Macaroni Grill catches fire

Popular Northshore Italian restaurant Romano’s Macaroni Grill at 3410 U.S. Highway 190 in Mandeville closed its doors Friday afternoon as heat-driven smoke quickly filled the eatery, forcing patrons and staff members to retreat outside until Fire Protection District 4 arrived and doused the flames.

FD 4 Chief Rick Tassin said the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but he did say a discarded cigarette might have caused it.

The shell of the restaurant appeared to have sustained little damage with only one of the stucco corners charred, exposing inner woodwork and framing.

But the inside may be a different story as the thick scent of smoke wafted through the open doors several hours after the flames were quenched.

Shortly after the fire was extinguished, employees began arriving in street clothes to help empty the restaurant of its chairs and tables to clean and mop the floors.

Manager Daryl Askins refused to give any details on the fire, and he could not determine when the eatery would open again.

Tassin said the fire was isolated between the outside wall and bathroom, but the building was heavily involved in thick smoke and heat before fire crews were able to put it out.

He also said damage estimates have yet to be computed, and more details will be forthcoming.

This is one of only three Macaroni Grills located in Louisiana, with the other two located in Baton Rouge and Shreveport.