Review: Maggie McFly's

Chain restaurants often translate into mediocre meals, so I was interested to see if Maggie McFly's could sway my prejudice. With other locations in Southbury and Middlebury, my kids and I headed to the Maggie's on Federal Road for an early lunch. Upon entering, I was struck by the size of the restaurant. The ceilings are tall, with exposed ducts and pipes that give the huge space an industrial feel. Although the outdoor seating was calling my name on that fine spring day, my four foodies were intrigued by the circular burgundy booths and opted to eat inside.

The service was prompt, with our server, Heather, taking our drink orders right away. It took us longer than normal to decide on meals because the menu is lengthy. Two of my kids ordered off the kids' menu, choosing Cheese Pizza ($7.99) and Grilled Cheese ($5.99). The thin-crust pizza was larger than expected and quite good. The grilled cheese was huge and came with fries. But for these kids' meal prices, I would expect the meal to include a drink or dessert.

My older two ordered off of the regular menu, selecting the Bacon Cheese Burger ($10.49) and the Chicken Philly Sandwich ($10.99). Both of these meals came with fries, which were coated with seasonings and fried to crispy perfection. The burger was tasty, but the favorite was the chicken sandwich. The layers of sliced chicken were dotted with cooked onions and peppers then smothered with melted cheese and served on a fresh grinder roll. My daughter saved half of the enormous roll for lunch the next day.

Setting a healthy example and detoxing from a few days of indulgent eating, I ordered the lunch-size Thai Salad with Steak ($8.99; dinner-size portion after 5 p.m., $12.99). Often restaurant salads are drenched with dressing. However, these baby greens were lightly tossed with a Thai vinaigrette and served with skewers of grilled steak, which were drizzled with peanut sauce. There was a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese that didn't seem to match the Asian theme, but otherwise the salad was delicious.

The menu here ranges from typical appetizers, such as Maggie's Nacho Platter ($8.99), to more creative entrees, including Lobster Quesadilla ($17.99) and Beef Braciola ($15.99), beef sirloin rolled with cheese and herbs. Traditional salads, steaks and pastas also are available.

Maggie McFly's is very child friendly, providing high chairs, a kids' menu and crayons for the table. The clean ladies' room even had a diaper-changing table.

Judging from the vast special drinks menu, I would imagine the bar comes alive at night. The large bar area has several flat-screen televisions, each with a different sports program airing. The martini menu features electric drinks that arrive illuminated in neon colors.

Maggie's is a convenient gathering spot for drinks or a meal. The friendly staff and spacious dining area make it a good choice for families or groups if you don't mind the pricey menu.