Maggiano's Little Italy

Maggiano's is a chain, let's just get that out of the way. But sometimes chains exist because they figured out a formula that works, and Maggiano's happy hour is proof that corporate restaurant groups occasionally have good ideas. $9 for everything during happy hour isn't a typo—it's their actual deal, and it's kind of insane.

The Deal

Monday through Friday, 3-6pm, you're paying $9 flat for cocktails, wine, beer, and appetizers. Not $9 minimum, not "$9 and up"—just $9. You want a well-crafted cocktail? $9. Glass of wine? $9. An appetizer that would normally cost $14? Also $9. It's like they just gave up on math and decided everything costs the same.

Why This Is Actually Great

The beauty of Maggiano's is that they're a big enough chain to have legitimate buying power and kitchen infrastructure. This isn't some struggling independent restaurant trying to lure you in with cheap drinks and frozen mozzarella sticks. This is a real kitchen making real Italian-American food at a price point that feels like a glitch in the Matrix.

The appetizer menu during happy hour includes stuff like calamari, bruschetta, mozzarella marinara—actual dishes you'd order normally, not a sad "happy hour menu" of things they're trying to get rid of. At $9 each, you can try multiple apps and still spend less than a single entree at most restaurants.

The Drinks

The cocktail list is what you'd expect from a well-run chain—classics done competently. Nobody's reinventing the Negroni here, but they're also not serving you well liquor with a splash of mixer and calling it craft. The wine selection covers the basics, and the beer list has enough variety to keep you from getting bored.

At $9 per drink, you're paying less than most dive bars charge for well drinks. Let that sink in—you're in a nice Italian restaurant with tablecloths and everything, paying dive bar prices.

The Atmosphere

It's family Italian, which means it's designed to handle everything from first dates to grandma's birthday. The vibe is polished but not pretentious, busy but not chaotic. The Summerlin location has that shopping center energy, but once you're inside, it feels more upscale than the exterior suggests.

Happy hour brings in a mix of after-work crowds, early diners, and people who've figured out that $9 everything is basically a cheat code. It's social without being loud, making it work for both groups and solo bar sitting.

The Strategy

Here's how you win at Maggiano's happy hour: show up hungry. Order multiple appetizers. Order multiple drinks. You can have a three-app, three-drink evening for $54 before tip, which is what most places charge for a single entree and one cocktail.

If you're with a group, you can basically turn happy hour into a full Italian feast by ordering a bunch of $9 apps to share. It's the kind of value that makes you feel like you're gaming the system.

The Reality Check

Yes, it's a chain. Yes, you're not getting some undiscovered authentic Italian experience. But you know what? Sometimes the right move is reliable, affordable, and predictable. Maggiano's delivers on all three.

The weekday-only schedule means you're out of luck on weekends, but that's when you should be exploring other options anyway. For Monday through Friday, 3-6pm, this is one of the best value plays in Summerlin. $9 everything isn't just a happy hour deal—it's a legitimate reason to change your after-work plans.