The Health of It All

Eating Healthier at Chain Restaurants: Maggiano's Little Italy

When I think about the columns I write that look at chain restaurants I always wonder at myself, because the research I do on these types of restaurants makes me want to write, "Just go to McDonalds or even Subway!" Mind you, I am no fan of the vast majority of fast food restaurants, but compared to Maggiano's Little Italy, Subway is downright healthy.

As with others like Chili's, Applebee's and P.F. Chang's (I suppose the apostrophe makes them feel more personal) the amount of calories and especially sodium in Maggiano's dishes is astounding. There is usually a ton of sugar in the dishes as well, but it is hard to tell exactly how much added sugar there is.

Let's start with the pastas at Maggiano's. You go to an Italian restaurant for pasta, right? Pasta can be healthy, but not at Maggiano's.

Normally I edit the Nutrition Facts tables down to what's acceptable to eat, but today I am publishing the majority of the menu (leaving out calories from fat, carbohydrates, and protein) because you might not believe me when I say that there is not a single pasta entrée that contains less than 2 grams of sodium.

TWO!

GRAMS!

Sorry to scream but that's just amazing.

I spent a lot of time looking at these tables, and for the first time since we began reviewing chain restaurants I simply have nothing to recommend. There is no meal on offer at Maggiano's Littly Italy that you should eat.

This is a first for us here at DrGourmet.com. We can almost always find something at a chain restaurant to recommend - but not here. My only recommendation is to not go to Maggiano's at all.

Instead, stay home. Save your money and eat your own great food. Here are some classic Italian recipes that are easy and delicious for you to cook instead:

Spaghetti with Meatballs
Fettucine Alfredo | Acid Reflux / GERD / Coumadin-Safe Version | Gluten Free Fettuccine Alfredo
Penne Arrabbiata
Spinach Mushroom Lasagna
Beef & Mushroom Lasagna
Linguine with Clam Sauce
Linguine with Red Clam Sauce
Pasta Carbonara
Chicken Marsala
Chicken Parmesan
Chicken Piccata | Gluten-Free Chicken Piccata

Appetizers - Bruschetta (1 piece)

	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Candied Smoked Bacon	200	15	310	0	7
Spiced Shrimp & Corn Fondue	170	10	380	1	3
Classic Tomato Relish	80	5	150	1	2
Bruschetta Trio (6 pc)	890	60	1690	3	24
Half Bruschetta Trio (3 pc)	450	30	840	2	12

Starters

	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Classic Tomato Bruschetta	480	32	930	3	10
Calamari Fritte	700	47	1960	4	7
Ciabatta Table Rolls (1 each)	70	0	150	1	1
Crispy Pepperoni Risotto Bites	780	49	2200	4	8
Crispy Zucchini Fritte	1740	133	2500	7	15
Flatbread Chicken & Roasted Pepper	730	34	1220	5	12
Flatbread Italian Sausage	860	50	2140	6	8
Flatbread Margherita	670	34	1610	6	7
Mozzarella Marinara	1480	96	3720	7	14
Sausage & Peppers	1040	88	2780	1	7
Spinach & Artichoke Al Forno	1180	83	2410	9	12
Steamed Mussels -Diavolo Style	680	42	2320	4	2
Steamed Mussels -Tuscan Style	750	42	1950	7	8

Starters

	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Stuffed Mushrooms	610	53	1320	4	5
Tomato Caprese	380	32	1300	2	7

Salads

	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Add Chicken to any Salad	160	6	240	0	1
Add Salmon to any Salad	250	15	370	1	0
Add Shrimp to any Salad	90	3	620	0	0
Caesar Salad - Combo	590	53	830	5	4
Caesar Salad - Entrée	810	72	1160	7	6
Caesar Salad - Side	370	34	500	2	2
Chopped Salad - Combo	880	81	1490	11	16
Chopped Salad - Entrée	1250	114	2290	12	23
Chopped Salad - Side	480	43	870	5	8
Grilled Chicken Caprese Salad	810	60	1400	6	16
Grilled Salmon Salad	740	45	1840	8	31
Italian Tossed Salad - Combo	480	42	1210	5	7
Italian Tossed Salad - Entrée	700	62	1760	7	10
Italian Tossed Salad - Side	140	12	380	1	2
Maggiano's Salad - Combo	660	59	1460	4	12
Maggiano's Salad - Entrée	940	83	2170	6	16
Maggiano's Salad - Side	430	39	930	2	7
Spinach Salad - Combo	600	54	1080	6	8
Spinach Salad - Entrée	820	73	1520	10	12
Spinach Salad - Side	400	36	680	3	6

Chefs Featured Soups

	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Clam Chowder New England Bowl	220	18	600	1	3
Clam Chowder New England Cup	110	9	300	0	1
Clam Chowder Manhattan Bowl	130	4.5	1120	2	4
Clam Chowder Manhattan Cup	70	2.5	560	1	2
Creamy Chicken & Potato Bowl	350	25	2340	2	4
Creamy Chicken & Potato Cup	170	12	1170	1	2

Chefs Featured Soups

	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Italian Wedding Bowl	390	21	1530	4	5
Italian Wedding Cup	200	10	770	2	3
Minestrone Bowl	190	10	1310	2	5
Minestrone Cup	90	5	650	1	2
Tuscan Chicken Sausage Soup Bowl	200	9	1170	2	3
Tuscan Chicken Sausage Soup Cup	100	4.5	590	1	1

Classic Pasta

	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Fettuccine Alfredo	1430	79	4310	9	13
Four-Cheese Ravioli	1050	69	2070	4	10
Mom's Lasagna	1040	66	3370	4	21
Spaghetti & Meatball w/Marinara	1160	45	2980	9	22
Sauce Spaghetti & Meatball w/Meat Sauce	1250	47	3310	11	22
Spaghetti w/Marinara	840	26	2220	8	21
Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce	930	28	2540	10	22
Taylor Street Baked Ziti	1400	76	3980	9	16
Substitute GF Penne Pasta	570	13	690	1	1
Substitute Whole Wheat Penne Pasta	690	16	830	15	3

Specialty Pastas

	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Chicken & Spinach Manicotti	1020	64	2110	3	11
Eggplant Parmesan	980	45	3130	13	22
Gnocchi & Italian Sausage	1540	90	5180	9	6
Mediterranean Spaghetti	860	27	3050	10	16
Mushroom Ravioli al Forno	780	46	2400	5	13
Orecchiette Chicken Pesto	1560	84	2660	10	20
Our Famous Rigatoni "D"	1610	92	2550	7	19
Rigatoni Arrabbiata w/Chicken	1250	65	2150	8	13
Rigatoni Arrabbiata w/Sausage	1460	89	2890	7	15

Chicken

	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Chicken Francese	1030	59	1700	7	6
Chicken Francese (LT)	790	37	1240	4	4
Chicken Marsala	1170	67	1890	5	12
Chicken Marsala (LT)	690	26	990	4	9
Chicken Parmesan	1290	59	3070	11	22
Chicken Parmesan (LT)	690	25	1330	6	6
Chicken Piccata	1180	71	2350	7	5
Chicken Piccata (LT)	650	25	1330	6	2

Seafood

	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Chef KB's Lobster Carbonara	1590	91	3910	8	15
Salmon Lemon & Herb	800	66	1400	3	2
Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes	1150	102	2620	4	10
Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes (L)	790	69	1790	4	8
Linguine & Clams w/Red Sauce	1480	68	2740	7	6
Linguine & Clams w/White Sauce	1600	88	2170	5	6
Linguine di Mare	1350	43	3760	7	6
Alaskan Cod	830	66	4820	4	6
Salmon Oscar	1160	86	1730	6	8
Shrimp Fra Diavolo	820	26	3340	7	3
Shrimp Fra Diavolo (LT)	410	13	1670	4	1
Shrimp Scampi	1270	76	3660	6	11
Shrimp Scampi (L)	920	55	2190	5	8
Tuscan Shrimp & Chicken	1860	100	4690	8	16
Twin Cold Water Lobster Tails **	970	88	740	1	1

Steak & Veal

	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Beef Tenderloin Medallions	920	58	1980	4	10
New York Strip	1120	67	3570	5	5
Center-Cut Filet Mignon	850	47	2100	8	6
Filet Mignon & Asparagus Risotto	1040	73	2420	5	6
Make it Al Forno Style	520	44	1310	1	10
Make it Contadina Style	630	45	2340	6	13
Make it Oscar Style	530	40	1040	4	7
Prime Ribeye	1870	149	1850	8	21
Surf & Turf **	1120	92	1730	1	4
Veal Marsala	1200	66	1950	7	12
Veal Marsala (LT)	720	26	1050	6	9
Veal Parmesan	1690	79	4990	14	32
Veal Piccata	1200	66	2430	5	6
Veal Piccata (LT)	670	20	1410	4	3
Veal Porterhouse **	1570	111	2880	9	7

Sides

	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Crispy Vesuvio Potatoes	360	18	440	5	2
Fresh Grilled Asparagus	70	4.5	330	2	1
Garlic Mashed Potatoes	520	35	1010	3	4
Garlic Spinach	90	7	340	3	1
Roasted Garlic Broccoli	200	15	380	0	3
Spaghetti Aglio Olio	550	31	960	3	3
Spaghetti Marinara	430	14	1190	4	12

Sandwiches

(Served with Potatoes & a Pickle)	Cals	Fat (g)	Sod (mg)	Fiber (g)	Sugars (g)
Chicken Parmesan - Full	1290	68	2380	11	6
Chicken Parmesan - Half	830	43	1660	8	4
Honey Mustard Salmon Club - Full	1620	102	2680	14	15
Honey Mustard Salmon Club - Half	990	60	1810	9	9
Italian Grilled Cheese & Ham - Full	1370	83	2810	9	6
Italian Grilled Cheese & Ham - Half	870	50	1870	7	4
Meatball - Full	1990	122	4100	12	7
Meatball - Half	1180	70	2520	9	5

Review posted: October 12, 2020