Maggiano's Little Italy
Tampa, FL 33609
Phone: (813) 288-9000
- Price:
- $
Editorial Review for Maggiano's Little Italy – by Citysearch Staff
In Short
Family-style portions and red-checkered tablecloths create a casual, congenial vibe, drawing families and large groups to this feast of Italian-American nostalgia set to a Sinatra soundtrack. The made-from-scratch menu is brimming with traditional dishes, from starters like fried calamari, Parmesan garlic bread and Tuscan-style mussels to spaghetti with meatballs and manicotti with chicken and spinach. For those with room to spare, a piece of sweet tiramisu and a strong cappuccino help finish the meal.
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Insider Tips
Save MoneyHalf-portions are a good bet; they're still generous and considerably less expensive.
The ExtrasThere are private dining rooms available for large groups or receptions.
Know Before You GoMake reservations for groups of five or more, or you could end up deep on a waiting list, especially on weekends.
User Reviews for Maggiano's Little Italy
05/14/2008 Posted by Halliford
Hadn't been to Maggiano's in a couple of years! I must say, the delightful experience that I'd had in the past still holds true with my recent visit. Since we had a good sized group of 8 people, I phoned ahead for reservations. We were celebrating a family member's birthday and also had out of town guests along. When we arrived, we found that the reservation was recorded under the wrong date and time. Needless to say, I was a bit distressed as I was positive I clearly stated the date and time of my reservation request. Let me also mention that there were several local proms going on that particular night and the place was standing room only! I was sure we'd either be turned away or have to wait for hours to be seated. I was pleasantly surprised when the manager came over and apologized for the error with the reservation and said that we'd have a table shortly. Within minutes we were seated at a very comfortable table and promptly greeted by our server. The rest of the evening was just as delightful! We opted for the family style meal. Making two selections in each category. The food was wonderful! Very flavorful, fresh and promptly served. All in all, what could have turned out to be a very disappointing birthday celebration, turned out positively memorable! Thank you Maggiano's!!! If you've not visited in a while or never visited, make a point to do it soon! I would suggest reservations though!
Pros: Ample portions, very good representation of fine Italian cusine
Cons: Usually very crowded and LOUD
11/19/2007 Posted by thatme
We had dinner there on Wednesday night. The restaurant was crowded with a forty minute wait; the hostess suggested we sit at a high-top by the bar. We accepted and that was a bad decision. We were seated by the restroom where there was much traffic. It was cold and when we complained about the open rear door, we were told that it had to be kept open (outside temp was 60). The service was spotty. Either you were hovered over by the waitress or she was not there. The food was not up to par. Either they are a class Italian restaurant or they are not. The bread was OK and served with olive oil. The appetizers were OK but the Calamari was excellent (tender, fresh and tasty.) The soups were OK. The Lasagna was served hot but dry; it needed way more sauce in order for it to be palatable. The Veal Ravioli was inedible with a weird topping. The Eggplant Parmigiana was OK. We drank but skipped desert in order to avoid another disappointment. The tab: $100.00+ for two. Not worth it! Final comment: An Italian restaurant ought to take pride in their sauces and gravies. At Maggiano’s the sauces compare to a good supermarket sauce sold in a jar.
Pros: Ambiance good, Drinks good, Calamari very good.
Cons: Parking in a crowded lot. Spotty service. Sauces fair. Pricey.
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