Brinker International’s plan to revitalize Maggiano’s is taking shape, starting with bigger portion sizes.
The 48-unit Italian chain announced Wednesday that it has added dishes with 20 percent more pasta—such as Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and Spaghetti & Meatballs—along with increased portions of chicken, meatballs, and shrimp. This comes with no added cost.
“At Maggiano’s, we’ve always believed that Italian-American dining should feel generous in spirit and rich in flavor,” chef Anthony Amoroso, VP of innovation and growth, said in a statement. “That tradition has defined us for decades. Whether enjoying your favorite pasta or gathering around the table for Family Style, the experience should feel warm, welcoming, and leave everyone feeling satisfied. We are going back to our core beliefs to make sure every dish reflects that spirit — delivering the same scratch-made quality, abundant portions, and classic dishes that remind you why you came in the first place.”
Additionally, Maggiano’s bolstered its Family Style platform with 15 more options like Baked Ziti, Eggplant Parmesan, Four Cheese Ravioli, and Chicken Piccata.
The menu is priced at $44 per person and designed for parties of four or more, comprising two appetizers, four entrées, and three desserts.
“Back to Maggiano’s means recommitting to what made this brand special—scratch-made food, abundant portions with enough to take home for a second or third meal, and Italian-American favorites we all love sharing with friends and family,” Brinker CEO Kevin Hochman said in a statement. “The new family-style spread is exactly how Nonna would do it—serving up plate after plate until you couldn’t possibly eat another bite, then sending you home with leftovers anyway.”
Last year, Brinker introduced the “Back to Maggiano’s” framework, which includes greater menu abundance, improved service and speed, a new labor model, simplified operations, the elimination of non-beneficial tests, restaurant repairs and reimaging, and increased team member satisfaction.
During the company’s fiscal Q2, Maggiano’s same-store sales fell 2.4 percent, fueled by 6 percent pricing and 0.4 percent positive menu mix, offset by an 8.8 percent decline in traffic. It’s a notable improvement from the 6.4 percent comps decrease in the first quarter. Hochman told investors during the Q2 call that sales results “beat our internal expectations for the first time in a while.”
The brand expects same-store sales to be in the negative mid-single-digit range for the back half of fiscal 2026.
“I think we lost a little bit of what the North Star of Maggiano’s is, which is when it was at its best, these are over-the-top portions, very shareable plates, food that sort of very consistent and hot with service that didn’t feel like a chain restaurant,” Hochman told investors in late October. “There’s no reason why we can’t get back to that pretty easily. This is not proprietary to restaurants. These are things that we just have to stay focused on and get out of the teammates’ way so they can do these things on a more consistent basis.”
Maggiano’s is looking to replicate the success of sister concept Chili’s, which has boasted eye-popping same-store sales over the past several quarters thanks to social media popularity and upgrades to menu, operations, and hospitality.
Earlier this month, George Felix—formerly CMO of Chili’s—was promoted to oversee marketing for both the grill-and-bar chain and Maggiano’s. In a news release, Brinker said Felix will be tasked with “clarifying the brand’s positioning and improving execution to drive stronger performance.”
