Green Posted December 13, 2008 Posted December 13, 2008 I'm going out on a date to a fancy resteraunt tonight as part of a friends birthday. Heard good things about Maggiano's Little Italy wondering if any one who has been there has any recomendations on what I should get?
Pyro Posted December 13, 2008 Posted December 13, 2008 Never been there, but Italiano food is the best, so I'm sure you're in for a treat. Can't go wrong with lasagna.
Author Green Posted December 13, 2008 Author Posted December 13, 2008 Never been there, but Italiano food is the best, so I'm sure you're in for a treat. Can't go wrong with lasagna. its between Lobster Fettuccine Lobster, Italian Sausage, peas and artichokes tossed in a white wine cream sauce, topped with house cheese and lightly baked to a golden brown. heres there Mom's Lasagna Whipped ricotta cheese layered with pasta sheets, crumbled meatballs, Italian sausage and marinara sauce. Topped with provolone cheese and your choice of our meat or marinara sauce. and Linguine & Clams with White Clam Sauce Linguine pasta tossed with fresh clams, basil and chopped clams in a white clam sauce. or maybe Baked Ziti & Sausage Italian Sausage, Pomodoro Sauce and Ziti Topped with a Layer of Melted Provolone & Parmesan Cheeses. Thats what I narrowed it down to know prices on their internet menu to help me choose
Hollywood Hero Posted December 13, 2008 Posted December 13, 2008 The lasagna sounds delicious but I myself am biased towards lobster. Have fun with your date tonight.
Tony T Posted December 13, 2008 Posted December 13, 2008 http://www.maggianos.com/foodbeverage/default.asp?menu=Dinner
kashmir Posted December 13, 2008 Posted December 13, 2008 I used to work there for a bit. There's only one in this area, and it's huge - a big 2 story building. Pretty fancy too. I can't tell you what to get, but I like everything there...but I love all Italian food.
melodymatters Posted December 13, 2008 Posted December 13, 2008 Yum, thanks for sharing ! I'd go for the lobster fettucine !
Julesx0822 Posted December 13, 2008 Posted December 13, 2008 this is one of my favorite restaurants of ALL time because of the following: While it looks pretty fancy, the prices are pretty reasonable for what you are getting and the service is always great. Everything on the menu is pretty good - I don't have any complaints about it, really... The mushroom ravioli is to die for. The portions are pretty big so if your date isn't that hungry, I would suggest ordering a lunch portion (especially if you are ordering pasta...) That is, unless you want to take left overs for a post-date work out (kidding Have fun!!
Star Gazer Posted December 13, 2008 Posted December 13, 2008 The CHAIN () restaurant that's at The Grove? That is NOT a "fancy" restaurant, KMT.
Trialbyfire Posted December 13, 2008 Posted December 13, 2008 The CHAIN restaurant that's at The Grove? That is NOT a "fancy" restaurant, KMT. Glad you said it first. I bit my tongue...errr...held my fingers. If you want real Italian cuisine, a chain isn't the place to get it.
Star Gazer Posted December 13, 2008 Posted December 13, 2008 Glad you said it first. I bit my tongue...errr...held my fingers. If you want real Italian cuisine, a chain isn't the place to get it. It's a step up from Olive Garden, really. KMT - you're in LA, right? Try someplace like Valentino (my absolute FAVE) in Santa Monica instead. There are 4 of them, so it's part of a restaurant "group," but Valentino is the original. Good stuff, I promise.
melodymatters Posted December 13, 2008 Posted December 13, 2008 Glad you said it first. I bit my tongue...errr...held my fingers. If you want real Italian cuisine, a chain isn't the place to get it. Ok, guess the chicks are taking their gloves off here K ! I don't patronize chain restaurants, but when it comes to Italian, there's especially no way this 100% italian girl who grew up cooking at many assorted grandmothers knees, can roll that way ! But, hey, it's nice to have other people cook AND clean up for you, and I hate to be a 'food snob/parade rainer" when someone is looking forward to a good meal ! Recieved a gift certificate from a family member for bonefish grill as a wedding present. the food didn't rock my world, but it was a fun, romantic evening none the less !
kashmir Posted December 13, 2008 Posted December 13, 2008 The CHAIN () restaurant that's at The Grove? That is NOT a "fancy" restaurant, KMT. It's not 4-star fancy, but the one I worked at was pretty high-scale. No way it was a small step up from olive garden...more like a giant leap. I also worked for the Outback/Bonefish Grill/Carrabba's chain, Carrabba's being the Italian one. The difference between Maggiano's and Carrabba's is substantial. That being said, neither of those places compare to a little bistro we go to by where my dad works.
Trialbyfire Posted December 14, 2008 Posted December 14, 2008 Ok, guess the chicks are taking their gloves off here K ! I don't patronize chain restaurants, but when it comes to Italian, there's especially no way this 100% italian girl who grew up cooking at many assorted grandmothers knees, can roll that way ! But, hey, it's nice to have other people cook AND clean up for you, and I hate to be a 'food snob/parade rainer" when someone is looking forward to a good meal ! Recieved a gift certificate from a family member for bonefish grill as a wedding present. the food didn't rock my world, but it was a fun, romantic evening none the less ! It's not the food snob perspective, that I'm coming from. It's the clarification of what a fancy restaurant entails, particularly if that's the description being used for the friend who he's taking out. If someone described to me an outting to a fancy restaurant, I would dress accordingly. It could prove to be embarrassing for everyone involved. As for chain restaurants, they can serve some reasonably consistent fare and a very relaxing atmosphere.
Star Gazer Posted December 14, 2008 Posted December 14, 2008 It's not 4-star fancy, but the one I worked at was pretty high-scale. No way it was a small step up from olive garden...more like a giant leap. The one in LA is essentially attached to a mall. Is that fancy to you? I've been there. Yes, good food. But yes, it's still just a step up from OG. It's OG with darker lighting. In LA there are FAR too many options for cuisine to ever, ever have to resort to a CHAIN restaurant when wanting to take someone someplace "fancy."
johan Posted December 14, 2008 Posted December 14, 2008 Take her to Maggiano's. Don't claim it's anything special, even if you think it is. And make her pay.
burning 4 revenge Posted December 14, 2008 Posted December 14, 2008 They have great salads. I like the one with the blue cheese crumbles and purple onions. I think it would be better if you cooked an Italian meal for her yourself KMT
burning 4 revenge Posted December 14, 2008 Posted December 14, 2008 It's not the food snob perspective, that I'm coming from. It's the clarification of what a fancy restaurant entails, particularly if that's the description being used for the friend who he's taking out. If someone described to me an outting to a fancy restaurant, I would dress accordingly. It could prove to be embarrassing for everyone involved. As for chain restaurants, they can serve some reasonably consistent fare and a very relaxing atmosphere. It seems fancy to me because they use real table settings, but I ask for the plastic forks anyways because they have less saliva on them
Storyrider Posted December 14, 2008 Posted December 14, 2008 Doesn't "fancy" depend on what you're used to? Sure, Maggiano's isn't fine dining, but for some people it might seem pretty fancy. And the down side of a chain is also the plus side. The experience is predictable.
kashmir Posted December 14, 2008 Posted December 14, 2008 The one in LA is essentially attached to a mall. Is that fancy to you? I've been there. Yes, good food. But yes, it's still just a step up from OG. It's OG with darker lighting. In LA there are FAR too many options for cuisine to ever, ever have to resort to a CHAIN restaurant when wanting to take someone someplace "fancy." Sorry, but this is really snobby. As Storyrider said: Doesn't "fancy" depend on what you're used to? Sure, Maggiano's isn't fine dining, but for some people it might seem pretty fancy. And the down side of a chain is also the plus side. The experience is predictable. So apparently out in cultured LA, you higher class people know fine dining, and such an abomination of a chain restaurant is a blemish to the name of fancy eatery.
Trialbyfire Posted December 14, 2008 Posted December 14, 2008 It seems fancy to me because they use real table settings, but I ask for the plastic forks anyways because they have less saliva on them You can always wash them in your water glass next time. Better yet, your wine glass. Alcohol disinfects!
Storyrider Posted December 14, 2008 Posted December 14, 2008 You can always wash them in your water glass next time. Better yet, your wine glass. Alcohol disinfects! I was wondering if burning has been hanging out with my grandmother. She used to bring her own flatware to restaurants to avoid just such problems.
Trialbyfire Posted December 14, 2008 Posted December 14, 2008 I was wondering if burning has been hanging out with my grandmother. She used to bring her own flatware to restaurants to avoid just such problems. Haha...she was some kind of clean. b4r just needs to ensure that he orders red wine with Italian. The murkiness won't show through.
Storyrider Posted December 14, 2008 Posted December 14, 2008 Haha...she was some kind of clean. b4r just needs to ensure that he orders red wine with Italian. The murkiness won't show through. Ewww! Now that is a fine dining experience.
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