Maggiano's Little Italy opens new location at Westfield Annapolis mall in Maryland, its first location in the city and 45th location nationwide

Nevin Barich

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland , October 9, 2013 (press release) – Guests can get first bite of made-from-scratch, Italian-American cuisine at Westfield Annapolis mall starting Oct. 14

Just in time for National Pasta Month this October, Maggiano's Little Italy® is bringing the authentic, Italian-American menu, generous family style portions and distinct ambiance the brand is known for to Annapolis, Md. On Monday, Oct. 14 the doors to Maggiano's first restaurant in the city and 45th location nationwide open at Westfield Annapolis mall, giving guests the perfect place to enjoy their favorite pasta dish during the widely celebrated food holiday.

The restaurant seats approximately 300 guests and boosts the local economy by adding 165 new jobs to Maryland's state capital. With locations in nearby Chevy Chase, Washington, D.C. and Tysons Corner, Va., this brings the total number of Maggiano's employees in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area to more than 500.

First established by renowned restaurateur Richard Melman in downtown Chicago in 1991, Maggiano's recreates the welcoming environment, classic Italian dishes and hospitable service of "Little Italy" neighborhoods from 100 years ago, such as Taylor Street in Chicago, the North End of Boston and North Beach in San Francisco. Today, the brand, which was named the "Nation's Favorite Casual Dining Restaurant Chain" in the 2013 national survey by Market Force Information and the "2012 Best Casual Dining Italian Restaurant" in the annual Harris Poll EquiTrend® Rankings, satisfies millions of guests in restaurants from coast to coast.

With a scratch kitchen led by Executive Chef Andrew Swindell, Maggiano's Annapolis expands the brand's reach and reputation, serving up a diverse array of menu offerings, from signature pastas and baked specialties like the Famous Rigatoni "D"® to family style dining, an endless, three-course meal where guests can choose from 15 appetizers and salads, 36 pastas and entrées, and eight desserts to complete the occasion.

Another menu item sure to be a hit in Annapolis is the brand's popular "On The House Classic Pasta" offering, which sends any guest who orders one of eight craveable dishes in-restaurant home with a second pasta, compliments of Chef Swindell. Starting at $12.95, Maggiano's guests across the country have fallen in love with this generous take home offer. In fact, Maggiano's has given away more than 7.5 million Classic Pastas since launching the platform in 2009, keeping alive the spirit of generosity that thrived in the original Little Italy neighborhoods where no guest ever went home without leftovers in their arms.

Additionally, Maggiano's offers an extensive selection of acclaimed wines including Salute Amico, an exclusive partnership with the world-renowned Ruffino winery. With more than 50 wines available by the glass, wine enthusiasts will certainly find varietals they cherish and discover new favorites. Guests can also experience the brand's premium twist on nostalgic beverages with eight Handcrafted Classic Cocktails. Drinks like The Perfect G+T and the signature Elderflower Collins are proudly crafted with fresh juices and premium spirits. Premium Happy Hour is offered Monday – Friday from 3 – 6 p.m. in the dining room, bar and lounge, and features $3 premium draft beers, $4 flatbreads, $5 wines by the glass from the prestigious Coppola winery, and $6 specialty cocktails.

In conjunction with Chef Swindell is Managing Partner Terry Gibbons, who oversees restaurant operations for Maggiano's Annapolis. Swindell was promoted after a successful run as executive sous chef in Chevy Chase, and Annapolis marks the third Maggiano's restaurant opening for Gibbons.

"Maggiano's passion is making people feel special, and we bring this to life every day through our authentic, Italian-American menu, culinary-trained chefs and attentive teammates who are as dedicated to creating a great dining experience as they are about giving back to the community where our guests work and live," said Gibbons. "Annapolis is a thriving area with the historic significance of a state capitol and is the perfect backdrop for Maggiano's warm, nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of the golden age in Little Italy. We are excited to open our doors and invite our friends and neighbors to dine with us for lunch, dinner or any special occasion."

Understanding the importance of guests' special dietary needs, Maggiano's talented culinary team is also able to customize dishes for those with food allergens or Celiac disease. Upon learning of a table with diet specifications, the brand's executive chefs are known to personally visit the guest to walk them through their options, which include gluten-free pastas and sauces, and explain how the restaurant's scratch kitchen makes every effort to accommodate the request.

Located at 2100 Annapolis Mall in the Westfield Annapolis shopping mall, Maggiano's offers lunch, dinner, carryout and delivery options. The bar and dining areas are open from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon – 9 p.m. on Sunday. Ample parking is available. For more information or to make a reservation, call Maggiano's at (410) 266-3584 or visit www.maggianos.com.

Maggiano's Little Italy® specializes in Italian-American cuisine served in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Maggiano's menu features both classic and contemporary recipes – authentic pastas, signature salads, prime steaks, fresh seafood, regular chef specials and specialty desserts. Maggiano's 45 locations nationwide offer lunch, dinner, delivery and carryout service. Banquet spaces for special occasions are also available at select restaurants. Maggiano's is owned and operated by Brinker International, Inc. (EAT), one of the world's leading casual dining restaurant companies, serving more than one million guests daily. Brinker owns or franchises nearly 1,600 restaurants in 33 countries and two territories. In addition to
Maggiano's, Brinker owns and operates Chili's® Grill & Bar.

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