Just did the curbside pickup! The server was AMAZING! Love this place, would definitely recommend the tag pic pac!
(5)
Audrey D.
Great food and wait staff. Cannot understand why a hostess would sit you next to the door when so many tables an booths were available ...
(3)
James O.
Ugh. The only reason I was eating at a Carrabba's was because my friends wanted to. Mediocre over priced food that isn't even cooked well.
(1)
Astrid B.
I'm tempted to believe I may have just gone on a bad night, but last time I went to this location, Carabba's disappointed me with a waiter who didn't write down orders and took a while in fixing the situation. Perhaps if I went in a smaller party, the service would not have lagged. On ther plus side, the free bread with olive oil, food quality in general, and water refills were on point. The host and waiter both were friendly, even when we told told them about our mixups. Overall, this is a good choice for chain-quality Italian food when going in smaller parties. The amore Monday special is worth the money!
(3)
Tracy D.
Always nice, friendly, clean. Food is solid, and if they mess something up, they fix it immediately. Bread is phenomenal, and I come here for the Sausage and Lentil Soup - in fact I'll call ahead to make sure they have it that night. The bartenders are friendly, the servers are efficient. Truly solid food and service for a chain restaurant, and this location is great!
Carraba's used to be our favorite date night before my wife went gluten-free. We used to always get the lasagna. Rumor has it they have gluten-free options but we have not taken the chance yet. But we can only assume that the gluten-free menu is amazing based upon the Outback menu (same company).
(5)
Sebastian R.
Always great service and tasty food. Seafood Canelloni is a great option.
(5)
Meg I.
Blah. Definitely typical. I wouldn't go again, or recommend it (to anyone I like). The decor is yuppie/lame. You know... oversized forks on the wall, porcelain garlic cloves hanging on strings. The place is pretty dark, probably so that you can't see the TJ Maxx stickers on all the items. The 15-year old waitor kept calling my fiance "buddy", and the even more annoying variation "bud". As a vegetarian, there were only a few choices for me on the menu. I got the cheese raviolis and Chef Boyardee in the back there did a great job heating them up.
(2)
Brea G.
It's chain Italian so don't expect it to be the greatest place you've been ... but it is reliably good. Way better than Olive Garden .. but then so is Taco Bell. Carrabba's is successful for a reason and it's run as such. I've been to the Gville location a few times and been to other locations as well. The service has always been at least acceptable and generally doesn't vary much from location to location. Same with the food - good but not great - tastes the same as it did at any other Carrabba's I've been to - which is very much like any Ramano's I've been to. There's not a lot on the menu for vegetarians other than the Picchi Pacchiu which is decent. I tend to stay away from fish but we tried the calamari .. tasted like the same frozen then deep fried calamari you'll get in any other similar chain. As somebody else said they tend to over do it on the salt. I'll most likely be back at some point and I fully expect it do be not bad but not great.
(2)
Sandi G.
Ate here after a football game. One thing that remains the same is the food. It doesn't matter which carrabba's you eat at the food is consistent
(3)
Vicki M.
I love the fettuccine Alfredo, has grilled chicken, peas n mushrooms...The Chicken noodle soup is excellent too..Could not get enough while I was pregnant.
(5)
Reed B.
How can you NOT love Carrabba's? It really is the best "chain" itallian out there. So much more flavor than Olive Garden, fresher than Macaroni Grill. I personally love all of their pasta and chicken entrees...but what really does it for me is their huge chicken caesar salad. Perfectly cooked and seasoned chicken on top of some awesome caesar salad. Pair that with their bread and herb mix and I am good to go. We almost always sit at the "pasta bar" area where you can watch them cook while you eat your dinner. The chefs in this location are especially friendly and will answer any questions you might have. This is also the only Carrabba's I have been to that didn't have a ridiculous wait at all hours. One thing that other reviews keep mentioning that is just incorrect is that things are pre-made or canned. Carrabba's prides itself on how many of its sauces are homemade. Don't listen to some of the other negative reviews...this really is a great place.
(4)
Critics World ..
Me and my wife ordered the lobster ravioli, it consists of 8-10 stuffed raviolis in a super rich cream sauce. Very rich and easy to share. Our waitress was very attentive and helpful. There bread (although made from frozen dough) was still very good also.
(5)
Hayley S.
Went to Carrabba's on Friday night. Our party called two days ahead because they don't take reservations. We got there ~15 minutes before our call-ahead time and watched as 5 parties (in varying sizes) all got seated before us. They finally brought us to our table, which had not yet been cleaned off before they tried to seat us. Okay, not such a big deal - just irksome. The whole atmosphere of the restaurant is really overwhelming. The seating is basically a maze, and to get to the restrooms (a whole other story), one has to dodge waiters/waitresses and chairs. Oh, and the lighting is dim. The women's restroom was a MESS. There were paper towels allll over the floor (the patrons uncleanliness, I'm sure) but you'd expect that there would be someone making sure it doesn't look like a huge mess. And that creepy/cheesy picture of the woman's face on the door doesn't help either. Our waiter alerted us that they were out of meatballs .....on a Friday....at an Italian restaurant. Okay. Interesting. How are you out of meatballs? Can't you just go buy some more beef somewhere? Seemed strange. PS it was only about 8 PM. Tomato basil soup was eh, I've had much better. Had to add pepper to it to give it some kick. I ordered the Fettuccine Weesie as my entree. It was good, but there was so much garlic that it was overwhelming and basically the only thing I could taste. Honestly, best part of the meal was the sangria. TLDR; service isn't great, atmosphere is wacky, food could be improved. After all, it is a chain restaurant.
(2)
Beth C.
Dinner at Carraba's was the usual great meal and ambiance. This is always a favorite restaurant. The servers are always polite and attentive. However, on this visit I was taken aback after witnessing a food preparer fixing salads and other foods without any hair net. This person looked like jerimah johnson for those of you who have seen Robert Resford in that movie long ago. For others unfamiliar, just think of facial and head hair that has not been cut for several months. I talked to the manager who said Carraba's does not have a policy and the state of Florida does not have a policy or regulation so this goes unchecked. Other states probably mandate using a net or having shorter cut hair when handling public food. In those states, with a Carraba's restaurant they have to abide by the rules. Carraba's should still have their own regulation and policy without being told to. Carraba's should be doing due diligence instead of being told they need to and be self aware. This poor rating is for the lack of attention the establishment has for not enforcing a higher food safety practice.
(2)
Matt T.
I usually like Carrabas but this location seems sloppy. I ordered to go salmon. I was in a hotel in Gainesville. I asked for silverware, but was not given it. The bigger problem was that I almost choked to death on bones left in the salmon. See pictures. I didn't finish the meal and my throat still seems messed up. Not checking for these little bones will eventually kill someone.
(1)
Logan f.
Typical chain restaurant, but its actually decent. ANything has to be better than Olive Garden or Pat's across the street.
(4)
Doctor B.
Chain restaurants are not our usual fare but there was something about the "Italian Grill" in the Carrabba title that sounded appealing. So, when my wife said she had a $10 discount coupon for Carrabba's on an evening where we were heading out, I went along. On a Thursday night, the parking lot was packed at 6pm and we had to wait to be seated. Not long, but we had to wait. At Carrabba's. On a Thursday. After sitting, our waiter promptly greeted us, introduced himself, left us with the menus and ran off to return with our drinks. Warm bread in a basket arrived a few minutes later. Our water, Josh, poured some herbed olive oil on to a plate for the bread. The bread was good and the olive oil tasty. We ordered the crab cake appetizer and for main courses, lobster ravioli and rib eye steak (cooked rare) with the side salad. The salad was a plate of leafy greens, a few tiny olives and was slathered in the dressing of our choice (balsamic). A few tomato chunks and less slathering would have been nice. The crab cakes were hockey-puck sized, looked freshly made and were served with a peppery sauce. The cakes were made of fresh meat, too heavily seasoned and almost overpowered by the sauce. The lobster raviolis were artfully arranged on the plate with a light covering of a creamy sauce. The saltiness of the dish nearly overpowered the bits of lobster in the raviolis. I'd prefer they charge $2 more and use a little extra lobster. The rib eye was served medium rare, not rare, and could have been better trimmed. It was still tasty and paired nicely with the Coppola Claret. The garlic potatoes were only fair: short on flavor, short on garlic and left mostly uneaten. Overall, the meal was pleasant and, all things considered, pricey. One appetizer, two entrees, two glasses of wine for $75? Chuy's or Mexico Lindo would have been 30-40% of that and vastly more satisfying. OTOH, the bread was pretty good. And, again OTOH, the restaurant was packed with people who appeared to be enjoying themselves. Maybe you'll be one of them, too.
(2)
Tracy M.
Perfectly pleasant for chain Italian. The 5 stars comes from our waiter Shaun. He was great :)
(5)
Passion P.
Gross chain food. Seriously people -- support local restaurants. Why write YELP about a national chain???
(1)
eddie d.
OK I know its a chain, but come on. 17.50 for lumpy risotto with frozen seafood? The premade salad on a frozen plate? Mushy zucchini fries? The pizza was pretty good, but too greasy. The crab cakes were a tease, they were the highlight of the whole meal. Well, we had to get our moneys worth, so we walked out with the bottle of olive oil.
(1)
Eric S.
Went to Carrabba's the other evening and found out that it was not the same. Got prompt service in being seated and drink order. Ordered the Seafood pasta and it came with soup or salad. Well since I am a soup person I opted for the soup. Chose the pasta fazool. Big mistake there. It was just pasta in a soup base. Nothing else in it. Staff came by asked how it was. Told her that it was not good at all. She did apologize and asked if I wanted another soup. So I chose the minestrone soup this time. It went from bad to worse. The soup that came out was literally a cabbage soup. Nothing in it but cabbage and onions. I could get better soup from a can. Staff came by quickly after I got what was supposed to be minestrone soup and asked if that was better. I told her it was cabbage soup and that it was not even close to being minestrone soup. Not even an apology this time. Just asked if I wanted to try the last soup that they offered. I declined as I was already 0-2. So what instantly appeared was my meal. Guess that got ahead of themselves. The mussels and the shrimp were over cooked and rubbery. I discarded them. The pasta was about 2 minutes under cooked. The only item that was cooked properly were the scallops. Again I told my wait staff that it was not to my liking. No apology, no offer of something else and no manager available. Needless to say I was disappointed on the quality of the food and the handling of the matter by the staff. Needless to say Carrabba's is now off my list.
(1)
Connie C.
I love this place!! It is good for romatic dinners and it is good for big get together's with your friends. Their food is always delicious (I love the filet mignon with the marsala sauce, try it you won't be disappointed since they grill it on their oak wood grill, yuuum! and I also love their chicken sampler platter - which I don't think is on the menu, but you can request. It is a piece of their Chicken Bryan, Polla Rosa Maria and Chicken Marasala. I ususally share this with another person.) Also I love their salad and they have some great soups too, my favorite being the lentil sausage. The spicy chicken soup is also good.
(5)
Customer Q.
Went to Carrabbas in Gainesville for a birthday dinner. We've been there many times before, and to Carrabbas in other locations as well. The plus side is that they are fairly consistent across locations. The minus side is that none of them are as good as they used to be, say, when they first appeared on the landscape. I generally enjoy the Spedino di Mare with a ceasar salad. The chief attraction o the spedino is bread crumbs and a butter sauce. Last night it was typically good. But how can you screw up a ceasar salad? I mean, really? I was with seven people, and four or five of us had caesars, and they were all much smaller than they used to be and poorly plated, and had too much dressing. The side of broccoli had obviously once been frozen, was over cooked, and the result was mushy and unappetizing. You'd think that a restaurant with prices in the Carrabbas range would use fresh local vegetables, but fear the broccoli came from somewhere far away. There's really no excuse for mushy broccoli in a restaurant that is even half as expensive as Carrabbas. We had the zuchinni fritte as an appetizer. They are bascially zuhinni fries soaked with grease. Hardly a recognizable vegetable. On the upside, the main dish was pretty good. Yes, it's loaded with salt (this is the case at so many chains like this) but I love it anyway and it's the reason I keep returning to Carrabbas. But I think I'll be more diligent about seeking out somewhere else to have birthday celebrations from now on. The service was passable but not stellar. The restaurant was too dark to read the menu, but it was not as loud as some other Carrabbas I've been to, even though it was packed. The hostess was cordial and made us feel welcome.
(2)
Avinash K.
Expensive, service was slow. Food was pretty good. Bruschetta and chicken pasta were good.
(3)
Brad K.
Since they are owned by the same company as outback they have consistent quality and service. They have good pizza's and dishes. Nice place to go and not break the bank but have a nice dining experience.
(3)
Adam G.
Carabbas is what it is, which is an Italian chain restaurant that you'll never mistake for being authentic, but it's better than any chain alternative in Gainesville. Some dishes I'd rather make at home myself, but they have some redeeming qualities. The service has always been satisfactory and the food is always consistent. The appetizers are always delicious. My favorite dish there is the Seafood Canneloni. A fantastic dish, the only problem for me is that it's a tad too small for the price. For dessert, the Chocolate Dream is really good, although the portion has shrunk about 75% in the last couple years, as many items have at many restaurants (smaller portions, same price, thanks guys). Still, for solid service, food and having few other options in Gainesville, it's about as good as you can do for the price.
(4)
Downtown G.
On Monday, February 11th we went into Carrabba's 20 minutes before the closing time of 10pm. We asked if they were still seating. The hostess shrugged her shoulders. My partner asked again, if they were still seating. Once again the hostess shrugged her shoulders. Finally she says we are open until 10. My partner asked if the kitchen was closed or if it was possible to get something to eat. Even to go. The hostess shrugged her shoulders. We left. On our way out a family asked us: "Did she tell you they are still serving food?" We told them that all we got were shrugs. The family said that was the response they got when they asked her. They were from out of town and wanted to know if there was anywhere that served food late. I told them to head over to Friday's. Since Pazza Bistro closed, I have had some serious issues finding pasta that I like. I decided to give Carrabba's another shot later in the week. This time the hostess was friendly and we were seated promptly. Our server was grumpy, but that didn't bother me one bit. Her service was excellent. The bread was hot and delicious. Our server brought it out promptly. I ordered the ORECCHIETTE with Wood-Grilled Chicken & Wild Mushrooms. It was okay. It didn't really match the description. It wasn't baked and the chicken was almost non-existent. I got the Italian salad and it was good. The greens were ice cold and so was the plate. The dressing was perfect. My partner said that his Sicilian Chicken Soup was good. I doubt that I will go back to Carrabba's again. The hostess on the 11th really pissed me off. The dinner that I had a few days later wasn't good enough to make up for her bitchery.
(2)
Leigh Anne B.
Attentive service and great dessert options!
(5)
Coleen T.
I was surprised to find that Carrabba's, although a chain, is actually quite pleasant and good. It's a good value for the food and all of the dishes that our table ordered were delicious. We sat outside which was very nice, our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and very attentive. We started with the calamari which was delectable (a bit salty as April mentioned but I love salt). Then I got a Caesar salad (always predictable) and the chicken Parmesan with pasta... also very good. For dessert we tried the cinnamon apple thing with the vanilla ice cream which was DELICIOUS. The only complaint we had was the coffee... it was cold and didn't taste very fresh. I highly recommend for a nice dinner out.
(4)
Mike W.
I wasn't expecting too much when my boyfriend and I went to Carrabba's for dinner: I am not in general a huge fan of chain restaurants and always considered Carrabba's on par with The Olive Garden, which I neither really like nor dislike. When we arrived, it was a Saturday night and very busy so the only immediate seating was at the bar looking into the pasta kitchen, where you could see the chefs at work. At first, this didn't seem like the best option: I imagined I would leave the place smelling like an Italian kitchen which isn't something I wish to smell like really. However, watching the cooks at work was in fact very entertaining and also humbling: these people WORK! The speed and care the line cooks invested on each dish we saw them prepare was something to admire. The food was also a very pleasent surprise: my boyfriend ordered a chicken dish and I ordered the trout special of the night and both were prepared with sublime attention to taste and detail. The trout really was nearly perfect, as was my side salad that was included with the dinner and the side dish of which I chose a pasta. Though busy, the waitstaff were friendly and prompt and the working cooks even made conversation with us when Alex ask them a question about how they were preparing a dish. Carrabba's to me is a reason to be interested in chain restaurants: if every outfit in the chain offers this degree of quality and service, they're a company I will visit time and again whether here in Gainesville or elsewhere. A local Italian place could not have provided better food nor service and while local restaurants like Amelia's may in fact be more romantic, Carrabba's has a nice interior and provides a charming experience at very fair prices. They get five stars for doing what they promise and doing it right.
(5)
Matt Z.
Decent place, nothing special. It has a very Olive Gardenish atmosphere, except darker. It's also priced a bit higher than I would like to admit I paid. You have to wonder, if you ask the waiter for a recommendation and he doesn't mention the dish named after the restaurant, what's good? Typical American-Italian faire, nothing too surprising. I didn't realize this was a chain until I saw it somewhere else in the country. Traveling to Gainesville often, I'll plan on trying something new next time. Nice to say I went there, not urged to go back.
(2)
Thurgood S.
I'll just buy frozen ravioli and canned sauce. It'll be a lot cheaper, taste just as good, and I won't have any expectations. If I want generic chain-restaurant Italian, I'll go to Olive Garden (which I wouldn't) because it's easier for me to get to that corner of the road.
(2)
Emilia B.
Great food, great service, friendly wait staff. What is strange is that they serve some of the best pizza in G'ville. Try the 4 Cheese or Italian Chicken. Their cheeses and marinara sauces are zesty, rich, and fresh. I appreciate the fact that they use goat cheese on more than one dish (goat cheese is da bomb). I wish it wasn't in the Archer Rd area where TOO many G'ville restaurants are. One of the most professional and outstanding waiters is named Andrew.
(5)
Tiffany C.
Worst HH ever! Unfortunately, a local favorite was closed until 5pm so we came here for lobster mac and cheese on the recommendation of a friend. After receiving our food (at 17.59) we failed to note many pieces of lobster embedded in a plate of greasy Mac and cheese with ham scattered about. After apologizing profusely for the inconvenience and sending back, the cook came out to say there is only 2 oz of actual lobster and the rest is simply noodles and shredded cheese with ham. They made a "special accommodation" for my second choice of eggplant parmigiana which apparently you have to call ahead for in normal circumstances - however, it came out cold , without the customary pasta, and priced as a lasagna at 15.49. Edible, but needless to say we won't be back... Ever! And that friend who recommended the lobster mac... She will certainly hear it! If you want Actual lobster mac in Gainesville go to Spark - just wait until 5pm - no leaving work early on an impromptu HH!
(1)
Lisa C.
The food was delicious, with a menu soo full of authentic Italian foods. I enjoyed the Chicken Marsalis with an order of crab cakes & calamari.
(5)
April O.
Ah, Carrabba's. I want to like you so much, but how can I when your cooks are crazy people who think that the way to season seafood is by dousing it with salt? I've eaten here 4 times with different groups of people and the outcome is always the same: chicken and pasta dishes come out unseasoned and fairly bland, whoever orders steak absolutely loves their meal, and anyone who takes a chance on a seafood dish is left clutching their throat and guzzling all of the water in sight. To add insult to injury, the cake dessert--described as a delicious yellow cake with delicate cream and fruit--comes out looking like Betty Crocker/Jello/Del Monte had a love child. Or maybe just a food fight. The restaurant is gorgeous, the waitstaff is very nice, and the bread/appetizers are delicious. It's just the actual main courses that make me think three or four times about spending money here. I can get a tastier chicken/steak/fish dish in another restaurant with a significantly shorter wait and feel more satisfied overall. 3 stars for the good elements--what they do well, they do very well.
(3)
John O.
I've eaten at Carrabba's before, but this time was exceptional. Like others here, I'm not a big fan of chains, but Carrabba's is good occasionally and this was easily the best meal I had while in town on business. The server was very personable, the food was excellent and the drinks were great. My girlfriend and I really enjoyed our evening out here.
(5)
Danny D.
I've only been here for birthday dinners. Do my friends hate themselves?
(2)
Debbi N.
We went there tonight while visiting our UF college student. I was worried about waiting forever, so I went over and put my name down earlier and when we got there, we waited about 15 minutes. The place was packed and people were standing all over, I was worried I would be waiting all not, Didn't. They sat us in a nice booth, and right away a perky waitress came over and took drink orders and brought us some tasty bread and olive oil. I was happy. Sitting and eating and not waiting, all good things. There was a lot of sharing, which was a great idea since the portions are very large. My son and I shared the chicken parm and they split it in the back and the split portions were still large and we couldn't finish. My friend had a salmon dinner, which looked great and she also split it with her son and had plenty of food. The food was really good, hot and I was impressed. The meal came with soup or salad, and I had a veyr tasty soup. For dessert, they offer those mini portions in shot glasses and those are the best inventions ever. You get the something sweet and not a zillion calories and wasted food. I had a cappucinio, which was very average, and the entire bill was very reasonable. They did not chase us out and we had a nice booth and were able to talk and catch up. I will absolutely come back.
(4)
Mark Y.
My Wife introduced me to Carrabba's and it is definitely a must try. very romantic, good food and I have been pleased with the service every time I go. I have never seen the Chicken Sampler platter that Connie C. mentioned but it will be my choice the next time I go.
(4)
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Address :3021 SW 34th Street
Gainesville, FL, 32608
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Allie R.
Just did the curbside pickup! The server was AMAZING! Love this place, would definitely recommend the tag pic pac!
(5)Audrey D.
Great food and wait staff. Cannot understand why a hostess would sit you next to the door when so many tables an booths were available ...
(3)James O.
Ugh. The only reason I was eating at a Carrabba's was because my friends wanted to. Mediocre over priced food that isn't even cooked well.
(1)Astrid B.
I'm tempted to believe I may have just gone on a bad night, but last time I went to this location, Carabba's disappointed me with a waiter who didn't write down orders and took a while in fixing the situation. Perhaps if I went in a smaller party, the service would not have lagged. On ther plus side, the free bread with olive oil, food quality in general, and water refills were on point. The host and waiter both were friendly, even when we told told them about our mixups. Overall, this is a good choice for chain-quality Italian food when going in smaller parties. The amore Monday special is worth the money!
(3)Tracy D.
Always nice, friendly, clean. Food is solid, and if they mess something up, they fix it immediately. Bread is phenomenal, and I come here for the Sausage and Lentil Soup - in fact I'll call ahead to make sure they have it that night. The bartenders are friendly, the servers are efficient. Truly solid food and service for a chain restaurant, and this location is great!
(4)Tony N.
Last night the fiancé and I stopped by good old Carrabba's in Gainesville. This place never let's us down! The pasta, salads, steaks and chicken are always perfect! She usually gets "The Johnny" which is grilled chicken, steak and a side(she usually gets the garlic mashed potatoes or fettuccine.) The chicken is topped with fresh goat cheese, tomatoes, and herbs, and the steak is always prepared perfect to her liking! I always get steak florentina scampi which is a beautiful 9oz steak topped with shrimp tossed in a lemon butter sauce, and garlic mashed potatoes that of which are some of the best I've ever had! We also really like their dessert menu, their bread and their salads(and I love the drink specials) all in all last nights experience was as pleasant as always. Our waiter Jarrett was wonderful, very prompt and knowledgable. We will definitely be returning time and time again to one of our favorite places in Gainesville!
(5)Gramley A.
Carraba's used to be our favorite date night before my wife went gluten-free. We used to always get the lasagna. Rumor has it they have gluten-free options but we have not taken the chance yet. But we can only assume that the gluten-free menu is amazing based upon the Outback menu (same company).
(5)Sebastian R.
Always great service and tasty food. Seafood Canelloni is a great option.
(5)Meg I.
Blah. Definitely typical. I wouldn't go again, or recommend it (to anyone I like). The decor is yuppie/lame. You know... oversized forks on the wall, porcelain garlic cloves hanging on strings. The place is pretty dark, probably so that you can't see the TJ Maxx stickers on all the items. The 15-year old waitor kept calling my fiance "buddy", and the even more annoying variation "bud". As a vegetarian, there were only a few choices for me on the menu. I got the cheese raviolis and Chef Boyardee in the back there did a great job heating them up.
(2)Brea G.
It's chain Italian so don't expect it to be the greatest place you've been ... but it is reliably good. Way better than Olive Garden .. but then so is Taco Bell. Carrabba's is successful for a reason and it's run as such. I've been to the Gville location a few times and been to other locations as well. The service has always been at least acceptable and generally doesn't vary much from location to location. Same with the food - good but not great - tastes the same as it did at any other Carrabba's I've been to - which is very much like any Ramano's I've been to. There's not a lot on the menu for vegetarians other than the Picchi Pacchiu which is decent. I tend to stay away from fish but we tried the calamari .. tasted like the same frozen then deep fried calamari you'll get in any other similar chain. As somebody else said they tend to over do it on the salt. I'll most likely be back at some point and I fully expect it do be not bad but not great.
(2)Sandi G.
Ate here after a football game. One thing that remains the same is the food. It doesn't matter which carrabba's you eat at the food is consistent
(3)Vicki M.
I love the fettuccine Alfredo, has grilled chicken, peas n mushrooms...The Chicken noodle soup is excellent too..Could not get enough while I was pregnant.
(5)Reed B.
How can you NOT love Carrabba's? It really is the best "chain" itallian out there. So much more flavor than Olive Garden, fresher than Macaroni Grill. I personally love all of their pasta and chicken entrees...but what really does it for me is their huge chicken caesar salad. Perfectly cooked and seasoned chicken on top of some awesome caesar salad. Pair that with their bread and herb mix and I am good to go. We almost always sit at the "pasta bar" area where you can watch them cook while you eat your dinner. The chefs in this location are especially friendly and will answer any questions you might have. This is also the only Carrabba's I have been to that didn't have a ridiculous wait at all hours. One thing that other reviews keep mentioning that is just incorrect is that things are pre-made or canned. Carrabba's prides itself on how many of its sauces are homemade. Don't listen to some of the other negative reviews...this really is a great place.
(4)Critics World ..
Me and my wife ordered the lobster ravioli, it consists of 8-10 stuffed raviolis in a super rich cream sauce. Very rich and easy to share. Our waitress was very attentive and helpful. There bread (although made from frozen dough) was still very good also.
(5)Hayley S.
Went to Carrabba's on Friday night. Our party called two days ahead because they don't take reservations. We got there ~15 minutes before our call-ahead time and watched as 5 parties (in varying sizes) all got seated before us. They finally brought us to our table, which had not yet been cleaned off before they tried to seat us. Okay, not such a big deal - just irksome. The whole atmosphere of the restaurant is really overwhelming. The seating is basically a maze, and to get to the restrooms (a whole other story), one has to dodge waiters/waitresses and chairs. Oh, and the lighting is dim. The women's restroom was a MESS. There were paper towels allll over the floor (the patrons uncleanliness, I'm sure) but you'd expect that there would be someone making sure it doesn't look like a huge mess. And that creepy/cheesy picture of the woman's face on the door doesn't help either. Our waiter alerted us that they were out of meatballs .....on a Friday....at an Italian restaurant. Okay. Interesting. How are you out of meatballs? Can't you just go buy some more beef somewhere? Seemed strange. PS it was only about 8 PM. Tomato basil soup was eh, I've had much better. Had to add pepper to it to give it some kick. I ordered the Fettuccine Weesie as my entree. It was good, but there was so much garlic that it was overwhelming and basically the only thing I could taste. Honestly, best part of the meal was the sangria. TLDR; service isn't great, atmosphere is wacky, food could be improved. After all, it is a chain restaurant.
(2)Beth C.
Dinner at Carraba's was the usual great meal and ambiance. This is always a favorite restaurant. The servers are always polite and attentive. However, on this visit I was taken aback after witnessing a food preparer fixing salads and other foods without any hair net. This person looked like jerimah johnson for those of you who have seen Robert Resford in that movie long ago. For others unfamiliar, just think of facial and head hair that has not been cut for several months. I talked to the manager who said Carraba's does not have a policy and the state of Florida does not have a policy or regulation so this goes unchecked. Other states probably mandate using a net or having shorter cut hair when handling public food. In those states, with a Carraba's restaurant they have to abide by the rules. Carraba's should still have their own regulation and policy without being told to. Carraba's should be doing due diligence instead of being told they need to and be self aware. This poor rating is for the lack of attention the establishment has for not enforcing a higher food safety practice.
(2)Matt T.
I usually like Carrabas but this location seems sloppy. I ordered to go salmon. I was in a hotel in Gainesville. I asked for silverware, but was not given it. The bigger problem was that I almost choked to death on bones left in the salmon. See pictures. I didn't finish the meal and my throat still seems messed up. Not checking for these little bones will eventually kill someone.
(1)Logan f.
Typical chain restaurant, but its actually decent. ANything has to be better than Olive Garden or Pat's across the street.
(4)Doctor B.
Chain restaurants are not our usual fare but there was something about the "Italian Grill" in the Carrabba title that sounded appealing. So, when my wife said she had a $10 discount coupon for Carrabba's on an evening where we were heading out, I went along. On a Thursday night, the parking lot was packed at 6pm and we had to wait to be seated. Not long, but we had to wait. At Carrabba's. On a Thursday. After sitting, our waiter promptly greeted us, introduced himself, left us with the menus and ran off to return with our drinks. Warm bread in a basket arrived a few minutes later. Our water, Josh, poured some herbed olive oil on to a plate for the bread. The bread was good and the olive oil tasty. We ordered the crab cake appetizer and for main courses, lobster ravioli and rib eye steak (cooked rare) with the side salad. The salad was a plate of leafy greens, a few tiny olives and was slathered in the dressing of our choice (balsamic). A few tomato chunks and less slathering would have been nice. The crab cakes were hockey-puck sized, looked freshly made and were served with a peppery sauce. The cakes were made of fresh meat, too heavily seasoned and almost overpowered by the sauce. The lobster raviolis were artfully arranged on the plate with a light covering of a creamy sauce. The saltiness of the dish nearly overpowered the bits of lobster in the raviolis. I'd prefer they charge $2 more and use a little extra lobster. The rib eye was served medium rare, not rare, and could have been better trimmed. It was still tasty and paired nicely with the Coppola Claret. The garlic potatoes were only fair: short on flavor, short on garlic and left mostly uneaten. Overall, the meal was pleasant and, all things considered, pricey. One appetizer, two entrees, two glasses of wine for $75? Chuy's or Mexico Lindo would have been 30-40% of that and vastly more satisfying. OTOH, the bread was pretty good. And, again OTOH, the restaurant was packed with people who appeared to be enjoying themselves. Maybe you'll be one of them, too.
(2)Tracy M.
Perfectly pleasant for chain Italian. The 5 stars comes from our waiter Shaun. He was great :)
(5)Passion P.
Gross chain food. Seriously people -- support local restaurants. Why write YELP about a national chain???
(1)eddie d.
OK I know its a chain, but come on. 17.50 for lumpy risotto with frozen seafood? The premade salad on a frozen plate? Mushy zucchini fries? The pizza was pretty good, but too greasy. The crab cakes were a tease, they were the highlight of the whole meal. Well, we had to get our moneys worth, so we walked out with the bottle of olive oil.
(1)Eric S.
Went to Carrabba's the other evening and found out that it was not the same. Got prompt service in being seated and drink order. Ordered the Seafood pasta and it came with soup or salad. Well since I am a soup person I opted for the soup. Chose the pasta fazool. Big mistake there. It was just pasta in a soup base. Nothing else in it. Staff came by asked how it was. Told her that it was not good at all. She did apologize and asked if I wanted another soup. So I chose the minestrone soup this time. It went from bad to worse. The soup that came out was literally a cabbage soup. Nothing in it but cabbage and onions. I could get better soup from a can. Staff came by quickly after I got what was supposed to be minestrone soup and asked if that was better. I told her it was cabbage soup and that it was not even close to being minestrone soup. Not even an apology this time. Just asked if I wanted to try the last soup that they offered. I declined as I was already 0-2. So what instantly appeared was my meal. Guess that got ahead of themselves. The mussels and the shrimp were over cooked and rubbery. I discarded them. The pasta was about 2 minutes under cooked. The only item that was cooked properly were the scallops. Again I told my wait staff that it was not to my liking. No apology, no offer of something else and no manager available. Needless to say I was disappointed on the quality of the food and the handling of the matter by the staff. Needless to say Carrabba's is now off my list.
(1)Connie C.
I love this place!! It is good for romatic dinners and it is good for big get together's with your friends. Their food is always delicious (I love the filet mignon with the marsala sauce, try it you won't be disappointed since they grill it on their oak wood grill, yuuum! and I also love their chicken sampler platter - which I don't think is on the menu, but you can request. It is a piece of their Chicken Bryan, Polla Rosa Maria and Chicken Marasala. I ususally share this with another person.) Also I love their salad and they have some great soups too, my favorite being the lentil sausage. The spicy chicken soup is also good.
(5)Customer Q.
Went to Carrabbas in Gainesville for a birthday dinner. We've been there many times before, and to Carrabbas in other locations as well. The plus side is that they are fairly consistent across locations. The minus side is that none of them are as good as they used to be, say, when they first appeared on the landscape. I generally enjoy the Spedino di Mare with a ceasar salad. The chief attraction o the spedino is bread crumbs and a butter sauce. Last night it was typically good. But how can you screw up a ceasar salad? I mean, really? I was with seven people, and four or five of us had caesars, and they were all much smaller than they used to be and poorly plated, and had too much dressing. The side of broccoli had obviously once been frozen, was over cooked, and the result was mushy and unappetizing. You'd think that a restaurant with prices in the Carrabbas range would use fresh local vegetables, but fear the broccoli came from somewhere far away. There's really no excuse for mushy broccoli in a restaurant that is even half as expensive as Carrabbas. We had the zuchinni fritte as an appetizer. They are bascially zuhinni fries soaked with grease. Hardly a recognizable vegetable. On the upside, the main dish was pretty good. Yes, it's loaded with salt (this is the case at so many chains like this) but I love it anyway and it's the reason I keep returning to Carrabbas. But I think I'll be more diligent about seeking out somewhere else to have birthday celebrations from now on. The service was passable but not stellar. The restaurant was too dark to read the menu, but it was not as loud as some other Carrabbas I've been to, even though it was packed. The hostess was cordial and made us feel welcome.
(2)Avinash K.
Expensive, service was slow. Food was pretty good. Bruschetta and chicken pasta were good.
(3)Brad K.
Since they are owned by the same company as outback they have consistent quality and service. They have good pizza's and dishes. Nice place to go and not break the bank but have a nice dining experience.
(3)Adam G.
Carabbas is what it is, which is an Italian chain restaurant that you'll never mistake for being authentic, but it's better than any chain alternative in Gainesville. Some dishes I'd rather make at home myself, but they have some redeeming qualities. The service has always been satisfactory and the food is always consistent. The appetizers are always delicious. My favorite dish there is the Seafood Canneloni. A fantastic dish, the only problem for me is that it's a tad too small for the price. For dessert, the Chocolate Dream is really good, although the portion has shrunk about 75% in the last couple years, as many items have at many restaurants (smaller portions, same price, thanks guys). Still, for solid service, food and having few other options in Gainesville, it's about as good as you can do for the price.
(4)Downtown G.
On Monday, February 11th we went into Carrabba's 20 minutes before the closing time of 10pm. We asked if they were still seating. The hostess shrugged her shoulders. My partner asked again, if they were still seating. Once again the hostess shrugged her shoulders. Finally she says we are open until 10. My partner asked if the kitchen was closed or if it was possible to get something to eat. Even to go. The hostess shrugged her shoulders. We left. On our way out a family asked us: "Did she tell you they are still serving food?" We told them that all we got were shrugs. The family said that was the response they got when they asked her. They were from out of town and wanted to know if there was anywhere that served food late. I told them to head over to Friday's. Since Pazza Bistro closed, I have had some serious issues finding pasta that I like. I decided to give Carrabba's another shot later in the week. This time the hostess was friendly and we were seated promptly. Our server was grumpy, but that didn't bother me one bit. Her service was excellent. The bread was hot and delicious. Our server brought it out promptly. I ordered the ORECCHIETTE with Wood-Grilled Chicken & Wild Mushrooms. It was okay. It didn't really match the description. It wasn't baked and the chicken was almost non-existent. I got the Italian salad and it was good. The greens were ice cold and so was the plate. The dressing was perfect. My partner said that his Sicilian Chicken Soup was good. I doubt that I will go back to Carrabba's again. The hostess on the 11th really pissed me off. The dinner that I had a few days later wasn't good enough to make up for her bitchery.
(2)Leigh Anne B.
Attentive service and great dessert options!
(5)Coleen T.
I was surprised to find that Carrabba's, although a chain, is actually quite pleasant and good. It's a good value for the food and all of the dishes that our table ordered were delicious. We sat outside which was very nice, our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and very attentive. We started with the calamari which was delectable (a bit salty as April mentioned but I love salt). Then I got a Caesar salad (always predictable) and the chicken Parmesan with pasta... also very good. For dessert we tried the cinnamon apple thing with the vanilla ice cream which was DELICIOUS. The only complaint we had was the coffee... it was cold and didn't taste very fresh. I highly recommend for a nice dinner out.
(4)Mike W.
I wasn't expecting too much when my boyfriend and I went to Carrabba's for dinner: I am not in general a huge fan of chain restaurants and always considered Carrabba's on par with The Olive Garden, which I neither really like nor dislike. When we arrived, it was a Saturday night and very busy so the only immediate seating was at the bar looking into the pasta kitchen, where you could see the chefs at work. At first, this didn't seem like the best option: I imagined I would leave the place smelling like an Italian kitchen which isn't something I wish to smell like really. However, watching the cooks at work was in fact very entertaining and also humbling: these people WORK! The speed and care the line cooks invested on each dish we saw them prepare was something to admire. The food was also a very pleasent surprise: my boyfriend ordered a chicken dish and I ordered the trout special of the night and both were prepared with sublime attention to taste and detail. The trout really was nearly perfect, as was my side salad that was included with the dinner and the side dish of which I chose a pasta. Though busy, the waitstaff were friendly and prompt and the working cooks even made conversation with us when Alex ask them a question about how they were preparing a dish. Carrabba's to me is a reason to be interested in chain restaurants: if every outfit in the chain offers this degree of quality and service, they're a company I will visit time and again whether here in Gainesville or elsewhere. A local Italian place could not have provided better food nor service and while local restaurants like Amelia's may in fact be more romantic, Carrabba's has a nice interior and provides a charming experience at very fair prices. They get five stars for doing what they promise and doing it right.
(5)Matt Z.
Decent place, nothing special. It has a very Olive Gardenish atmosphere, except darker. It's also priced a bit higher than I would like to admit I paid. You have to wonder, if you ask the waiter for a recommendation and he doesn't mention the dish named after the restaurant, what's good? Typical American-Italian faire, nothing too surprising. I didn't realize this was a chain until I saw it somewhere else in the country. Traveling to Gainesville often, I'll plan on trying something new next time. Nice to say I went there, not urged to go back.
(2)Thurgood S.
I'll just buy frozen ravioli and canned sauce. It'll be a lot cheaper, taste just as good, and I won't have any expectations. If I want generic chain-restaurant Italian, I'll go to Olive Garden (which I wouldn't) because it's easier for me to get to that corner of the road.
(2)Emilia B.
Great food, great service, friendly wait staff. What is strange is that they serve some of the best pizza in G'ville. Try the 4 Cheese or Italian Chicken. Their cheeses and marinara sauces are zesty, rich, and fresh. I appreciate the fact that they use goat cheese on more than one dish (goat cheese is da bomb). I wish it wasn't in the Archer Rd area where TOO many G'ville restaurants are. One of the most professional and outstanding waiters is named Andrew.
(5)Tiffany C.
Worst HH ever! Unfortunately, a local favorite was closed until 5pm so we came here for lobster mac and cheese on the recommendation of a friend. After receiving our food (at 17.59) we failed to note many pieces of lobster embedded in a plate of greasy Mac and cheese with ham scattered about. After apologizing profusely for the inconvenience and sending back, the cook came out to say there is only 2 oz of actual lobster and the rest is simply noodles and shredded cheese with ham. They made a "special accommodation" for my second choice of eggplant parmigiana which apparently you have to call ahead for in normal circumstances - however, it came out cold , without the customary pasta, and priced as a lasagna at 15.49. Edible, but needless to say we won't be back... Ever! And that friend who recommended the lobster mac... She will certainly hear it! If you want Actual lobster mac in Gainesville go to Spark - just wait until 5pm - no leaving work early on an impromptu HH!
(1)Lisa C.
The food was delicious, with a menu soo full of authentic Italian foods. I enjoyed the Chicken Marsalis with an order of crab cakes & calamari.
(5)April O.
Ah, Carrabba's. I want to like you so much, but how can I when your cooks are crazy people who think that the way to season seafood is by dousing it with salt? I've eaten here 4 times with different groups of people and the outcome is always the same: chicken and pasta dishes come out unseasoned and fairly bland, whoever orders steak absolutely loves their meal, and anyone who takes a chance on a seafood dish is left clutching their throat and guzzling all of the water in sight. To add insult to injury, the cake dessert--described as a delicious yellow cake with delicate cream and fruit--comes out looking like Betty Crocker/Jello/Del Monte had a love child. Or maybe just a food fight. The restaurant is gorgeous, the waitstaff is very nice, and the bread/appetizers are delicious. It's just the actual main courses that make me think three or four times about spending money here. I can get a tastier chicken/steak/fish dish in another restaurant with a significantly shorter wait and feel more satisfied overall. 3 stars for the good elements--what they do well, they do very well.
(3)John O.
I've eaten at Carrabba's before, but this time was exceptional. Like others here, I'm not a big fan of chains, but Carrabba's is good occasionally and this was easily the best meal I had while in town on business. The server was very personable, the food was excellent and the drinks were great. My girlfriend and I really enjoyed our evening out here.
(5)Danny D.
I've only been here for birthday dinners. Do my friends hate themselves?
(2)Debbi N.
We went there tonight while visiting our UF college student. I was worried about waiting forever, so I went over and put my name down earlier and when we got there, we waited about 15 minutes. The place was packed and people were standing all over, I was worried I would be waiting all not, Didn't. They sat us in a nice booth, and right away a perky waitress came over and took drink orders and brought us some tasty bread and olive oil. I was happy. Sitting and eating and not waiting, all good things. There was a lot of sharing, which was a great idea since the portions are very large. My son and I shared the chicken parm and they split it in the back and the split portions were still large and we couldn't finish. My friend had a salmon dinner, which looked great and she also split it with her son and had plenty of food. The food was really good, hot and I was impressed. The meal came with soup or salad, and I had a veyr tasty soup. For dessert, they offer those mini portions in shot glasses and those are the best inventions ever. You get the something sweet and not a zillion calories and wasted food. I had a cappucinio, which was very average, and the entire bill was very reasonable. They did not chase us out and we had a nice booth and were able to talk and catch up. I will absolutely come back.
(4)Mark Y.
My Wife introduced me to Carrabba's and it is definitely a must try. very romantic, good food and I have been pleased with the service every time I go. I have never seen the Chicken Sampler platter that Connie C. mentioned but it will be my choice the next time I go.
(4)