Maggiano’s Little Italy is everyone’s favorite Italian-American chain of restaurants. Walking through their doors gives many Americans the sense of coming home as the smells, sights, and sounds are all very familiar.
One thing that Maggiano’s knows is what to do is give the people exactly what they want.
Their menu is littered with all-time classics like lasagna and raviolo as well as a few new and exciting dishes to keep their loyal customer base on their toes.
This article is going to champion Maggiano’s menu by showcasing its most iconic dishes. Delicious Italian-American meals that you can delight in now and feast on later.
Aptly named Mom’s Lasagna, the lasagna at Maggiano’s is nothing short of heartwarming. Bringing it all back to what matters, this simple dish has been bringing a smile to the face of every kid and every big kid at heart for decades.
The lasagna has been made the classic way with thick layers of ricotta that are both creamy and perfectly seasoned. There is even a little parmesan cheese in there to give the ricotta an extra kick of salty, pungent flavor.
The ricotta is nice and all, but it is the meaty filling that ensures people will continue to order Mom’s Lasagna until the end of time.
It is the crumbled combination of their signature meatballs as well as some sausage that offers a serious depth of flavor and excitement.
Soaked in a thick, garlic-ey marinara sauce, it would pay you some mind to skip the appetizer and head straight for this thing.
When you know that Mom’s Lasagna has not one, not two, not three, but four layers of pasta to help hold all that saucy goodness together, it is safe to say that this is the powerhouse lasagna by which all other lasagnas should be judged.
We know we said that you may not be able to fit an appetizer in before Mom’s Lasagna, but if you can, Maggiano’s Tomato, Balsamic & Garlic Bruschetta is a very solid option.
The perfect balance between sweet, and savory with a delightfully tangy side, there is little chance of sharing an appetizer this good.
Every mouthful is a refreshing burst of energy, and you will want every last one of them. The garlic is another star of this show, as it has been perfectly roasted to bring out the aromatic side of this appetite-engaging delight.
The only thing to consider on this one is that, unlike Mom’s Lasagna, your plate won’t exactly be loaded to the brimming edge - another reason to not share it.
Rigatoni D is one of Maggiano’s signature pasta dishes that does not disappoint.
Loaded with classic ingredients like chicken, mushroom, and onion, and with a generous portion of Marsala cream sauce mixed through, it doesn’t take much imagination to know how good this dish is going to be.
One thing that Maggiano’s tries to ensure, across their entire menu, is al dente pasta. Pasta cooked al dente benefits from a delightfully chewy texture, and Rigatoni D takes you there.
Another feather in the cap of this creamy pasta dish is the addition of caramelized onions. Sweet and impactful, there is nothing that some seductive caramelized onions can’t bring to the dining table.
You will be pleased to know that we haven’t even got to the juicy part of this dish yet - the herb-roasted chicken.
Seared on the outside, succulent as anything on the inside, and with Italian herbs giving it a vibrant streak in sight and taste, there is nothing you won’t like about this dish and its chicken.
Ravioli was always going to get a run on this Maggiano’s menu feature now wasn’t it?
Their mushroom ravioli is something of a phenomenon, with large raviolo stuffed with as much minced mushroom and cheese as they can possibly fit, served al dente, of course.
Though it is true on some level that mushroom is an acquired taste, when it is in this setting, it is safe to say that even the kids will devour them.
Tucked away out of sight and mind, the mushroom seeks to serve a powerful mouthful without the need for praise.
Every single piece of mushroom-stuffed ravioli is smothered in a decadent Afredo sauce to ensure the dish’s flavor profile is complete. Mushroom ravioli may not be a revelation, but that is also the point.
Serving you a plate of the past with all the best bits, you will want to make sure you have some bread to soak this saucy number up.
Does it get any better than spaghetti with marinara? We think not! A long-time fixture of their “classics” menu, Spaghetti With Marinara is a staple of Maggiano’s and America.
Being in the restaurant trade for so many years and with a clear dedication to Italian cooking - you don’t have to second guess Maggiano’s signature marinara.
Plump, juicy, ripened tomatoes are blended down, with that aforementioned roasted garlic mixed through for good measure.
Just like Mom’s Lasagna, Maggiano’s Spaghetti With Marinara dish is of an impressive size and stature. Perfect for those times when you want a no-fuss dish to fill your boots and leave you pleasantly stuffed.
The dish is kept simple with just a sprinkle of parmesan and red pepper flakes for seasoning.
If you are in the mood for a soup at Maggiano’s, you order the Manhatten Clam Chowder. Loaded with fresh and flavorful clams that go heavy on the garlic, you will be slurping pretty when sitting down to a bowl of this.
The other cool thing about the Manhattan Clam is that it’s another go big or go home dish that will fill you up with no need for dessert.
Of course, a bowl of the crusty loaf is highly recommended to soak up all that soupy glory. Other than that, there really isn’t too much to say except to go forth and start slurping.
For all the veggie-lovers out there, Maggiano’s has whipped up something extra special just for you. Thick-cut eggplant slices are breaded and fried to make them oh-so crunchy on the outer, and even more gooey in the middle.
Seriously, never underestimate the powers of good parmesan. It hits all the right spots and lets you know that Italian-American cooking is still the best.
Maggiano’s recipe features provolone cheese to help keep the saltiness of the dish at a reasonable level. Once the provolone gets melted under, over, and between the slices of eggplant, you will know you’ve got to parmesan heaven.
Every bite is a perfect combination of flavors and textures that will keep you enchanted until the last stringy bit of provolone has left the plate.
The entire dish has been topped with a rich tomato-ey ragu and married alongside a heaping portion of spaghetti and nobody is arguing about it. Seasoned with classics like oregano, and basil, the parmesan crust is perfect just the way it is.
If you are in the mood to celebrate and a splurge is in order, skip the spaghetti marinara and head straight for the lobster carbonara. There is a bounty of big and juicy chunks of lobster claw and tail in this carbonara and that is a very special thing.
The simple and honest egg-based carbonara sauce has been made the traditional way, with a little cheese to bring it all together. Pepper is another standout in this recipe, and the Maggiano chefs certainly don’t tread lightly on that front.
Extravagant ingredients like smoked bacon, truffle cream, and sugar snap peas have been sneaked into the dish to ensure its higher-than-average price tag isn’t questioned, not for a second.
The Shrimp Fra Diavolo is an ideal dish idea for people who want to dine at Maggiano’s while watching what they eat. Made to be low in calories and big on flavor, this shrimp pasta dish is a perfect representation of just how delicious low-calorie meals can be.
The shrimp gets a light searing on the pan before it is doused in Diavlo sauce. This ensures the shrimp remains tender and juicy while gaining the insanely tasty flavors of the Diavlo.
The shrimp is then mixed through al dente linguine pasta with roasted garlic and diced tomatoes to give it a lively aesthetic and taste.
The dish is served with a wedge of lemon for a reason, and that reason is to give it one final note of tangy taste - ready for eating.
So there you have it - nine of Maggiano’s Little Italy’s most iconic dishes that have been pulled straight from their menu.
Whether you have fallen in love with Mom’s Lasagna all over again, or have gone head over heels for the Lobster Carbonara, it is safe to say that Maggiano’s has something for everyone.
