Maybe this is old news, but I was wondering what happened to the Macaroni Grill on Plymouth Road in Plymouth Meeting. When did it close? I've been there a few times and there has always been a crowd. Surprised that it didn't last too long.

I didn't know it closed but I do know the one in Willow Grove closed several months ago. I was very surprised because it was always packed when I went there.

Yea,

I noticed that a short while ago.

I never ate there but always wondered how different it would be from Carabba's or Olive Garden.

I guess another chain will take it's place eventually.

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Je me souviens.

I ate at the Mac grill in Wilmington on route 202 when it first opened. It was horrible. Hopefully things have improved with the service and food.

I'm surprised to hear the Willow Grove Grill closed. That was always packed whenever I drove by. I'd never actually eaten there though, so perhaps it was just a small parking lot

I'm not a huge fan of chains. Even the good ones tend to get popular for a brief time and then burn out and turn into total garbage.

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Mozzer

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Within that company, I am more a fan of Maggiano's Little Italy. But overall, I'm not too fond of chains either. The one thing that made me not mind to eat at the Macaroni Grill in northern VA is that my younger brother is the sous chef and makes food for us his way, rather than via the specs.

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You know, the homeless make desperate, passionate lovers. But they will rob you blind.

The Willow Grove closing surprised me, too. I never saw it anything less than packed--and it wasn't just a case of a small parking lot. Maybe the new Carrabbas on 611 hurt them a lot; that, combined with being across the street from a longstanding, far superior Olive Garden, probably did them in. I ate at both the Willow Grove and Montgomeryville MG, and I never had a particularly great meal at either one.

I'm pretty sure Montgomeryville is still open, though.

I love the Macaroni Grill. I usually drive to the one on Rt 202 in Delaware (Concord Pike). I just went there in Feb. I hope they are not all closing. The one in Delaware is cute and has a nice mellow vibe.

I do love Maggiano's. The one on Filbert street is usually horribly crowded. We waited a one hour in March, when they said the wait was going to be 30 minutes.

The Mac Grill on 309 in Montgomeryville is still open, and appears to do a brisk business. I find Mac Grill to be much better than Olive Garden. Olive Garden went downhill about 4 or 5 years ago. If you like Italian, and are thinking of going to the Mac Grill on 309, there is a place called Bensi across the street from where Olive Garden is, in the English Village Shoppes. It's a chain, but they have pretty good food, for a chain; just stay away from Bracco's on 202 below 63.

Help us out.

Is the food that bad there? Do you mean the one near the "new" Wawa? My wife has been bugging me for over a year to try the place.

By the way. I think the Mac far outshines the Olive Garden. By a mile. Especially the lobster ravioli.

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