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Indulging in a comforting bowl of pasta is a beloved American pastime, making Italian restaurants a go-to choice for many. While there is no shortage of chains eager to serve up classic dishes like spaghetti and meatballs or chicken parmesan, not all Italian restaurant chains are created equal. Here are some pasta and pizza chains in America that you might want to think twice about visiting, listed in no particular order.
**Fazoli’s**
Fazoli’s may evoke memories of a bygone era for some, with many believing it to be a thing of the past. Known for its excessively greasy garlic breadsticks, Fazoli’s fails to impress beyond its oily reputation. If you’ve outgrown your teenage years, there’s little reason to revisit this chain.
**Sbarro**
Sbarro, often associated with mall food courts, has become a last-resort option found in airports, bus stations, and highway rest stops. The pizza at Sbarro, left to languish under heat lamps, is notorious for its dryness. For many, it ranks below other popular pizza chains in terms of taste and quality.
**Bravo! Italian Kitchen**
Bravo! seems to draw patrons seeking an alternative to Olive Garden, albeit with a similarly uninspiring menu. Struggling to rise above the low standards set by its competitors, Bravo! fails to make a lasting impression. For a more satisfying dining experience, consider exploring other chain restaurants, even those outside the Italian cuisine realm.
**Olive Garden**
A familiar name on this list, Olive Garden’s culinary missteps have been well-documented. From under-salted pasta water to overcooked noodles, this chain has seen better days. With a menu that often underwhelms diners, Olive Garden’s glory days of the 1990s are but a distant memory.
**The Old Spaghetti Factory**
While The Old Spaghetti Factory may hold nostalgic appeal for many, its charm often overshadows the lackluster quality of its food. Former employees reveal that the emphasis here is more on ambiance than culinary excellence. Despite its unique decor, the dining experience may leave much to be desired.
**Johnny Carino’s**
Once boasting over 150 locations, Johnny Carino’s has since dwindled in popularity, now operating only around 40 establishments. Criticized for its pricing and unconventional menu offerings like Italian nachos, this chain struggles to win over patrons. Reviews on platforms like Yelp frequently highlight the chain’s departure from traditional Italian fare.
A scathing review on terrible customer service, accompanied by complaints of tough chicken parmesan with a hardened crust, mangled steak, and a watered-down sauce, was shared by Sendita L. on Yelp in regards to Romano’s Macaroni Grill.
Once a prominent chain, Romano’s Macaroni Grill faced financial struggles, leading to its bankruptcy filing in 2017. Since then, the restaurant has failed to regain its former glory, with only 21 locations remaining. Notably, two of these locations are situated in notoriously challenging airports – Orlanda and O’Hare.
Customers frequently lament the exorbitant prices of the pasta dishes at Romano’s Macaroni Grill and observe a gradual decline in quality over the years. A Reddit user, u/Sega-Playstation-64, reminisced about a time when Macaroni Grill and Outback Steakhouse surpassed Denny’s and Olive Garden in terms of dining experience, only to witness their subsequent deterioration. They commented, “They fell. And hard.”
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This article was originally published on Cheapism and includes additional content on various topics such as Lobster Ravioli from Costco for an effortless at-home date night, a taste test of 16 potato chip brands to determine the best and worst options, a nostalgic showcase of 17 discontinued canned foods and drinks that continue to be missed by fans, insights on 8 steakhouse chains known for serving top-quality beef, and a ranking of the unhealthiest fast-food chicken sandwiches.
