Restaurant Chain Chicken Parmesan Ranked Worst To Best, According To Customers

Also sometimes referred to as chicken Parmigiana, chicken Parmesan is a hearty dish that consists of golden-brown breaded chicken cutlets topped with rich marinara sauce and melted cheese. At restaurants, the dish is also frequently served with penne, spaghetti, or another type of pasta. The allure of this savory delight lies not just in its flavor but also in the contrast between the crispy exterior and tender interior of the chicken, along with the gooey texture of melted cheese and the tanginess of the tomato sauce.

While the roots of chicken Parmesan lie in Italy, the iconic dish is more American than many realize. A version of the dish with eggplant called melanzane alla Parmigiana has existed in southern Italy since the 18th century, but it only started being made with chicken after Italian immigrants brought it to the U.S. The simple reason for this was that chicken wasn't as pricey in America as it was in Italy. While the exact beginnings of chicken Parmesan are unknown, it's believed that the creation was popularized by Italian immigrants on the East Coast sometime in the '40s or '50s.

Today, chicken Parmesan is a culinary staple at many Italian and non-Italian restaurants across the U.S. Ready to find out more about the best places to sample the dish? Check out our list of some of the best and worst chain restaurants that offer chicken Parmesan on their menus, according to customers.

Founded by Giacomo and Gennaro Alaio, who were both born in Naples, Italy, Patrizia's is a mini-chain with fewer than 20 outlets, mostly in the New York area. The restaurant's chicken Parmesan takes different forms. Namely, it can be served with a side of pasta or house salad, in a kid's portion with french fries, and as a part of a chicken Parmigiana panini sandwich. The chicken Parmesan itself is coated in beaten eggs and bread crumbs before being pan-fried, topped with sauce and cheese, and baked.

Patrizia's chicken Parmesan has generated both favorable and unfavorable feedback from diners. On a positive note, the dish has been called yummy and delicious by some customers. However, not all reviews have been glowing, with one patron saying, "[It] was just a cheap breaded cutlet with cheese on it. Mediocre at half the price, robbery at its current cost." Another reviewer was just as unimpressed, commenting, "Three pieces of paper-thin chicken cutlet for the chicken parm dish & covered in burnt cheese."

With just 16 outlets across eight states, Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano has maintained its focus on providing an intimate and specialized dining experience. Despite its limited presence, the restaurant's menu offers three different chicken Parmesan dishes. Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano serves its chicken Parmesan with three-cheese Alfredo rigatoni or as a part of a sandwich. The chicken parm can also be ordered alongside another Italian-American favorite, lasagna. No matter which meal you opt for, the restaurant's lightly breaded chicken breast comes smothered in marinara sauce and an Italian cheese blend.

Overall, Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano's chicken Parmesan has received mixed feedback from patrons, with some complementing its flavorful sauce and others finding the dish bland. For instance, one loyal customer, whose entire family enjoys dining at the chain, says that the sauce offers "the perfect combination of spices." However, not everybody shares this sentiment, with one patron saying, "The chicken parm was pan-seared and lacked any traditional breading. The pasta tasted like they rinsed it in seawater prior to plating."

Patrons aren't in agreement about Biaggi's chicken Parmesan serving size either, with some saying that it's huge and others claiming that it doesn't live up to expectations. For instance, underneath a photo of the dish on Facebook, one diner complained, "I ordered this after I [had] seen this picture because it looked so good. It tasted fantastic but the size was less than half of this picture. Was a bit disappointed."

Romano's Milanese-style chicken Parmesan is hand-breaded, fried, and served with mozzarella, imported pomodorina, and long and thin strands of Italian pasta called capellini. It can also be ordered as part of the Mama's Trio with lasagna and fettuccine alfredo. While we aren't exactly sure what goes into a Milanese take on chicken Parmesan, Romano's Macaroni Grill's General Manager, Todd Fern, shared the chain's recipe for the dish with LOCAL 12, saying, "We take a chicken breast, we pound it out, we get it real flat [...] We pad it with panko bread crumbs and some other seasoning [...] I put a little pomodorina sauce on there, it's a red sauce imported from Italy [... I also add] some yummy mozzarella cheese and we've got some grape tomatoes that we'll add onto that as well."

The chain's chicken Parmesan has elicited mostly positive reactions from diners, with some praising the dish for being tasty and generously-portioned. On the flip side, some reviewers say that the dish could use more sauce, with one patron writing, "The chicken Parmesan was good. I especially like the angel hair pasta and the Parmesan chicken was huge! My only complaint was [that] there wasn't much sauce for the pasta, so that would be nice to get some extra on the side."

Founded by Michelin-starred chefs Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone in 2011, Parm offers iconic Italian dishes that showcase the chefs' dedication to quality ingredients and culinary craftsmanship. One such dish is the chain's chicken parm served with homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella. For those wishing to shake things up a little, Parm also offers meatball parm and eggplant parm with sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, and fresh basil.

Most diners praise Parm's chicken Parmesan for both its flavor and generous portions. One diner says that while the dish could have come with more sauce, overall it was very good. Another reviewer found the serving too large, jokingly saying, "The chicken parm is served with rotini and both the chicken and the pasta are generously served — a bit too much for my post-Christmas stomach." Another happy diner says that they split the enormous chicken parm with their date, warning that you may have trouble finishing the dish.

Maggiano's Little Italy was a success from the day it first opened in Chicago, Illinois, in 1991. The establishment's uncomplicated Italian-American recipes served in a family-friendly setting established Maggiano's as a beloved dining destination. Today, with over 50 outlets across the U.S., Maggiano's continues to deliver quality fare in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Among the enduring favorites featured on the restaurant's menu is the chicken Parmesan — a dish made with marinara sauce and provolone cheese served alongside spaghetti marinara.

Maggiano's Little Italy's chicken Parmesan has been a hit with diners who compliment its flavor and substantial portion size. One reviewer calls the dish "beastly," adding that it's huge and comes with a heavily seasoned crispy crust and a subtly sweet marinara sauce. Another patron agrees that the parm is scrumptious, saying, "It's the best chicken parm that I have ever had. The chicken was crisp and the sauce was perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed it!"