Phil Romano founded Macaroni Grill on a simple belief. He set out to create a restaurant inspired by his grandfather’s kitchen in upstate New York, where the cuisine was rooted in Italian tradition, but the emphasis was on a place family could gather and have a great time over food made with the finest of ingredients. He focused on the little things and that quality is still engrained in our culture 30 years later. It’s a belief that that every tiny detail enhances our Guests’ experience and separates our restaurants from others.
We know that without our Guests we do not exist, therefore our team at every level takes immense pride in their part of creating the best Guest experience in the industry. From building our relationships with the small Italian vendors we work with, to carefully selecting the ingredients for our meals and maintaining a spotless house for our guests, we go the extra mile to create memorable connections at the table. Our team lives the beliefs that make us the #1 Italian restaurant chain in the nation.
Il Fornaio owns and operates 15 full-service Italian restaurants in California and Nevada that serve creatively prepared, premium-quality Italian cuisine. Established in 1972 in Italy as a baking school, Il Fornaio is renowned for its adherence to Italian cooking tradition and techniques. Il Fornaio has been certified Authentic Italian and awarded the "Marchio Ospitalita" by the Italian government, confirming that Il Fornaio is the best authentic Italian dining experience outside of Italy!