Maggiano's Little Italy — Restaurant in Scottsdale

Everything was great except for the service. We came in yesterday 3/16 with a 1pm reservation for a party of 12 to celebrate our Mother’s birthday. We come to Maggiano’s every year and normally have a great experience. The food was good (although very limited for the 3 of us with gluten and dairy allergies. You have far more options if you can have dairy.) It was its usual pleasant atmosphere. But, our table felt like we were getting treated as an afterthought. While our server was super nice and engaging the few times he actually came to our table, he seemed very pre-occupied with other tables. There was a second large party ordering alcohol and I suspect because there were no drinkers in our party that our server must have been expecting a larger tab from them so payed them more attention. I get the hustle but it would’ve been nice if our drinks were refilled without waiting endlessly and if we had basic things like butter on the table (we asked and it was never brought to us). I had to literally get up from the table and find our waiter twice to communicate with him. I don’t know if they were just understaffed or our table just wasn’t “priority” because we weren’t ordering alcoholic beverages. Not sure the 12 of us will be back after the lack of service. Also while I appreciated the gluten free penne, it wasn’t the best quality gluten free pasta, it fell apart easily, was corn based. A place like Maggiano’s should really partner with Jovial gluten free pastas. This location being in Scottsdale where affluence and a gluten free/dairy free diet is statistically higher not just because of celiacs but because of dietary preferences (although ours is due to legitimate allergies), the proprietor could make far more money if they accommodated more gluten and dairy free dishes. So many Italian dishes are naturally gluten free and there are so many sauces that are too (marinara, clam sauce, Aglio olio, to name a few). I felt like I paid an arm and a leg for crappy pasta and marinara with a side salad. What I spent on three gluten free entrees I could’ve made a feast myself for that cost. So, Maggiano’s, it’s good if you don’t have food allergies, we tried once before to have the chef customize something the year before and it was bland and tasteless figured pasta was safer since it’s already gluten free along with the...

Restaurant review - Maggiano's Little Italy. My sister gave me a gift certificate for this Italian restaurant. It is a little hard to find. It is in the Promenade in Scottsdale, which is a huge shopping center. Hint if you go it is on the west side by the big blue tower. The restaurant is beautiful inside. The service is wonderful. They have a nice selection of wine. I ordered stuffed mushrooms and crab cake appetizers. I love crab cakes. The best ones I have had were at Fish Hoppers in Monterey, CA and Morans in New York City. A bit far to travel just for crab cakes. Victor had the blackened salmon with crispy Calabrian shrimp. It came with spinach and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. My mushrooms came with an Arugula & Tomato salad. We were served Italian bread that was the best we have ever had. The salmon and shrimp were cooked perfectly. The shrimp had a nice spice. The salmon was served on top of the mashed potatoes. The potatoes were on top of the spinach. It would have made more sense to put the salmon on top of the spinach and the potatoes on the side. Victor is not that crazy about potatoes. The stuffed mushrooms were a bit overcooked and could have used a little more spice. The crab cakes left a lot to be desired. The best part of my meal was the Arugula and Tomato salad. The lobster cream sauce dressing was excellent. We got the chocolate cake layered with Chocolate Mousse to go. It was excellent. The restaurant was empty yet another party was seated next to us. This just seemed odd. Our bill was $120+ with tip. Thank goodness we had a gift certificate. Victor enjoyed his meal. I was disappointed in both my appetizers. We probably will not go back. But if you are looking for an upscale place for a romantic date or group outing it is a beautiful place. Just don't order the crab cakes and mushrooms. If your dish comes with potatoes have them put them on the side of...

I visited yesterday for an early birthday celebration, and while the experience started with mixed feelings, it ended up being amazing!

Initially, I wasn’t thrilled about the table we were given, it wasn’t what I was expecting for me and my guests. We were sat near the kitchen doors where the servers bring out the food, loud slams of the doors when opening and closing, people passing too close behind our table brushing against our chairs. However, my opinion completely changed once our server, Bonnie, arrived. Bonnie was fantastic, attentive, friendly, and on top of every detail. She made us feel so taken care of!

She offered us wine taste tests, which was a lovely touch. The first wine she brought wasn’t really to our liking, and she noticed right away that we weren’t drinking much. Without hesitation, she recommended another wine, brought us samples, and nailed it with her second suggestion. Her attention to detail and ability to read the room made all the difference.

The food was delicious, though it did take some time to arrive. One of the managers came by to explain that everything is made fresh from scratch, which we appreciated. The wait was worth it.

The dessert was a highlight of the evening. Bonnie went above and beyond to make my birthday special, even singing happy birthday with my guests and ensuring I got the dessert I wanted. They also offered a complimentary birthday dessert, which was a sweet gesture!

The restaurant itself has a beautiful ambiance, with thoughtful decorations that made the experience even more memorable. There was even a Santa who stopped by our table, adding some humor and charm to the evening.

Overall, I loved it and would definitely return. Huge shoutout to Bonnie for her amazing service, she made the evening...