Romano’s Macaroni Grill

I’m not generally one to give high ratings to chain restaurants because I typically find the rehearsed corporate jargon and goofy names of menu items and special to be kind of annoying, not to mention the food generally seems pretty average and from a box.
However, we had a great experience at Macaroni Grill. It was very busy but the servers were incredibly friendly (maybe that is a Georgia thing, we aren’t from the area) and the meal was served quickly and correctly and was delicious to boot.
It was great, not just for a chain restaurant but for any restaurant!

Romano’s Macaroni Grill had been my favorite restaurant for years, but I have to let this one go. The menu has been so scaled back, there is only one option left I care to order. The lasagna is still very good, and a must try, but I can only order lasagna so many times in two years.
I have emailed the corporate office and received no reply about my concerns, and seen no changes. That is sad, our friends and family loved being able to agree on eating at Romano’s.

I don’t like leaving negative reviews, but I can hardly think if anything positive about this experience. My ravioli was absolutely tasteless. It merely tasted like flour and to make matters worse the plate was dirty. A dirty plate is so easy to avoid that to me it is a sign of a restaurant that just doesn’t care.
My Caesar was just ok… Acceptable but not great. The bread with olive oil before the meal was actually better than the meal.
My GF had penne which was too stiff to call al dente, and again was a flavourless pile disdain. After we started eating we both looked at each other, and I knew hers was as bad as mine.
Needless to say I will never again step foot in this pinnacle of indifference and waste my money ever again.

and now you get 5 stars, and make no mistake… Eric is the 5^th star. I could go on forever about the chocolate cake with warm ganache this time too, and I NEVER do dessert but he talked me into it. Bloody Mary wasn’t so great this time, but whatever I’m a snob about that. Anyways, my previous review still sums it up.

We like Macaroni Grill, and this one is pretty good. The problems here: the ladies room smelled of sewage, the waitor was great, but super busy, and although ordered with our appetizers, the kids meals were the last prepared. I would give this locale another shot, just for how delightful the waiter (eric) was.

If your looking for a nice play to eat and have a few drinks then this is not the place for you. Got a simple margarita and it sucked so I doubt any of there other drinks are worth getting. But other than that the food is good and the waiters are surprisingly better than your average ones. Would I come back? Sure. Would I recommend this place to others? Eh not really.

One Italian restaurant in town had a 30 minute wait, the other a 45.
I somehow convinced myself Macaroni Grill would suffice. BIG MISTAKE.
First out waiter doesn’t fully put our order into the computer, so 15 mins into our wait he comes out to retake our order b/​c the first got cancelled. He offers a dessert «on the house» as comp for his mistake. The offer was nice, but when you have a hungry, tired 3 yr old, free cake doesn’t really makeup for a late meal.
After he retook our order, it came out fairly quickly (unfortunately the kiddo was already passed out in her chair). I got fettuccine Alfredo, it was gross. The chicken tasted like the precooked, preseasoned kind you can buy in a bag at almost any grocery store. After a couple bites I couldn’t eat it. The sauce and pasta weren’t much better. I hate wasting food, so saying that I left food on my plate and didn’t’ ask for a «to go box» is saying a lot.
For dessert we ordered the chocolate toffee cake, much of which also got left behind. (which is also saying a lot)
We won’t be back. Below par chain food at its worst

Was told today they removed Gluten Free pasta from their menu. Was told it was a corporate decision. Was a favorite place to eat. Not good for the celiac people!

They have an allergy guide for gluten, Etc. So far, I’m impressed for a chain. There is certainly some entertaining customers here.
The food was good but not great. Service was great, music nice but a little loud, people watching… A+++

My old fav when I lived in Savannah… friendly waitstaff… Chicken Marsala and
Chicken Parmesan with Fettuccine Alfredo are good choices. I heard the Chicken Under a Brick is a good one, too. It all looks good. menu is on their website.
Love the bread and seasoned olive oil dip.
Good wine and italian food equals happy full tummy! Wish they would come to Charleston
I’ll be back!

February 18, 2013 Monday — dinner 6:00 PM
1 adult & a kid
Atmosphere — 4 stars
Food — 4 stars
Service — 4 stars
Background — My daughter picked this for our last meal together during this trip. She loves their bread you get to pull apart.
Atmosphere — A lot of wood for décor. The have groupings of wine bottles for art on the walls. The place is dimly lit. Typical chain restaurant feel
Food
Appetizer — Free bread that my daughter could eat and eat until she was gorged.
Main Course — My wife got me hooked on Carbonara. The bowl was full of thick spaghetti noodles. The poached egg on top was cooked the way I like; it allowed the yolk to run all over the noodles. Pancetta was plentiful and actually had some left in the bowl when I was done.
Dessert — none today.
Service — Best was to say it was sporadic. At times our waiter was right there other times he just disappeared.
Future — If my daughter has a say in the matter we will be going back.