"Hook 'em Mange!" Maggiano's Little Italy(R) to Open in Austin

Restaurant brings its scratch Italian-American kitchen and more than 165 jobs to city

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Mar 01, 2010, 04:30 ET

AUSTIN, Texas, March 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Maggiano's Little Italy® officially welcomes Austin residents and Hill Country visitors today with its grand opening at The Domain. This is the first Maggiano's Little Italy to open in Austin and fifth location in Texas, bringing the total number of Maggiano's restaurants to 45 locations worldwide.

The new Maggiano's is boosting the economic climate in Travis County by adding more than 165 employment opportunities, including full- and part-time and more than 10 managerial positions.

Maggiano's Little Italy offers made-from-scratch, classic dishes inspired by Italian-American recipes, prepared with a contemporary twist by Maggiano's Austin executive chef Matt Nicholson. The warm, nostalgic atmosphere is reminiscent of the golden age of Little Italy. Dining spaces set in richly polished mahogany wood are accented by leather banquettes draped with red-checkered tablecloths. The family portraits adorning the walls invite guests to become part of the Maggiano's family.

In partnership with Chef Nicholson is managing partner John Gerarde, who will oversee restaurant operations. Gerarde and Nicholson both have impressive resumes of restaurant industry experience and most recently held positions at the Maggiano's in Dallas and Tampa, Fla., respectively.

"Maggiano's specializes in authentic Italian-American cuisine, but our passion is making people feel special, and is one of the many reasons I love working for this company," said Gerarde. "Austin is a thriving area with a laid-back, 'big city meets small town' feel and is the perfect location for our neighborhood restaurant. We're excited to open our doors and invite our friends and neighbors to dine with us for birthdays, anniversaries or any Wednesday night when they don't feel like cooking."

Maggiano's menu is diverse, featuring an array of signature pastas and baked specialties like Rigatoni "D®" and Mom's Lasagna or the popular "family-style" endless three-course meal, where guests can choose from 15 appetizers, four salads, 18 pastas, 15 entrees and nine desserts. Maggiano's Austin will also introduce the "Today and Tomorrow" offering, where guests choose from a selection of handmade pastas and baked specialties and go home with a free carryout order to enjoy tomorrow. Their second selection will be packaged and ready to go at the end of their meal.

Understanding the importance of guests' special dietary needs, Maggiano's talented culinary team will also be able to customize dishes to accommodate those with food allergens, such as wheat, rye or nuts.

The 17,200-square foot facility features seating for 600 guests and boasts three private banquet rooms accommodating an additional 220 people for special events such as wedding receptions, business meetings and luncheons. Hosting a meeting or gathering in a home or separate venue? Whether guests are hosting a small, intimate dinner at home or a larger event for families or coworkers, Maggiano's offers delivery of its freshest Italian-American favorites with set-up included.

Located at 10910 Domain Drive in The Domain shopping center, Maggiano's offers lunch, dinner, carryout, delivery and spacious banquet spaces for any occasion. 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, including complimentary valet, is available. For more information or to make a reservation, call Maggiano's Little Italy at (512) 501-7870 or visit www.maggianos.com.

About Maggiano's Little Italy

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 nationwide locations offer lunch or dinner, carryout service, delivery and banquet spaces for special occasions. Maggiano's is one of three restaurant brands in the portfolio of Dallas-based Brinker International (NYSE: EAT), one of the world's largest casual dining companies, with more than 1,700 restaurants in 29 countries and two territories. Other Brinker restaurant brands include Chili's® Grill & Bar and On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina®. Brinker also holds a minority investment in Romano's Macaroni Grill®. For more information, visit www.maggianos.com.

SOURCE Maggiano's Little Italy