Charlotte, NC
Signature Dish: Rigatoni "D"Menu Link: Maggiano's Little Italy Menu
Maggiano's is a national chain serving up Italian food for those looking for an upscale casual dining experiance. The location we visited was attached to South Park Mall in Charlotte. It had a fine, causal atmosphere with white and checkered tablecloths and well appointed wait staff. The service was decent and they served many of the Italian dishes you would expect from an upscale chain. But the food generally was nothing special, and it was hard to justify the prices based on other dining options in the Charlotte area. Despite this, the dining experience lacked major disappointments and would surely be an enjoyable experience for many diners.
There is an interesting feature for larger groups. They provide a "family style" dining option that allows choices of appetizers,salads, entrees and desserts to be shared amongst the diners. There are three price points, depending on the choices made available. Once the price point and choices are made, the fixed price with bottomless plates surely encourages overeating. They will indeed bring out food as long as you ask. Even the last order that barely gets a nibble from the party can then be boxed up for take home. This can be appealing for big gatherings, but not so much for those who are looking for a truly fine dining experience.
The menu was filled with familiar items such as Lasagna, Chicken Parmesan, and Baked Ziti. There were several seafood options, many of which I tried in search of that unique taste. Although the crab cakes were very good, all of the appetizers and entrees left me underwhelmed. The crab and shrimp canelloni was good, but swimming in a heavy cream sauce that was not for your "light eater". The angel hair pasta with sausage tasted like...well, uh...angel hair pasta with sausage - and a little red sauce. Mediocre at best. In fact, all of the dishes were adequate and nothing to write home about. The highlight of the evening for me was the chopped salad, an introductory dish with iceburg lettuce and a nice mix of blue cheese, tomatoes, prosciutto, and avocado. It was a tasty, somewhat unique combination. But the rest of the meal was made up of merely "solid" dishes that left me wondering about my other dining options. Even the desserts (creme brulee and chocolate layer cake) were delivered with the same perfectly adequate taste.
I have to say, however, that nothing was poor - or even below average. It was typical of all you would expect from a successful high-end chain. So, if you're looking for a good, solid family-style Italian meal in Charlotte, be sure to consider Maggiano's Little Italy. It may not have the most unique food, but it is likely to be a good, consistent dining experience short of any major pitfalls.
