Maggiano's Northpark - Dallas

I went to this restaurant for my 27th birthday celebration.

We had a fantastic experience overall. We visited on a weekday and the restaurant was not very crowded. Our server was a bit slow, but was excellent when attentive. We had a great time during our visit.

Reserved a 5:30pm table for 8 people and went Christmas Eve as we have for the last 6 years. We were also seated upstairs. Seated at 5:40pm. Server addressed us at 5:50 and took drink and appetizer order. 30 minutes later at 6:10pm no drinks but ordered salads entrees. 6:20pm appetizers showed up but had to ask for them to be corrected as food was missing from plates. 50 minutes into this disaster at 6:30pm server told us bar was backed up but we’d have drinks soon. (I walked downstairs and got a drink from the bar right away but ok) 1 hour later at 6:40pm drinks showed up. Excuse was the bar lost our order. (We refilled our own water glasses repeatedly because server, who had TWO tables was overwhelmed helping others while numerous “event” servers just stood there) Salads showed up but had to ask an annoyed, disinterested server for and wait on plates. 1 hour 40 minutes after we were seated at 7:20pm told waiter we had 8pm plans and needed our entrees soon. She stated less than 5 minutes. 3 minutes later (yes, the kids had stopwatches going at this point) the “food” showed up. It had obviously been sitting under heat lamps for sometime. ALL the pasta dishes were ICE COLD under hot dried out sauces, the filet was both raw and well done (that was impressive), and the asparagus risotto was a very unappetizing dried out orange color. I am actually shocked the server chose to bring the embarrassing food to the table. We refused to eat or pay for anything other than our much delayed drinks, appetizers, salads, and 1 meal that my guest insisted on eating because they were diabetic and needed to eat. Heard every excuse in the book but the restaurant controls how many they seat, when they seat them and the staff needed to maintain their desired output for guest. One of the worst meals my family has ever had anywhere. We ended up with Taco Bueno after a lovely carriage ride. Tacos were 100% better than Maggianos. Maybe that will be our new Christmas Eve tradition.

Great Christmas Eve Lunch, our reception staff, waiter, and serve staff were incredible. The food was outstanding.

We made reservations for 10 Annual tradition with family. We were seated upstairs (which has NEVER happened). When I saw it not festive or with energy of downstairs I requested downstairs. The nice lady helping us turned to her Manager to explain the situation. Not knowing my daughter in law was there, said “If they don’t like it, they can leave.” Not kidding. I had no idea they seated upstairs except for private parties. It was a dud waiter overwhelmed felt like Siberia. We never would have selected the restaurant had we known. We had had the reservation for weeks. Our bill was close to $650. tip so not an insignificant amount to be treated so poorly. The one lady was trying to be helpful but the manager who made the rude comment could not believe.