When it comes to a reception, the thing everyone is going to remember is the food. Sure, dancing and getting together and seeing family members are great, but good food and delicious smells are directly tied to deep emotional memory. Trust me on that, when I wasn’t helping my wife plan our wedding I was busy studying for a neurology exam. We specifically picked Maggiano’s after trying out many middle-high end restaurants, and their menu struck us as the best. They specifically cater to large family style events and offer the same food quality and complexity in both restaurant and catered events. The thing I loved best was that every dish was endless. As soon as the party had gone through a plate, if they wanted more, more was brought. It meant no one got to miss out on anything. And they were perfectly fine with last-minute substitutions and presentation order changes. Our guests were arriving more staggered than they wanted, so we asked if the appetizers could be set out early. No problem. Considering the Italian nature of the restaurant, you would expect things like lasagna and cannelloni to be exceptional, and they are. The dishes that stick in my memory, however, are the appetizers. There is a breaded and fried zucchini they serve that just melts on your tongue. It’s a great way to start a feast. It gets you in the mood for more of that stick to your ribs kind of food. The only thing that felt lack-luster to me were the salads. We tried all four before finalizing our menu and nothing really popped like the rest of the available options. Otherwise, perfect venue.