Great service. Great selection. Every visit here is always enjoyable. Be sure to try the "Create your own pasta" !
(5)
Jeffrey B.
The only reason this place has been open so long has got to be location, location, location poor service and very little chicken or shrimp for the price.
(1)
Mark M.
I've been to several Macaroni Grills and never had a bad experience. This one is no different...sure it's a chain yada yada but the service is great, food consistently tasty and the house red is great and reasonably priced. Good go to spot for Italian fare
(4)
Mike H.
Not impressed. First of all, it took at least 15 minutes before a waitress greeted us at our table. They were not off to a good start. When the appetizers arrived, they were semi-warm and below average in taste. Goat cheese stuffed peppers sounded good on the menu but were sour and cold. The mac-n-cheese bites were not as good as the peppers. My wife ordered spaghetti and meatballs. The sauce and meatballs had no flavor. My fettucini alfredo had the same problem. I added shrimp for $4 and had 3 small shrimp on my order. My wife ordered tiramisu for dessert and it was melted when it arrived. The waitress apologized and said she forgot about the dessert order so it melted. I wonder if she thought of placing an order for a fresh dessert instead of serving what looked more like creme brulle? Overall, this was a bad choice for dinner. I would have enjoyed McDonalds better and would have spent at least $30 less. With so many other options in the area, I doubt we will return to the Macaroni Grill.
(1)
Kyle B.
The bread and olive oil that is served is fantastic. That's about the only positive thing I have to say about the Macaroni Grill. I have had one too many dry, flavorless entrees at this place to ever consider going back. The very last time I visited, my wife and I had a terrible experience. Our waiter was rude, inattentive, and even lied right to my wife's face. It's not cheap either.
(1)
Mike E.
A bit pricey I suppose, but worth every penny, great service and atmosphere. You get to draw on the table which is random but it's delicious and quite nice inside.
(5)
Sasha C.
Great place!
(4)
Evie B.
This is for my entree only! I so did not want to go here, but hubs had a hankering for Italian and we were going to be in that area... Oh how I regret the decision. The waitress was very nice and prompt with service. I ordered the mushroom ravioli w/Marsala cream. Doesn't that sound yummy? I had visions of fluffy pillows of ravioli filled with wild mushrooms and drizzled with Marsala cream sauce...mmmm then my plate arrived and my brain went WTF?????? Sorry for the curse but seriously. I should have taken a pic. And because I have this aversion to returning anything to the kitchen I just put it aside... They over broiled the dish causing whatever cheese /sauce on top to burn. There was a dark quarter inch ring of burnt crust around the plate and we couldn't identify what my dish was. We both looked at it and asked, " where are the ravioli's?" They were swimming in a pond of overly overly sweet Marsala sauce. Toooooo much Marsala wine or they threw in some damn sugar... The ravioli's were flat rectangular pieces of pasta that had no substance at all. There were maybe 4-5 who the hell knows? It was absolutely the worst preparation and tasting dish. So why didn't I complain? I wouldn't have ordered anything else. It killed my appetite. Our waitress didn't cook it. I know that we will never return. Yes I paid for the dish, but with the amount of eating out that we do, in the long run we come out ahead.if we love a place, we a repeat customers.
(1)
Heather M.
My boyfriend took me here on our first date. It was by far awesome. The waiter was nice and very very helpful, especially since I was picky and didn't know what to decide. I thought it was cute that they write on there tables. The kids must love that, when I have children I most definitely will bring them here if it's still open. The food was amazing and big enough for two meals. I didn't check out the bath rooms but I'm sure they looked fine. The place is huge and very open. The only thing I would change is there prices! A little expensive but why am I complaining I didn't pay for it lol!
(5)
Bill S.
Lunch for 3 Adults including a bottle of house Chianti was $96. Kinda pricey. Food was excellent as always. Our Waitress was very good but she was busting her butt doing many things in an empty restaurant. (There were only 5 other tables with people). Although she ignored our empty water glasses and failed to mention the wine specials, we cut her some slack figuring that she was in the midst of OTJT. The Manager, at least we think he was because he was wearing a tie and dress shirt, ignored the patrons but had a great time with the staff. The food was excellent, although the fact that I ordered xtra meat sauce and they charged me $0.50 which I thought was tacky. The atmosphere was enjoyable. But, how come, except for our Server, all the other employees appeared to be pissed off? Overall, 4 Stars. If you want 5 Stars then go across the street to Andiamo's.
(4)
Randy P.
Both times I've been here recently there was no greeter up front. Stood up front for almost three minutes and they were far from busy. The service here just sucks. Not sure if we will ever return. The food does not match the price you are paying for a meal.
(1)
Elizabeth S.
I just went here for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was very clean and the waitstaff all very efficient and polite. The food was average as you would expect from a big chain restaurant and the prices really weren't bad! I'll be going back!
(4)
Ashley M.
I do not have a big problem with Romano's.. I definitely prefer them over Olive Garden (considering that Oliver Garden was the "spot" when I was an adolescent for birthdays); I have liked every dish ordered. Note: "liked" not "loved". As with any chain, unlike Authentic mom and pop diners or restaurants, the food is not spectacular, but it is edible and I am full afterward. The service is also GREAT!! and the Cosmo... O.M.G., the bartender and I have a secret drink affair going on that the HUBS will never understand. Clean atmosphere. Kind of loud as another reviewer commented. Not my normal "spot," but we will definitely return. :)
(4)
Nathan C.
This place is incredible! We showed up without reservations on a busy Friday night and got a table with a very short wait. The whole staff was friendly and a pleasure to talk to! I love mushrooms, but have had a hard time finding a good stuffed mushroom. This place nailed it! Best stuffed mushrooms on earth! The staff, the food, and the atmosphere make this spot a new local favorite of ours! Josh took care of us that night and did a fantastic job! Five stars for the staff. Five stars for the food. # bomb.com
(5)
Ashton A.
Thought it'd be classy.... No. . Bahama Breeze is my favorite restaurant so far in the area.
(1)
Shante M.
The shrimp Alfredo was worth the drive. The shrimp were large and cooked to perfection. The noodles were al dente, nice setting for a date. My only qualm is the dish was a little lacking in alfredo sauce, it need just a tad bit more.
(4)
Ernie M.
We ordered two appetizers. The goat cheese stuffed pepperdoes were terrific and the spicy meatballs were ok. My wife got the minestrone soup and then a caprese salad and liked them both. Everyone else was ok with the Lasagna and spinach/scallop salad. But since I am the one doing the rating, this meal was a two star because I ordered the Italian sausage flatbread and it was really lousy. It was just barely warm, too much sauce and the bottom crust was very soggy.If I would have had more time I would have sent it back---but I didn't. This is the second time we have had bad flatbread. The last time the mushroom and goat cheese flatbread came out cold!!. They should either try to do the flatbreads right or take them off the menu.
(2)
Erin M.
I've only been to a Macaroni Grill once before, and it was several years ago, so I decided to come here for dinner a few nights ago. I'm sorry I hadn't gone sooner because it was fantastic! Our waitress, Courtney was extremely nice and helpful. The bread is addictive and our dinners were delicious! I got the Chicken Under A Brick and it was very flavorful and fresh. The broccolini was cooked perfectly and the roasted potatoes were exquisite. I was very impressed with this place and i'll definitely be back for more.
(4)
Executive Chef Ronnie B.
For what this place is its spot on for ITALIAN food and a great happy hour. Seriously a decent cab for $3.
(5)
Susan Y.
One of the better Italian food chains. Love their lasagna!
(4)
K. W.
The food was good. My waitress Katy was great. The hostess and the bartender were clueless. I've never heard so many wait a minutes and I'll be right there's in my life. I watched the hostess take a call right in the middle of asking someone about their seating arrangements who was right in front of her. They seemed a bit unorganized but at 4:30pm shouldn't they be in the swing of the day before the rush comes? At any rate it will be a while before I revisit if I even revisit. There are too many options about there for that level of service.
(2)
Peter M.
I may not be a sophisticated man but I do know what good Italian food is. This place provides good food for good value. Great place to bring the family, I've never waited longer than 20 minutes on a busy night. The house wine goes down smooth and the fettuccini alfredo is a suburban version of a crack addiction for me. Play tic-tac-toe on the table, get buzzed off wine and have good times with the family.
(4)
Lisa W.
I love the Macaroni Grill I just wish there was one closer to me. I have been here a dozen times and had great service and food everytime. I love the create your own pasta. I always get the bowtie pasta with the garlic cream , add mushrooms and chicken. The chocolate cake is really yummy.
Had been to another Macaroni Grill a few years ago and vowed never to return. One of our group insisted this one is very good, and she was right. I had a Caesar salad and Lasagna. The salad was just average and the Lasagna well above average. Don't worry about portion sizes, they are big. My wife had a chicken dish that I thought was just OK, but she loved it. Everyone in our group was happy with their choices. Service was above average but not great.
(3)
Charlene R.
Hostess was as unfriendly as they come. Bathroom was filthy, especially the floor. Waitress was very friendly and attentive, food was okay.
(3)
Liz T.
A three star is a completely solid review - nothing bad about my experience last Saturday afternoon. This is a 4-star because of our server Joe who was really friendly and acted like he cared about the job and his customers. The building is nice, predictable and exactly the same as it was 10 years ago when I was last there. My friend and I chose Macaroni Grill as it's almost exactly center between Dearborn Heights and Brighton, MI. We were seated quickly and our server (Joe) was very friendly and efficient. He explained the specials, the wine list, the "make your own" sections and left us with hot bread and oil and plenty of time for two friends to chat while making their selections. We started with cesar salad and the baked olives with garlic. Baked olives! Who knew there was another way to prepare olives Oh my - I could have eaten them with bread and oil and been happy (with a glass of Moscato) all day. For my dinner, I decided on the penne pasta with olive oil and roasted garlic, with chicken and mushrooms. Full cloves of garlic. Roasted. Sinfully delicious! Cooked firm and so good, I don't think that I would do the chicken in the future, it was more of an afterthough. My friend had the spaghetti pasta, with the oil and garlic also - another good choice. I will be back, And I won't wait 10 years this time.
(4)
C S.
We have not eaten at the Macaroni Grill for two years as the food is only so-so. My husband received a gift card for his birthday so we decided to give it another try. It was a Sunday at 5 pm. When we walked in we were quite surprised that the restaurant was better than 1/2 empty. Good, we wouldn't have to wait. NOT!! We stood there for 5 minutes never even being acknowledged by the 2 greeters at their stand. Finally, my husband approached them and they seemed bothered that he interrupted their conversation. They handed him a pager and told him it would be 15 minutes to be seated. Unbelievable!!! The place was more than 1/2 empty!! I went back up and asked why there was a wait when they weren't busy and was unapologetically told that they don't have servers. I handed back the pager and told her we would take our business elsewhere. After reading other's reviews here, that was a good decision. This place definitely has management problems -- no wonder it was 1/2 empty at one of the busiest times for restaurants in this area!!!
(1)
Katie M.
I'm not typically a big fan of any Italian food, especially chain restaurant Italian food, but this place does something right, at least in my book. This place is good for a family dinner, a date night, a pig out session, or special occasion. I can take my kids here and they can draw on the table (and not get in trouble). I can have a date night here and feel whisked away to Italy as we listen to the hostess / opera singer delightfully go table to table with a lovely song. Ok, so maybe I drink a couple glasses of wine before I feel like I'm really in Italy - but the wine is also another great point of this place. They have the big bottles. For cheap! And its pretty decent wine, you can take it home if you don't finish it. The bread arrives to your table warm, flaky and buttery with just the right amount of rosemary. On our last visit we tried the goat cheese stuffed peppadew peppers - YUM! Just the perfect balance of creamy goat cheese and bite from the peppadew. I always get the chicken spidini (or the salmon), light oil. Love the grilled veggies that accompany this dish. We rarely get dessert. Wish they had outdoor seating. Sign up for their e-club for coupons and deals. Right now (all summer) they have 50% off of wine.
(4)
Douglas A.
Always good food. Service is also good. I've only experienced 1 server who wasn't on their game. Wine selection is a bit overpriced in my opinion but the house red is not bad. Everything was very clean and presentable. Not really a date night sort of place but great for a relaxed meal.
(4)
Krystal R.
I have gave this place a chance 4 times. This place is over-priced and just not that good of food. If you're in the mood for chain-Italian, I would go to Carraba's...probably even the Olive Garden. They charge everything a la carte as though it were fancy schmancy...it falls short of that. Hello, the server comes to the table and writes their name on the tablecloth, then they proceed to charge a la carte lmao.
(2)
Gino C.
Excellent dinner!!! Excellent service!!! I am out a lot and get to eat at all different restaurants. A recent visit to this Macaroni Grill in Novi was one of my best restaurant experiences ever. The food was great... You have to try the new Braisers!! Our server Rachel, not only recommended great dinner choices but was very friendly. She was vey attentive and made dinner fun!!! We will be back Gino C.
(5)
Jen P.
FIRST TIME VISIT, WON'T BE GOING BACK ! Me and my husband to try Romano's Macaroni Grill for the first time yesterday. To say it was not a pleasant experience is an understatement. We eat out a lot (4 times a week) so I think we are a good judge of what is good service and food and what is not. I ordered a bottle of beer and the waiter asked me if i would like a glass with it, I said "yes" then he comes back without a glass and says "Can you just use the water glass?" REALLY?? no, I can't use the water glass, I want a frosted mug. But OK that I can let slide. So he brings me back a frosted mug THAT IS DIRTY ! Then we asked for ice water and instead we got water, no ice. OK now I am getting a little irritated. Then they bring you out this mini bread loaf, no knife to cut it. So we unwrap our silverware to use our butter knife to cut the bread and they were both DIRTY ! He then come up and says "are you ready to order?"..not, "would you like an appetizer? UM OK I guess we are ready to order but we do want an appetizer. So we get the spicy meatballs for an app. TASTES HORRIBLE ! FROZEN MEATBALLS ARE BETTER. The waiter asked how everything is going and I say "not so good"..he just ignores me and walks away. By this point I am so discussed with the service and the cleanliness when he comes back I ask for the manager. We left and did not even eat the dinners. The manager was trying to make it right but if you present me with dirty silverware and dirty glasses....I don't want to imagine what the kitchen looks like ?!?!? No way in hell was i paying $16 to eat a meal from this place ! I wouldn't even pay half that. Mind you I was starving when we left so I would have ate almost anything at that point. I have not walked out of a restaurant in over 10 years. I just want to be clear that while the food wasn't to my satisfaction, the service and the cleanliness is what made me decide to get up and leave.
(1)
Keith C.
This place is really hit or miss. Sometimes the service is spectacular, fast, friendly, blah blah while other times it's slow, rude, or worst yet have a creeper waiter. You know the kind, the ones that are overly friendly, have that fake smile, and you know get off work and put the laughter back in slaughter. Sometimes the food is spectacular, tasty, fresh, blah blah while other times it's bland, cold, over/under seasoned, or generally not at all what you were expecting. Sometimes the portion sizes are spectacular while other times you kindly ask them to bring out the rest of the meal that they forgot in the kitchen. Ambiance is acceptable. For a chain restaurant they're on par. The only reason they don't get a fourth star is because the "hit or miss" is too often a "miss"
(3)
Mic M.
Well this is sort of a reduced content partial review, but is based on my experience here. I have been around this area for a long while, and have never been into the Macaroni Grill, so yesterday we attempted to change that. To start, first impressions are really important and set the tone, but based on the greeters, the tone here was sort of vacant, unfriendly, and pretentious. When customers walk into a place, at least pretend you care that people are there, a little smile, and bit of pleasantries perhaps...not much, just act as if you don't hate your job, your life or the customers! So the place was typical cookie cutter for places like this...paper table clothes, high ceilings, open and visible cooking area, prop wine bottles all around the place. Pretty much a lot of things to try and make this place "feel" Italian. So miss unhappy walked us to our table, having to stop at then excuse ourselves past and finally squeeze by, a server who was blocking the narrow isle we were being led down. The first thing I noticed was trash in my chair, I was sure the worker saw it first, but she only watched as I picked it up, and she did nothing and walked away. So the place was half empty, but we sat for something in the neighborhood of 5 to 10 minutes and no interaction from a worker happened. No water, no bread, no I'll be right with you...REALLY? During the (what felt like a forever) wait for a waitperson to at least acknowledge our existence, we had a chance to look at the really tacky laminated one page, one sided menu. I quickly realized that there was not a lot of options here, and for what it was, was really over-priced. To sort of paint the picture of how we felt about either how long we waited for a waitperson, or how minimal the menu was... We were able to read the entire menu from top to bottom and all associated descriptions to the end, and during that time did not have a server come to the table. At that point we decided that this is the little pretentious pseudo-Italian chain that couldn't, and we got up squeezed past some wait-people, walked right past the hostess station and out the door, and no one said a word to us. Macaroni Grill gets low marks for offerings and pricing, and a huge "fail" in customer relations. At this point, I would not recommend!
(1)
Laura F.
Why do I go back! My food was luke warm and took forever to get and they we not even busy!. My child had the mac n cheese which was sooo watery it could of been cheese soup!!!!...YUCK
(2)
Jim W.
The food was very good. We had the server from hell though. We had to ask for plates and silverware with napkin. She was too enamoured with her larger parties to be bothered with a party of two.
(3)
Bruce F.
I joined the E-club a while back and received an email discount coupon for BOGO and turned it in over the Labor Day Weekend. Needless to say, it was quite busy, but a very good experience over all. We tried a couple of the 2 for $9 appetizers. The Fried Mac & Cheese Bites were quite good and the Baked Prosciutto & Mozzarella was very good as well. We both love the Grilled King Salmon at Macaroni Grille and were not disappointed in the least. The Salmon was cooked perfectly and the Orzo, Spinach and Sun dried Tomatoes side dish was excellent. The service was a little slow, but the Holiday Diners filled the place to capacity and was understandable. The waitress was helpful, friendly and efficient. I am going for a solid 4 stars.
(4)
Jim S.
I should have read the reviews first. I came here because the parking lot was crowded, usually a good sign and the sign outside said "$9 dinner in 9 minutes." Well now. There was no $9 dinner. My tab for a beer, a soda, a salad and an entree was $25. Next falsehood. Dinner in nine minutes. I walked in here 37 minutes ago. Had my salad, not bad. No entree yet. I ordered garlic bread. No such thing here. No garlic butter, no garlic bread. They brought a standard loaf with a few herbs, baked fresh but just drenched in oil. So the waiter dumps cracked pepper in the olive oil. I didn't ask for it and I certainly didn't like it. But he did it so fast I didn't have time to ask him what the hell he was doing. They brought a rigatoni dish. Watery tomato sauce. At least it was hot. Last little goodie. I can't STAND it when a restaurant brings a dinner drink out right away when I have to wait more than half an hour for my food. Watery diet coke. Ugh. My problem? I wanted a $9 meal in nine minutes like their signage advertises. These guys are trying to swim upstream though. They want $25 from a customer, not $9.
(1)
Jon G.
I'm always impressed with restaurants that let you create your own food whether it's with salad bars, burger bars, or pasta selection like they have at Macaroni Grill. I don't why, but there is just something about having 5-10 options for pasta shapes. I know the angel hair tastes just like the spaghetti and penne but, dammit I like to have my pasta in cute little bow tie shapes. Macaroni Grill gives me my beloved bow tie shapes and lets me choose my own sauce. They even let me add two types of tomatoes so I could eat healthy and try to counteract the extreme amount of Taco Bell and bacon I eat. Seriously though the food was served quickly and our waitress was great. She tried to up-sell us on wine because it was half-off wine night but she didn't do it in a pressure-packed way. If you like wine, I suggest visiting on a Tuesday so you can get a deal on a bottle. A dinner for two with a bottle could be had for $50 or less. Note: Macaroni Grill servers draw on the place mat with crayons. Awesome. This makes the place feel less formal and therefore makes me feel like less of a dork when I get red sauce on my shirt.
(4)
Derek S.
The food was ok, nothing more. Wen't there for my father in laws birthday and our server forgot to put in some of the order so all the food came out but the man who's birthday it was and his wife's. So they watched us eat for 15-20 minutes and the server came back to say they burnt the food so they'll have to start over again. The third time was the charm and the food came out edible but it took so long for them to get it right that they took most of it home to put a baby to bed.
(2)
Marian F.
Ordered Sea Bass which was overcooked, dry, and cold. I actually think it was perch. My husband had shrimp portofino which was hot & delicious. When the waitress came back I told her it was inedible, and she suggested the salmon, and said it would be served within 8 mins. 20 mins later I received my dinner. The manager never came to see if I was satisfied (I was not). They never offered to discount our bill, or even take off our beverages. NEVER AGAIN!
(1)
Jeff L.
I didn't plan a special trip here, my friend and I were both hungry, we were driving by so we thought we'd just pop in, they weren't that busy, but for some reason they sat us right next to a very loud party of 20, I hadn't even sat down and i requested that they move me, that it was to noisy, the hostess gave me a little attitude about it, just bad body language, she was probably just having a bad night. My food was just ok, it came out kind of cold, I didn't complain, I just ate it and put up with it. Being a Sunday night it felt like none of the staff wanted to be there, I guess I can't blame them neither did I.
(3)
Sally T.
I really like the food here especially the penne pasta with arrabiata sauce! The spaghetti is very good and the salmon is excellent. I take a large group of friends when my husband and I go. We like that we can laugh out loud when we talk to friends and not have to worry about bothering anyone. I just wish that they wouldn't have changed the house dressing. use to love the house Italian but it's not the same and not as good.
(4)
Keith G.
Of the many "Italian" restaurants on Haggerty Row, this is my least favorite. Let's review the many weak links in chain restaurants: 1) bland choices, 2) huge portions of cheese, 3) "bread", 4) huge portions of cheesy decor, 5) disinterested staff, 6) bad drinks, and 7) INCREDIBLY HIGH SALT CONTENT. (Okay, there's nothing to review; that's the first time I've written that.) I have many kids, and my kids don't even like their mac and cheese. The food is salty And Italian music that annoying better be grating the parmesan, too. Ack. I'd ask why the parking lot is so crowded, but I've spent too much time on Haggerty Road. :p
(1)
mariah c.
What was the most remarkable thing about this particular location of Macaroni Grill? Aside from some genuinely friendly staff (my server and others who stopped to strike up quick conversation), the parking lot was full of Caddys, BMWs and Lexuses (Lexi?). I guess sometimes consistancy in comfort carbs wins people over. I have a guilty secret-of-comfort-food, and its name is Macaroni Grill. Yes, yes, I know that they play the most ridiculous Italian restaurant music ever. Yes, yes I know that there are certainly better places to go for real Italian food, but if I want a big helping of carb-y comfort with no judgement, I may very well end up here a few times a year. Another Community Manager loves the Olive Garden. I reserve a soft spot for the crusty warm bread, crayons-on-the-table, and pasta predictability of Macaroni Grill. When I was moving from one house to another, I was exhausted and in need of someone else to make me some hot, cheesy goo to consume. I didn't feel the least bit self-conscious dining here in my yoga pants -- I couldn't say the same about anyplace to get pasta in downtown Ann Arbor. You may also point out that some of the entrees here are about 2 days worth of caloric intake. That's fine by me, because I always bring home 1-2 more meals worth of leftovers. And I'm OK with that.
(3)
Marian C.
Sorry to be a Debby Downer, but i got the seafood linguine and it was the SALTIEST dish I had ever encountered. I almost chocked on how salty it was. I mean seriously, did the cook accidentally pour the whole box of morton salt into my dish and was too lazy to throw it out and do it over??! after being traumatized for a few minutes and downing 2 glasses of water, i was hoping to forgive mr. romano's restaurant with the dessert I ordered... the Amaretto Apple Crispetti... it was supposed to come with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but it wasn't there! I looked everyone... even in the linguine that i didn't finish. OHHHHhh... i was so upset. i had this to-go so i couldn't do anything about it. later, looking online, i found that this restaurant is one of the UNHEALTHIEST restaurants in America!! ZERO STARS. the ONLY positive thing here are the people are really nice and courteous. hence the one star huzzah!!
(1)
Faith M.
Yeah.. This place sucks! The service is horrible and food is disgusting! My creamy sauce was soupy at best !! My hubby and I both sent our selections back and ran out of the door literally !! UGH!
(1)
T S.
I'm not sure how these restaurants are so loud. Is it the layout choice? The usual patrons? It was very difficult to hear conversation over the loudness of the other conversations. It took a while for our waiter to arrive but once there he was friendly and very attentive. I was there with 3 other people and our food was great. I had the balsamic honey glazed chicken which was excellent and the broccoli was cooked perfectly however, the pasta side dish was only okay. The prices are a little high, with the entrees not even including a side salad ($3 extra). But the meal does come with a small loaf of bread to start and they will keep bringing more bread if you like. Overall, I would go here again but I wouldn't rush back.
(3)
Russell V.
I must say, I'm generally a fan of Macaroni Grill - as Mariah said, there's a bit of "comfort food" to be had, here. Overall, the food is reasonable, it's not exorbitantly priced and is an overall good value. I'm generally used to the one in Milpitas, CA - this one is much the same with a larger bar and a restroom located more in the middle of the restaurant (and with a few minor modifications to the menu). Tonight we're on one of our last nights out of "the business trip" (on which I'm tagging along). Of course, we needed to make sure we had the house Chianti as well as our favorite dishes (though the Macaroni Grill I frequent has "the honor system" in dealing with the house wines). Of our two dishes, my lobster ravioli was overly salty (the other , a sausage pasta, was "just fine"). By the time the manager had made his rounds to ask about the evening, I had already finished about half the meal, but mentioned the saltiness (as well as my "regular" status at another Macaroni Grill in California). He mentioned that this is "one of their saltier dishes," asked when the last time I had tried the dish (about two weeks ago) and offered to "have a chef redo it" without me first asking. Though, since I had already finished a large portion of the dish and, really, not being someone to generally complain, I wasn't terribly comfortable doing so -- so I declined his offer. Thinking back on it, maybe I should have allowed him to take what was left of the dish and provide me with half a plate (about what was remaining). Overall, I really like this restaurant chain, and generally haven't had a bad meal at any of them. However, I can't say this was my best experiences here and, as such, have down-rated this a single star from what I'd normally be inclined to give them. Everything other than my dish was "just fine," or even tasty... good service, reasonable house wine, good appetizer, good dessert - just the one dish that I wasn't too happy with at the time. This all being said, this would be a place I'd likely revisit another time and, if I still experienced a similar issue, I'd likely re-evaluate from there (or would at least be less-shy about sending something back).
(3)
Pam L.
Hey! Anybody can do Italian food, but Nobody does a Bellini like Romano's Macaroni Grille! I come for the drink! For those of you who say it is too cheesy and too salty and too fattening and all those other awful things on the previous reviews.... then DON"T eat anybody's Italian food! Duh! It is all pretty much the same. The food here is as good as any and I love the eggplant Parm. Eat a little and eat responsibly and take the rest home. Salads are fabulous. Have a Bellini and be glad you did. Kids and adults too can draw on the table. A big plus if you take kids or grand kids out to dinner. Have a second Bellini and you won't notice the noise. A fun place. And did I mention, Great Bellinis?? :D
(4)
Jackie R.
I came here often before moving back to California and enjoyed the place. I just recently ate here this past Friday (on what had to be THE coldest day EVER in history) while in town for wedding business. We had a large group which isn't uncommon for Macaroni Grille. The parking lot was packed and we ended up parking way way way in the back and on a day when it's near 0* outside, I would sure like to have valet! We had reservations here and were seated in a short amount of time. They have two waiting areas with one being near the bar and one near the kitchen with places to sit. The service here hasn't changed in the sense that its not horrible but its not 110%, just good. We had our food and drinks brought out to us in a timely manner and that was great because I was hungry after a long day of appointments. The food is good, not great but not bad. I had a pizza and some people had other pasta dishes and enjoyed them. I can't believe in the Michigan economy that this place was PACKED, but I guess people gotta eat :) Oh and the cool thing is you can draw on the paper tablecloths with the crayons they give you!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : 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.
Bob H.
Great service. Great selection. Every visit here is always enjoyable. Be sure to try the "Create your own pasta" !
(5)Jeffrey B.
The only reason this place has been open so long has got to be location, location, location poor service and very little chicken or shrimp for the price.
(1)Mark M.
I've been to several Macaroni Grills and never had a bad experience. This one is no different...sure it's a chain yada yada but the service is great, food consistently tasty and the house red is great and reasonably priced. Good go to spot for Italian fare
(4)Mike H.
Not impressed. First of all, it took at least 15 minutes before a waitress greeted us at our table. They were not off to a good start. When the appetizers arrived, they were semi-warm and below average in taste. Goat cheese stuffed peppers sounded good on the menu but were sour and cold. The mac-n-cheese bites were not as good as the peppers. My wife ordered spaghetti and meatballs. The sauce and meatballs had no flavor. My fettucini alfredo had the same problem. I added shrimp for $4 and had 3 small shrimp on my order. My wife ordered tiramisu for dessert and it was melted when it arrived. The waitress apologized and said she forgot about the dessert order so it melted. I wonder if she thought of placing an order for a fresh dessert instead of serving what looked more like creme brulle? Overall, this was a bad choice for dinner. I would have enjoyed McDonalds better and would have spent at least $30 less. With so many other options in the area, I doubt we will return to the Macaroni Grill.
(1)Kyle B.
The bread and olive oil that is served is fantastic. That's about the only positive thing I have to say about the Macaroni Grill. I have had one too many dry, flavorless entrees at this place to ever consider going back. The very last time I visited, my wife and I had a terrible experience. Our waiter was rude, inattentive, and even lied right to my wife's face. It's not cheap either.
(1)Mike E.
A bit pricey I suppose, but worth every penny, great service and atmosphere. You get to draw on the table which is random but it's delicious and quite nice inside.
(5)Sasha C.
Great place!
(4)Evie B.
This is for my entree only! I so did not want to go here, but hubs had a hankering for Italian and we were going to be in that area... Oh how I regret the decision. The waitress was very nice and prompt with service. I ordered the mushroom ravioli w/Marsala cream. Doesn't that sound yummy? I had visions of fluffy pillows of ravioli filled with wild mushrooms and drizzled with Marsala cream sauce...mmmm then my plate arrived and my brain went WTF?????? Sorry for the curse but seriously. I should have taken a pic. And because I have this aversion to returning anything to the kitchen I just put it aside... They over broiled the dish causing whatever cheese /sauce on top to burn. There was a dark quarter inch ring of burnt crust around the plate and we couldn't identify what my dish was. We both looked at it and asked, " where are the ravioli's?" They were swimming in a pond of overly overly sweet Marsala sauce. Toooooo much Marsala wine or they threw in some damn sugar... The ravioli's were flat rectangular pieces of pasta that had no substance at all. There were maybe 4-5 who the hell knows? It was absolutely the worst preparation and tasting dish. So why didn't I complain? I wouldn't have ordered anything else. It killed my appetite. Our waitress didn't cook it. I know that we will never return. Yes I paid for the dish, but with the amount of eating out that we do, in the long run we come out ahead.if we love a place, we a repeat customers.
(1)Heather M.
My boyfriend took me here on our first date. It was by far awesome. The waiter was nice and very very helpful, especially since I was picky and didn't know what to decide. I thought it was cute that they write on there tables. The kids must love that, when I have children I most definitely will bring them here if it's still open. The food was amazing and big enough for two meals. I didn't check out the bath rooms but I'm sure they looked fine. The place is huge and very open. The only thing I would change is there prices! A little expensive but why am I complaining I didn't pay for it lol!
(5)Bill S.
Lunch for 3 Adults including a bottle of house Chianti was $96. Kinda pricey. Food was excellent as always. Our Waitress was very good but she was busting her butt doing many things in an empty restaurant. (There were only 5 other tables with people). Although she ignored our empty water glasses and failed to mention the wine specials, we cut her some slack figuring that she was in the midst of OTJT. The Manager, at least we think he was because he was wearing a tie and dress shirt, ignored the patrons but had a great time with the staff. The food was excellent, although the fact that I ordered xtra meat sauce and they charged me $0.50 which I thought was tacky. The atmosphere was enjoyable. But, how come, except for our Server, all the other employees appeared to be pissed off? Overall, 4 Stars. If you want 5 Stars then go across the street to Andiamo's.
(4)Randy P.
Both times I've been here recently there was no greeter up front. Stood up front for almost three minutes and they were far from busy. The service here just sucks. Not sure if we will ever return. The food does not match the price you are paying for a meal.
(1)Elizabeth S.
I just went here for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was very clean and the waitstaff all very efficient and polite. The food was average as you would expect from a big chain restaurant and the prices really weren't bad! I'll be going back!
(4)Ashley M.
I do not have a big problem with Romano's.. I definitely prefer them over Olive Garden (considering that Oliver Garden was the "spot" when I was an adolescent for birthdays); I have liked every dish ordered. Note: "liked" not "loved". As with any chain, unlike Authentic mom and pop diners or restaurants, the food is not spectacular, but it is edible and I am full afterward. The service is also GREAT!! and the Cosmo... O.M.G., the bartender and I have a secret drink affair going on that the HUBS will never understand. Clean atmosphere. Kind of loud as another reviewer commented. Not my normal "spot," but we will definitely return. :)
(4)Nathan C.
This place is incredible! We showed up without reservations on a busy Friday night and got a table with a very short wait. The whole staff was friendly and a pleasure to talk to! I love mushrooms, but have had a hard time finding a good stuffed mushroom. This place nailed it! Best stuffed mushrooms on earth! The staff, the food, and the atmosphere make this spot a new local favorite of ours! Josh took care of us that night and did a fantastic job! Five stars for the staff. Five stars for the food. # bomb.com
(5)Ashton A.
Thought it'd be classy.... No. . Bahama Breeze is my favorite restaurant so far in the area.
(1)Shante M.
The shrimp Alfredo was worth the drive. The shrimp were large and cooked to perfection. The noodles were al dente, nice setting for a date. My only qualm is the dish was a little lacking in alfredo sauce, it need just a tad bit more.
(4)Ernie M.
We ordered two appetizers. The goat cheese stuffed pepperdoes were terrific and the spicy meatballs were ok. My wife got the minestrone soup and then a caprese salad and liked them both. Everyone else was ok with the Lasagna and spinach/scallop salad. But since I am the one doing the rating, this meal was a two star because I ordered the Italian sausage flatbread and it was really lousy. It was just barely warm, too much sauce and the bottom crust was very soggy.If I would have had more time I would have sent it back---but I didn't. This is the second time we have had bad flatbread. The last time the mushroom and goat cheese flatbread came out cold!!. They should either try to do the flatbreads right or take them off the menu.
(2)Erin M.
I've only been to a Macaroni Grill once before, and it was several years ago, so I decided to come here for dinner a few nights ago. I'm sorry I hadn't gone sooner because it was fantastic! Our waitress, Courtney was extremely nice and helpful. The bread is addictive and our dinners were delicious! I got the Chicken Under A Brick and it was very flavorful and fresh. The broccolini was cooked perfectly and the roasted potatoes were exquisite. I was very impressed with this place and i'll definitely be back for more.
(4)Executive Chef Ronnie B.
For what this place is its spot on for ITALIAN food and a great happy hour. Seriously a decent cab for $3.
(5)Susan Y.
One of the better Italian food chains. Love their lasagna!
(4)K. W.
The food was good. My waitress Katy was great. The hostess and the bartender were clueless. I've never heard so many wait a minutes and I'll be right there's in my life. I watched the hostess take a call right in the middle of asking someone about their seating arrangements who was right in front of her. They seemed a bit unorganized but at 4:30pm shouldn't they be in the swing of the day before the rush comes? At any rate it will be a while before I revisit if I even revisit. There are too many options about there for that level of service.
(2)Peter M.
I may not be a sophisticated man but I do know what good Italian food is. This place provides good food for good value. Great place to bring the family, I've never waited longer than 20 minutes on a busy night. The house wine goes down smooth and the fettuccini alfredo is a suburban version of a crack addiction for me. Play tic-tac-toe on the table, get buzzed off wine and have good times with the family.
(4)Lisa W.
I love the Macaroni Grill I just wish there was one closer to me. I have been here a dozen times and had great service and food everytime. I love the create your own pasta. I always get the bowtie pasta with the garlic cream , add mushrooms and chicken. The chocolate cake is really yummy.
(5)Ann W.
Romano's Macaroni Grill is a typical Midwestern, suburban, family restaurant. It has a large cavernous dining room, friendly waitstaff, and ample parking. I used to visit this restaurant on a regular basis when I first moved to the area. However, not so much now given the number of Italian offerings in the vicinity. The meal started off with rosemary bread hot from the oven with pepper-flavored olive oil and the zucchini fritti appetizer. Unlike the version last year which featured long, thin horizontal strips of zucchini, the one today was more of a chip, fried, served with a spicy tomato sauce. The crunchy, parmesan coating is delicious and suited the accompanying sauce. For the entrée, I enjoyed the Classic Italian Bake which included a large portion of rigatoni, two spicy Italian sausages and meatballs in a tomato sauce and served in a large braiser pan. Tomatoes and ricotta cheese with flecks of basil added flavor to the meal. The portion was huge - enough for a second, even a third, meal. A side salad or Caesar salad is also available with the entrée. There was nothing of interest on the dessert menu - just the basics that you would find on any menu - which was disappointing. Service was slower than expected.
(3)A H.
Had been to another Macaroni Grill a few years ago and vowed never to return. One of our group insisted this one is very good, and she was right. I had a Caesar salad and Lasagna. The salad was just average and the Lasagna well above average. Don't worry about portion sizes, they are big. My wife had a chicken dish that I thought was just OK, but she loved it. Everyone in our group was happy with their choices. Service was above average but not great.
(3)Charlene R.
Hostess was as unfriendly as they come. Bathroom was filthy, especially the floor. Waitress was very friendly and attentive, food was okay.
(3)Liz T.
A three star is a completely solid review - nothing bad about my experience last Saturday afternoon. This is a 4-star because of our server Joe who was really friendly and acted like he cared about the job and his customers. The building is nice, predictable and exactly the same as it was 10 years ago when I was last there. My friend and I chose Macaroni Grill as it's almost exactly center between Dearborn Heights and Brighton, MI. We were seated quickly and our server (Joe) was very friendly and efficient. He explained the specials, the wine list, the "make your own" sections and left us with hot bread and oil and plenty of time for two friends to chat while making their selections. We started with cesar salad and the baked olives with garlic. Baked olives! Who knew there was another way to prepare olives Oh my - I could have eaten them with bread and oil and been happy (with a glass of Moscato) all day. For my dinner, I decided on the penne pasta with olive oil and roasted garlic, with chicken and mushrooms. Full cloves of garlic. Roasted. Sinfully delicious! Cooked firm and so good, I don't think that I would do the chicken in the future, it was more of an afterthough. My friend had the spaghetti pasta, with the oil and garlic also - another good choice. I will be back, And I won't wait 10 years this time.
(4)C S.
We have not eaten at the Macaroni Grill for two years as the food is only so-so. My husband received a gift card for his birthday so we decided to give it another try. It was a Sunday at 5 pm. When we walked in we were quite surprised that the restaurant was better than 1/2 empty. Good, we wouldn't have to wait. NOT!! We stood there for 5 minutes never even being acknowledged by the 2 greeters at their stand. Finally, my husband approached them and they seemed bothered that he interrupted their conversation. They handed him a pager and told him it would be 15 minutes to be seated. Unbelievable!!! The place was more than 1/2 empty!! I went back up and asked why there was a wait when they weren't busy and was unapologetically told that they don't have servers. I handed back the pager and told her we would take our business elsewhere. After reading other's reviews here, that was a good decision. This place definitely has management problems -- no wonder it was 1/2 empty at one of the busiest times for restaurants in this area!!!
(1)Katie M.
I'm not typically a big fan of any Italian food, especially chain restaurant Italian food, but this place does something right, at least in my book. This place is good for a family dinner, a date night, a pig out session, or special occasion. I can take my kids here and they can draw on the table (and not get in trouble). I can have a date night here and feel whisked away to Italy as we listen to the hostess / opera singer delightfully go table to table with a lovely song. Ok, so maybe I drink a couple glasses of wine before I feel like I'm really in Italy - but the wine is also another great point of this place. They have the big bottles. For cheap! And its pretty decent wine, you can take it home if you don't finish it. The bread arrives to your table warm, flaky and buttery with just the right amount of rosemary. On our last visit we tried the goat cheese stuffed peppadew peppers - YUM! Just the perfect balance of creamy goat cheese and bite from the peppadew. I always get the chicken spidini (or the salmon), light oil. Love the grilled veggies that accompany this dish. We rarely get dessert. Wish they had outdoor seating. Sign up for their e-club for coupons and deals. Right now (all summer) they have 50% off of wine.
(4)Douglas A.
Always good food. Service is also good. I've only experienced 1 server who wasn't on their game. Wine selection is a bit overpriced in my opinion but the house red is not bad. Everything was very clean and presentable. Not really a date night sort of place but great for a relaxed meal.
(4)Krystal R.
I have gave this place a chance 4 times. This place is over-priced and just not that good of food. If you're in the mood for chain-Italian, I would go to Carraba's...probably even the Olive Garden. They charge everything a la carte as though it were fancy schmancy...it falls short of that. Hello, the server comes to the table and writes their name on the tablecloth, then they proceed to charge a la carte lmao.
(2)Gino C.
Excellent dinner!!! Excellent service!!! I am out a lot and get to eat at all different restaurants. A recent visit to this Macaroni Grill in Novi was one of my best restaurant experiences ever. The food was great... You have to try the new Braisers!! Our server Rachel, not only recommended great dinner choices but was very friendly. She was vey attentive and made dinner fun!!! We will be back Gino C.
(5)Jen P.
FIRST TIME VISIT, WON'T BE GOING BACK ! Me and my husband to try Romano's Macaroni Grill for the first time yesterday. To say it was not a pleasant experience is an understatement. We eat out a lot (4 times a week) so I think we are a good judge of what is good service and food and what is not. I ordered a bottle of beer and the waiter asked me if i would like a glass with it, I said "yes" then he comes back without a glass and says "Can you just use the water glass?" REALLY?? no, I can't use the water glass, I want a frosted mug. But OK that I can let slide. So he brings me back a frosted mug THAT IS DIRTY ! Then we asked for ice water and instead we got water, no ice. OK now I am getting a little irritated. Then they bring you out this mini bread loaf, no knife to cut it. So we unwrap our silverware to use our butter knife to cut the bread and they were both DIRTY ! He then come up and says "are you ready to order?"..not, "would you like an appetizer? UM OK I guess we are ready to order but we do want an appetizer. So we get the spicy meatballs for an app. TASTES HORRIBLE ! FROZEN MEATBALLS ARE BETTER. The waiter asked how everything is going and I say "not so good"..he just ignores me and walks away. By this point I am so discussed with the service and the cleanliness when he comes back I ask for the manager. We left and did not even eat the dinners. The manager was trying to make it right but if you present me with dirty silverware and dirty glasses....I don't want to imagine what the kitchen looks like ?!?!? No way in hell was i paying $16 to eat a meal from this place ! I wouldn't even pay half that. Mind you I was starving when we left so I would have ate almost anything at that point. I have not walked out of a restaurant in over 10 years. I just want to be clear that while the food wasn't to my satisfaction, the service and the cleanliness is what made me decide to get up and leave.
(1)Keith C.
This place is really hit or miss. Sometimes the service is spectacular, fast, friendly, blah blah while other times it's slow, rude, or worst yet have a creeper waiter. You know the kind, the ones that are overly friendly, have that fake smile, and you know get off work and put the laughter back in slaughter. Sometimes the food is spectacular, tasty, fresh, blah blah while other times it's bland, cold, over/under seasoned, or generally not at all what you were expecting. Sometimes the portion sizes are spectacular while other times you kindly ask them to bring out the rest of the meal that they forgot in the kitchen. Ambiance is acceptable. For a chain restaurant they're on par. The only reason they don't get a fourth star is because the "hit or miss" is too often a "miss"
(3)Mic M.
Well this is sort of a reduced content partial review, but is based on my experience here. I have been around this area for a long while, and have never been into the Macaroni Grill, so yesterday we attempted to change that. To start, first impressions are really important and set the tone, but based on the greeters, the tone here was sort of vacant, unfriendly, and pretentious. When customers walk into a place, at least pretend you care that people are there, a little smile, and bit of pleasantries perhaps...not much, just act as if you don't hate your job, your life or the customers! So the place was typical cookie cutter for places like this...paper table clothes, high ceilings, open and visible cooking area, prop wine bottles all around the place. Pretty much a lot of things to try and make this place "feel" Italian. So miss unhappy walked us to our table, having to stop at then excuse ourselves past and finally squeeze by, a server who was blocking the narrow isle we were being led down. The first thing I noticed was trash in my chair, I was sure the worker saw it first, but she only watched as I picked it up, and she did nothing and walked away. So the place was half empty, but we sat for something in the neighborhood of 5 to 10 minutes and no interaction from a worker happened. No water, no bread, no I'll be right with you...REALLY? During the (what felt like a forever) wait for a waitperson to at least acknowledge our existence, we had a chance to look at the really tacky laminated one page, one sided menu. I quickly realized that there was not a lot of options here, and for what it was, was really over-priced. To sort of paint the picture of how we felt about either how long we waited for a waitperson, or how minimal the menu was... We were able to read the entire menu from top to bottom and all associated descriptions to the end, and during that time did not have a server come to the table. At that point we decided that this is the little pretentious pseudo-Italian chain that couldn't, and we got up squeezed past some wait-people, walked right past the hostess station and out the door, and no one said a word to us. Macaroni Grill gets low marks for offerings and pricing, and a huge "fail" in customer relations. At this point, I would not recommend!
(1)Laura F.
Why do I go back! My food was luke warm and took forever to get and they we not even busy!. My child had the mac n cheese which was sooo watery it could of been cheese soup!!!!...YUCK
(2)Jim W.
The food was very good. We had the server from hell though. We had to ask for plates and silverware with napkin. She was too enamoured with her larger parties to be bothered with a party of two.
(3)Bruce F.
I joined the E-club a while back and received an email discount coupon for BOGO and turned it in over the Labor Day Weekend. Needless to say, it was quite busy, but a very good experience over all. We tried a couple of the 2 for $9 appetizers. The Fried Mac & Cheese Bites were quite good and the Baked Prosciutto & Mozzarella was very good as well. We both love the Grilled King Salmon at Macaroni Grille and were not disappointed in the least. The Salmon was cooked perfectly and the Orzo, Spinach and Sun dried Tomatoes side dish was excellent. The service was a little slow, but the Holiday Diners filled the place to capacity and was understandable. The waitress was helpful, friendly and efficient. I am going for a solid 4 stars.
(4)Jim S.
I should have read the reviews first. I came here because the parking lot was crowded, usually a good sign and the sign outside said "$9 dinner in 9 minutes." Well now. There was no $9 dinner. My tab for a beer, a soda, a salad and an entree was $25. Next falsehood. Dinner in nine minutes. I walked in here 37 minutes ago. Had my salad, not bad. No entree yet. I ordered garlic bread. No such thing here. No garlic butter, no garlic bread. They brought a standard loaf with a few herbs, baked fresh but just drenched in oil. So the waiter dumps cracked pepper in the olive oil. I didn't ask for it and I certainly didn't like it. But he did it so fast I didn't have time to ask him what the hell he was doing. They brought a rigatoni dish. Watery tomato sauce. At least it was hot. Last little goodie. I can't STAND it when a restaurant brings a dinner drink out right away when I have to wait more than half an hour for my food. Watery diet coke. Ugh. My problem? I wanted a $9 meal in nine minutes like their signage advertises. These guys are trying to swim upstream though. They want $25 from a customer, not $9.
(1)Jon G.
I'm always impressed with restaurants that let you create your own food whether it's with salad bars, burger bars, or pasta selection like they have at Macaroni Grill. I don't why, but there is just something about having 5-10 options for pasta shapes. I know the angel hair tastes just like the spaghetti and penne but, dammit I like to have my pasta in cute little bow tie shapes. Macaroni Grill gives me my beloved bow tie shapes and lets me choose my own sauce. They even let me add two types of tomatoes so I could eat healthy and try to counteract the extreme amount of Taco Bell and bacon I eat. Seriously though the food was served quickly and our waitress was great. She tried to up-sell us on wine because it was half-off wine night but she didn't do it in a pressure-packed way. If you like wine, I suggest visiting on a Tuesday so you can get a deal on a bottle. A dinner for two with a bottle could be had for $50 or less. Note: Macaroni Grill servers draw on the place mat with crayons. Awesome. This makes the place feel less formal and therefore makes me feel like less of a dork when I get red sauce on my shirt.
(4)Derek S.
The food was ok, nothing more. Wen't there for my father in laws birthday and our server forgot to put in some of the order so all the food came out but the man who's birthday it was and his wife's. So they watched us eat for 15-20 minutes and the server came back to say they burnt the food so they'll have to start over again. The third time was the charm and the food came out edible but it took so long for them to get it right that they took most of it home to put a baby to bed.
(2)Marian F.
Ordered Sea Bass which was overcooked, dry, and cold. I actually think it was perch. My husband had shrimp portofino which was hot & delicious. When the waitress came back I told her it was inedible, and she suggested the salmon, and said it would be served within 8 mins. 20 mins later I received my dinner. The manager never came to see if I was satisfied (I was not). They never offered to discount our bill, or even take off our beverages. NEVER AGAIN!
(1)Jeff L.
I didn't plan a special trip here, my friend and I were both hungry, we were driving by so we thought we'd just pop in, they weren't that busy, but for some reason they sat us right next to a very loud party of 20, I hadn't even sat down and i requested that they move me, that it was to noisy, the hostess gave me a little attitude about it, just bad body language, she was probably just having a bad night. My food was just ok, it came out kind of cold, I didn't complain, I just ate it and put up with it. Being a Sunday night it felt like none of the staff wanted to be there, I guess I can't blame them neither did I.
(3)Sally T.
I really like the food here especially the penne pasta with arrabiata sauce! The spaghetti is very good and the salmon is excellent. I take a large group of friends when my husband and I go. We like that we can laugh out loud when we talk to friends and not have to worry about bothering anyone. I just wish that they wouldn't have changed the house dressing. use to love the house Italian but it's not the same and not as good.
(4)Keith G.
Of the many "Italian" restaurants on Haggerty Row, this is my least favorite. Let's review the many weak links in chain restaurants: 1) bland choices, 2) huge portions of cheese, 3) "bread", 4) huge portions of cheesy decor, 5) disinterested staff, 6) bad drinks, and 7) INCREDIBLY HIGH SALT CONTENT. (Okay, there's nothing to review; that's the first time I've written that.) I have many kids, and my kids don't even like their mac and cheese. The food is salty And Italian music that annoying better be grating the parmesan, too. Ack. I'd ask why the parking lot is so crowded, but I've spent too much time on Haggerty Road. :p
(1)mariah c.
What was the most remarkable thing about this particular location of Macaroni Grill? Aside from some genuinely friendly staff (my server and others who stopped to strike up quick conversation), the parking lot was full of Caddys, BMWs and Lexuses (Lexi?). I guess sometimes consistancy in comfort carbs wins people over. I have a guilty secret-of-comfort-food, and its name is Macaroni Grill. Yes, yes, I know that they play the most ridiculous Italian restaurant music ever. Yes, yes I know that there are certainly better places to go for real Italian food, but if I want a big helping of carb-y comfort with no judgement, I may very well end up here a few times a year. Another Community Manager loves the Olive Garden. I reserve a soft spot for the crusty warm bread, crayons-on-the-table, and pasta predictability of Macaroni Grill. When I was moving from one house to another, I was exhausted and in need of someone else to make me some hot, cheesy goo to consume. I didn't feel the least bit self-conscious dining here in my yoga pants -- I couldn't say the same about anyplace to get pasta in downtown Ann Arbor. You may also point out that some of the entrees here are about 2 days worth of caloric intake. That's fine by me, because I always bring home 1-2 more meals worth of leftovers. And I'm OK with that.
(3)Marian C.
Sorry to be a Debby Downer, but i got the seafood linguine and it was the SALTIEST dish I had ever encountered. I almost chocked on how salty it was. I mean seriously, did the cook accidentally pour the whole box of morton salt into my dish and was too lazy to throw it out and do it over??! after being traumatized for a few minutes and downing 2 glasses of water, i was hoping to forgive mr. romano's restaurant with the dessert I ordered... the Amaretto Apple Crispetti... it was supposed to come with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but it wasn't there! I looked everyone... even in the linguine that i didn't finish. OHHHHhh... i was so upset. i had this to-go so i couldn't do anything about it. later, looking online, i found that this restaurant is one of the UNHEALTHIEST restaurants in America!! ZERO STARS. the ONLY positive thing here are the people are really nice and courteous. hence the one star huzzah!!
(1)Faith M.
Yeah.. This place sucks! The service is horrible and food is disgusting! My creamy sauce was soupy at best !! My hubby and I both sent our selections back and ran out of the door literally !! UGH!
(1)T S.
I'm not sure how these restaurants are so loud. Is it the layout choice? The usual patrons? It was very difficult to hear conversation over the loudness of the other conversations. It took a while for our waiter to arrive but once there he was friendly and very attentive. I was there with 3 other people and our food was great. I had the balsamic honey glazed chicken which was excellent and the broccoli was cooked perfectly however, the pasta side dish was only okay. The prices are a little high, with the entrees not even including a side salad ($3 extra). But the meal does come with a small loaf of bread to start and they will keep bringing more bread if you like. Overall, I would go here again but I wouldn't rush back.
(3)Russell V.
I must say, I'm generally a fan of Macaroni Grill - as Mariah said, there's a bit of "comfort food" to be had, here. Overall, the food is reasonable, it's not exorbitantly priced and is an overall good value. I'm generally used to the one in Milpitas, CA - this one is much the same with a larger bar and a restroom located more in the middle of the restaurant (and with a few minor modifications to the menu). Tonight we're on one of our last nights out of "the business trip" (on which I'm tagging along). Of course, we needed to make sure we had the house Chianti as well as our favorite dishes (though the Macaroni Grill I frequent has "the honor system" in dealing with the house wines). Of our two dishes, my lobster ravioli was overly salty (the other , a sausage pasta, was "just fine"). By the time the manager had made his rounds to ask about the evening, I had already finished about half the meal, but mentioned the saltiness (as well as my "regular" status at another Macaroni Grill in California). He mentioned that this is "one of their saltier dishes," asked when the last time I had tried the dish (about two weeks ago) and offered to "have a chef redo it" without me first asking. Though, since I had already finished a large portion of the dish and, really, not being someone to generally complain, I wasn't terribly comfortable doing so -- so I declined his offer. Thinking back on it, maybe I should have allowed him to take what was left of the dish and provide me with half a plate (about what was remaining). Overall, I really like this restaurant chain, and generally haven't had a bad meal at any of them. However, I can't say this was my best experiences here and, as such, have down-rated this a single star from what I'd normally be inclined to give them. Everything other than my dish was "just fine," or even tasty... good service, reasonable house wine, good appetizer, good dessert - just the one dish that I wasn't too happy with at the time. This all being said, this would be a place I'd likely revisit another time and, if I still experienced a similar issue, I'd likely re-evaluate from there (or would at least be less-shy about sending something back).
(3)Pam L.
Hey! Anybody can do Italian food, but Nobody does a Bellini like Romano's Macaroni Grille! I come for the drink! For those of you who say it is too cheesy and too salty and too fattening and all those other awful things on the previous reviews.... then DON"T eat anybody's Italian food! Duh! It is all pretty much the same. The food here is as good as any and I love the eggplant Parm. Eat a little and eat responsibly and take the rest home. Salads are fabulous. Have a Bellini and be glad you did. Kids and adults too can draw on the table. A big plus if you take kids or grand kids out to dinner. Have a second Bellini and you won't notice the noise. A fun place. And did I mention, Great Bellinis?? :D
(4)Jackie R.
I came here often before moving back to California and enjoyed the place. I just recently ate here this past Friday (on what had to be THE coldest day EVER in history) while in town for wedding business. We had a large group which isn't uncommon for Macaroni Grille. The parking lot was packed and we ended up parking way way way in the back and on a day when it's near 0* outside, I would sure like to have valet! We had reservations here and were seated in a short amount of time. They have two waiting areas with one being near the bar and one near the kitchen with places to sit. The service here hasn't changed in the sense that its not horrible but its not 110%, just good. We had our food and drinks brought out to us in a timely manner and that was great because I was hungry after a long day of appointments. The food is good, not great but not bad. I had a pizza and some people had other pasta dishes and enjoyed them. I can't believe in the Michigan economy that this place was PACKED, but I guess people gotta eat :) Oh and the cool thing is you can draw on the paper tablecloths with the crayons they give you!
(4)