Maggiano's Boosts Pasta Portions by 20 Percent at All 48 Locations

Maggiano's Little Italy landed on the right side of the shrinkflation conversation on March 18, rolling out approximately 20% more pasta across its entire menu at all 48 locations nationwide, with no corresponding increase in price.

The Brinker International brand positioned the move explicitly as a counter to an industry trend that has quietly reduced portion sizes at restaurants across the country. "While others shrink portions, Maggiano's Little Italy is going bigger and serving up more of what guests love," the company said in its Dallas-issued press release. The chain framed the change as a return to its roots: "returning to the abundant portions, welcoming hospitality, and classic dishes that made the brand a favorite for decades."

The portion increases show up most visibly on workhorse dishes like Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and Spaghetti & Meatballs, which now come with larger helpings of chicken, meatballs, and shrimp alongside the extra noodles, all at no additional charge.

Alongside the pasta boost, Maggiano's expanded its four-course Family Style menu by 15 dishes. That menu, designed for parties of four or more, starts at $44 per person and $14 for diners under 12, and includes two salads, two appetizers, four entrees, and three desserts with bottomless refills. The newly added options include Baked Ziti, Eggplant Parmesan, Four Cheese Ravioli, Chicken Piccata, and the dessert Gigi's Buttercake, among others. The price for the Family Style experience did not increase despite the expanded selection.

Hochman, quoted in the press release, leaned into the communal spirit the format is built around. "The new family-style spread is exactly how Nonna would do it — serving up plate after plate until you couldn't possibly eat another bite, then sending you home with leftovers anyway," Hochman said.

One operational caveat: pricing and availability may vary by location, and the Family Style menu is not available at airport sites, according to a summary of the announcement. For the other 48 locations, the larger portions and expanded menu were live as of March 18. Information on the nearest location is available at maggianos.com.