Romano's Macaroni Grill facts for kids
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A Romano's Macaroni Grill in Anaheim Hills, CA in March 2010 (closed by early 2020).
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| Wholly owned subsidiary | |
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Genre | Casual dining |
| Founded | April 19, 1988 in Leon Springs, Texas |
| Founder | Philip J. Romano |
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
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Key people
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| Products | |
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Number of employees
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7,001 As of 2023[update] |
| Parent | Brinker International (1989–2008) Mac Acquisition LLC (2008–2013) Ignite Restaurant Group (2013–2015) Redrock Partners LLC (2015–2023) RMG Acquisition Company (2015–2023) |
Romano's Macaroni Grill is a popular American restaurant chain. It serves Italian-American cuisine, which is a mix of Italian and American flavors. It's known as a casual dining spot, meaning it's a relaxed place to eat.
As of June 2025, you can find Romano's Macaroni Grill in 10 different states across the U.S. These states include California, Colorado, Florida, and Texas. There are also 5 locations in Puerto Rico.
Contents
History of Macaroni Grill
How it Started
Romano's Macaroni Grill was started by a person named Philip J. Romano. He was a restaurateur, which means he creates and runs restaurants. He also founded another restaurant chain called Fuddruckers before this one.
The very first Macaroni Grill opened on April 19, 1988. It was in Leon Springs, Texas, which is now part of San Antonio.
Changing Owners
A big company called Brinker International bought the rights to Romano's Macaroni Grill in 1989. They helped the restaurant chain grow.
Later, in 2008, Brinker International sold most of its share in the chain. It was bought by a company called Mac Acquisition LLC.
Over the years, Romano's Macaroni Grill has had a few different owners. In 2013, Ignite Restaurant Group took over. Then, in 2015, Redrock Partners LLC bought the company.
In October 2017, Romano's Macaroni Grill had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This is a legal step a company takes when it needs to reorganize its finances.
In 2018, Romano's Macaroni Grill bought another restaurant called Sullivan's Steakhouse.
Who Runs it Now
In July 2023, Jason Kemp became the President and Chief Executive Officer of Romano's Macaroni Grill. He has experience leading many other restaurant chains in the past.
What's on the Menu?
Romano's Macaroni Grill offers many dishes inspired by traditional Italian and Mediterranean food. You can find classic Italian items like pasta, pizza, chicken, and seafood. They also serve fresh salads.
One special thing about their menu is that you can create your own pasta dish. You get to choose your favorite type of pasta, sauce, and toppings. All meals come with complimentary bread and olive oil, which is a nice touch.
Besides their restaurants, Romano's Macaroni Grill also has a line of packaged food products. These are based on popular dishes from their restaurants. You can find them in stores, and they are made by General Mills.
Healthy Choices
In 2007, Men's Health magazine looked at how healthy different restaurant chains were. At that time, Romano's Macaroni Grill received a low grade for its nutrition. The report said that an average meal often had more than 1,000 calories.
However, things changed! Three years later, the same magazine rated Macaroni Grill as the healthiest Italian chain. They noticed that many dishes had much fewer calories. This improvement happened after a new CEO was hired, who worked to make the food more nutritious.
Pictures
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A Romano's in Burlington, MA in September, 2008 (closed in February 2017, now Eddie V's)
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One of many Italian-themed dishes at Romano's
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See also
In Spanish: Romano's Macaroni Grill para niños
