Maggiano's Little Italy (Italian: [madˈdʒaːno]) is an American casual dining restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine.

The company was founded in Chicago's River North neighborhood, at Clark Street and Grand Avenue, in 1991 by Rich Melman's Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE).

[3] Richard Melman expanded LEYE's Italian division in 1991 by opening Maggiano's Little Italy in Chicago.

According to the company's history, the concept aimed at "re-creating the classic pre-World War II dinner house featuring family size portions".

[4] The first restaurant opened on November 11, 1991, in Chicago at the corner of Clark Street and Grand Avenue in the River North neighborhood.