Anyone else miss Macaroni's?

It was a great place to take a break from the heat and had some good food. The pizza was awesome! have never been to Joe Cool Cafe, but this was such a great place!

Not really, I don't usually go to sit-down restaurants in the park. And, there's a Macaroni's in Belden Village if I ever wanted to go.

Agreed Thabto. I certainly don't go to a park to spend 1 hour in a sit down type restaurant which are generally way overpriced. I do occasionally hit an outdoor stand for a quick bite, but pizza at an amusement park is sketchy at best. If I really want pizza I go to Chet and Matts, even if I am staying at one of the CP resorts.

I do go to CP for the rides but in my opinion I think it's pretty nice to take a break for 30 to 45 minutes at a sit down place and eat.

Macaroni Grill has nothing to do with what was at CP. It wasn't very good anyway, and Joe Cool might even be worse. I had some kind of pasta with chicken and it was the worst canned food service stuff ever. Totally bland. Even a little salt would have helped.

There was an Italian place in the Breakers, where Tomo is now, that was very mediocre. I heard Macaroni's was even worse. Never set foot in Joe Cool but I wouldn't expect much, I'll probably never go there unless there is a kid in the group that is really attracted to the Peanuts aspect of the place.

My wife and I live in northern New Jersey and spend a lot of time in the City, so we eat a lot of really great pizza.

The only thing we ever ordered at it Macaroni's was White Pizza .In our opinion and that of all of our friends from out here who had a chance to try it, was that it was one of the best White pies anywhere.

CPboy77 said:
I do go to CP for the rides but in my opinion I think it's pretty nice to take a break for 30 to 45 minutes at a sit down place and eat.

A break? You are there for the rides and the park atmosphere, why not sit down outside and take a break? I understand the reason parks put in sit down restaurants, but unless its certain sit restaurants at Disney or a few certain other parks the foods really not worth eating to be honest. This is not a slam on CP food, its just what you get at a corporate parks sit down restaurant. I can go to a restaurant anytime, If I really wanted to hit a restraint while at CP there are tons of places on 250, but when I am at an amusement park I go there for the rides and the ambiance. My choice if I had to eat would be a quick bite at an outdoor stand where I can enjoy and take in the park atmosphere.

Don't tell me what it is I'm there for.

Maybe a sit-down restaurant is part of the experience for some people?

coasterJay, you should go to Kings Island. They don't really have any inside, sit-down restaurants other than the Reds Hall of Fame grill. At Cedar Point, there are far too many ambiance-killing places where you are "trapped" inside while eating. ;)

I remember the food being excellent at Macaroni's back in the late 90's. Since then, the quality seems to have slowly gone down. The time it takes to get your food there always seems substantially long.

e x i t english said:
Don't tell me what it is I'm there for.

Maybe a sit-down restaurant is part of the experience for some people?

Who's telling you what to do exit? I was just stating my opinion. If you like a sit down restaurant at an amusement park go for it, I personally find it a waste of my ride time. :-)

Chuck Wagon said:
coasterJay, you should go to Kings Island. They don't really have any inside, sit-down restaurants other than the Reds Hall of Fame grill.

yes been there, they also have Skyline and LaRosa's Pizzeria - something we don't have at CP. Not the best pizza but not bad for park food.

rpbobcat said:

The only thing we ever ordered at it Macaroni's was White Pizza .In our opinion and that of all of our friends from out here who had a chance to try it, was that it was one of the best White pies anywhere.

The place in the Breakers had really good Pizza when it first opened. If Macaroni's had the same pizza, then I agree with you. Unfortunately, they later switched to a pre-made cardboard tasting pizza crust instead of the fresh crust they originally used. The pizza was awful after the switch. Don't know if Macaroni's in the park also switched.

coasterJay said:

Who's telling you what to do exit?

Let's see here:

A break? You are there for the rides and the park atmosphere, why not sit down outside and take a break?

You are.

Besides, I find fault with the logic that a break outside would suffice. Have you never been to the park with temps of 90-100ºF or higher? In that kind of heat, a "break" outside is hardly a break at all. A nice hour to relax in air conditioned comfort while enjoying a meal can prep you for several more hours in the heat.

Heading back to the car, driving down to 250, eating, driving back, and re-entering the park adds about an extra hour of wasted time, so that's not always ideal. Especially with the all season dining plan.. ;)

The Italian sub at Joe Cool Cafe has been very good the few times I had it. The salad bar, although basic, is also a good alternative to the massive amount of fried foods everywhere else in the park. While I agree it is nothing that special - it is still a nice spot to sit down and take a break on a hot day while getting a bite to eat.

For Joe Cool being a restaurant geared towards kids, the menu is horrible. I went there last week - how does the place not have plain 'ole hot dogs.

I understand the appeal of giving big-azz servings, but I'd rather prefer manageable servings of quality food that kids will actually eat.

It was really a disappointing experience. It was dimly light, mostly empty, and the waitress didn't stop by much. hope it gets put on the list of improvements.