No more macaroni grilling
Daily Bulletin columnist David Allen writes about the closure of the Romano's Macaroni Grill in Rancho Cucamonga because of slow sales. He mentions that the West Covina location is closing for the same reason.
I was surprised. You would think that the West Covina restaurant would have tremendous sales. It's next to a insanely-popular movie theater and across the street from the West Covina mall. Then again, the last time I went to the Macaroni Grill was at least a year ago...
Macaroni Grill didn't necessarily have the most amazing Italian food, but it was good. The menu had all the traditional favorites, and the restaurant was casual enough for a weeknight dinner but nice enough for a special occasion. Now that it's closing, where else can you find Italian food in the area?
Tulipano's in Azusa
Giovanni's in downtown Covina
Macaroni Grill in Rowland Heights/Industry (wonder if that one will close, too)
Avolio's in Covina
Artie's Pizza in Covina
Johnny Carino's in Covina
El Appetiz in Baldwin Park
Olive Garden in Industry
Spaghetti Eddie's in Glendora
I was surprised. You would think that the West Covina restaurant would have tremendous sales. It's next to a insanely-popular movie theater and across the street from the West Covina mall. Then again, the last time I went to the Macaroni Grill was at least a year ago...
Macaroni Grill didn't necessarily have the most amazing Italian food, but it was good. The menu had all the traditional favorites, and the restaurant was casual enough for a weeknight dinner but nice enough for a special occasion. Now that it's closing, where else can you find Italian food in the area?
Tulipano's in Azusa
Giovanni's in downtown Covina
Macaroni Grill in Rowland Heights/Industry (wonder if that one will close, too)
Avolio's in Covina
Artie's Pizza in Covina
Johnny Carino's in Covina
El Appetiz in Baldwin Park
Olive Garden in Industry
Spaghetti Eddie's in Glendora
There's also an El Appetiz in Glendora on Arrow Hwy. (One of the dumbest names for a restaurant I've ever heard.)
I've only been to the Macaroni Grill in West Covina and only a handful of times. It was pretty nice. Pricey but I loved their Penne Rustica dish - Imported penne pasta with shrimp, grilled chicken and smoked prosciutto baked under a golden crust of Parmesan cheese - for $10.49. Worth the price. Guess I'll have to have my boyfriend learn how to make the dish at home for me. That's probably all I will miss though, oh and the crayons :-)
Ohhhh - Italian is my favorite type of food. And when I'm craving really good Italian - I try to make a pilgrimage to Tarantino's in Pasadena. It's a little hole in the wall restaurant on Green Street, just west of Lake Ave. The family-style seating restaurant only takes cash, but the garlic rolls are absolutely amazing. I suggest the Penne Pisano or the Spicy Chicken pasta. Definitely worth a trip.
Johnny Carino's is actually in West Covina. And Macaroni Grill is closing along with almost all the other new restaurants at "The Lakes." Pretty sad. They just moved in like less than 3 years ago. I liked Macaroni Grill, dislike Johnny Carinos, but I LOVE me some El Appetiz...especially the bread. Yum-my.