"Macaroni Grill is one of the hottest new concept restaurants today," she said of the Italian food chain.

Other sessions are held twice a month at the Macaroni Grill, a restaurant in Westbury.

But Macaroni Grill now veers sharply away from using chefs, instead featuring a group of urban professionals who eat magnificently prepared food and look fabulous.

"Over time it was somewhat diluted," said Chris Dahlander, director for marketing at Macaroni Grill.

Next is Macaroni Grill, with a 5.5 percent share and $584.3 million in sales.

At Macaroni Grill, same-store sales rose 1.2 percent in the quarter ended Dec. 24.

At the same time, according to the estimates, the 217-unit Macaroni Grill spent $17.3 million on advertising and the 150-restaurant Carrabba's spent $4.2 million.

Romano left the chain in 1988 to found Romano's Macaroni Grill.

He is best known as the founder of the restaurant chains Fuddruckers and Romano's Macaroni Grill.

Brinker has 14 locations for Regas and 3 for Macaroni Grill.