How much pasta can you eat?

Image by Thomas Hawk via Flickr

The Italian-American chain restaurant is offering two pasta dishes for $12.95.

Maggiano's Little Italy is making an offer that isn't too good to refuse, especially if you're on a low-carb diet or think a balanced meal includes more than one dish.

The Italian-American chain restaurant in Hackensack, Bridgewater and Cherry Hill will give you a free "classic pasta" to take home with every one you order to eat at the restaurant. 

If you bring a coupon e-mailed to you from its Web site, you'll also get a free order of Vera's Lemon Cookies to go.

There are nine classic pastas to choose from, at $12.95 each. An e-mail I received April 19, 2011, said the price is now $13.95: 

Mom's Lasagna, Taylor Street Baked Ziti, Four-Cheese Ravioli, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Gnocchi in Tomato Vodka Sauce, Spaghetti and Meatball, Fettuccine Alfredo, Coach Joey Z's Angel Hair Pasta and Eggplant Parmesan with Spaghetti.

Image via Wikipedia

The last one combines a vegetable with pasta, but with the others, consuming two large portions of pasta might not be too appetizing, if you are on a low-carb diet.

A friend who told me about this promotion said he and his wife couldn't even finish the portion they were served at the restaurant.

And, of course, if you want a salad and a glass of chianti with your pasta entree, they're extra. 

I can vouch for the quality of the food. 

When Maggiano's Little Italy first opened next to Bloomingdale's in Hackensack, you could order a whole roasted chicken with potatoes at lunch for about $10 and enjoy at least two meals from it.

Maggiano's Little Italy, 390 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack, 
in The Shops at Riverside; 201-221-2030. 
Reservations recommended on weekends.

Web site: Pasta Pasta Pasta