My Amore contest uncovers America's love affair with pasta

DALLAS, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- According to thousands of online entries submitted for the Romano's Macaroni Grill "My Amore" contest, pasta dishes are the most preferred Italian food at Macaroni Grill locations nationwide. Forty-seven percent of respondents selected a pasta dish as their favorite Italian menu item, including 16 percent who enjoy taking an active role in the creation of their meal through the restaurant's popular Create Your Own Pasta offering. Other pasta favorites include Penne Rustica, Pasta Milano, Spaghetti with Meatballs and Fettuccine Alfredo. Of those who chose a pasta dish as their favorite, 45 percent prefer the penne noodle over all other types of pasta.

Official results and leading favorite dishes from each category:

Pasta - 47 percent (including Create Your Own Pasta, Pasta Milano, Fettuccine Alfredo, Spaghetti & Meatballs)

    Chicken - 28 percent (including Chicken Marsala, Chicken Scaloppine)
    Seafood - 14 percent (including Shrimp Portofino, Lobster Ravioli)
    Grill - 7 percent (including Boursin Filet, Tuscan Ribeye)
    Other - 4 percent

The "My Amore" contest offered by Macaroni Grill invited guests to visit the brand's web site to select their favorite Macaroni Grill menu item, expressing why it is special to them. The most creative and passionate entries received prizes and many of the winning entries will be posted online next to their selected menu items for other guests to review on http://www.macaronigrill.com.

"We are pleased to hear so many passionate stories from our guests about the role our food plays in their lives," said Nancy Hampton, Vice President of Brand Strategy for Macaroni Grill. "We're looking forward to sharing these perspectives with all of our guests on our online menu in the very near future."

A new "My Amore" contest has begun at http://myamore.macaronigrill.com for guests to continue sharing their stories. Winning entries can also be found on the site.

ABOUT ROMANO'S MACARONI GRILL

Romano's Macaroni Grill is a leading casual Italian restaurant with more than 220 locations worldwide. Working in open kitchens, Macaroni Grill chefs prepare Italian classics like Chicken Scaloppine and signature items such as Penne Rustica, as well as grilled specialties, fresh seafood, crisp salads, brick oven pizzas and numerous pasta dishes. The menu is complemented by one of the most extensive wine lists in casual dining, including house wine poured on the honor system, where applicable. Romano's Macaroni Grill is the second-largest brand in the Brinker International (NYSE: EAT) restaurant portfolio. Other Brinker restaurant brands include Chili's Grill & Bar, Maggiano's Little Italy and On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina.

SOURCE Romano's Macaroni Grill

CONTACT:
Tony Schembri
of Brinker International
+1-972-770-5909
tony.schembri@brinker.com
for Romano's Macaroni Grill