nothing like the hour people without reservations had to wait. I still hate those buzzers. My second time here was much better than the first. Service was A-OK. No problems. Our waiter was on top of everything. My wine came right away and before my salad. I had the Ceasar again. It could have used a little more dressing but its size is just right. My shrimp scampi was delicious and I had plenty of shrimp left over to take home. We also had the Rigatoni 'D', which is excellent as leftovers. (And you get plenty.) The place is a little loud when full but on the whole my second time there was, I'm sure, more indicative of what this restaurant can do. Hard to find with GPS but it's at the Columbia Mall. Recommended if you're there for dinner.
(3)
Jenny H.
I came here for a birthday dinner and we had great service, and the food was so good- comforting and filling! We got the family-style dinner. We got the bruschetta, salad, and mushroom caps for the appetizers. I loved the house salad and dressing, and we got another order of the bruschetta. For the main dishes, we got the clams linguine (this was really, really good with a nice buttery sauce), I think we got 3 refills of this. The salmon dish was also pretty good as was their creamy rigatoni. For dessert, I loved the brownie bites with the cup full of ice cream and strawberries. The tiramisu was good too. I love this place, SO filling and the food is good. You feel like you want to curl up and watch a movie afterwards.
(4)
Valentino R.
Food was amazing and our waiter was super nice and happy !!! Me and my friend are so coming back, Anthony was so nice always taking care of us !! Amazing waiter !!!! Chicken parmigiana was so good and sangria omg muy delicioso.!!!
(5)
Candy W.
It started out pretty great with the complimentary bread and olive oil. The olive oil was extremely tasty and it had an really nice nutty & grassy flavor. Unfortunately, that was the best part of the meal. Chicken & spinach manicotti in cream sauce tasted so bland that I didn't know what condiments I should use to fix it. I added a lot of grated parmesan to make it ok to eat. The mom's lasagna was better but still too bland and not enough sauce. It's too bad because the only (and truly) delicious thing was olive oil. I need to go back just to buy a few bottles of it.
(3)
Jen N.
Good food, good service. On friday and saturday night, the food may come out a little slower than usual, but still very tasty and fresh.
(4)
Meg S.
Not good at all. Just brought spaghetti out and it was dry and rubbery. Sauce was seemingly out of jar. Don't recommend.
(1)
Candice C.
Visited during Happy Hour on a Friday evening. Flatbreads, cocktails, Coppola wines and beers for $5-$6. Great cocktails-the Moscato Mojito is a must have. Perfectly crafted. Enjoyed the chicken and shrimp dish with prosciutto-plump shrimp, tender chicken breast, in creamy sauce with penne. Perfect with Coppola's pinot grigio. Service was top notch! Ask for Darius!
(4)
Estelle S.
I have to tell you I thought going here was going to be blah . Loved it! Food was really good and fresh ! Lasagna was fabulous.
(5)
Amy P.
I never knew Maggiano was at this location along with all the new shops in that corner. It was a pleasant surprise. We went on a Friday night and was surprised that we were seated right away as a walk in. We were seated outside enjoying the nice weather, people watching and checking out the new shops. The bread they brought over was very fresh and warm. We asked for another basket because it was so good. I ordered veal Marsala the lighter fare version and my husband ordered our usual go to dish Rigatoni D. Both were very good and the service was great. I would definitely go back again to try other dishes.
(5)
Eric H.
Great for gluten-free! One of the best restaurant experiences I've had! Went there for a Thursday lunch to celebrate a friend's birthday, and got treated like royalty. Our server, Terry, took great care of us. He was specially helpful with my gluten-free diet, asking the chef to visit our table. Turns out that Maggiano's has made a corporate decision to make gluten-free the default mode for all of their sauces, salad dressings, etc. They even have four different kinds of gluten-free pasta made fresh right there in the restaurant. Finally, a company that gets it! The Mozzarella Caprese appetizer was very good; they managed to get decent tomatoes even in the dead of winter. Meanwhile, my friend had a brilliant lighter version of their Chicken Parmagniana paired with a nice Chianti. The kitchen had a tiny bit of trouble with my order of Salmon Piccata: they brought me Chicken Piccatta with a grilled salmon filet added over a bed of grilled asparagus. I KNOW! Now go wipe your mouth, you're drooling. Despite the very busy restaurant, our service was very good, and at the end of the meal Terry brought out a special dessert for my friend. He even sang to her! The manager came over to check on us and I told him how happy we were. I was surprised at how reasonable our check was; I have paid far more for far worse. Maggiano's in Columbia is now on my list of go-to restaurants, especially for special occasions. Now if they would only put in some banquet rooms upstairs...
(5)
Stephen P.
Reservation for 6 on a Saturday nite- honored and on time. Meals were very good all around, good value for what we had. But the waiter for our table was what made our evening pretty special. We dine out three to four times a week, and every once in a while we encounter someone who is way above average. Mert has a great personality, was prompt in serving our group, and seemingly had our undivided attention during our meal. This, while also serving a table for ten next to us!
(4)
Carolyn J.
I have been to the DC location years ago so I was happy when the one in Columbia opened. It was nice to have the text notification so that we could walk around the mall while we waited since there was a 45minute-hour wait. Michael, our server, let us know about the white & red wines and also the sangria's. We ordered the red sangria & he said the pitcher would be the better deal which it was since we both had 2 glasses out of 1 pitcher vs ordering 2 glasses each. We decided on the option of ordering a pasta now & taking one home which also included 1 appetizer and 1 dessert. The mussels were delicious, baked ziti & mushroom ravioli were very good as well. The pastas that we took home were packaged up and cold with instructions on how to reheat properly. This was enough food for 4 people!! With only the pasta and appetizer (we took dessert & remaining dinner home, could not eat it all!) the walk to the car was a struggle. Food coma. For parties of 4 or more, they have the option of ordering family style and charging per person which can work great for events.
(5)
Susanna A.
I love Maggianos in DC. This location is new with TONS of customer service issues. We ordered family style and pre-ordered BEFORE we arrived. When we sat down at the table, we were informed that they ran out of the stuffed mushrooms??? Really? Poor planning on someone's part. Our appetizer took about 45 min to come out (salad, mozzarella and spinach dip). This was a loooooong time. Service was ok. Food was slow. Go to the one in Annapolis or DC for a much much much better dining experience!!!! So much more to write but I'll just leave the picture of raw uncooked salmon that I was served......the manager came over and said -- WOW that's not really cooked he said "oops sorry and that's all...they should have been embarrassed.
(2)
Ethan B.
Meal for two is one of the best deals in Howard county. Service was wonderful, atmosphere was great, bathrooms were clean, and the food was perfect! Would recommend to anyone looking for Italian food!
(5)
Samantha K.
This place was top notch! It was packed, had an hour wait, but totally was worth waiting for. There are tons of shops and beautiful areas to walk around in to kill off the waiting time. Service: Superb. We had Mark and brought us tons of bread, knew his menu, and had our refills before we even asked for them. Food: The bread is fantastic. It's crisp and fresh with a chewy center. The calamari is very crisp and well seasoned with plenty of marinara sauce. I had the shrimp scampi sub penne and the sauce was a deliciously light garlic sauce with fresh tomatoes. The shrimp is Succulent! My boyfriend also loved his seafood linguine. Excellent place in Columbia.
(5)
Joseph J.
Sad to say I went there again & ordered the Shrimp Scampi that was not nearly as good as the last time. Shrimp were tough & there was very little pasta on the plate. Our waiter got our drink orders wrong...brought me a beer when I didn't order it. Also brought a margarita when another diner didn't order it. I think he was running up our tab. No problem, we gave him a low tip.
(2)
Allison L.
I haven't been to Maggianos in years, and am a sucker for a good fettuccine alfredo, which I also haven't had lately. And with good reason after seeing the calorie count that Maggianos has on most of its dishes (a little confused why they weren't on all of the dishes? Are those dishes just SO bad for you that they can't even list the calories?). I made 6:30 reservations last night for my cousin and I and it's a good thing I did because it was completely full the entire time we were there. We started with bread and the chopped salad, both were delicious (more so when we actually got the dressing for the salad). I got the previously mentioned fettuccine alfredo and my cousin got the lobster baked tilapia, which I didn't try but smelled and looked amazing. When you get the classic pastas you also get a bowl of another classic pasta to take home, which makes the $12.99 pasta an awesome deal. I brought the baked ziti home for my husband since he subsists on ice cream and cereal if I'm not there to make him dinner. Also, the frozen peach bellini was delicious and I was very sad when I spilled half of it across the table. Finishing with the mini desserts is a great option since they look like what normal portion sizes should be and are only priced at $3.50. I should've gone that route instead of the lemon cookies, which were good but soooo lemon-y. Our server was great, as were all other Maggianos employees we encountered while we were there. Just a note on where this is if you haven't been to the Columbia mall lately, which I hadn't, L.L. Bean is gone and in its place is a neat outdoor section of the mall, which included Athleta, Seasons 52, Zoe's Kitchen, and Maggianos, along with several other stores I didn't see. So hopefully that helps you from driving around in the mall in circles like I did...
(4)
Kellie S.
If I could give zero stars to Maggiano's, I would. The first time I was in Maggiano's was just before Christmas when I bought a gift card for a family member who really likes this restaurant. We arrived at 2 PM on a Tuesday and were immediately greeted by the hostess. I had a special-needs toddler with us and asked for a booster seat. Unfortunately, I had to ask three people for a booster seat before we got one. The first hostess that greeted us, our waiter, and finally I brought my toddler up to another hostess to ask him and luckily he was able to get us one. My husband ordered the chicken alfredo which had great flavor and I ordered the chicken in cream sauce and it was very good as well. The bread and olive oil that are on the table was very tasty as well. My husband's dish included a take-home dinner which I thought was a great deal. Unfortunately, when our server brought back our check & once he got his tip he disappeared to another table where other servers were sitting at also. We had to get him and ask how we get our take-home meal. It's really a shame that I can't give a better review, but honestly if I can't get good service on a Tuesday at 2 PM, what is the service going to be like on a Friday or Saturday night? It's even more shameful because the food was pretty good, but bad service is not worth any type of food especially when I have a special-needs toddler. Our server started off our meal by asking us if we had ever been to Maggiano's before, and we both said no. Why ask such a question if you're not going to give your best service?
(1)
Tara L.
The food is SPECTACTULAR! My whole family loves this place! Ask for Peter's section, he's an amazing waiter!
(4)
Kristi D.
We'll let me start off with I love maggiano's & have been to almost everyone in the US. The Columbia location is much better than DC. They had fast friendly service and the food was served at the perfect temperature. I always get the chop salad & the chicken and spinach manicotti. Unlike the DC it was served perfectly and with enough sauce. Normally I have to ask for more, but not this time. Thank you finally it's been years since I left Chicago and got this dish served correctly. My husband got the chicken & shrimp alferno and it was good. He really liked it The peach blini swirl was great and perfect for a hot summer day. We got here around 6 pm and no issues with sitting but I am sure you will wait awhile during peek hours. Serves was great and my water glass was never empty huge in my book- thanks Nancy for the great service.
(5)
Rick G.
It's been a while since dining at Maggiano's and this was our first visit to this new location. We hadn't bothered with reservations as this was a slightly impromptu date night for us. I liked the option of texting to notify when our table was ready. And the fact that the hostess heard me correctly over the hustle and bustle - good ears. :) My wife and I shopped around nearby while waiting on the text which came very close to the estimated wait time of 30 min. It's clear they have used every possible inch to put as much seating as possible. If don't like tight spaces, get a booth. The server was a bit delayed getting back to us but his attention and personality were superb. We started with the Crispy Zucchini Fritte. Even if you don't like zucchini - not a fan - you will be amazed by this delish starter. But considering the calories, it's a share with at least another. My wife had the lasagna which is hearty and she got extra from the chef to take home. It's too tomatoey for us both but otherwise a great lasagna. I had the Crab and Shrimp Cannelloni which was amazing in taste, temperature, and presentation. Enjoyed the leftovers, too! This is a great addition to the Columbia Mall. Enjoy!
(4)
Lam Ann H.
We came here to celebrate my mother's birthday on a Sunday evening. Although the reviews here are varied, we decided to give it a shot. We love Maggiano's! We made reservations and waited about 15 minutes for the table (party of 9). Our waitress, Dominique, made our experience wonderful. She explained the family style way and was so pleasant and always around. It was a packed house and the restaurant seemed a little bit cramped, but overall the ambience was dim yet cozy, like other Maggiano's we have been to. The calamari and stuffed mushrooms were a hit, as was the tilapia! The other items (can't recall the names) were okay, but not memorable (obviously!). We brought our own cakes, which were brought out with candles for the birthday celebration, but the desserts with family style did not disappoint (tiramisu and chocolate brownie with ice cream). Our food was good but the dining experience was great due to our server's attentiveness and just being plain nice! Excellent service always wins big points with us in choosing where to eat. We will definitely dine here again. :)
(4)
Tim H.
Been coming to this chain for years. I gotta say, since they started the buy one take one home thing, feels like they are going downwards. I wish they go go back to some of their more signature pasta dishes and do away with the take home menu.
(4)
Nicole M.
I don't understand the mixed reviews, Maggiano's Little Italy is a wonderful restaurant. You can tell all the food is made from scratch and always fresh. If you have food allergies the head chef comes out just to go over all your options, which not only puts me at ease but for me was a first. I love all the steak and seafood! The NY strip contadina style is to die for; tender quality steak smothered in as jus, roasted garlic, potatoes, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and SAUSAGE! Yes, I said sausage. Two of my favorite wines that go well with this dish from their wine list are the Belle Glos Pinot Noir (in the signature wax dipped bottle) or The Prisoner by Clark and Telephone (red blend.) Always a great place to take a large party. When you make the reservation, you can pre-order family style and I let them know when I want my appetizers served. I go there all the time and the service is always great. I know all of the managers and most of the staff. So every time I come in they all make it a point to stop by and say hello. They are like one big happy family! I understand that some people say it's a little loud and busy but how could you fault anyone for that? I would rather go to a popular restaurant with great food than one with tumble weeds and it has never effected the service they provided me. So do be sure to make a reservation when ever possible! Oh, and don't forget to check out there specials. Always something you can feel good about because they sponsor Make a Wish Foundation. They also have happy hour in the dinning room!
(5)
Elle Z.
Go before 7 to get awesome happy hour/wine deals. Waitstaff is super friendly. Food is good, you know premade + a in-house flair. Overall good.
(4)
Melissa J.
I just dined here with a party of 22 co-workers with a reservation and it was AMAZING! We had Awesome waitresses Lauren & Christine!! They were so attentive and truly made this a phenomenal experience. They also gave us all separate checks quickly!! I've been out plenty of times and with a party of two and I haven't received this kind of service! Everyone hostesses included..... Thanks Maggianos!!
(5)
Ty J.
I have eaten at Maggiano's a number of times and was elated to find that there was now a location closer to my home! We visited this location on 11/22/14. Upon arriving we realized that we had made the grave mistake of not making reservations. We arrived at 6:30pm and had a two hour wait and we waited every bit of those two hours. The staff was gracious enough under the circumstances. The food I must say was just average, the Shrimp Diavolo is written up as spicy, it was flavorful, but not a bit spicy. Our waiter was attentive and that actually made up for the lack luster food experience. I still love Maggiano's and I'm sure I will visit again...but not without reservations.
(4)
Paulette P.
I love Maggiano's!!! Jersey girl in the house!! It's like being at home every time I visit!!
(5)
Jason A.
The pleasant decore and helpful staff only serve to mask a rather mediocre dining experience. I went to Maggiano's expecting to get authentic Italian cuisine but instead was given an Oliver Garden-like meal at a high end price. Specifically, the meals my wife and I ordered were far from fantastic. The shrimp scampi was was plentiful with the number of shrimp the served, but the shrimp were small and unflavorful--probably imported and then frozen from somewhere in South America. The sauce itself was decent, but nothing like the price should suggest. It was watery and had a little too much salt. My wife's chicken parmigiana was okay, but the chicken tasted as if it was deep fried and the pasta was a bit overcooked. The sauce on this dish was tasty, but again nothing like the title of the restaurant should suggest. Perhaps I am biased because I am Italian and lived in A vey Italian community in NY for most of my life, but I think that if a business is going to put "Little Italy" in its name, it should bear some resemblance to it. On a positive note, the service staff was helpful and polite.
(2)
Demetrius L.
This place is pretty great. My service was fantastic. I'm yelping while eating but just know you won't regret coming
(4)
Sook H.
Went out with my family for a birthday celebration and it was probably the WORST Italian food I had. All the food as SO SALTY it was so hard to eat, especially the Fettuccine. Portions were so small compared to other Italian restaurants that the whole time we were sitting at the table we wished we just went to The Cheesecake Factory. Prices were probably more than The Cheesecake Factory with portions being only half the size. My family finished everything though because the wait time from after the appetizers to actual entrees took too long. We only ate it because we were hungry not because it was good. I would never come back here again.
(2)
Mimi L.
I was skeptical because they had only 3 stars on Yelp and now I know why. Ridiculously long wait, over 45 min until dinner was served. Took long for all 3 courses but waiter was very understandable. Food was good but was not hot, just a bit warm. Anything is good when you wait that long. Desert was actually great, we got the Nonna's bread pudding w/ carmelized banana, very good but not worth the wait
(3)
Bill B.
Second visit to this place and it just keeps getting better. I've sat the bar both times and enjoyed the bartenders humor and the food is fantastic.
(5)
Annette R.
We went for late lunch, smelled very yummy inside. They give you bread with oil as lost Italian restaurants do but the oil had no seasoning to it like most Italian restaurant's, just plain oil no oregano, basil etc....the bread was itself is very good. Got the Mom's Lasagna which was very good but very very salty. My daughter had the chicken Parm very good very salty. I would have given it 4 stars but the food was too salty. I'm Italian so I know a lot of salt is not needed in most Italian food.
(3)
Kenita W.
My birthday was a few weeks ago and I wanted to celebrate. I couldn't figure out where to go but then I remembered that I always wanted to try Maggiano's. My family decided to tag along with me so we all met up yesterday evening. We arrived late for our reservation but my family was still seated pretty quickly. There were five adults + my two year old so we decided to order from the family menu. Appetizers: We ordered the Caesar salad, steamed mussels with white sauce, and stuffed mushrooms. I didn't care for the mushrooms but the salad and mussels were good. After eating mushrooms with cheese and lobster the bread crumbs didn't really do it for me. Entrees / pasta: We got the shrimp scampi (with tons of large shrimp!), the baked ziti, parmesan crusted tilapia, and the rustic chicken and shrimp. The tilapia was fresh and the portions were big. As for the pastas, the sauce in the ziti was awesome (awesome sauce lol), the scampi was pretty good, and the rustic chicken and shrimp was Good but not great. It probably would have been better if I never had the baked ziti lol. All of the food was hot and fresh. Desserts: We had some kind of chocolate cake (mousse cake?) and the Apple Crostada. They were both really good. We took extras home with our meals. Our server was pretty good and very accommodating. My mom requested tobasco for the mussels and tomatoes for our Caesar salad and he didn't hesitate to get them both. He was also able to answer questions and make recommendations with a smile. My only gripe is the price. It was $210 for everyone to eat but we had plenty of extras to take home. I've paid close to $350 at Jimmy's with the same about of people but this time we didn't feel robbed. In fact, we're already planning on returning soon. I would definitely recommend this place.
(5)
John K.
Great service Great atmosphere A LOT of food and arrives quickly We did the Marco's Meal for Two ~$40 Entree Mom's lasagna - pretty good plain lasagna, nothing surprising there Mushroom Ravioli - thick cream and tasty ***Best part - we get two separate free entree to take home Desert Warm Apple Crostada - not too sweet, and delicious!!!!
(5)
Danielle H.
Great find! We were at the mall and hungry, so we went here. We got the Meal for Two, and it turned out to be a Meal for Two x2 - an app, two pastas, a dessert, and two "next day" pastas (that can be completely different!) for $40 -- throw in the fact that the original portions are so generous and you've got almost three meals apiece. Major steal. Bread & Olive Oil -- their bread is fresh baked on-site, to die for. Crab Cakes -- pretty good... there could have been more aoili. Lots of crab, though, so no complaints there Mushroom Ravioli - I don't think I've ever had ravioli this good, ever. Amazing. Rich and creamy and delicious. Four Cheese Ravioli with Pesto Alfredo - Also delicious, rich, and creamy. Zuccotto Cake - This slice was enormous - they will pack up the leftovers for you, though, so go for this - if you can't decide between cake and mousse and fudge, have it all! Ned was our server and he was very funny and patient with all of my questions - you should ask to sit in his section. :) Also, props to this restaurant for the military discount. We will definitely come back again.
(5)
Janelle M.
Our poor waitress was a newbie, so she forgot things here and there (like extra bread we requested and a to-go pasta), but over all, the meal was great. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. Although crowded, it wasn't too loud. The food came relatively quickly and was hot. I ordered a cup of the tomato basil soup. I didn't really like it. The bread was normal bread -- nothing fancy -- but warm. We ordered the fried mozzarella appetizer. I wish we had known how LARGE it was!! Four huge squares. Too much for two adults and a toddler, but Yummy. A caloric nightmare (300+ per square), but it's battered, deep-fried cheese so what do you expect? For our entrees, we offered the rustic chicken and shrimp (me), which was delicious and huge, and the eat one/take one pasta deal (spaghetti with meatballs and lasagna). The spaghetti and meatballs was actually spaghetti and meatBALL. One big, obnoxious meatball, but he said it was good. We didn't order dessert because I swore they had Creme brulee (as stated on their website) but it wasn't offered at this particular Maggiano's. I was pissed, but only for a moment, as I could barely breathe because I was so full of pasta. Hubby ordered the apple frittata. He didn't like it (felt like it was too much dough and not enough Apple -- warranted complaint), but my toddler and I liked it. All in all, I would return. The prices are on-par with Olive Garden but the ambiance and recipes are on another level. Hubby said he isn't pressed to come back. Maybe it was the location, or the newbie waitress, but we'll be back -- just not tomorrow.
(4)
Megan L.
I love their chopped salad option with a cup of soup for lunch. Very consistent and the staff is always pleasant!
(5)
Richie R.
Came here the other day to celebrate my wife's birthday. We had a party of 12 and were seated promptly since we had made a reservation. I've dined at the other 2 maggianos in our area (chevy chase, tysons) and the food here is on par with the other 2 establishments. Everything was great except that the lunch took 3.5 hrs from start to finish. I've participated in their family style meals at least a doZen times and it's never taken this long before. I spoke to the floor manager and it didn't seem to speed anything up. They didn't seem very busy so I don't know what the problem was that day.
(3)
Eric L.
I would rate Maggiano's about a 3.8. It's probably the best of the Italian chain restaurants. Their salads are nicely prepared and filling. The service at this location has always been good as well. The Marco's special for two is a pretty good deal, but their classic pastas aren't nearly as good as the other items on the menu. We dined here recently during a big thunderstorm and everyone ordered dessert at once which caused a decent delay - we weren't going anywhere anyways so it wasn't a big deal. Parking can be a bit of a challenge, look to park in the garage nearby and not the flat lot.
(4)
Georgina S.
Mr. Alvin (our waiter) is an awesome man. He brings out whatever we need just when we need it. He's polite and comforting. He has a pleasant and calm demeanor. Do not put your head on your pillow until you come by to see Mr. Alvin. We will be back just for Alvin to serve us again. (Written by my 9 year old son Jacob).
(5)
Leslie L.
Can't give a rating on the food because we left. We arrived promptly at 11:30 when the restaurant "opened". We asked for outside seating. We were told it would be a few minutes. After waiting 8 minutes when I asked how much longer? We were going to the movies and have limited time. The snotty hostess said they were still setting up. If you open at 1130 shouldn't the patio be opened? The manager overhears me and says " we are opening it just for you (mind you there are others behind us waiting for a table outside as well) go find a table while I try to find a server. 1) you have a hostess, why should I have to find my own table 2) you will try to find a server? Ummmmmmm shouldn't you have one scheduled for the patio? 3) of you have to find one that means we will have crappy service because we are not in an assigned section. Not going back. Luna Bella has great food and polite employees
(1)
Kevin F.
I have always enjoyed Maggiano's, but I got tired of driving to Washington. I was excited to hear they opened this location in Columbia, Maryland. Elizabeth, our server was most attentive and helpful since this was my companion's first visit to a Maggiano's I ordered Mom's Lasagna and the Fettucine Alfredo to take home (a great deal by the way). My companion ordered the Salmon Oscar, which he said was incredibly good. We ended the meal with desserts. I recommend the Tiramisu, the aroma of the espresso was intoxicating. My companion ordered the NY Style Cheesecake which he said was light and creamy. Overall a great experience. I want to shout out Elizabeth again. I look forward to dining there in the very near future.
(5)
Anna L.
Stopped in for dinner tonight with our family of four. We were overcharged for our children's meals but running short on time to try to correct the bill. My husband and I couldn't wait to leave to lie down, the food is so heavy. Our server was pleasant enough and the restaurant decor is nice. But we abandoned our other plans after feeling awful. We won't return.
(2)
Rich C.
The wine list is good, dinner was OK, the wait was very long. Make reservations to get seated more quickly.
(3)
Louie B.
I love Maggianos. I'm so glad I don't have to go to the other location in Chevy Chase. Great food and a great atmosphere. You can't beat getting a take home pasta. People complain about the wait, but doing a reservation time shortens your wait. They can't help some tables don't clear out fast. We have always had great service, and if there were any issues a quick visit by the manager fixes everything.
(5)
Mary M.
Love this place! Huge food portions so you can get more than one meal (so you'll have plenty of leftovers) and they even have specials that you buy a dish and take a dish home. It's always extremely busy so make sure you make a reservation.
(4)
Lenie L.
I went here for the first time with my girlfriend for her birthday. Very low light upscale ambiance. You can tell this is not the place to bring kids. I ordered the Chicken Picatta which was delicious. It had the right amount of lemony taste that I love about chicken picatta. I finished my plate clean. Then I tried their Tiramisu. It was to die for. Loved the texture, the flavor, not overwhelmed with rum like some other places I've tried. My only complaint is the food is pretty pricey. However, the price and quality did match. I will definitely come back here again for an occasion or a dinner date with my husband. They do have this deal with $30 per person if there is a group of 4 people for appetizer, dinner, and dessert I believe. I will definitely come back for that.
(4)
Matthew S.
This place rocked. Saturday night and was seated in 30 minutes with no reservations. Service was great and the shrimp scamp was incredible. There was like 20 shrimp in this perfect hearty portion of pasta. Side salad was great also. A little pricey but worth it. The flavour was fantastic. I will be back!
This is my favorite restaurant in the world. Not only that, but, the Maggiano's in Columbia is the cheapest Maggianos I've ever been to in my life. I've been to Magliano's all over, and this one is about 30 % for the price, and yet the same types of people show up, and everybody loves it. I have to say get the family style, because thats the only way to do it, you have to get as many types of pastas and meat as possible, and the rest? Those items are just to tease your taste buds. Ive never had spaghetti that tasted as good as Magliano's makes them. I'd highly recommend you bring your whole family, as the place has the family feel. The ambiance was great, the lighting-perfect for an intimate dinner, or a relaxing one with your best friends.
(5)
Thomas S.
This was ok. The server was great but the food fell short of past experiences. My daughters lasagne was cold and my wife's fra diavolo sauce was extra creamy. My interpretation of fra diavolo is spicy red sauce, the sauce we got was neither spicy nor red. The appetizers were quite small as well given that we had a large party. The lights kept getting bright and the going din throughout the two hours that I was there. I left disappointed and with s headache. Hopefully they will turn things around or it was an off night.
(2)
Khamari S.
this place is AWESOME-- heaven - get the dinner for 2 special and you and your date will be VERY happy .. one of the best places Ive ever eaten. Ive done little italy downtown and this beat it ...
(5)
Vicki H.
Another wonderful meal, always good food & great service. We had a small problem with our salad but the manager was quick to take care of the issue. He went above & beyond to take care of us. Matt is a fabulous asset.
(5)
Keisha F.
Our waiter Sean was great! The food is fresh, tasty and plenty. Will not be disappointed!
(5)
C J.
The first word that comes to my mind to describe Maggiano's is "expensive". The food is decent. I had a salad with an awesome vinaigrette dressing but there was too white lettuce in the salad. Lettuce is supposed to be green! The Rustic chicken and shrimp with baked ziti and a cream sauce was okay. There was enough chicken and shrimp and they tasted great. It was a little dry and required additional seasoning for my taste. I also ordered the dessert sampler. Between a 1-5. The food was 3= okay; the price was a 2= not worth the price that's charged for the meal. Of course this is my opinion. The restaurant is beautiful (Brand new located at the Columbia Mall). The service was excellent.
(3)
Adam B.
For my own experience I personally I had to give Maggiano's a poor rating but it's worth reading further since you may look for different qualities in your visit. When I rate a restaurant I have a very particular test. It's my "Hamburger and Iced Tea" test. I order an unsweet tea, and a well-done hamburger. From the tea I can tell how clean they keep the kitchen, and in Maggiano's the kitchen must be very clean, as the tea was fresh and prepared in a clean pot. Normally from a well-done hamburger I can tell how much attention to detail a restaurant has, since hamburgers are often regarded as a "back-burner" food item, and I'll often get it undercooked or heavily burned. There were no hamburgers on this menu, so I had to omit that aspect of the test. The menu is really the reason I give this place such a low rating, but it's also why others may sincerely enjoy it. I am not a fan of pasta, or rich foods in general, and nothing on the menu appealed to me. I ended up getting a ham and cheese sandwich, but instead of a simple grilled cheese with ham it was very heavily buttered, and the ham was closer to prosciutto. I can think of some friends that would have loved the sandwich, but for myself it was just far too rich. I do enjoy the concept that when you order pasta, you also get a free pasta to take home with you. And the pasta itself is pretty good if you like rich pasta. I was told the meatballs are fantastic as well (again, I'm not a meatball fan, too heavily seasoned for my taste). I also want to point out that the couple behind us mentioned this was their third trip to Maggiano's in as many days. So either they love it, or practice self-flagellation. As for the service...well, it clearly has new-business growing pains. I do not factor that into my rating, but I think it's worth noting. My wife and I actually did NOT get what we ordered. I received only half a sandwich even though I ordered a whole (I was so sick from it I couldn't eat the other half anyway), and my wife received the "light" version of her pasta even though she ordered the regular. We realized this was the case when our REAL food showed up 5 minutes later....and we were already eating. Then MORE food showed up 10 minutes after that (when we were done with our meal). It was comical really, as the wait staff and environment was quite pleasant despite a few communication errors. Finally for dessert we ordered the pound cake but it came out under-cooked, so they were unable to serve it to us (at least they admitted it and didn't serve us poison-cake). Once they get some more experience I'm sure all these issues will be ironed out. I just hope they add some items to the menu that aren't so rich. Thinking of our friends' kids, they would be hard-pressed to find something they would enjoy. So there you have it - Personally I'm not a fan, but depending on the person I could still see giving this place a recommendation.
(2)
Leeann N.
Maggiano's Little Italy is an amazing Italian restaurant. I am beyond thrilled that they finally opened up a location in my area. Freshly made, excellent food served up in huge portions. Many of the pasta dishes come with a second full serving to take home for the following day. I am also thrilled to report that my favorite dish, the Mushroom Ravioli al Forno, is back on the menu again. It is absolutely divine. Welcome Maggiano's! Absolutely thrilled that you opened up in Columbia!
(5)
Lisa C.
It was a wonderful experience I had at this restaurant! The service was great and the food was good as usual. I just wish it wasn't so crowded on the weekends!
(5)
Brandon C.
Flawless experience - Tuesday evening ~6pm, ZERO WAIT - definitely filled out by 6:30, but still not oppressively busy or noisy. Waiter extremely helpful, responsive, accommodating - the $39.99 two-person pasta deal is an INCREDIBLE value - one appetizer (or two salads), then two pastas for dining in PLUS two pastas to take home, plus one desert to share - all for 40bucks??? And what made it even better is I ordered the "light" version of the fettucini alfredo, found it to be on the bland side though my wife liked it okay, so the waiter said "no problem, I'll bring you out the regular alfredo and box this up for you to take home." I thought this made much more sense than throwing it out - but he may not have been supposed to do that, so for those of you reading this, don't go abusing the system now that I've told you about one waiter's generosity!
(5)
M H.
If you have time to kill and are in the mood for huge portions of mediocre Italian, then this is your place. Super slow service though, so be prepared to be there awhile.
(2)
Chris G.
Good food but watch out if you have a food allergy! My husband and I needed a quick dinner and decided to try Maggiano's. The interior was very nice and the atmosphere was very busy and pleasant. We looked at the menu and were surprised to see calorie counts. The calorie counts were a good idea. We chose the lighter version of their chicken piccata. It was very good and less than 600 calories. At this point I told the waiter that i had a soy and nut allergy just to make sure there were no surprises. And that was a good thing because it turns out their bread has walnuts and soy in it. I have always thought of bread as one of the safe foods that I can always eat, but not true at Maggiano's! Be careful!
(3)
Eric H.
Beautiful place with average tasting food at higher than average prices! Nothing special.
(2)
Tashi C.
It took a minute to get connected with our server. Once she did get to us, we had the best service I've had in a long time. The food is amazing. The gluten free penne can be a substitution for just about any other pasta. Bellisimo!
(4)
Luke S.
Listen up y'all Cuz this is it The beat that I'm bringin' Is dis-gust-ing.... Our waitress was slow And she had B.O. And the prices weren't low And the food was so-so Portions were skimpy They say it's a "family size"????? My tummy was empty It was all lies...
(2)
Jennifer C.
So I came to maggianos on July 4 hoping to get a quick appetizer and drink before walking over to a saved spot at the lake for fireworks. My bf, my friend and I grabbed a seat at the bar assuming service would be much quicker than if we were to get seated in the dining room. I should add that it wasn't really busy- there was no wait for dining room or patio. We each ordered an alcoholic beverage which came out quick enough. Then we ordered appetizers- I got the sausage and peppers, my bf got the Italian sausage flat bread and my friend got a small Cobb salad. Well, 30 minutes later my sausage and peppers comes out unaccompanied by the other two orders. The bartender kept assuring us that "the kitchen was backed up" and the salad and flat bread would be out any minute and even offered to buy us a round of free drinks for waiting so long. It took 30 more minutes for the salad and flatbread to arrive. So basically, it took about an hour for them to make a salad for my friend?!? I ate and finished my appetizer before the other two received their food. We were in a rush and tired of waiting so as soon as we received our meal we asked the bartender for another round of drinks (as promised) and for some juice in to-go cups and for our check. It took the bartender another 20 minutes to get us our to go cups with juice, he never got us our 2nd round of drinks so we asked another bartender and then it took even longer to get our check. Then when we received our check we saw he had charged us for the "free round of drinks" that he had promised and so we had to wait even longer to get him to fix it and remind him about his promise. So basically what was supposed to be a quick 45 min turned into 2 hours. Luckily we made it out with enough time to catch the fireworks esp since they started late that evening. Since the three of us work in the restaurant industry and were all servers at some point, we didn't make a huge fuss while we there mostly bc we felt bad bc it seemed that no server/bartender there had it together. I wish I could take that back though because I got food poisoning that night from the food and was sick all through the night and felt horrible when I had to go into work the next morning!
(1)
Chandra O.
This location recently opened and I thought I'd give it a try instead of driving to Olazzo's. I was disappointed in my decision. Not that the food wasn't ok (I got the Shrimp Fra Divialo). It was not spicy liked I'd hoped although the dish did have LOTS of shrimp...I'd say over 20! We were given bread but basket was not refilled nor were we asked if we'd like more. I took a star away because the taste was not as good as Olazzo's AND coupon emailed to me-for joining e-club- I was not allowed to use because I didn't print it out! Really?! That irked me.
(2)
David H.
Casual atmosphere, authentic Italian cuisine. Very flavorful and generous portions at affordable prices. I have found a new favorite Italian restaurant.
(5)
Ethan C.
My experience here was similar to other locations. The food was very solid. I enjoyed the lobster fettuccine, and the double chocolate brownie was splendid. This is always a good place for good pasta, and they can accommodate anything from family dinners to prom parties. It can be pricey, but with a lot of the basic pasta dishes you get a 2nd dish to take home, which ends up being a lot of food. This is a useful place in the repertoire.
(4)
Vivian I.
This is my review for Lunch at Maggiano's on 4/5/2015. Location is great and for a "chain" restaurant they do a really good job. Hostess was very welcoming with a smile on her face and our waiter was prompt, friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. Every table gets free bread with olive oil for dipping. Our table didn't use the family style option but for dinner I believe it's a good be a good idea. I ordered a side Caesar salad for my appetizer and the quality was good and not over dressed. I then ordered the chicken saltimboca (lighter version) for my entree. The portion size was good and flavored well. Other people in my party ordered off the classic menu which offers a complimentary meal to take home (in addition to the one you eat at the restaurant). They were all pleasantly surprised. We had two children with us and they enjoyed their meals and I felt the portion sizes were larger then a normal chain. The only negative was that I ordered a dish to take home to my husband and they did not even start it until we got our check, by that time the restaurant was already busy and we had to wait about 25 minutes for a mussels appetizer. I believe the waiter just forgot about my request until the end. Other then that our overall experience was good and I will be back!
(4)
Kathy N.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Maggiano's salad and veal parmigiana are the perfect meal and Maggiano's never gets it wrong. They deserve at least 5 stars!! Great wait staff and glass is never empty. Will be back soon!!
(5)
Ty D.
Went to Maggiano's today for lunch and the experience was amazing. AJ was our server and we had a great time!! I recommend coming for happy hour between 3-7. 6$ Long Island ice teas were amazing. Lunch specials were spectacular.
(5)
Tim S.
I would love to update my review and give this place 4 stars, but as another reviewer said, they will have to earn it. The food at Maggianos is always good, but this one in particular is experiencing some service issues. Hopefully it's just growing pains from being such a new restaurant. They asked us to move tables 2 times for unknown reasons. They were out of the chicken entree I wanted and they were also out of tiramisu. That's not good when you're an Italian restaurant. I will go back and hopefully next time will be the 4 star experience I have come to expect from Maggianos.
(2)
Sigena S.
Simply delicious! Had the sausage flat bread for appetizer and shrimp fra diavolo with extra spice for my main course. Staff was super friendly and professional. Make sure to make reservations for dinner!!!
(5)
David J.
Service was not that great. The bread took a long time to come out and the service was rushed. The food was OK, but nothing special. I had the Veal Marsala and my wife had the spaghetti meat balls. The Veal was overpriced and tough. The Spaghetti was acceptable. You go here for the quantity and vicinity to the mall.
(3)
Meg B.
My husband and I have been to Maggiano's in King of Prussia, PA and Annapolis, MD before and became fans that way. I was excited when this location opened in Columbia, MD because it's quite a bit closer to us. It's a touch smaller than the locations in King of Prussia and Annapolis, but I think that's just a matter of the space available at such a packed mall. We've been to this location several times now and the service is always fine. They seem to be developing a tag team method where a passing server may check up on you if you need drink refills or anything, which I like. The food has always been exactly what I expect it to be. I find this chain to be a bit higher quality food compared to its sister restaurant Romano's Macaroni Grill, which is part of the same company. The atmosphere is appropriate to a slightly more intimate or romantic outing, but nothing that would make family groups uncomfortable. They have a great dinner for two deal: an appetizer, two entrees from the classic pasta menu plus two more classic pasta entrees to take home, and a dessert for $40. They also offer family style dining for parties of 6 or more in addition to traditional per person entrees. The Rigatoni D is my personal favorite. My husband favors the spaghetti with meatballs. The chocolate zuccato cake is not to be missed. This place is certainly one of our favorites and a common choice for birthdays and anniversaries.
(4)
Mitch M.
Wife took me here for my birthday and I learned something I already should have known-don't go to the mall for good food. The menu is limited but in a good way. The food arrived for our party of 4 at room temp after about an hour of nothing but bread and water that we had to ask our server for twice. Food looks like it has promise but not yet ready to go. Give this place a year to see if it can get right. Service was not worthy of a single star. Food would've been good warm. Price is pretty high considering nearby places. The ambience is casual. That service was total garbage though. We asked for the check so we could just leave. The manager came over with the full check and asked what items we wanted removed from the ticket- but in a kind of petty way. Again, this place isn't ready to serve people.
(1)
Tammi F.
A friend and I decided to have lunch prior to attending a movie nearby. We were promptly seated around 3:30 and decided to have a glass of wine listed in your happy hour menu section. Our waiter, Terry, stopped at our table and I pointed to the $5.00 glass of wine listed and stated that I'd like to try the Moscato. My friend decided to select the same wine off of the happy hour menu. Terry kindly agreed and said "would you like the 9 ounce pour"? I assumed that he was referring to what I was pointing to in the happy hour menu. We received our glasses and were very happy with the quality. After finishing our meal, Terry dropped the check off and you can imagine our surprise when our two $5.00 glasses of wine was listed as $17 dollars a piece! We had just spent $34 dollars on two glasses of wine at Maggianos! I was very upset and felt as though that was very deceptive on someone's part. I am not sure if it was the waiter trying to up-sell us to increase his tip or if in fact the restaurant encourages servers to automatically suggest a larger pour and higher price tag. The happy hour menu conveniently does not have the pours listed beside the product, which can also lead the consumer to be confused and cheated...like we were. I am very unhappy with this experience. There is no way that one glass of wine should cost as much or MORE than your meal.
(2)
Sarah H.
I went to Maggiano's for a surprise birthday dinner for my sister. We had a large party (12), and I had no problems making reservations. I was called the afternoon of the dinner to confirm our reservation for 6:30 that night. The food was ordered prior to, as recommended by a hostess. We were also informed that we could bring our own wine (as long as it wasn't on their wine list, and with a $15 corkage fee) which ended up saving a lot of money. The food was served promptly, so guests didn't have to wait for us to arrive, which I thought was great. We had ice buckets at the table to chill our wine. The food was amazing: we ordered the chopped salad, bruschetta, and calamari for appetizers. The main course was peppercorn crusted sirloin, lasagna, chicken parm, and rigatoni d. Everything was great and fast, but also not too rushed. We were in the restaurant about 2 and a half hours, which was a great time. Everyone got leftovers, even the dessert (tiramisu and apple crostada), which they all loved! Lastly, our server, Ross, was excellent. He did such a good job with a large party. No one really had to wait for much of anything because he was so on top of it. Thank you Maggiano's for making my sisters 30th birthday so great!
(5)
Laura K.
We were told there was a 45 minutes wait so we ate at the bar. Ordered fried zucchini as an appetizer and it was awesome and too much for 2 people. We took leftovers home. I had the gnocchi with a rose cream sauce and some italian sausage. Again the dish was huge and I ended up with leftovers. The food was great and even though the bar was crazy busy making drinks for the whole restaurant they were attentive filling up our drinks and getting us what we needed for our meal. Great addition to Columbia!
(5)
Lisa B.
Actually- 4 stars for food, 1 star for service! This was the 3rd time I've been to Maggianos and the food has not disappointed me at all. I took advantage of the buy one take one home meal deal and it is a great deal! With leftovers from my dinners there, I get several meals at one low price. The pasta dishes and flat breads are very good. Now the bad... This most recent visit brought 6 of us to Maggianos. We had a reservation but didn't really need one on a Tuesday night. The waiter was pleasant enough but not very competent. In fact, he was terrible. He got 2 drink orders ( out of 3) wrong and then took more than 10 minutes to bring the right drinks (sangria and wine- how hard is that?!). he asked if we were ready to order our meals and never asked if we wanted appetizers or salads. (Because we had already been there a while waiting for drinks, we skipped first courses). But When we asked for more bread, he brought cold bread and only 5 pieces for 6 people. We asked for more and he was VERY slow to bring it. He did get the meals right (yea!!!) although they were very slow to come out. He never asked if we wanted more drinks and brought the check without asking if wanted dessert or anything else. I would go back but if I see that the same waiter is working, I'll request to not be seated at his table! I think the management needs to do better training or have better hiring practices.
(3)
Jennifer M.
Our family of four decided to try Maggiano's at the Columbia Mall last night 8/6/14.) The ambiance was lovely. The restaurant gives the impression that the food will be spectacular. However, that is simply not the case. We did have a lovely server who was bright and cheerful and at the beginning was attentive and provided good service (I'll go into more details later.) She first brought slices of plain white bread in the form of a baguette. She then put some plain olive oil on a plate and asked if we wanted some parmesan cheese. It was not fresh grated parmesan cheese and olive oil had a bitter aftertaste. I was unimpressed. If you go to Carrabas the olive oil has seasonings and the bread is hot and has substance. Olive Garden gives you garlic breadsticks. This was just very plain. We also tried the Calamari. The presentation was gross. We had a huge hot tangled unsexy mess of slimy tenticles in the center of the plate. My son enjoyed playing with that by the way. The breading had a bitter aftertaste. The tomato sauce is awful. It is thick and sweet. You might as well serve Ragu or Prego. Not authentic or homemade Italian tomato sauce. As entrees, both of my kids ordered flatbread pepperoni pizzas and my husband and I ordered the chicken piccata. My husband got his order as is with the noodles and I ordered sauteed spinach instead of the noodles. The kids pizzas were supposed to come out first. However, my husband and I received our meals first because apparently there was a "back up" in the kitchen. The kids were starving and they had to wait an additional 10 minutes for their food (that may not seem long...but for hungry kids that is a long additional wait.) On a side note, their milks were only filled half way in their cups. They can get refills, but I think they should fill the cups to the top. When they brought out the kids pizzas both boys hated them (they couldn't stand the sweet tomato sauce.) We had to send those back and order the boys different meals. One of my boys ordered chicken fingers and my other son ordered noodles with butter. The noodles with butter seemed fine. The chicken fingers were skimpy. Three skinny breaded pieces of chicken (they looked like french fries.) If my son had been hungrier (he had practically two baguettes while waiting for his food) then this meal would not have been filling. My husband and I thought the chicken piccata was mediocre at best. The sauce again had a bitter aftertaste. The sauce was thick and it is obvious that the food is not authentic or freshly made. The spinach was o.k. I had to add some salt. The whole time I was there I was wondering what Chef Ramsey would say about this place. After eating the boys received dessert with their meals which was nice. Except there was another "kitchen backup" so we waited 20 minutes for scoops of ice cream. Then our pleasant waitress brings the bill (which was not cheap) but then she disappears for 20 minutes. I had to have another server ring us up. As we were getting ready to leave one of my sons said he needed to get home fast because his stomach hurt badly. A little while later my stomach hurt. He and I both got sick. I don't know if it was the food as my husband and other son seem o.k. But let's just say the food and servuce are mediocre at best. If you want chain restaurant Italian food stick to Carrabas and/or the Olive Garden. Better yet, go to Little Italy in Baltimore.
(1)
Wayne G.
Wow! Mom's lasagna is better here! Sorry mom! The featured dish was excellent. They also included some take out pasta dishes which surprised us. Aaron your service is fantastic. The desserts look great but we're full.
(4)
Raina B.
Today I ate at Maggianos for the first time. I am not really an Italian food lover but I have to say I really enjoyed this meal. I will definitely be going back. Ok first off its restaurant week in Baltimore county so I was hoping for a good deal. They did offer a three course meal with dessert for $35 and $5 glasses of wine. Well I opt out of the deal after looking through the menu, I decided to order the chicken and spinach manicotti it was a great choice. I asked my server Priscilla which would she recommended the chicken and spinach manicotti or chicken and shrimp dishes. She said they both were good, the chicken and spinach manicotti is very cheesy if you like cheese and the shrimp and chicken dish is more saucy. The manicotti arrive at the table pipping hot from the kitchen and Priscilla was right it was cheesy with just enough season no salt or pepper need to be added to the meal. It was creamy and more than enough sauce. The best I have had. I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Wing C.
It's been more than a decade since I dined in any of the restaurants in Columbia Mall! (Tomato Palace for high school homecoming!) I had no idea so many new restaurants had opened since - Season 52? Zoe's Kitchen? Since parents were craving for something more traditional, I decided to take them to Maggiano's. Although we came during Howard County's restaurant week ($15 prefix lunch - sandwich/salad, lemon cookies/chocolate bites, and one pasta entree to take home), we decided to share Marco's meal for 2 aka one of the best deals ever! Appetizer + 2 pasta entrees + dessert + 2 more pasta entrees to take home for $39.95. In addition to their infamous generous portion, what normal two ppl really eat that much food in one sitting? After sampling their zucchini frittes in a Springfield brunch yelp event, I was excited to make my parents' taste bud sing. But instead we were given calamari frittes. Since my parents love calamari, we decided to avoid the trouble and kept the dish. Although the appetizer was good, it was not memorable and definitively didn't come close to the zucchini. Crispy, juicy parmesan crusted zucchini with lemon aioli - I'm sorry I allowed calamari to take your place (in my stomach). Mom's lasagna - still as good as I remembered! There was no question that we would order another to take home with us! Fettuccine Alfredo - somewhat flavorless to be honest. Wasn't particularly crazy about the chopped asparagus in the sauce - it left a strange after taste. I would skip and get another mom's lasagna instead. Apple crostata with vanilla ice cream - throughout my lunch date with my parents, my husband was texting me expressing how jealous he was to be missing out on the Maggiano's apple crostata! If I were my husband, I would be jealous too - even the crust alone was worth mentioning - out of the world delicious! Service was outstanding - Elizabeth was friendly and attentive - took her time to explain the menu, refilled our bread basket 3 times!, and even reminded us of the $10 Eclub offer! Overall - would definitely check out Maggiano's again especially with a larger group (their ayce family style offer sounds like another ridiculous deal!) - zucchini frittes - have no fear, my stomach will return!
(4)
Rudy G.
My wife and I dinned in for our 1 month anniversary and the server gave us a complimentary champagne! Great food, drinks, and above all else, the service! Will be back for more!
(5)
David C.
Back at Maggiano's for a recent anniversary dinner celebrating 9 years. We kept it simple and took the girls with us. It is good to note that is is still a good place to go. Within 10 minutes of our 730 pm reservation on a Saturday night we were seated in a booth. Drink orders were taken and came out fast. The bread however took a long time to come out maybe because they were busy. We had not planned to fill up on bread anyway although the girls liked the bread and the Parmesan cheese that is on the table to sprinkle on your food. Being a longtime customer I had a special anniversary coupon to use. The chef Marco's deal where you get additional pastas to take home is still a good option. Appetizer was the crispy zucchini fritte with the lemon aioli which we could have used a bit more off. The breading did not fall off the zucchini. When the food finally arrived, it was hot, delicious and we finished it all.We got the lighter take Baked Ziti with chicken sausage, and the lighter take fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken and four-cheese ravioli and mushroom ravioli al forno to take home. The girls had ziti and spaghetti each with marinara. Our server wished us a Happy Anniversary when he brought 2 complimentary glasses of prosecco to the table with our apple crostata dessert. The children tried the very soft and yummy lemon cookies with lemon frosting which surprisingly they liked. They also got vanilla ice cream. Once again this was a great experience despite the slow service on bread and main course. The prosecco was an unexpected touch. We will continue to come back to Maggiano's and enjoy a great time. If you have not checked it out yet, please do so.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Nicole T.
Started off rocky....but it was my fault. We arrived on time and notified the hostess that we had an 8pm reservation. The hostess was unable to find it, after verifying my name and phone number I was about to lose my cool when a head hostess or a manager I'm assuming came up and asked to see my email verification. Upon reviewing it he notices a small detail that I clearly missed....our reservation was for the Annapolis location . How embarrassed I was and my poor hubby was inching towards the door until he came up and offered us a high top table in the bar area. I was over joyed that he was able to seat is. If not we would have been waiting up to an hour to eat. Our server was knowledgable and gave us some great recommendations. We ended up orders two appetizers....the shrimp and avacodo lemonette and the spinach artichoke crab dip. It was too much of a choice for our entrees, as I am not a fan of Italian, but since it was for Father's Day I had to oblige. I ordered the grilled jumbo shrimp with sautéed spinach, fontina cheese and a lobster cream sauce. The hubby ordered veal Parmesan. Our appetizers arrived and they were wonderful. The lemonette was so refreshing and fresh with the shrimp and the dip was nice because it had fresh spinach and not the normal frozen. Our food arrived and was amazing!!! Hubby enjoyed and I enjoyed (most times there's always something wrong). We will defiantly come back to this location for dinner. From the moment we walked in until we walked out was a great experience.
(5)David M.
I was pleasantly surprised by Maggianos. I generally would rather cook than go to Italian. I generally dislike going out to eat in the mall. And you have to literally drag me to a chain restaurant for dinner. Maggiano's hits the trifecta ... yet I enjoyed myself. Some background - Maggiano's is the "upscale" chain (50 locations) of Chili's. They are still very value minded, targeting Olive Garden (by one for dinner, take one home for free deals), and attempting to attract a more foodie driven customer (truffled cheese raviolis, claims of fresh food). The menu ranges from 15 dollar deals (with a second take home dish) to 30+ splurge items. The food, while a tad salty for my taste, was really tasty. I had a ravioli that was mixed with asparagus and spinach and dollups of a truffled soft cheese. Fairly tasty, and though somewhat light dinner. I also took home an eggplant parm that my fiance loved when she got home from her road trip that evening. The thing that really stood out was the staff. They were incredibly friendly and helpful, and genuinely seemed to be having a great time there. That really does increase your enjoyment of your meal. As an added bonus, the "courtyard" of the mall that it is in is fairly pleasant if you can grab an outdoor seat. Granted, lots of kids will be running around, but can still be relaxing as you pretend you are not in the most generic mall in the first planned suburb in America. Would I go out of my way to go to Maggiano's? - No, I'd rather support a local business, I would much rather go into the city (either one), and really - italian has to be out of this world amazing for me to suggest going there (I miss being miles from the North End of Boston). But, despite all those disclaimers - I really have to say, for Italian chain mall food - this place is unbeatable, and a great option post shopping or going to the movies.
(4)Melanie R.
Wow what a difference a location and a party of 3 verses 25 makes! (Read my DC location review) Anyway...when I go to a restaurant, I tend to go to places that make dishes far superior to what I can create at home. I cook a lot, but I do have limits..and clams is one of them. So, thankfully my linguine with white clams was the best thing ever. I really wanted to sop up my broth with my bread, but I was too embarrassed. The broth was just the right mix or garlic, white wine, and clams...sitting on a bed of delicious linguine noodles. I could really go back today! I also had the bruschetta which was done very well with crusty bread, light balsamic, heirloom tomatoes, and basil. Mmmmm My son had cheese ravioli; husband had Caprese Chicken, which he cannot pronounce, but he basically licked the plate. Did I mention, the Sangria is really good here..and they sell it by the pitcher. Trust me..a pitcher is necessary. Finally, the dessert (we shared) was this brownie thing served with a side of icy strawberries drenched in some kind of heavy whipping cream! Holy strawberry...forget the brownie..we were fighting over that strawberry/whip cream thing. Overall..this may be my new favorite place. It is a little pricey but totally worth it.
(5)Joanna S.
Great food but... Slow service and rude hostess. My waiter stopped checking up on me and passing by my area for 20-30 min. so he could attend to a larger party. One of the hostesses (short black girl) almost bumped into me without apologizing as she rushed to open the door for HERSELF so she could talk to a coworker, and right after she opened the door, she just stood there.... At the entrance. Blocking me from exiting the restaurant. She just stood there chatting with her coworker outside. I held the door open and looked at her, waiting for her to step aside. She looked over her shoulder at me, looked at me up and down, and waited for ME to say something. I finally said "excuse me" and her response was "Um... Okay??" while giving me a nasty look, like I was inconsiderate for almost bumping into HER. The nerve.
(2)Joanna B.
Arrived for our reservation, they were in absolute chaos, the hostess was impatient with fellow employees, no control or order was apparent. My reservation was acknowledged and I was told they were just cleaning a few tables and were handed a buzzer and then left waiting, waiting and waiting. We left, total waste of time, very different from Annapolis which is fantastic. I will not bother with Columbia again.
(1)Tiffany L.
Waited over an hour for our entrees. Prob around 45 mins for our mussel app. Ridiculous! And over an hour and a half for the entrees. It took so long that the server kept walking around in circles cause there was nothing he could help us with or check on. Absolutely ridiculous. Luckily my friend and I were chatting so we weren't soooo upset. And this family gave us a coupon for 10$ off 30$ which helped make the night a little better. Prob will not be coming back seeing as how I'm not a huge fan of pat anymore and this place didn't give me a good reason to come back.
(2)Jody Z.
It has been years since I've been to a Maggiano's, but I used to go to the locations in Boston and DC a lot. My husband and I went for an early dinner on a Sunday and I am SO glad we made reservations!! 4:00 on a Sunday and it was PACKED and LOUD! That is definitely one of the negatives for me. I do not remember the other locations being so loud and when it's that loud it makes me feel like I'm at Red Robin, not Maggianos. Our waiter was great and we started with the delicious bread and olive oil combo. My husband and I split the chicken parmigiana and rigatoni d dishes and still had plenty of leftovers. The chicken was cooked nicely and I liked the sauce. This was my first time trying riagatoni d and I know its one of their most popular dishes, but I just wasn't crazy about it. Something about a hint of sweetness in the sauce that I didn't care for. Overall, it was a nice meal, but I'm not dying to go back. I'd much prefer to go to Little Italy for better atmosphere and some homemade pasta....but Maggianos is not a bad meal and it's great for groups. Love that they are taking reservations!
(3)Ellen L.
mangia...grande! yes, those words mean "eat" and "big" in italian! this is where you come when you want to eat a LOT b/c they offer huge portions of everything! although not quite ideal for a taiwanese family like mine, who don't have huge appetites, at least we can order 1-2 things and share and take the rest home for later! we arrived just before 5pm on a friday since we had tickets for a show later that evening. i was surprised at how many patrons were already dining here at that hour...but maybe they had theatre tickets too? we were just glad to be seated right away without a reservation. mom, dad, and i ordered the following to share: +side order of spinach salad: a bed of spinach tossed with blue cheese, pine nuts, and white balsamic vinaigrette. we requested no bacon on the salad and the dressing served on the side. +side of order of spaghetti aglio olio: spaghetti tossed with olive oil. +parmesan-crusted tilapia: the tilapia was served with capers, tomatoes, fresh sage, lemon butter with spinach. preceding the meal was, of course, the complimentary basket of bread, with bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. even though we weren't too hungry, and wanted to save our appetites for what we ordered, we couldn't resist having a little bit of their warm, house bread with "italian butter" (a mixture of olive oil and balsamic). the spinach salad was fresh, the spaghetti slightly al dente, and the fish broiled just right. i could have done with the parmesan-crusted bit, but dad likes it that way. everything was pretty good and i think we had just the right amount of food considering we weren't that hungry at 5pm (having had a late lunch earlier in the day). our waitress was very attentive considering the number of tables she had to wait on, so i will give her props got getting everything correct on our orders, delivering the food rapidly, and getting us out on time (we had mentioned that were in a slight rush before we ordered). great location, just outside the main building at columbia mall. valet parking is available if needed.
(4)Jackie A.
OMG OMG OMG - this place is so delicious and if you get the buy one get one deal, you'll feast for two days afterwards. Service has always been impeccable. The other night, our waitress was Nancy, who was practically at our beck and call. The hubby can be needy at times, especially when spoiled at the dinner table. Go during a week night, it's less crowded. We were too full to eat dessert, but it looked scrumptious. Spaghetti and meatball tonight. As always, that sucker was BIG and tasty. My hubby was asking me, what's in it? I'm like, just hush and eat! You just wanna eat and eat and eat; and I think we did, that night.
(5)Barathi S.
Part of the new square at the Columbia Mall (where LL Bean used to be.. RIP) Maggianos was a better than most Italian chain. Came here for dinner on a Sunday night and was pleasantly surprised by the elegant decor and nice lighting. They get 5 stars for ambiance as I forgot we were at the mall. Unfortunately they were very unusually busy for a Sunday so we didn't get to try the stuffed mushrooms or the dessert we wanted. The free bread was just a plain roll but the olive oil was delicious! The calamari was standard nothing special but not greasy. I appreciated the lighter take options they had so you can enjoy good italian food without breaking the calorie budget. I enjoyed the chicken dish but the highlight was the hand cut fettuccini that came with it. It was cooked perfectly and was thick and chewy , I was planning on saving some to take home but couldn't help but finish every bite. Next time I'm definitely going to order a dish with that pasta! All in all a solid choice for Italian food in columbia! 3.5/5 stars
(3)Kris L.
3.5 stars for a perfect Maggianos experience...this is as good as this chain can get! :) Cheers to Columbia Mall! Went on a double date on a Friday during the holiday seasons. It was packed. Had rez for 7 pm. Arrived at 7 pm. We were seated promptly at 7:05 PM. Our server was fabulous and considerate, allowed us time to open presents and catch up over drinks and bread. For entrees, I can't steer away from the Rigatoni D and order it every time. I actually don't love creamy sauces but there is something about the caramelized onions that gets me every time! My husband loves the "buy one take one home" pastas and always gets one of those options. Two meals for $12.95 is hard to beat! And their meatballs are XXL. Loved the tiramisu dessert. It was more on the fluffy/creamy side and not heavy on lady fingers, but it was great! Overall, I have gained trust in this chain and will be back! TIP: Park anywhere and get there through the mall. Find Lululemon or True Religion and walk OUTSIDE through the double doors past them. Maggiano's will be on your right!
(4)Ann K.
My colleague told me to make a reservation ahead of time. I have a higher expectations for any restaurants that are so booked up and full during 6-8 pm. It turns out to be a family friendly Americanized Italian restaurant. The dining hall is packed and noisy. It will be good for pre prom or teenage birthday group party. I was warned about the serving size. One plate can be shared. The creamy white sauce is not too salty but very thick and too creamy for my taste. At the end of the meal, I feel stuffed with starch. Not really my kind of food.
(2)Rebeca F.
The food is wonderful! Good service. Love the deal where you can take a meal home so you can enjoy it all again the next day! This place is a winner!
(5)Caroline L.
Came here for lunch over the holiday season and the decor was gorgeous inside. Maggiano's to me has always been a more upscale Olive Garden. I've only been to the Maggiano's in Chevy Chase a few times and had great experiences. This was my first time at this location and for lunch. The service was great! Very prompt and professional but not stuffy in any way. Love their fresh bread. I always ask for balsamic vinegar so I can make my own dipping sauce concoction w/ the olive oil. Tried their bruschetta which was good (although somewhat repetitive of my dipping sauce minus the tomatoes). Got their lunch combo- tomato soup, salmon sandwich, and roasted potatoes. Everything was great. My cousin seemed to enjoy is chicken marsala dish and wiped it clean. The best tomato soup trophy will always go to La Madeleine though. I had coffee and she was great w/ the refills. Overall great decor, service, food and a price tag that won't set you back too much.
(5)Lowell S.
Saturday was my first experience at Maggiano's and I was very impressed. Just after we were seated we found out one more was going to be joining our group so we would need a bigger table. They put two tables together and moved us immediately and without complaint. My 1/2 sandwich (the size of a whole sandwich by regular standards!) and spinach salad were just absolutely delicious. The soup I tasted was also impeccable. Someone shared their crusted zucchini appetizer and it couldn't have tasted better. They cordially split the checks and did not rush us in any way. Loved the experience! Will definitely go back!
(5)Maria M.
Ate at Maggianos today for lunch with my friend. Our server was Terry and he was amazing. He was very professional, nice and knowledgeable. He gave us both great food recommendations, despite us not having placed a big order he treated us great. I highly recommend stopping in for food and ask for Terry.
(5)Luznery A.
Ahhhhhh I've tried this place over and over guess I'm a gluten for punishment. But not NJ nor MD is worth the visit to me the shrimp frame diavlo had no diavlo the baked ziti was watery and my kid was not impressed with the penne or the lemon cookies I mean really what kid doesn't like cookies... im good on this place
(1)Cyndi A.
We dined family style after my college graduation. The food was amazing, we had more than we could possibly eat! The stuffed mushrooms were delicious & Ma favorite appetizer. Our entrees- 3 cheese ravioli, Lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo & chicken marseille - we loved all of them. The desserts were huge and delicious! We chose the NY Cheese Cake and Double Chocolate Brownie. Our waiter was responsive, friendly & did not mind that we walked in more than ready for drinks!!
(5)Kem W.
So I went back a second time on a very busy Saturday night. I had reservations but I still had to wait 20 minutes for my table to be ready. But nothing like the hour people without reservations had to wait. I still hate those buzzers. My second time here was much better than the first. Service was A-OK. No problems. Our waiter was on top of everything. My wine came right away and before my salad. I had the Ceasar again. It could have used a little more dressing but its size is just right. My shrimp scampi was delicious and I had plenty of shrimp left over to take home. We also had the Rigatoni 'D', which is excellent as leftovers. (And you get plenty.) The place is a little loud when full but on the whole my second time there was, I'm sure, more indicative of what this restaurant can do. Hard to find with GPS but it's at the Columbia Mall. Recommended if you're there for dinner.
(3)Jenny H.
I came here for a birthday dinner and we had great service, and the food was so good- comforting and filling! We got the family-style dinner. We got the bruschetta, salad, and mushroom caps for the appetizers. I loved the house salad and dressing, and we got another order of the bruschetta. For the main dishes, we got the clams linguine (this was really, really good with a nice buttery sauce), I think we got 3 refills of this. The salmon dish was also pretty good as was their creamy rigatoni. For dessert, I loved the brownie bites with the cup full of ice cream and strawberries. The tiramisu was good too. I love this place, SO filling and the food is good. You feel like you want to curl up and watch a movie afterwards.
(4)Valentino R.
Food was amazing and our waiter was super nice and happy !!! Me and my friend are so coming back, Anthony was so nice always taking care of us !! Amazing waiter !!!! Chicken parmigiana was so good and sangria omg muy delicioso.!!!
(5)Candy W.
It started out pretty great with the complimentary bread and olive oil. The olive oil was extremely tasty and it had an really nice nutty & grassy flavor. Unfortunately, that was the best part of the meal. Chicken & spinach manicotti in cream sauce tasted so bland that I didn't know what condiments I should use to fix it. I added a lot of grated parmesan to make it ok to eat. The mom's lasagna was better but still too bland and not enough sauce. It's too bad because the only (and truly) delicious thing was olive oil. I need to go back just to buy a few bottles of it.
(3)Jen N.
Good food, good service. On friday and saturday night, the food may come out a little slower than usual, but still very tasty and fresh.
(4)Meg S.
Not good at all. Just brought spaghetti out and it was dry and rubbery. Sauce was seemingly out of jar. Don't recommend.
(1)Candice C.
Visited during Happy Hour on a Friday evening. Flatbreads, cocktails, Coppola wines and beers for $5-$6. Great cocktails-the Moscato Mojito is a must have. Perfectly crafted. Enjoyed the chicken and shrimp dish with prosciutto-plump shrimp, tender chicken breast, in creamy sauce with penne. Perfect with Coppola's pinot grigio. Service was top notch! Ask for Darius!
(4)Estelle S.
I have to tell you I thought going here was going to be blah . Loved it! Food was really good and fresh ! Lasagna was fabulous.
(5)Amy P.
I never knew Maggiano was at this location along with all the new shops in that corner. It was a pleasant surprise. We went on a Friday night and was surprised that we were seated right away as a walk in. We were seated outside enjoying the nice weather, people watching and checking out the new shops. The bread they brought over was very fresh and warm. We asked for another basket because it was so good. I ordered veal Marsala the lighter fare version and my husband ordered our usual go to dish Rigatoni D. Both were very good and the service was great. I would definitely go back again to try other dishes.
(5)Eric H.
Great for gluten-free! One of the best restaurant experiences I've had! Went there for a Thursday lunch to celebrate a friend's birthday, and got treated like royalty. Our server, Terry, took great care of us. He was specially helpful with my gluten-free diet, asking the chef to visit our table. Turns out that Maggiano's has made a corporate decision to make gluten-free the default mode for all of their sauces, salad dressings, etc. They even have four different kinds of gluten-free pasta made fresh right there in the restaurant. Finally, a company that gets it! The Mozzarella Caprese appetizer was very good; they managed to get decent tomatoes even in the dead of winter. Meanwhile, my friend had a brilliant lighter version of their Chicken Parmagniana paired with a nice Chianti. The kitchen had a tiny bit of trouble with my order of Salmon Piccata: they brought me Chicken Piccatta with a grilled salmon filet added over a bed of grilled asparagus. I KNOW! Now go wipe your mouth, you're drooling. Despite the very busy restaurant, our service was very good, and at the end of the meal Terry brought out a special dessert for my friend. He even sang to her! The manager came over to check on us and I told him how happy we were. I was surprised at how reasonable our check was; I have paid far more for far worse. Maggiano's in Columbia is now on my list of go-to restaurants, especially for special occasions. Now if they would only put in some banquet rooms upstairs...
(5)Stephen P.
Reservation for 6 on a Saturday nite- honored and on time. Meals were very good all around, good value for what we had. But the waiter for our table was what made our evening pretty special. We dine out three to four times a week, and every once in a while we encounter someone who is way above average. Mert has a great personality, was prompt in serving our group, and seemingly had our undivided attention during our meal. This, while also serving a table for ten next to us!
(4)Carolyn J.
I have been to the DC location years ago so I was happy when the one in Columbia opened. It was nice to have the text notification so that we could walk around the mall while we waited since there was a 45minute-hour wait. Michael, our server, let us know about the white & red wines and also the sangria's. We ordered the red sangria & he said the pitcher would be the better deal which it was since we both had 2 glasses out of 1 pitcher vs ordering 2 glasses each. We decided on the option of ordering a pasta now & taking one home which also included 1 appetizer and 1 dessert. The mussels were delicious, baked ziti & mushroom ravioli were very good as well. The pastas that we took home were packaged up and cold with instructions on how to reheat properly. This was enough food for 4 people!! With only the pasta and appetizer (we took dessert & remaining dinner home, could not eat it all!) the walk to the car was a struggle. Food coma. For parties of 4 or more, they have the option of ordering family style and charging per person which can work great for events.
(5)Susanna A.
I love Maggianos in DC. This location is new with TONS of customer service issues. We ordered family style and pre-ordered BEFORE we arrived. When we sat down at the table, we were informed that they ran out of the stuffed mushrooms??? Really? Poor planning on someone's part. Our appetizer took about 45 min to come out (salad, mozzarella and spinach dip). This was a loooooong time. Service was ok. Food was slow. Go to the one in Annapolis or DC for a much much much better dining experience!!!! So much more to write but I'll just leave the picture of raw uncooked salmon that I was served......the manager came over and said -- WOW that's not really cooked he said "oops sorry and that's all...they should have been embarrassed.
(2)Ethan B.
Meal for two is one of the best deals in Howard county. Service was wonderful, atmosphere was great, bathrooms were clean, and the food was perfect! Would recommend to anyone looking for Italian food!
(5)Samantha K.
This place was top notch! It was packed, had an hour wait, but totally was worth waiting for. There are tons of shops and beautiful areas to walk around in to kill off the waiting time. Service: Superb. We had Mark and brought us tons of bread, knew his menu, and had our refills before we even asked for them. Food: The bread is fantastic. It's crisp and fresh with a chewy center. The calamari is very crisp and well seasoned with plenty of marinara sauce. I had the shrimp scampi sub penne and the sauce was a deliciously light garlic sauce with fresh tomatoes. The shrimp is Succulent! My boyfriend also loved his seafood linguine. Excellent place in Columbia.
(5)Joseph J.
Sad to say I went there again & ordered the Shrimp Scampi that was not nearly as good as the last time. Shrimp were tough & there was very little pasta on the plate. Our waiter got our drink orders wrong...brought me a beer when I didn't order it. Also brought a margarita when another diner didn't order it. I think he was running up our tab. No problem, we gave him a low tip.
(2)Allison L.
I haven't been to Maggianos in years, and am a sucker for a good fettuccine alfredo, which I also haven't had lately. And with good reason after seeing the calorie count that Maggianos has on most of its dishes (a little confused why they weren't on all of the dishes? Are those dishes just SO bad for you that they can't even list the calories?). I made 6:30 reservations last night for my cousin and I and it's a good thing I did because it was completely full the entire time we were there. We started with bread and the chopped salad, both were delicious (more so when we actually got the dressing for the salad). I got the previously mentioned fettuccine alfredo and my cousin got the lobster baked tilapia, which I didn't try but smelled and looked amazing. When you get the classic pastas you also get a bowl of another classic pasta to take home, which makes the $12.99 pasta an awesome deal. I brought the baked ziti home for my husband since he subsists on ice cream and cereal if I'm not there to make him dinner. Also, the frozen peach bellini was delicious and I was very sad when I spilled half of it across the table. Finishing with the mini desserts is a great option since they look like what normal portion sizes should be and are only priced at $3.50. I should've gone that route instead of the lemon cookies, which were good but soooo lemon-y. Our server was great, as were all other Maggianos employees we encountered while we were there. Just a note on where this is if you haven't been to the Columbia mall lately, which I hadn't, L.L. Bean is gone and in its place is a neat outdoor section of the mall, which included Athleta, Seasons 52, Zoe's Kitchen, and Maggianos, along with several other stores I didn't see. So hopefully that helps you from driving around in the mall in circles like I did...
(4)Kellie S.
If I could give zero stars to Maggiano's, I would. The first time I was in Maggiano's was just before Christmas when I bought a gift card for a family member who really likes this restaurant. We arrived at 2 PM on a Tuesday and were immediately greeted by the hostess. I had a special-needs toddler with us and asked for a booster seat. Unfortunately, I had to ask three people for a booster seat before we got one. The first hostess that greeted us, our waiter, and finally I brought my toddler up to another hostess to ask him and luckily he was able to get us one. My husband ordered the chicken alfredo which had great flavor and I ordered the chicken in cream sauce and it was very good as well. The bread and olive oil that are on the table was very tasty as well. My husband's dish included a take-home dinner which I thought was a great deal. Unfortunately, when our server brought back our check & once he got his tip he disappeared to another table where other servers were sitting at also. We had to get him and ask how we get our take-home meal. It's really a shame that I can't give a better review, but honestly if I can't get good service on a Tuesday at 2 PM, what is the service going to be like on a Friday or Saturday night? It's even more shameful because the food was pretty good, but bad service is not worth any type of food especially when I have a special-needs toddler. Our server started off our meal by asking us if we had ever been to Maggiano's before, and we both said no. Why ask such a question if you're not going to give your best service?
(1)Tara L.
The food is SPECTACTULAR! My whole family loves this place! Ask for Peter's section, he's an amazing waiter!
(4)Kristi D.
We'll let me start off with I love maggiano's & have been to almost everyone in the US. The Columbia location is much better than DC. They had fast friendly service and the food was served at the perfect temperature. I always get the chop salad & the chicken and spinach manicotti. Unlike the DC it was served perfectly and with enough sauce. Normally I have to ask for more, but not this time. Thank you finally it's been years since I left Chicago and got this dish served correctly. My husband got the chicken & shrimp alferno and it was good. He really liked it The peach blini swirl was great and perfect for a hot summer day. We got here around 6 pm and no issues with sitting but I am sure you will wait awhile during peek hours. Serves was great and my water glass was never empty huge in my book- thanks Nancy for the great service.
(5)Rick G.
It's been a while since dining at Maggiano's and this was our first visit to this new location. We hadn't bothered with reservations as this was a slightly impromptu date night for us. I liked the option of texting to notify when our table was ready. And the fact that the hostess heard me correctly over the hustle and bustle - good ears. :) My wife and I shopped around nearby while waiting on the text which came very close to the estimated wait time of 30 min. It's clear they have used every possible inch to put as much seating as possible. If don't like tight spaces, get a booth. The server was a bit delayed getting back to us but his attention and personality were superb. We started with the Crispy Zucchini Fritte. Even if you don't like zucchini - not a fan - you will be amazed by this delish starter. But considering the calories, it's a share with at least another. My wife had the lasagna which is hearty and she got extra from the chef to take home. It's too tomatoey for us both but otherwise a great lasagna. I had the Crab and Shrimp Cannelloni which was amazing in taste, temperature, and presentation. Enjoyed the leftovers, too! This is a great addition to the Columbia Mall. Enjoy!
(4)Lam Ann H.
We came here to celebrate my mother's birthday on a Sunday evening. Although the reviews here are varied, we decided to give it a shot. We love Maggiano's! We made reservations and waited about 15 minutes for the table (party of 9). Our waitress, Dominique, made our experience wonderful. She explained the family style way and was so pleasant and always around. It was a packed house and the restaurant seemed a little bit cramped, but overall the ambience was dim yet cozy, like other Maggiano's we have been to. The calamari and stuffed mushrooms were a hit, as was the tilapia! The other items (can't recall the names) were okay, but not memorable (obviously!). We brought our own cakes, which were brought out with candles for the birthday celebration, but the desserts with family style did not disappoint (tiramisu and chocolate brownie with ice cream). Our food was good but the dining experience was great due to our server's attentiveness and just being plain nice! Excellent service always wins big points with us in choosing where to eat. We will definitely dine here again. :)
(4)Tim H.
Been coming to this chain for years. I gotta say, since they started the buy one take one home thing, feels like they are going downwards. I wish they go go back to some of their more signature pasta dishes and do away with the take home menu.
(4)Nicole M.
I don't understand the mixed reviews, Maggiano's Little Italy is a wonderful restaurant. You can tell all the food is made from scratch and always fresh. If you have food allergies the head chef comes out just to go over all your options, which not only puts me at ease but for me was a first. I love all the steak and seafood! The NY strip contadina style is to die for; tender quality steak smothered in as jus, roasted garlic, potatoes, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and SAUSAGE! Yes, I said sausage. Two of my favorite wines that go well with this dish from their wine list are the Belle Glos Pinot Noir (in the signature wax dipped bottle) or The Prisoner by Clark and Telephone (red blend.) Always a great place to take a large party. When you make the reservation, you can pre-order family style and I let them know when I want my appetizers served. I go there all the time and the service is always great. I know all of the managers and most of the staff. So every time I come in they all make it a point to stop by and say hello. They are like one big happy family! I understand that some people say it's a little loud and busy but how could you fault anyone for that? I would rather go to a popular restaurant with great food than one with tumble weeds and it has never effected the service they provided me. So do be sure to make a reservation when ever possible! Oh, and don't forget to check out there specials. Always something you can feel good about because they sponsor Make a Wish Foundation. They also have happy hour in the dinning room!
(5)Elle Z.
Go before 7 to get awesome happy hour/wine deals. Waitstaff is super friendly. Food is good, you know premade + a in-house flair. Overall good.
(4)Melissa J.
I just dined here with a party of 22 co-workers with a reservation and it was AMAZING! We had Awesome waitresses Lauren & Christine!! They were so attentive and truly made this a phenomenal experience. They also gave us all separate checks quickly!! I've been out plenty of times and with a party of two and I haven't received this kind of service! Everyone hostesses included..... Thanks Maggianos!!
(5)Ty J.
I have eaten at Maggiano's a number of times and was elated to find that there was now a location closer to my home! We visited this location on 11/22/14. Upon arriving we realized that we had made the grave mistake of not making reservations. We arrived at 6:30pm and had a two hour wait and we waited every bit of those two hours. The staff was gracious enough under the circumstances. The food I must say was just average, the Shrimp Diavolo is written up as spicy, it was flavorful, but not a bit spicy. Our waiter was attentive and that actually made up for the lack luster food experience. I still love Maggiano's and I'm sure I will visit again...but not without reservations.
(4)Paulette P.
I love Maggiano's!!! Jersey girl in the house!! It's like being at home every time I visit!!
(5)Jason A.
The pleasant decore and helpful staff only serve to mask a rather mediocre dining experience. I went to Maggiano's expecting to get authentic Italian cuisine but instead was given an Oliver Garden-like meal at a high end price. Specifically, the meals my wife and I ordered were far from fantastic. The shrimp scampi was was plentiful with the number of shrimp the served, but the shrimp were small and unflavorful--probably imported and then frozen from somewhere in South America. The sauce itself was decent, but nothing like the price should suggest. It was watery and had a little too much salt. My wife's chicken parmigiana was okay, but the chicken tasted as if it was deep fried and the pasta was a bit overcooked. The sauce on this dish was tasty, but again nothing like the title of the restaurant should suggest. Perhaps I am biased because I am Italian and lived in A vey Italian community in NY for most of my life, but I think that if a business is going to put "Little Italy" in its name, it should bear some resemblance to it. On a positive note, the service staff was helpful and polite.
(2)Demetrius L.
This place is pretty great. My service was fantastic. I'm yelping while eating but just know you won't regret coming
(4)Sook H.
Went out with my family for a birthday celebration and it was probably the WORST Italian food I had. All the food as SO SALTY it was so hard to eat, especially the Fettuccine. Portions were so small compared to other Italian restaurants that the whole time we were sitting at the table we wished we just went to The Cheesecake Factory. Prices were probably more than The Cheesecake Factory with portions being only half the size. My family finished everything though because the wait time from after the appetizers to actual entrees took too long. We only ate it because we were hungry not because it was good. I would never come back here again.
(2)Mimi L.
I was skeptical because they had only 3 stars on Yelp and now I know why. Ridiculously long wait, over 45 min until dinner was served. Took long for all 3 courses but waiter was very understandable. Food was good but was not hot, just a bit warm. Anything is good when you wait that long. Desert was actually great, we got the Nonna's bread pudding w/ carmelized banana, very good but not worth the wait
(3)Bill B.
Second visit to this place and it just keeps getting better. I've sat the bar both times and enjoyed the bartenders humor and the food is fantastic.
(5)Annette R.
We went for late lunch, smelled very yummy inside. They give you bread with oil as lost Italian restaurants do but the oil had no seasoning to it like most Italian restaurant's, just plain oil no oregano, basil etc....the bread was itself is very good. Got the Mom's Lasagna which was very good but very very salty. My daughter had the chicken Parm very good very salty. I would have given it 4 stars but the food was too salty. I'm Italian so I know a lot of salt is not needed in most Italian food.
(3)Kenita W.
My birthday was a few weeks ago and I wanted to celebrate. I couldn't figure out where to go but then I remembered that I always wanted to try Maggiano's. My family decided to tag along with me so we all met up yesterday evening. We arrived late for our reservation but my family was still seated pretty quickly. There were five adults + my two year old so we decided to order from the family menu. Appetizers: We ordered the Caesar salad, steamed mussels with white sauce, and stuffed mushrooms. I didn't care for the mushrooms but the salad and mussels were good. After eating mushrooms with cheese and lobster the bread crumbs didn't really do it for me. Entrees / pasta: We got the shrimp scampi (with tons of large shrimp!), the baked ziti, parmesan crusted tilapia, and the rustic chicken and shrimp. The tilapia was fresh and the portions were big. As for the pastas, the sauce in the ziti was awesome (awesome sauce lol), the scampi was pretty good, and the rustic chicken and shrimp was Good but not great. It probably would have been better if I never had the baked ziti lol. All of the food was hot and fresh. Desserts: We had some kind of chocolate cake (mousse cake?) and the Apple Crostada. They were both really good. We took extras home with our meals. Our server was pretty good and very accommodating. My mom requested tobasco for the mussels and tomatoes for our Caesar salad and he didn't hesitate to get them both. He was also able to answer questions and make recommendations with a smile. My only gripe is the price. It was $210 for everyone to eat but we had plenty of extras to take home. I've paid close to $350 at Jimmy's with the same about of people but this time we didn't feel robbed. In fact, we're already planning on returning soon. I would definitely recommend this place.
(5)John K.
Great service Great atmosphere A LOT of food and arrives quickly We did the Marco's Meal for Two ~$40 Entree Mom's lasagna - pretty good plain lasagna, nothing surprising there Mushroom Ravioli - thick cream and tasty ***Best part - we get two separate free entree to take home Desert Warm Apple Crostada - not too sweet, and delicious!!!!
(5)Danielle H.
Great find! We were at the mall and hungry, so we went here. We got the Meal for Two, and it turned out to be a Meal for Two x2 - an app, two pastas, a dessert, and two "next day" pastas (that can be completely different!) for $40 -- throw in the fact that the original portions are so generous and you've got almost three meals apiece. Major steal. Bread & Olive Oil -- their bread is fresh baked on-site, to die for. Crab Cakes -- pretty good... there could have been more aoili. Lots of crab, though, so no complaints there Mushroom Ravioli - I don't think I've ever had ravioli this good, ever. Amazing. Rich and creamy and delicious. Four Cheese Ravioli with Pesto Alfredo - Also delicious, rich, and creamy. Zuccotto Cake - This slice was enormous - they will pack up the leftovers for you, though, so go for this - if you can't decide between cake and mousse and fudge, have it all! Ned was our server and he was very funny and patient with all of my questions - you should ask to sit in his section. :) Also, props to this restaurant for the military discount. We will definitely come back again.
(5)Janelle M.
Our poor waitress was a newbie, so she forgot things here and there (like extra bread we requested and a to-go pasta), but over all, the meal was great. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. Although crowded, it wasn't too loud. The food came relatively quickly and was hot. I ordered a cup of the tomato basil soup. I didn't really like it. The bread was normal bread -- nothing fancy -- but warm. We ordered the fried mozzarella appetizer. I wish we had known how LARGE it was!! Four huge squares. Too much for two adults and a toddler, but Yummy. A caloric nightmare (300+ per square), but it's battered, deep-fried cheese so what do you expect? For our entrees, we offered the rustic chicken and shrimp (me), which was delicious and huge, and the eat one/take one pasta deal (spaghetti with meatballs and lasagna). The spaghetti and meatballs was actually spaghetti and meatBALL. One big, obnoxious meatball, but he said it was good. We didn't order dessert because I swore they had Creme brulee (as stated on their website) but it wasn't offered at this particular Maggiano's. I was pissed, but only for a moment, as I could barely breathe because I was so full of pasta. Hubby ordered the apple frittata. He didn't like it (felt like it was too much dough and not enough Apple -- warranted complaint), but my toddler and I liked it. All in all, I would return. The prices are on-par with Olive Garden but the ambiance and recipes are on another level. Hubby said he isn't pressed to come back. Maybe it was the location, or the newbie waitress, but we'll be back -- just not tomorrow.
(4)Megan L.
I love their chopped salad option with a cup of soup for lunch. Very consistent and the staff is always pleasant!
(5)Richie R.
Came here the other day to celebrate my wife's birthday. We had a party of 12 and were seated promptly since we had made a reservation. I've dined at the other 2 maggianos in our area (chevy chase, tysons) and the food here is on par with the other 2 establishments. Everything was great except that the lunch took 3.5 hrs from start to finish. I've participated in their family style meals at least a doZen times and it's never taken this long before. I spoke to the floor manager and it didn't seem to speed anything up. They didn't seem very busy so I don't know what the problem was that day.
(3)Eric L.
I would rate Maggiano's about a 3.8. It's probably the best of the Italian chain restaurants. Their salads are nicely prepared and filling. The service at this location has always been good as well. The Marco's special for two is a pretty good deal, but their classic pastas aren't nearly as good as the other items on the menu. We dined here recently during a big thunderstorm and everyone ordered dessert at once which caused a decent delay - we weren't going anywhere anyways so it wasn't a big deal. Parking can be a bit of a challenge, look to park in the garage nearby and not the flat lot.
(4)Georgina S.
Mr. Alvin (our waiter) is an awesome man. He brings out whatever we need just when we need it. He's polite and comforting. He has a pleasant and calm demeanor. Do not put your head on your pillow until you come by to see Mr. Alvin. We will be back just for Alvin to serve us again. (Written by my 9 year old son Jacob).
(5)Leslie L.
Can't give a rating on the food because we left. We arrived promptly at 11:30 when the restaurant "opened". We asked for outside seating. We were told it would be a few minutes. After waiting 8 minutes when I asked how much longer? We were going to the movies and have limited time. The snotty hostess said they were still setting up. If you open at 1130 shouldn't the patio be opened? The manager overhears me and says " we are opening it just for you (mind you there are others behind us waiting for a table outside as well) go find a table while I try to find a server. 1) you have a hostess, why should I have to find my own table 2) you will try to find a server? Ummmmmmm shouldn't you have one scheduled for the patio? 3) of you have to find one that means we will have crappy service because we are not in an assigned section. Not going back. Luna Bella has great food and polite employees
(1)Kevin F.
I have always enjoyed Maggiano's, but I got tired of driving to Washington. I was excited to hear they opened this location in Columbia, Maryland. Elizabeth, our server was most attentive and helpful since this was my companion's first visit to a Maggiano's I ordered Mom's Lasagna and the Fettucine Alfredo to take home (a great deal by the way). My companion ordered the Salmon Oscar, which he said was incredibly good. We ended the meal with desserts. I recommend the Tiramisu, the aroma of the espresso was intoxicating. My companion ordered the NY Style Cheesecake which he said was light and creamy. Overall a great experience. I want to shout out Elizabeth again. I look forward to dining there in the very near future.
(5)Anna L.
Stopped in for dinner tonight with our family of four. We were overcharged for our children's meals but running short on time to try to correct the bill. My husband and I couldn't wait to leave to lie down, the food is so heavy. Our server was pleasant enough and the restaurant decor is nice. But we abandoned our other plans after feeling awful. We won't return.
(2)Rich C.
The wine list is good, dinner was OK, the wait was very long. Make reservations to get seated more quickly.
(3)Louie B.
I love Maggianos. I'm so glad I don't have to go to the other location in Chevy Chase. Great food and a great atmosphere. You can't beat getting a take home pasta. People complain about the wait, but doing a reservation time shortens your wait. They can't help some tables don't clear out fast. We have always had great service, and if there were any issues a quick visit by the manager fixes everything.
(5)Mary M.
Love this place! Huge food portions so you can get more than one meal (so you'll have plenty of leftovers) and they even have specials that you buy a dish and take a dish home. It's always extremely busy so make sure you make a reservation.
(4)Lenie L.
I went here for the first time with my girlfriend for her birthday. Very low light upscale ambiance. You can tell this is not the place to bring kids. I ordered the Chicken Picatta which was delicious. It had the right amount of lemony taste that I love about chicken picatta. I finished my plate clean. Then I tried their Tiramisu. It was to die for. Loved the texture, the flavor, not overwhelmed with rum like some other places I've tried. My only complaint is the food is pretty pricey. However, the price and quality did match. I will definitely come back here again for an occasion or a dinner date with my husband. They do have this deal with $30 per person if there is a group of 4 people for appetizer, dinner, and dessert I believe. I will definitely come back for that.
(4)Matthew S.
This place rocked. Saturday night and was seated in 30 minutes with no reservations. Service was great and the shrimp scamp was incredible. There was like 20 shrimp in this perfect hearty portion of pasta. Side salad was great also. A little pricey but worth it. The flavour was fantastic. I will be back!
(4)Rowena F.
Yeay! I am a fan--my entire family loves this place!! We ordered family style as there were 8 of us for a Saturday Birthday lunch. Best idea ever--it's like a buffet at your table--unlimited appetizers, entrees and dessert! For appetizers, we got the fried calamari--which was freaking awesome! Apparently they marinate them in milk overnight so they're not chewy--yeah, awesome! 2nd app was the mussels--they weren't big, but the sauce they were in was delicious! 3rd app was the Caprese--so simple, but yet oh so delicious! Big, fresh slices of tomatoes with nice slice of fresh mozzarella and plenty of fresh basil...with just the right drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Onto the main course: for the Family style, we got to choose 4 main dishes. 1st dish was the chicken marsala--the smell was incredible...plenty of sauce and mushrooms! 2nd dish was Parmesan Crusted Tilapia: excellent lemon beurre blanc sauce...plenty of spinach, tomatoes and capers--just looked beautiful on the platter. 3rd entrée was the Mushroom Ravioli in Alfredo Sauce--OMG--please order this! AMAZING! 4th entrée was the linguini with red clam sauce--this was our least favorite, but not because it was bad, but just the other 3 dishes totally overshadowed it. Sauce was delish and they give plenty of clams. For dessert, we got to pick 2 as part of the family style. TIRAMISU!!!!!!!!!!!!! CHEESECAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! O-M-G!!!!!!!!!! Both were made on premises and seriously, the best we'd ever had...and we've had tiramisu and cheesecake from a lot of places....including Cheesecake Factory, Vaccaro's and Little Italy restaurants in NY!!!!! We couldn't believe how good they were--and this is a chain restaurant!!!! One of the managers came and checked in on us which, of course, is a nice touch. The only negative point was we did end up waiting for the apps a little long. Other than that, we had a great time, great food, and great service!!
(4)Adam R.
This is my favorite restaurant in the world. Not only that, but, the Maggiano's in Columbia is the cheapest Maggianos I've ever been to in my life. I've been to Magliano's all over, and this one is about 30 % for the price, and yet the same types of people show up, and everybody loves it. I have to say get the family style, because thats the only way to do it, you have to get as many types of pastas and meat as possible, and the rest? Those items are just to tease your taste buds. Ive never had spaghetti that tasted as good as Magliano's makes them. I'd highly recommend you bring your whole family, as the place has the family feel. The ambiance was great, the lighting-perfect for an intimate dinner, or a relaxing one with your best friends.
(5)Thomas S.
This was ok. The server was great but the food fell short of past experiences. My daughters lasagne was cold and my wife's fra diavolo sauce was extra creamy. My interpretation of fra diavolo is spicy red sauce, the sauce we got was neither spicy nor red. The appetizers were quite small as well given that we had a large party. The lights kept getting bright and the going din throughout the two hours that I was there. I left disappointed and with s headache. Hopefully they will turn things around or it was an off night.
(2)Khamari S.
this place is AWESOME-- heaven - get the dinner for 2 special and you and your date will be VERY happy .. one of the best places Ive ever eaten. Ive done little italy downtown and this beat it ...
(5)Vicki H.
Another wonderful meal, always good food & great service. We had a small problem with our salad but the manager was quick to take care of the issue. He went above & beyond to take care of us. Matt is a fabulous asset.
(5)Keisha F.
Our waiter Sean was great! The food is fresh, tasty and plenty. Will not be disappointed!
(5)C J.
The first word that comes to my mind to describe Maggiano's is "expensive". The food is decent. I had a salad with an awesome vinaigrette dressing but there was too white lettuce in the salad. Lettuce is supposed to be green! The Rustic chicken and shrimp with baked ziti and a cream sauce was okay. There was enough chicken and shrimp and they tasted great. It was a little dry and required additional seasoning for my taste. I also ordered the dessert sampler. Between a 1-5. The food was 3= okay; the price was a 2= not worth the price that's charged for the meal. Of course this is my opinion. The restaurant is beautiful (Brand new located at the Columbia Mall). The service was excellent.
(3)Adam B.
For my own experience I personally I had to give Maggiano's a poor rating but it's worth reading further since you may look for different qualities in your visit. When I rate a restaurant I have a very particular test. It's my "Hamburger and Iced Tea" test. I order an unsweet tea, and a well-done hamburger. From the tea I can tell how clean they keep the kitchen, and in Maggiano's the kitchen must be very clean, as the tea was fresh and prepared in a clean pot. Normally from a well-done hamburger I can tell how much attention to detail a restaurant has, since hamburgers are often regarded as a "back-burner" food item, and I'll often get it undercooked or heavily burned. There were no hamburgers on this menu, so I had to omit that aspect of the test. The menu is really the reason I give this place such a low rating, but it's also why others may sincerely enjoy it. I am not a fan of pasta, or rich foods in general, and nothing on the menu appealed to me. I ended up getting a ham and cheese sandwich, but instead of a simple grilled cheese with ham it was very heavily buttered, and the ham was closer to prosciutto. I can think of some friends that would have loved the sandwich, but for myself it was just far too rich. I do enjoy the concept that when you order pasta, you also get a free pasta to take home with you. And the pasta itself is pretty good if you like rich pasta. I was told the meatballs are fantastic as well (again, I'm not a meatball fan, too heavily seasoned for my taste). I also want to point out that the couple behind us mentioned this was their third trip to Maggiano's in as many days. So either they love it, or practice self-flagellation. As for the service...well, it clearly has new-business growing pains. I do not factor that into my rating, but I think it's worth noting. My wife and I actually did NOT get what we ordered. I received only half a sandwich even though I ordered a whole (I was so sick from it I couldn't eat the other half anyway), and my wife received the "light" version of her pasta even though she ordered the regular. We realized this was the case when our REAL food showed up 5 minutes later....and we were already eating. Then MORE food showed up 10 minutes after that (when we were done with our meal). It was comical really, as the wait staff and environment was quite pleasant despite a few communication errors. Finally for dessert we ordered the pound cake but it came out under-cooked, so they were unable to serve it to us (at least they admitted it and didn't serve us poison-cake). Once they get some more experience I'm sure all these issues will be ironed out. I just hope they add some items to the menu that aren't so rich. Thinking of our friends' kids, they would be hard-pressed to find something they would enjoy. So there you have it - Personally I'm not a fan, but depending on the person I could still see giving this place a recommendation.
(2)Leeann N.
Maggiano's Little Italy is an amazing Italian restaurant. I am beyond thrilled that they finally opened up a location in my area. Freshly made, excellent food served up in huge portions. Many of the pasta dishes come with a second full serving to take home for the following day. I am also thrilled to report that my favorite dish, the Mushroom Ravioli al Forno, is back on the menu again. It is absolutely divine. Welcome Maggiano's! Absolutely thrilled that you opened up in Columbia!
(5)Lisa C.
It was a wonderful experience I had at this restaurant! The service was great and the food was good as usual. I just wish it wasn't so crowded on the weekends!
(5)Brandon C.
Flawless experience - Tuesday evening ~6pm, ZERO WAIT - definitely filled out by 6:30, but still not oppressively busy or noisy. Waiter extremely helpful, responsive, accommodating - the $39.99 two-person pasta deal is an INCREDIBLE value - one appetizer (or two salads), then two pastas for dining in PLUS two pastas to take home, plus one desert to share - all for 40bucks??? And what made it even better is I ordered the "light" version of the fettucini alfredo, found it to be on the bland side though my wife liked it okay, so the waiter said "no problem, I'll bring you out the regular alfredo and box this up for you to take home." I thought this made much more sense than throwing it out - but he may not have been supposed to do that, so for those of you reading this, don't go abusing the system now that I've told you about one waiter's generosity!
(5)M H.
If you have time to kill and are in the mood for huge portions of mediocre Italian, then this is your place. Super slow service though, so be prepared to be there awhile.
(2)Chris G.
Good food but watch out if you have a food allergy! My husband and I needed a quick dinner and decided to try Maggiano's. The interior was very nice and the atmosphere was very busy and pleasant. We looked at the menu and were surprised to see calorie counts. The calorie counts were a good idea. We chose the lighter version of their chicken piccata. It was very good and less than 600 calories. At this point I told the waiter that i had a soy and nut allergy just to make sure there were no surprises. And that was a good thing because it turns out their bread has walnuts and soy in it. I have always thought of bread as one of the safe foods that I can always eat, but not true at Maggiano's! Be careful!
(3)Eric H.
Beautiful place with average tasting food at higher than average prices! Nothing special.
(2)Tashi C.
It took a minute to get connected with our server. Once she did get to us, we had the best service I've had in a long time. The food is amazing. The gluten free penne can be a substitution for just about any other pasta. Bellisimo!
(4)Luke S.
Listen up y'all Cuz this is it The beat that I'm bringin' Is dis-gust-ing.... Our waitress was slow And she had B.O. And the prices weren't low And the food was so-so Portions were skimpy They say it's a "family size"????? My tummy was empty It was all lies...
(2)Jennifer C.
So I came to maggianos on July 4 hoping to get a quick appetizer and drink before walking over to a saved spot at the lake for fireworks. My bf, my friend and I grabbed a seat at the bar assuming service would be much quicker than if we were to get seated in the dining room. I should add that it wasn't really busy- there was no wait for dining room or patio. We each ordered an alcoholic beverage which came out quick enough. Then we ordered appetizers- I got the sausage and peppers, my bf got the Italian sausage flat bread and my friend got a small Cobb salad. Well, 30 minutes later my sausage and peppers comes out unaccompanied by the other two orders. The bartender kept assuring us that "the kitchen was backed up" and the salad and flat bread would be out any minute and even offered to buy us a round of free drinks for waiting so long. It took 30 more minutes for the salad and flatbread to arrive. So basically, it took about an hour for them to make a salad for my friend?!? I ate and finished my appetizer before the other two received their food. We were in a rush and tired of waiting so as soon as we received our meal we asked the bartender for another round of drinks (as promised) and for some juice in to-go cups and for our check. It took the bartender another 20 minutes to get us our to go cups with juice, he never got us our 2nd round of drinks so we asked another bartender and then it took even longer to get our check. Then when we received our check we saw he had charged us for the "free round of drinks" that he had promised and so we had to wait even longer to get him to fix it and remind him about his promise. So basically what was supposed to be a quick 45 min turned into 2 hours. Luckily we made it out with enough time to catch the fireworks esp since they started late that evening. Since the three of us work in the restaurant industry and were all servers at some point, we didn't make a huge fuss while we there mostly bc we felt bad bc it seemed that no server/bartender there had it together. I wish I could take that back though because I got food poisoning that night from the food and was sick all through the night and felt horrible when I had to go into work the next morning!
(1)Chandra O.
This location recently opened and I thought I'd give it a try instead of driving to Olazzo's. I was disappointed in my decision. Not that the food wasn't ok (I got the Shrimp Fra Divialo). It was not spicy liked I'd hoped although the dish did have LOTS of shrimp...I'd say over 20! We were given bread but basket was not refilled nor were we asked if we'd like more. I took a star away because the taste was not as good as Olazzo's AND coupon emailed to me-for joining e-club- I was not allowed to use because I didn't print it out! Really?! That irked me.
(2)David H.
Casual atmosphere, authentic Italian cuisine. Very flavorful and generous portions at affordable prices. I have found a new favorite Italian restaurant.
(5)Ethan C.
My experience here was similar to other locations. The food was very solid. I enjoyed the lobster fettuccine, and the double chocolate brownie was splendid. This is always a good place for good pasta, and they can accommodate anything from family dinners to prom parties. It can be pricey, but with a lot of the basic pasta dishes you get a 2nd dish to take home, which ends up being a lot of food. This is a useful place in the repertoire.
(4)Vivian I.
This is my review for Lunch at Maggiano's on 4/5/2015. Location is great and for a "chain" restaurant they do a really good job. Hostess was very welcoming with a smile on her face and our waiter was prompt, friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. Every table gets free bread with olive oil for dipping. Our table didn't use the family style option but for dinner I believe it's a good be a good idea. I ordered a side Caesar salad for my appetizer and the quality was good and not over dressed. I then ordered the chicken saltimboca (lighter version) for my entree. The portion size was good and flavored well. Other people in my party ordered off the classic menu which offers a complimentary meal to take home (in addition to the one you eat at the restaurant). They were all pleasantly surprised. We had two children with us and they enjoyed their meals and I felt the portion sizes were larger then a normal chain. The only negative was that I ordered a dish to take home to my husband and they did not even start it until we got our check, by that time the restaurant was already busy and we had to wait about 25 minutes for a mussels appetizer. I believe the waiter just forgot about my request until the end. Other then that our overall experience was good and I will be back!
(4)Kathy N.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Maggiano's salad and veal parmigiana are the perfect meal and Maggiano's never gets it wrong. They deserve at least 5 stars!! Great wait staff and glass is never empty. Will be back soon!!
(5)Ty D.
Went to Maggiano's today for lunch and the experience was amazing. AJ was our server and we had a great time!! I recommend coming for happy hour between 3-7. 6$ Long Island ice teas were amazing. Lunch specials were spectacular.
(5)Tim S.
I would love to update my review and give this place 4 stars, but as another reviewer said, they will have to earn it. The food at Maggianos is always good, but this one in particular is experiencing some service issues. Hopefully it's just growing pains from being such a new restaurant. They asked us to move tables 2 times for unknown reasons. They were out of the chicken entree I wanted and they were also out of tiramisu. That's not good when you're an Italian restaurant. I will go back and hopefully next time will be the 4 star experience I have come to expect from Maggianos.
(2)Sigena S.
Simply delicious! Had the sausage flat bread for appetizer and shrimp fra diavolo with extra spice for my main course. Staff was super friendly and professional. Make sure to make reservations for dinner!!!
(5)David J.
Service was not that great. The bread took a long time to come out and the service was rushed. The food was OK, but nothing special. I had the Veal Marsala and my wife had the spaghetti meat balls. The Veal was overpriced and tough. The Spaghetti was acceptable. You go here for the quantity and vicinity to the mall.
(3)Meg B.
My husband and I have been to Maggiano's in King of Prussia, PA and Annapolis, MD before and became fans that way. I was excited when this location opened in Columbia, MD because it's quite a bit closer to us. It's a touch smaller than the locations in King of Prussia and Annapolis, but I think that's just a matter of the space available at such a packed mall. We've been to this location several times now and the service is always fine. They seem to be developing a tag team method where a passing server may check up on you if you need drink refills or anything, which I like. The food has always been exactly what I expect it to be. I find this chain to be a bit higher quality food compared to its sister restaurant Romano's Macaroni Grill, which is part of the same company. The atmosphere is appropriate to a slightly more intimate or romantic outing, but nothing that would make family groups uncomfortable. They have a great dinner for two deal: an appetizer, two entrees from the classic pasta menu plus two more classic pasta entrees to take home, and a dessert for $40. They also offer family style dining for parties of 6 or more in addition to traditional per person entrees. The Rigatoni D is my personal favorite. My husband favors the spaghetti with meatballs. The chocolate zuccato cake is not to be missed. This place is certainly one of our favorites and a common choice for birthdays and anniversaries.
(4)Mitch M.
Wife took me here for my birthday and I learned something I already should have known-don't go to the mall for good food. The menu is limited but in a good way. The food arrived for our party of 4 at room temp after about an hour of nothing but bread and water that we had to ask our server for twice. Food looks like it has promise but not yet ready to go. Give this place a year to see if it can get right. Service was not worthy of a single star. Food would've been good warm. Price is pretty high considering nearby places. The ambience is casual. That service was total garbage though. We asked for the check so we could just leave. The manager came over with the full check and asked what items we wanted removed from the ticket- but in a kind of petty way. Again, this place isn't ready to serve people.
(1)Tammi F.
A friend and I decided to have lunch prior to attending a movie nearby. We were promptly seated around 3:30 and decided to have a glass of wine listed in your happy hour menu section. Our waiter, Terry, stopped at our table and I pointed to the $5.00 glass of wine listed and stated that I'd like to try the Moscato. My friend decided to select the same wine off of the happy hour menu. Terry kindly agreed and said "would you like the 9 ounce pour"? I assumed that he was referring to what I was pointing to in the happy hour menu. We received our glasses and were very happy with the quality. After finishing our meal, Terry dropped the check off and you can imagine our surprise when our two $5.00 glasses of wine was listed as $17 dollars a piece! We had just spent $34 dollars on two glasses of wine at Maggianos! I was very upset and felt as though that was very deceptive on someone's part. I am not sure if it was the waiter trying to up-sell us to increase his tip or if in fact the restaurant encourages servers to automatically suggest a larger pour and higher price tag. The happy hour menu conveniently does not have the pours listed beside the product, which can also lead the consumer to be confused and cheated...like we were. I am very unhappy with this experience. There is no way that one glass of wine should cost as much or MORE than your meal.
(2)Sarah H.
I went to Maggiano's for a surprise birthday dinner for my sister. We had a large party (12), and I had no problems making reservations. I was called the afternoon of the dinner to confirm our reservation for 6:30 that night. The food was ordered prior to, as recommended by a hostess. We were also informed that we could bring our own wine (as long as it wasn't on their wine list, and with a $15 corkage fee) which ended up saving a lot of money. The food was served promptly, so guests didn't have to wait for us to arrive, which I thought was great. We had ice buckets at the table to chill our wine. The food was amazing: we ordered the chopped salad, bruschetta, and calamari for appetizers. The main course was peppercorn crusted sirloin, lasagna, chicken parm, and rigatoni d. Everything was great and fast, but also not too rushed. We were in the restaurant about 2 and a half hours, which was a great time. Everyone got leftovers, even the dessert (tiramisu and apple crostada), which they all loved! Lastly, our server, Ross, was excellent. He did such a good job with a large party. No one really had to wait for much of anything because he was so on top of it. Thank you Maggiano's for making my sisters 30th birthday so great!
(5)Laura K.
We were told there was a 45 minutes wait so we ate at the bar. Ordered fried zucchini as an appetizer and it was awesome and too much for 2 people. We took leftovers home. I had the gnocchi with a rose cream sauce and some italian sausage. Again the dish was huge and I ended up with leftovers. The food was great and even though the bar was crazy busy making drinks for the whole restaurant they were attentive filling up our drinks and getting us what we needed for our meal. Great addition to Columbia!
(5)Lisa B.
Actually- 4 stars for food, 1 star for service! This was the 3rd time I've been to Maggianos and the food has not disappointed me at all. I took advantage of the buy one take one home meal deal and it is a great deal! With leftovers from my dinners there, I get several meals at one low price. The pasta dishes and flat breads are very good. Now the bad... This most recent visit brought 6 of us to Maggianos. We had a reservation but didn't really need one on a Tuesday night. The waiter was pleasant enough but not very competent. In fact, he was terrible. He got 2 drink orders ( out of 3) wrong and then took more than 10 minutes to bring the right drinks (sangria and wine- how hard is that?!). he asked if we were ready to order our meals and never asked if we wanted appetizers or salads. (Because we had already been there a while waiting for drinks, we skipped first courses). But When we asked for more bread, he brought cold bread and only 5 pieces for 6 people. We asked for more and he was VERY slow to bring it. He did get the meals right (yea!!!) although they were very slow to come out. He never asked if we wanted more drinks and brought the check without asking if wanted dessert or anything else. I would go back but if I see that the same waiter is working, I'll request to not be seated at his table! I think the management needs to do better training or have better hiring practices.
(3)Jennifer M.
Our family of four decided to try Maggiano's at the Columbia Mall last night 8/6/14.) The ambiance was lovely. The restaurant gives the impression that the food will be spectacular. However, that is simply not the case. We did have a lovely server who was bright and cheerful and at the beginning was attentive and provided good service (I'll go into more details later.) She first brought slices of plain white bread in the form of a baguette. She then put some plain olive oil on a plate and asked if we wanted some parmesan cheese. It was not fresh grated parmesan cheese and olive oil had a bitter aftertaste. I was unimpressed. If you go to Carrabas the olive oil has seasonings and the bread is hot and has substance. Olive Garden gives you garlic breadsticks. This was just very plain. We also tried the Calamari. The presentation was gross. We had a huge hot tangled unsexy mess of slimy tenticles in the center of the plate. My son enjoyed playing with that by the way. The breading had a bitter aftertaste. The tomato sauce is awful. It is thick and sweet. You might as well serve Ragu or Prego. Not authentic or homemade Italian tomato sauce. As entrees, both of my kids ordered flatbread pepperoni pizzas and my husband and I ordered the chicken piccata. My husband got his order as is with the noodles and I ordered sauteed spinach instead of the noodles. The kids pizzas were supposed to come out first. However, my husband and I received our meals first because apparently there was a "back up" in the kitchen. The kids were starving and they had to wait an additional 10 minutes for their food (that may not seem long...but for hungry kids that is a long additional wait.) On a side note, their milks were only filled half way in their cups. They can get refills, but I think they should fill the cups to the top. When they brought out the kids pizzas both boys hated them (they couldn't stand the sweet tomato sauce.) We had to send those back and order the boys different meals. One of my boys ordered chicken fingers and my other son ordered noodles with butter. The noodles with butter seemed fine. The chicken fingers were skimpy. Three skinny breaded pieces of chicken (they looked like french fries.) If my son had been hungrier (he had practically two baguettes while waiting for his food) then this meal would not have been filling. My husband and I thought the chicken piccata was mediocre at best. The sauce again had a bitter aftertaste. The sauce was thick and it is obvious that the food is not authentic or freshly made. The spinach was o.k. I had to add some salt. The whole time I was there I was wondering what Chef Ramsey would say about this place. After eating the boys received dessert with their meals which was nice. Except there was another "kitchen backup" so we waited 20 minutes for scoops of ice cream. Then our pleasant waitress brings the bill (which was not cheap) but then she disappears for 20 minutes. I had to have another server ring us up. As we were getting ready to leave one of my sons said he needed to get home fast because his stomach hurt badly. A little while later my stomach hurt. He and I both got sick. I don't know if it was the food as my husband and other son seem o.k. But let's just say the food and servuce are mediocre at best. If you want chain restaurant Italian food stick to Carrabas and/or the Olive Garden. Better yet, go to Little Italy in Baltimore.
(1)Wayne G.
Wow! Mom's lasagna is better here! Sorry mom! The featured dish was excellent. They also included some take out pasta dishes which surprised us. Aaron your service is fantastic. The desserts look great but we're full.
(4)Raina B.
Today I ate at Maggianos for the first time. I am not really an Italian food lover but I have to say I really enjoyed this meal. I will definitely be going back. Ok first off its restaurant week in Baltimore county so I was hoping for a good deal. They did offer a three course meal with dessert for $35 and $5 glasses of wine. Well I opt out of the deal after looking through the menu, I decided to order the chicken and spinach manicotti it was a great choice. I asked my server Priscilla which would she recommended the chicken and spinach manicotti or chicken and shrimp dishes. She said they both were good, the chicken and spinach manicotti is very cheesy if you like cheese and the shrimp and chicken dish is more saucy. The manicotti arrive at the table pipping hot from the kitchen and Priscilla was right it was cheesy with just enough season no salt or pepper need to be added to the meal. It was creamy and more than enough sauce. The best I have had. I can't wait to go back.
(4)Wing C.
It's been more than a decade since I dined in any of the restaurants in Columbia Mall! (Tomato Palace for high school homecoming!) I had no idea so many new restaurants had opened since - Season 52? Zoe's Kitchen? Since parents were craving for something more traditional, I decided to take them to Maggiano's. Although we came during Howard County's restaurant week ($15 prefix lunch - sandwich/salad, lemon cookies/chocolate bites, and one pasta entree to take home), we decided to share Marco's meal for 2 aka one of the best deals ever! Appetizer + 2 pasta entrees + dessert + 2 more pasta entrees to take home for $39.95. In addition to their infamous generous portion, what normal two ppl really eat that much food in one sitting? After sampling their zucchini frittes in a Springfield brunch yelp event, I was excited to make my parents' taste bud sing. But instead we were given calamari frittes. Since my parents love calamari, we decided to avoid the trouble and kept the dish. Although the appetizer was good, it was not memorable and definitively didn't come close to the zucchini. Crispy, juicy parmesan crusted zucchini with lemon aioli - I'm sorry I allowed calamari to take your place (in my stomach). Mom's lasagna - still as good as I remembered! There was no question that we would order another to take home with us! Fettuccine Alfredo - somewhat flavorless to be honest. Wasn't particularly crazy about the chopped asparagus in the sauce - it left a strange after taste. I would skip and get another mom's lasagna instead. Apple crostata with vanilla ice cream - throughout my lunch date with my parents, my husband was texting me expressing how jealous he was to be missing out on the Maggiano's apple crostata! If I were my husband, I would be jealous too - even the crust alone was worth mentioning - out of the world delicious! Service was outstanding - Elizabeth was friendly and attentive - took her time to explain the menu, refilled our bread basket 3 times!, and even reminded us of the $10 Eclub offer! Overall - would definitely check out Maggiano's again especially with a larger group (their ayce family style offer sounds like another ridiculous deal!) - zucchini frittes - have no fear, my stomach will return!
(4)Rudy G.
My wife and I dinned in for our 1 month anniversary and the server gave us a complimentary champagne! Great food, drinks, and above all else, the service! Will be back for more!
(5)David C.
Back at Maggiano's for a recent anniversary dinner celebrating 9 years. We kept it simple and took the girls with us. It is good to note that is is still a good place to go. Within 10 minutes of our 730 pm reservation on a Saturday night we were seated in a booth. Drink orders were taken and came out fast. The bread however took a long time to come out maybe because they were busy. We had not planned to fill up on bread anyway although the girls liked the bread and the Parmesan cheese that is on the table to sprinkle on your food. Being a longtime customer I had a special anniversary coupon to use. The chef Marco's deal where you get additional pastas to take home is still a good option. Appetizer was the crispy zucchini fritte with the lemon aioli which we could have used a bit more off. The breading did not fall off the zucchini. When the food finally arrived, it was hot, delicious and we finished it all.We got the lighter take Baked Ziti with chicken sausage, and the lighter take fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken and four-cheese ravioli and mushroom ravioli al forno to take home. The girls had ziti and spaghetti each with marinara. Our server wished us a Happy Anniversary when he brought 2 complimentary glasses of prosecco to the table with our apple crostata dessert. The children tried the very soft and yummy lemon cookies with lemon frosting which surprisingly they liked. They also got vanilla ice cream. Once again this was a great experience despite the slow service on bread and main course. The prosecco was an unexpected touch. We will continue to come back to Maggiano's and enjoy a great time. If you have not checked it out yet, please do so.
(5)Amanda Z.
Lets get the bad out of the way. I had a reservation we arrived 5 minutes early and we still had to wait 20 minutes to be seated. Whats the point of the reservation if its not honored. And then the appetizer plates were dirty. Our waitress wisked those away and we started over. We did the marcos meal we got an appetizer 2 entrees desert and 2 seperate entrees to take home it was such a good deal for so much food. The appetizer was spinach and artichoke dip which I can say is tbe best I have ever had and all due to the spinach being fresh and not of the frozen variety. The boo had chicken alfredo which was just ok I had the baked ziti which was amazing mostly because the sausage was so good with the sauce. For desert we had the chocolate mousse cake. I am a sucker for chocolate mousse. The cake was dense and the mousse was light it was everything I loved. Eating the 2nd entrées the next day it was a reversal of fortunes my spaghetti and meatballs where not that great. The sauce was not good at all. The meat ball saved it it had cheese in it I believe and was not overly breaded. The boo jad the 4 cheese ravioli which was out of this world. Everyone should eat that. We had sangria at the restaurant the seasonal sangria was great. I still think $10 for sangria is a little much but whatevs. The atmosphere is great everything was dim and cozy and it smelled amazing. Maybe a little loud but it was very busy that night. And our waitress was great she even helped get us out on a timely . manner as we were late to a movie
(4)