{image1}The joint was jumpin' at the end of June when Maggiano's Little Italy, Mayfair Mall's newest eatery, held its grand opening celebration and was dishing up food and drink like it was going out of style. But of course, Maggiano's style of hearty southern Italian fare hardly seems to be falling out of favor with Americans.
The 250-seat restaurant is designed in the style of a pre-war New York City supper club. Large, lively and decorated with classy dark panels, Maggiano's isn't upscale dining, but it certainly feels like it. A vast collection of framed family portraits (Are there real Maggianos?) -- add a homey touch.
Just inside the door is a spacious bar that regular diners will come to know intimately as despite the dining room's expansive size (plus a balcony with more tables, and a banquet room 'round the back) Maggiano's will likely be the kind of place that draws in the Tosa-area hungry.
Launched in Chicago in 1991 by Richard Melman's Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, there are now Maggiano's restaurants in 13 states and in the District of Columbia, but the menus don't vary, offering hearty southern Italian dishes like heaping lasagne and different takes on northern favorites like a bowl full of linguine with pesto, laced with chicken. There's also chicken saltimbocca, Caesar salads, delicious mushroom-stuffed ravioli and more.
The menu offers appetizers ranging from $3.95 to $11.95 and entrees from $10.95 to $32.95. Family-style dining offers unlimited quantities of appetizers, salads, pastas, entrees and dessert for $22.95 per person. Another option, priced at $19.95 per person, includes unlimited salads, pastas and desserts.
The restaurant marks a homecoming for Milwaukee native Brendhan McClusky, who has moved back from Chicago to open and operate the Mayfair restaurant.
"I am excited to be back home to introduce this great restaurant to the Milwaukee community," says McClusky. "We offer an authentic Italian American 'dining experience,' which means that we have perfected the combination of great food, great service and an inviting atmosphere."
Maggiano's Little Italy is open Monday-Thursday, 11:15 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11:15 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday, noon-9 p.m. All major credit cards are accepted. Call (414) 978-1000 for reservations and information and (414) 978-1020 for catering and banquet information.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
