Maggiano's Little Italy — Restaurant in Oak Brook

Just WOW, what happened to this once dependable restaurant?

We've been eating there roughly once a month for over 2 decades. But listen everyone, let me take you through tonight!:

First, I get it, they need to make a tidy profit so awhile back eliminated the take-home pasta with a pasta order. First they charged $5 then increased price, then swiftly moved to GONE.

Cut them slack, it's inflation, right? Well no, not exactly.

In short order, we've seen sweeping price increases, remarkably smaller portions (literally their Mom's lasagna tonight was, at minimum, a third smaller. Also, less cheese or at least quality cheese!) and honestly, generally noticeable reduction in all ingredients and flavor. The Marco? Gone! ZITI? GONE!!! Oh also with staggeringly increase in prices and smaller now-bland food, service GONE too.

Again we've eaten there monthly for years, always have gotten great wait staff, certainly with rare exception. And we tip well (20-25%. More with groups as no one takes time to bother). Believe me, all those groups there due to US, we pick restaurants much of the time and Oak Brook's between 5 couples, so our groups will be missed.

Oh if not greedy enough, that 11.5 oz bottle of Peroni beer now $9 each. They jumped from 7 last month right up to $9!

Tiramisu shrunk like all else. Pretty small now. Yes, almost $13.

Should I chronicle the entire menu? I assure you the pattern holds.

Let's tell this greedy middling restaurant to close already! It was basic fare, nothing very special, but now not even that. Pasta is so cheap to make, we all know this but take it from this Italian! Trust they're laughing all the way to the bank!

Please let's send message loud & clear to all the accountants who sat & decided Americans are stupid enough to pay this!

Btw, our last waiter (thin tall kid we had few times, he looked forward to us... we're so easy & again certainly our tips get noticed. It's gotta be hard being wait staff!) said word was they want to taken far more "upscale", to make their mark. He thought a mistake. Wise young man. This is the thing..they can't & won't ever be good enough! I bet he's seeing the writing on the wall.

This sort of greed must never be rewarded! Help us close them down fast. If anyone deserves the pain & loss, it's these idiots that just ruined Maggianos. Make them feel the inflation, aggravation and disappointment themselves!

Oh and again, for "upscale" food, our Chicago area fortunately holds great promise & options of which Maggianos will NEVER compete...so if you have no issue paying $10 for regular bottle of beer (because the food is outstanding!), go to them instead.

Oh, speaking of which, finally our not-attentive waitress (dammit, my displeased, yet tolerant, husband still left 22%) replied, (when asking how it was, I held up a $9 Peroni & said, are you kidding me... We aren't at a ballgame!)..."well I don't like the price of eggs!!" Who does, Lady?!!! But also that reply is unrelated to charging $9 for a beer you bought for LESS than a buck! No eggs there! Shameful.

Next, another thing, the manager (Capra?) was surveying customers, and asked if we were happy. Calmly we said, nope, not even a bit. Outlined most of what was written here (& soon everywhere), he pulled out his card, placed on the table saying "let me know if I can help you on your next visit". Huh???!! We just told him we're not returning. Maybe it was he was choking on their own food!

Hope he's keeping his resume updated. He'll need it.

Keep your $$$$ from these awful money grubbing...

Totally disappointed in what has happened to this place - I use to love this place hosted a few events there, celebrated several birthdays for Family & Friends - But this Birthday celebration for my 60th Birthday was a total disappointment - We were a party of 6 people - Appetizer's were subpar - Calamari was like chewing on rubber-bands - the Bruschetta was mushy and tasteless - The stuffed Mushrooms tasted like they just came out of yesterdays leftovers and reheated in the microwave -

Dinner - Needless to say was a disappointment for several people at our table - Let's start with the specials - (2) of the choices were GONE and it was literally 6:00 at night Dinner has just started - DISAPPOINTMENT right there My husband needed to order something else and order the steak dinner - it was the thinnest steak I ever saw - it was totally over cooked and needless to say tasteless again, and a total disappointment - Not for that price... My Brother-in-Law ordered a special of the day, and it was just gone as well (it's only 6:30 at this time - Hello dinner is just underway) - needling to order something else - order the steak medallions - over cooked and subpar food quality I ordered the seafood pasta - it was so salty your lips puckered - the pasta was overcooked and they covered it with mussels the cheapest of seafood - it was suppose to have Lobster, Shrimp, Clams, Calamari, and Mussels - Good luck finding the lobster or the other seafood except for th mussels - It should have been a mussels dish - this is what I received - you know the tip of the lobster claws that white rubbery substance, that is what was in the pasta for the presentation of Lobster - it literally had 2 shrimp(s) 3 clam(s) and filled with mussels Not happy and not for that PRICE Either!!! My sister ordered a Lobster Pasta with Alfredo sauce - same thing - it was the tips of the Lobster's claw - Hello Maggiano's - "Where is the LOBSTER"???? Saving it for something special??? Perhaps the special for tomorrows menu...

I think you get where I am heading with this review -

Oh my goodness the cleanliness of the restaurant was so subpar, in the bar area not one of the tables were clean, there was a yellow disposal mop head on the floor, it was so gross as well - Don't even get me going on the restrooms - I was so disgusted in the dirtiness and nastiness hey I get that it is busy on a Saturday evening, but this wasn't what I expected especially for my 60th birthday celebration with family...

I went here to celebrate with my family and friends on my birthday. The older waiter that we had was not very personable and very much like he was just working. He didn’t ask if we were celebrating anything and didn’t acknowledge my birthday. He brought us plates with his thumb that often touched the center of the top plate, so we had to flip the plate down so that no one would eat from it. The food was delicious. The waiters assistants were rude and unhelpful. We politely asked for paper napkins and the short Hispanic guy said, No. We asked again and our waiter provided the paper napkins. The entire atmosphere of the restaurant has changed, literally all the way down to the guys who clean the tables. We had to ask for the lemon cookies to celebrate my birthday which was brought after we finished dessert. I would not patronage this location anymore after my experience. For a restaurant to advertise celebrating your special events with them. It is actually a ruse to get you there, but they do not acknowledge your celebratory event. You may have one or two amazing waiters, but that’s about it. The time before this was awesome but that was last summer. The manager is not helpful and not accommodating along with the young ladies that check you in. I wish I would have chosen another upscale restaurant to celebrate my birthday. Maggiano’s Oakbrook has just hired whomever. Great entrees, mediocre-horrible service and desert!!! Don’t travel here for your special events, it’s not worth it!!!! The restaurant has declined in customer service, appreciation and quality.

Update: NOTHING MADE RIGHT! Received below dated email with nothing further. What did they make right? No reason to come back. My complaint still stands. Never going back!!!

January 23, 2024

Lori,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding our Oak Brook Maggiano's. We certainly appreciate you taking the time out of your day to provide us with your feedback.

Please accept our sincere apologies for your experience. We work hard to maintain the highest standards that our reputation is built on, and it is very disappointing to hear we did not meet those expectations. We have forwarded your comments to the Director of Operations to improve restaurant operations.

Guest feedback is vital to our success and your comments are important. We appreciate your patronage and hope you will continue to frequent Maggiano's.

Sincerely,

Natasha Maggiano's Guest Engagement...