new menu items @ Mac Grill put it on the list of places to go

[acroyear]

Eat This, Not That - Kudos-to-Macaroni-Grill:

We've harped on Romano's Macaroni Grill for years. As home to such belly-ballooning classics as the 1,810-calorie Spaghetti and Meatsauce dinner and the 1,630-calorie New York Cheesesteak (with Caramel Fudge Sauce) dessert, we'd all but written off the Grill as a nutritionist's worst nightmare.

Those dietary disasters still lurk on the menu. But the latest upgrade in the Mac Grill's food offerings shows an entirely different culinary landscape. To our (enormous and pleasant) surprise, we now feel confident steering you toward this Italian-themed chain.

THE GOOD:
If you're at the Grill for lunch, order from the Mediterranean Grill section. If you're there for dinner, take your pick from the list of plates under Amore de la Grill (with the exception of the pork chops). All calorie counts fall in the reasonable range, and we're pleased that Romano's has added these fitter-fare choices.

They say the pasta's still awful in calorie-counts, but if you can hold yourself back, splitting a meal in two (either sharing, or saving for a second lunch the next day) might help. I've gotten better at that than I thought I would.

Comments

[thelongshot.livejournal.com]

Not sure I want a Cheesesteak with caramel fudge sauce, but I do give them props for originality. ;^)

[scaleslea.livejournal.com]

Apparently that is the difference between New York Cheesesteak and Philly Cheesesteak.

New Yorkers must have a sweet tooth...

Doc

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

I was particularly impressed by their writeup of dessert ravioli. Aiee!

(The warnings about just about everyone's salads were disturbing. Guess it's good that I make my own salads so tend to feel like it's a waste of money to buy one elsewhere.)

[edit: It's unusual for me to go to a restaurant and not take half or so of an entree home. 'course some of these are scarycalories even at half a plate...]

[thelongshot.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I have no room for dessert when I'm there, so I don't worry about it.

I'm not surprised about a lot of their menu, since they are a big fan of doing cream sauces, which is always high in fat. I don't know how make-your-own pastas come out in this, which is what I usually order. Course, last time I was there they really restricted the options with that as well.

I'll have to take a look at the new options next time I'm there.