Romano’s Macaroni Grill^® Introduces New Italian Mediterranean Menu in California

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Romano’s Macaroni Grill^® debuted their new Italian Mediterranean menu in 32 restaurants across California on July 1^st.

“Our vision is for people to savor the great taste of fresh, delicious food and feel good afterwards”

The new menu is inspired by the vibrant way of life and cooking along the Italian Mediterranean coast, featuring the finest ingredients such as extra virgin olive oil, vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh lemons, select seafood, lean meats, colorful vegetables and imported artisan pasta.

This Mediterranean style of cooking is featured in seven new recipes and thirteen improved recipes that deliver on consumers’ taste expectations while simultaneously providing nutritional responsibility.

The thirteen improved menu items have reduced calories from 25% to 65%, while five popular menu items have seen saturated fat grams reduced by more than 70%.

“Our vision is for people to savor the great taste of fresh, delicious food and feel good afterwards,” said Brad Blum, chief executive officer of Romano’s Macaroni Grill. “Remarkably, our guests significantly prefer the taste of each new Italian Mediterranean recipe. It’s all about pleasure and joy.”

Improved recipes include Scallops & Spinach Salad and Seafood Linguine with new recipes Grilled Chicken Spiedini, Pollo Caprese and Lobster Spaghetti. Ten of these twenty items are offered for under $10.

“We expect this new menu will build upon the +8% improvement in our guest traffic we’ve seen over the past six months as we continue to focus on delivering great value and a pleasurable dining experience,” said Blum.

Many of the improvements launched in California will be implemented in restaurants across the country in August 2009.

For more information, please see the attachment or visit www.macaronigrill.com.

About Romano’s Macaroni Grill

Romano’s Macaroni Grill is a leading restaurant brand that provides a dining experience inspired by the Italian Mediterranean. Its commitment is to be Fresh, Simple and Authentic. The menu features Fresh Antipasti, Handcrafted Pasta and Mediterranean Grill specialties. Romano’s Macaroni Grill has over 200 locations worldwide. For more information, please visit www.macaronigrill.com.

Italian Mediterranean Recipes – New
Item		Calories		Saturated Fat (g)		Sodium (mg)
Roasted Vegetables (Antipasti)		330		3		440
Grilled Chicken Spiedini		360		2		1150
Jumbo Shrimp Spiedini		230		1		670
Sausage Salentino		900		14		1970
Pollo Caprese		550		5		1660
Lobster Spaghetti		650		5		1480
Simple Lemon Pound Cake		250		6		170

Italian Mediterranean Recipes – Improved
		Old Recipe*						New Recipe						Improvement
Item		Calories		Saturated Fat (g)		Sodium (mg)		Calories		Saturated Fat (g)		Sodium (mg)		Calories		Saturated Fat (g)		Sodium (mg)
Tomato Bruschetta		990		10		2050		630		5		1750		36%		50%		14%
Mozzarella alla Caprese		440		12		770		330		9		550		25%		25%		28%
Warm Spinach Salad		510		12		1870		330		7		1810		35%		41%		3%
Scallops & Spinach Salad		1270		27		2740		390		4		1800		69%		85%		34%
Capellini Pomodoro		640		3		990		390		2		980		39%		33%		1%
Shrimp Portofino**		1170		35		1720		560		14		1190		52%		60%		30%
Seafood Linguine		1230		20		1780		615		3		1280		50%		85%		28%
Eggplant Parmigiana		1270		33		2610		800		14		1450		37%		57%		44%
Chicken Cannelloni		880		25		2540		600		15		1410		31%		40%		44%
Spaghetti Bolognese**		1120		33		2290		570		6		1480		49%		81%		35%
Spaghetti & Meatballs (tomato sauce)**		1500		41		4710		720		9		1900		52%		78%		59%
Spaghetti & Meatballs (Bolognese)**		1810		54		4900		880		14		2400		51%		74%		51%
Chicken Parmigiana**		1650		30		2500		850		11		1780		48%		63%		28%

* January 2009

** Dinner Portion