Great restaurant....atmosphere was as friendly as the staff and the food was delicious
(4)
Prof J.
Not impressed with the Price to food ratio. It was like 3:1. Good food though. Service was good and so was the unlimited bread. Place was kinda dark. Not the best Italian place. I'd rather go to olive garden.
(3)
Amy T.
I just left work and my niece and I thought it would be nice to try a place we haven't tried before. Walking in, we were properly greeted & seated and our server came in no time. The first question they always start with is, "have you tried us before?" And of course, we respond with "no", thinking she would run down some favorites, classics, etc. No, that didn't happen. She left and came back to pick up our order, which we didn't have. I then told her that I was having trouble deciding and she walked away. I then requested the manager, who just popped out from the back with an apron, for a new server, he didn't seem to care so much. I did receive a new server & she was phenomenal. However, my previous server wouldn't keep coming around and it seemed as if she was just peeping at us from the corner of her eyes. The bartender kept offering to make her drinks because she had no table. Something of that sort. It was just uncomfortable. And then you also see them eating from where we are sitting. They were at the corner of the bar. The food was okay. My new server was fun. I just don't recommend this place.
It was an insane wait time to get seated for our large party of 14, but after risking our lives crossing multiple lanes of traffic, we weren't leaving until we got fed. And boy did we eat! As far as chain italian restaurants go, the food was above average and really quite good. It also helped that we had 4 bottles of wine open at the table.
(4)
DawnMarie R.
Been to this Carrabbas 3 times in ... let's say .. the last 6 months. Two out of the three times (this time included) there were young ladies at tables near us -- and then us older people (50s, 60's and 70's). Two out of the three times we've had horrible service. Today was one of those times. Our waiter was constantly at the table next to ours ( a young family - maybe waiters think young families tip better than older people? I usually tip 20% if I get good service - tonight we tipped 10% and he was lucky to get that). Anytime we wanted something we had to grab our waiter away from the table next to ours. We asked twice for bread, twice for ice tea for my mother and aunt, twice for a spoon for my mother to twirl her spaghetti (which she was about done eating by the time she got the spoon). I sat with an empty glass for quite some time before my father called the waiter over to fill his glass. I will say the waiter did bring us a glass of soda when he brought the check. Gee, we were done eating then - did he think that was going to make up for the horrible service during dinner? The table next to ours came in after us and had their salad before us (now, this MAY have been because my father ordered an appetizer, so I'll give the waiter that one). When our salads came, there was hardly any salad there - the table on the other side of us received full plates of salad. My steak was yummy and cooked to perfection. My mashed potatoes were cold (waiter never inquired as to if we were enjoying the meal), My parents really like Carrabbas, unfortunately, Rae, their favorite waitress always seems to be working in the bar when we go lately ... the male waiters seem to be more interested in the young families and young ladies that come in. This is definitely not my fav restaurant .. even with the delicious steak ... when the service is bad (and the sides are cold) -- it leaves one with a bad taste in your mouth.
(3)
Chip W.
RIP OFF ALERT! 3 people ordered the pork chop marsala for $16.50. Instead, we were served the extra chop for $4 extra without asking for it. 2 of the 3 did not eat the 2nd chop. A 4th person at the table ordered it WITH the extra chop and was given 3 pork chops. Why do you assume an extra portion for everyone? Someone must be desperate or late on the rent. WE WILL NOT BE BACK! WATCH OUT FOR THIS SHADY ADD-ON TACTIC!
(1)
Bob P.
Good service and good food for a chain. I had a salad and it was delivered a bit late because the server said it wasn't done right. I appreciated his paying attention to details....which you don't see very often anymore. Great place for a business lunch.
(5)
Pam D.
Actually it's 5 stars for the delicious food, but for the first time it's 3 stars (or less) for the service from our waiter, Shaun. We ate dinner here on 9/2/15 - Shaun was sooo slow. We also ate dinner here on 9/1/15 (we are visting from out of town) and had a wonderful waitress that evening who served us quickly and was so friendly. I forgot her name but she was in her 50's and had short blonde hair. Shaun though took forever to come to our table after we sat down. Then it was a looong time before our salads arrived. (The previous evening they arrived almost instantly...) After dinner we told him we'd like to order dessert. He gave us the dessert menu and walked away. We thought he'd be back shortly but again - it was a looong time before he returned. We decided to ask him to bring the bill when he brought the dessert because we did not want to have to wait forever for the bill as well once we were done with dessert. Perhaps he was having an off night. He was polite, just slow. Every other time we have been to this resaurant the service has been great, and the food is always wonderful, so I would still highly recommend the restaurant.
(3)
Michael F.
I love this Carrabba's - I have been to 8 or 10 other Carrabba's and it's the BEST !!! A lot of the wait staff have been there for years. Sometimes you may have a long wait, but it's worth it.
(5)
Chelle P.
Hostess greeted us as soon as we entered the door and held a pleasant convo. We went around 12:30 pm during the week. The place was spotless, quiet, with only 3 other tables occupied. The waitress was perky and provided good service. My issue is that the lunch prices are too high for what you get( $9.99 for a small portion of chicken breast with one side and $12.99 for chicken parm with one side). The sides that are options during lunch are very limited. Everything else was an " up charge." When since chicken parm doesn't come with noodles. And then to be schooled that chicken parmigiana is just the chicken....spare me. Glad they didnt upcharge the bill as we were told. Calamari looked good but were over fried. Not good. Especially for ten bucks. Glad I had a gift card but will not return any time soon. Especially when looking for lunch.
(3)
Kalvin K.
I've probably been to Carrabba's only a few times in my life -- I don't know why this is. The food here is excellent! Of the Italian restaurant chains, this seems to be my favorite. Service is always top notch and the food quality is excellent. Good value and great food!
(5)
Kenny L.
Decided to come here after my girlfriend saw one of their specials online. 13.99 for 6 oz sirloin with lobster ravioli and choice of soup / salad. Our server was Kevin he was kind and attentive. We both got the special and it was fantastic. Both cooked to perfection and everything well seasoned. I was so surprised considering this is a chain restaurant. It really exceeded my expectations. My only complaint here is one of the female servers is a complete idiot. She ran our food without the Marsala sauce and when she handed them to us didn't tell us which steak belonged to who. I ordered mine rare and my gf medium rare. When I asked her how do I know which steak is mine she said the rare one is the more fatty one. Kevin was great. I'd come back because the food is surprisingly well seasoned and good service except for that one hiccup.
(4)
Gus F.
This is my preferred Carabbas in the Orlando area for a number of reasons. Best bartenders in the city, good food and friendly smiles. This bar setting allows you to enjoy a drink and a conversation without having to yell over people. And it's now open for lunch!!
(4)
Doreen H.
This place was so much better than any Olive Garden that I've ever gone to. The food was fresh and tasty. The chocolate delight dessert that we shared was out of this world! Donald our waiter was so sweet and nice and gave great service.
(4)
Angie M.
Always fresh, Always delicious!!! The bread, the tomato caprese, the wood grilled chicken w/ mashed potatoes or cavatappi is just delectable! pair it with the blackberry sangria!!!! SOOOOOO GOOOD!
(5)
Patty G.
Met up w/ some girl friends last night; had been a few years since we all were in town, so definitely a special occasion. Each person ordered a drink at bar, then we checked in w/ hostess & she sat us promptly. We sat, chatting but after 20 mins, no server had ever come by. We were a large group (8) on a Fri. night at 7:15, so understandably busy time but this was way too long. Finally, one of our group approached a manager to advise we were left waiting. From there, they really went above & beyond to correct this & a few more hiccups. Our server was new & an experienced server assisted her to get things back in track. Overall, a really enjoyable evening out, catching up w/ friends when this could have gone terribly wrong. Big thank you to this store for stepping up in a big way!
(5)
Elly L.
My first time at a Carabba's! We started off with their Calamari, and it was pretty great! Then, the soup came (Spicy Italian sausage soup) and it was absolutely delicious, I nearly finished my entire cup. Lastly, I had the spaghetti and meatballs. It was VERY average, to be honest. Not to say it was bad..but the pasta noodles tasted very cheap, like the ones you buy straight from a convenience store and the meatballs were very soft and broke apart by just a simple tap. But overall I like this restaurant a lot! We only waited 3 minutes because one of the employee's took my name down for a reservation over the phone when I was checking for their hours. Our server, Kiera, was very cheerful and extremely kind to us! Thank you very much, I will be coming again.
(4)
Brett M.
I ordered the mussel appetizer and the chicken parmesan to go. The person that took my to go order forgot to give me plastic silverware and I was in a hotel so I did not have silverware ready handed. I called to Carrabba's and spoke to the kitchen manager chip i think his name was when I told him I didn't get any silverware instead of telling me he's sorry first words out of his mouth or so what do you want. Well I wanted to let you know when there's problems in your restaurant so you can address them I don't need your free dessert
(2)
Amanda H.
I have never particularly had a bad experience at this restaurant but this was the longest I've ever waited on food. We waited over an hour for our main dish. The server was extremely nice, however, it was ridiculous how long we waited. From our table we could see the kitchen staff and it seemed as though getting our food out was their last concern. We won't be coming back to this particular location
(1)
Cliff R.
I virtually never write a five star review for a chain restaurant unless the experience is incredible. In this case, that was my experience. I had the Cedar Planked Salmon with asparagus/muchrooms/peppers, and the house salad. The salmon comes topped with lump crab meat on top and is browned to perfecction. The fish was cooked just right for me. And that is cooked throughout, but not well done (read "dry"). And great flavors! I was expecting an adequately prepared piece of fish that would be nothing special. I was very very pleasantly suprised. Our meal came with decent bread served with herbed olive oil. Delicious! My wife also enjoyed her meal and the great service. But I will let her speak for herself. The server was also exceptional. Genuine and friendly. She made recommendations based on our preferences, and provided prompt and professional service. To top it all off, the manager came to our table when we were done eating to make sure we enjoyed our dinner experience. The management here really cares! What a concept. I cannot speak for other Carrabba's locations, but this one delivered a five star meal tonight. I would highly recommend this Carrabba's for dinner.
(5)
Ivette R.
I love CARRABBA'S their Pizza and Salmon and Spaghetti and Meatballs are awesome it's way better than Macaroni Grill.The fresh baked bread is awesome the rigatoni is delicious and it's so nice
(5)
Lee K.
This place is great (for what it is). I love Carraba's menu. I strongly prefer them over other similarly priced Italian chains like Olive Garden. Better flavors, better food overall. I've dined with this chain in several states and this location has exceptionally fast service and friendly staff. I ate here three nights in one week, three different waiters, excellent service every time.
(5)
Joe I.
We go here all the time and it's our semi-casual dining favorite. They usually sit within 10 minutes and are child-friendly, but still set a nice pace and atmosphere to the meal. We've never sent food back, we've never had a server forget something. They always make good suggestions on specials and trying new flavors and we've also sat at the stools facing the kitchen and talked to the guys about sauces and stuff they were making.
(5)
John K.
Once again I'm accosted by people who are "Florida Nice." You know the type, you'll get serviced in a timely manner, but somehow you know they'd rather be picking a scab than be nice AND friendly at the same time. The waiter walked passed our table, spun around and barked "what do you want to drink?" This threw me off because no one tried to catch his attention. We decided to also order calamari. I suggested two orders for the table of six. Then the tron was gone! No one else got to order starters. There seem to be a battery of expediters running around. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for great bread. Boy, this was the best. The crust had a great crisp and the center was dense like a good sourdough. The calamari arrived nice and hot, it's good to have expediters, they may not know who gets what, but it gets to the table quickly. The calamari was nicely seasoned with a very nice marinara sauce (there's nothing worse than great calamari with a side of mayo). For dinner, I opted for a simple mezzaluna ravioli. Again, arriving piping hot... these little pockets of cheese with a creamy tomato sauce was perfectly proportioned, unlike the trough meals my companions picked out. There were giant bowls of pasta with all sorts of concoctions dumped on top. This being a business dinner, I avoided spaghetti and the like (me and spaghetti become one... and usually down the front of my shirt). So, go there and have a nice dinner, ignore the "Florida Nice" attitude... before global warming makes it a floating restaurant.
(4)
Extreme M.
While visiting my boyfriend, we ate at this Carrabba's. This restaurant is one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at anywhere anytime. The wait to be seated was only 5 or so minutes. The atmosphere was warm and cozy (as most italian restaurants are). Once seated, I liked how the tall booth walls that gave us privacy and buffered the noise level of the busy restaurant. The waiter was prompt, extremely courteous, and knowledgable about the menu. If there was something he didn't know, he would go find out for me. The Mozzarella Marinara appetizer was hot with heat and freshly made. The waiter gave us plenty of time to finish our appetizers before serving us our entrees. My boyfriend had the crab cakes which he said were the best he's had. I ordered the Grilled Salmon and it had the Chef's special sauce on it which the waiter said was some sort of mustard sauce. The salad was good; very fresh. The mustard sauce complimented the smokiness of the wood grilled salmon so well it melted in my mouth!!! Best salmon I have ever eaten ANYwhere....hands down! I chose the vegetable of the day which happened to be zucchini sauteed with tomatoes, onions, and garlic and spinkled with fresh parmesan cheese. That was the best zucchini I've ever eaten also! I've gotten close to recreating that at home but haven't been successful yet. The bread served with the meal was excellent also. It was hot, not cool or even warm. We ordered Tiramisu which was really good, very creamy and flavorful. We will defintely go back to this restaurant.
(5)
Miliardo P.
This was a bit of a curve ball for me, I know Carrabbas and this will in no way stop me from going to the chain but this was just sad. Our waitress was clearly over-stressed, I get that really I do. Also we were eating dinner at the busiest time of the night so I can forgive the wait. What was unforgivable though was the portion size. When the dinner came out I looked around for the rest of it. As I was dining with two girls, both of whom had ordered smaller portions, I though there was just a mistake. After the waitress informed me that my minuscule plate WAS the large, I had no words. Next time guys just tell the truth, that's "its the evening rush and we're short on plates" Its been years since I left a restaurant still hungry, and like I said i know this chain (and its usual sizes) do a better job at living up to the Carrabbas standard!
(2)
Pat Q.
DELICIOUS!! We were seated immediately and Yvette (Server) was taking our drink orders as soon as we sat down. Service was awesome and fast. My son was amazed at her remembering his name! I ordered the Trio d'Italia and it was very filling after a bowl of Sausage and Lentil soup.
(5)
Daniel B.
The food here is kinda bla. That is to be expected in any Carrabba's/Olive Garden chain "Italian" food place. There is no 5 star chef in the back named Mario putting together authentic dishes. Most likely they just take frozen food out and heat it up for you. They do, however, have some pretty sweet happy hour deals! Just make sure you have some of their heated up pasta that was likely shipped in from another state brfore drinking and enjoy!
(3)
Alex L.
This was my wife and I's first experience with Carrabbas Italian Grill and let me tell you it was a great one. We were driving through the area looking for somewhere to eat and we heard borders grill was a great place to go. After searching for borders for 15 minutes we "settled" with Carrabbas. What a blessing in disguise. Being in Orlando it is probably constantly busy. When we walked in they were packed, but we still got seated rather quickly. Our waitress was extremely polite and knowledgeable about their food. The food itself was very good. From the bread they serve at the beginning right down to the dessert everything was hot, fresh, and expedited in a timely manner. The price wasn't too bad. My wife and I got an appetizer, two entrees, two sodas, and a dessert for 45$. Cant beat that with a stick. The shining star here was the service. Everyone i came in contact with was extremely pleasant. Almost "out-of-their-way" pleasant. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone of any age.
(5)
Chance S.
This has been a long time favorite chain restaurant. I am never disappointed with the food and service here. The bartender at this particular location was on top of her game. I wish I could remember her name. She was handling all of the duties at the bar by herself efficiently and professionally. She also informed me of the 2 for 1 specials they had at the bar. Thanks! It had been a long time since I had gone to a Carrabba's, and I think they made some changes to the menu. This is the only reason why I did not give it 5 stars. It seemed really difficult to find something that I wanted to try this time, which was not the case over the past several years of going to different Carrabba's locations. I do prefer this restaurant over Olive Garden for Italian food.
(4)
Jim W.
The place is poor quality and service was slow and not good did not care of the customers and food poor quality the waiter tried but should get a job at the dump that is how how she is and kid not cafe about t
(2)
Robin P.
The service was very good. The place is being remodeled. The foods was ok. My daughter didn't like hers at all, they were kind and gave us a dessert which we all enjoyed.
(2)
Jaime C.
Very good food and had a good waiter, will go back...
(5)
Laura V.
It's a chain... what do you want? I mean yeah, the happy hour is awesome and the Black Berry Sangria is literally to die for, but.. it is still a chain. Our waiter was as usual, decent, not bad, but not good either. The food is again, decent. Not fantastic, but not bad either. I always get the mussels and a salad as I am always watching my weight and I am not going to spend an extra hour on the treadmill for a chain restaurant. I am never disappointed leaving Carrabba's but I have never been wow'ed either. Its good. During this particular visit, they tried initially to sit us in the bar. The restaurant was NOT busy so I am still unsure why they tried to do that. We asked to be sat at a table rather than a booth. All the booths at this location slope down. It didn't bother me, but it did bother a member in our party.
(3)
Akiko T.
happy hour is buy one drink, get another free! XD AWESOME. food was above average, i got this shrimp pasta, not the linguini one...i cant remember :( but yeah, it was SOOOO good :) service is fast and super friendly. definitely reccomend!
(5)
Krissy M.
Had a great experience at Carrabba's last night! We were seated within 5 minutes, during the busy happy hour time. As we took our great booth by the window, my husband ordered a cosmopolitan, which was one of the 2-for-1 drinks and we also went ahead and ordered the antipasti platter as a splurge, since we were using a gift card. Our server's name was Rae, and she was awesome. From then on, it was a YUM-filled night - I loved the calamari in the appetizer, and hubs loved the fried cheese. For entrees, he ordered the combination that included chicken parmesan and lasagna and I ordered a seasonal special, which was scallops atop imported orzo pasta with sauteed spinach...and both came with salads - I ordered the Mediterranean and he had the Italian. So good. Oh, and I forgot to mention the bread...mmm, crusty baguette-style, served with a fabulous olive spread. We both took 1/2 our meals home and we ordered the limencello bread pudding. OH MY GOODNESS, this was fabulous. Straight from the menu: "Brioche bread pudding baked to perfection, topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and drizzled with our Limoncello liqueur sauce" In short, this was a great date night restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and tasty food! Definitely NOT somewhere to go if counting calories, though!
(4)
Jerry V.
The reason for 2 stars is mostly due to the bang for your buck. SO EXPENSIVE! It's exactly what you'd expect from a chain. The host was a tad on the unpleasant side. Food not spectacular and ridiculously overpriced! $18 for Lobster Ravioli. REALLY? Finding the lobster was a challenge in itself since there wasn't much on the plate or in the raviolis. I prefer Olive Garden for chain quality Italian food, at least you get what you pay for! On the upside, service was good. Doubtful that I'll be back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes 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.
Felicia P.
Great restaurant....atmosphere was as friendly as the staff and the food was delicious
(4)Prof J.
Not impressed with the Price to food ratio. It was like 3:1. Good food though. Service was good and so was the unlimited bread. Place was kinda dark. Not the best Italian place. I'd rather go to olive garden.
(3)Amy T.
I just left work and my niece and I thought it would be nice to try a place we haven't tried before. Walking in, we were properly greeted & seated and our server came in no time. The first question they always start with is, "have you tried us before?" And of course, we respond with "no", thinking she would run down some favorites, classics, etc. No, that didn't happen. She left and came back to pick up our order, which we didn't have. I then told her that I was having trouble deciding and she walked away. I then requested the manager, who just popped out from the back with an apron, for a new server, he didn't seem to care so much. I did receive a new server & she was phenomenal. However, my previous server wouldn't keep coming around and it seemed as if she was just peeping at us from the corner of her eyes. The bartender kept offering to make her drinks because she had no table. Something of that sort. It was just uncomfortable. And then you also see them eating from where we are sitting. They were at the corner of the bar. The food was okay. My new server was fun. I just don't recommend this place.
(2)Nicholas I.
4 1/2 Stars. (I'm rounding up because I'm just that nice.) I received one of the best experiences I've ever had at a chain restaurant at this Carrabba's. Everything from timing, to service, and of course cuisine. First and foremost was the extremely snappy service our group had the pleasure to receive. Our group was a party of seven for a birthday dinner. We were seated briskly, although that could be due to us arriving slightly before the dinner wave. However, our sole waitress not once skipped a chance to do her job well. Even as the night drew out and the place started getting busier, she was always attentive. Even with her attentiveness she was never intrusive on our conversation. She slipped in and out with refills, replenished the bread basket without question, and was very pleasant throughout the night. I wish I had caught her name because she truly was a great waitress. She didn't even add on a overly gratuitous tip to the bill, we did that for her. Not only was our waitress a beacon of hope for chain restaurant service, but the rest of the staff was as well. If a different waiter saw you while walking to the bathroom for instance, they would smile and greet you. This should be common practice in all restaurants, but sadly it's not. Everything that our party ordered was met with "Mmm"s and "Wow"s. I don't know if that night the chef decided he wanted to cook up something surprisingly delicious or if this is how Carrabba's always works because this was my first time here, but seriously, wow. To start off we ordered the chicken flatbread and the baked fontina cheese bruschette. The flatbread was wonderful. The Bleu cheese shown through, the chicken was smoky, the balsamic drizzle was tangy but not overbearing, and the tomatoes were juicy. I would recommend this for sure. The fontina cheese bruschette was... Cheese and bread. At least the cheese was good and their bread soft yet not chewy, it's just not something I would order. Next I ordered the Conchiglie ai Formaggi for my entrée. At that point I was already stuffed with the flatbread I scarfed down, but this was good as well. The chicken was again smoky and tender and the pasta was al denté, the way I like it. It was also cheesy as hell which is always good. I also got to try someone else's Mahi and oh my goodness, I should've ordered that! Lastly, the birthday "boy" got to order any dessert of his choice and I ordered the dessert trio, which was a bad idea. My eyes truly are bigger than my stomach and it came out and I automatically knew it must be shared with the entire table, hah! My favorite dessert on the plate was the Sogno di Cioccolata. If you are a chocolate fiend then this is a must. I know there is angst amongst Yelp users for chain restaurants, but if all were alike to my experience here then that should be thrown out of the window. For the above reasons the Carabba's on Sand Lake deserves a round of applause, especially to the wait staff and most definitely our wonderfully attentive and cheery waitress. Don't even think about going to any other Americanized Italian restaurant, just go here.
(5)Alice R.
It was an insane wait time to get seated for our large party of 14, but after risking our lives crossing multiple lanes of traffic, we weren't leaving until we got fed. And boy did we eat! As far as chain italian restaurants go, the food was above average and really quite good. It also helped that we had 4 bottles of wine open at the table.
(4)DawnMarie R.
Been to this Carrabbas 3 times in ... let's say .. the last 6 months. Two out of the three times (this time included) there were young ladies at tables near us -- and then us older people (50s, 60's and 70's). Two out of the three times we've had horrible service. Today was one of those times. Our waiter was constantly at the table next to ours ( a young family - maybe waiters think young families tip better than older people? I usually tip 20% if I get good service - tonight we tipped 10% and he was lucky to get that). Anytime we wanted something we had to grab our waiter away from the table next to ours. We asked twice for bread, twice for ice tea for my mother and aunt, twice for a spoon for my mother to twirl her spaghetti (which she was about done eating by the time she got the spoon). I sat with an empty glass for quite some time before my father called the waiter over to fill his glass. I will say the waiter did bring us a glass of soda when he brought the check. Gee, we were done eating then - did he think that was going to make up for the horrible service during dinner? The table next to ours came in after us and had their salad before us (now, this MAY have been because my father ordered an appetizer, so I'll give the waiter that one). When our salads came, there was hardly any salad there - the table on the other side of us received full plates of salad. My steak was yummy and cooked to perfection. My mashed potatoes were cold (waiter never inquired as to if we were enjoying the meal), My parents really like Carrabbas, unfortunately, Rae, their favorite waitress always seems to be working in the bar when we go lately ... the male waiters seem to be more interested in the young families and young ladies that come in. This is definitely not my fav restaurant .. even with the delicious steak ... when the service is bad (and the sides are cold) -- it leaves one with a bad taste in your mouth.
(3)Chip W.
RIP OFF ALERT! 3 people ordered the pork chop marsala for $16.50. Instead, we were served the extra chop for $4 extra without asking for it. 2 of the 3 did not eat the 2nd chop. A 4th person at the table ordered it WITH the extra chop and was given 3 pork chops. Why do you assume an extra portion for everyone? Someone must be desperate or late on the rent. WE WILL NOT BE BACK! WATCH OUT FOR THIS SHADY ADD-ON TACTIC!
(1)Bob P.
Good service and good food for a chain. I had a salad and it was delivered a bit late because the server said it wasn't done right. I appreciated his paying attention to details....which you don't see very often anymore. Great place for a business lunch.
(5)Pam D.
Actually it's 5 stars for the delicious food, but for the first time it's 3 stars (or less) for the service from our waiter, Shaun. We ate dinner here on 9/2/15 - Shaun was sooo slow. We also ate dinner here on 9/1/15 (we are visting from out of town) and had a wonderful waitress that evening who served us quickly and was so friendly. I forgot her name but she was in her 50's and had short blonde hair. Shaun though took forever to come to our table after we sat down. Then it was a looong time before our salads arrived. (The previous evening they arrived almost instantly...) After dinner we told him we'd like to order dessert. He gave us the dessert menu and walked away. We thought he'd be back shortly but again - it was a looong time before he returned. We decided to ask him to bring the bill when he brought the dessert because we did not want to have to wait forever for the bill as well once we were done with dessert. Perhaps he was having an off night. He was polite, just slow. Every other time we have been to this resaurant the service has been great, and the food is always wonderful, so I would still highly recommend the restaurant.
(3)Michael F.
I love this Carrabba's - I have been to 8 or 10 other Carrabba's and it's the BEST !!! A lot of the wait staff have been there for years. Sometimes you may have a long wait, but it's worth it.
(5)Chelle P.
Hostess greeted us as soon as we entered the door and held a pleasant convo. We went around 12:30 pm during the week. The place was spotless, quiet, with only 3 other tables occupied. The waitress was perky and provided good service. My issue is that the lunch prices are too high for what you get( $9.99 for a small portion of chicken breast with one side and $12.99 for chicken parm with one side). The sides that are options during lunch are very limited. Everything else was an " up charge." When since chicken parm doesn't come with noodles. And then to be schooled that chicken parmigiana is just the chicken....spare me. Glad they didnt upcharge the bill as we were told. Calamari looked good but were over fried. Not good. Especially for ten bucks. Glad I had a gift card but will not return any time soon. Especially when looking for lunch.
(3)Kalvin K.
I've probably been to Carrabba's only a few times in my life -- I don't know why this is. The food here is excellent! Of the Italian restaurant chains, this seems to be my favorite. Service is always top notch and the food quality is excellent. Good value and great food!
(5)Kenny L.
Decided to come here after my girlfriend saw one of their specials online. 13.99 for 6 oz sirloin with lobster ravioli and choice of soup / salad. Our server was Kevin he was kind and attentive. We both got the special and it was fantastic. Both cooked to perfection and everything well seasoned. I was so surprised considering this is a chain restaurant. It really exceeded my expectations. My only complaint here is one of the female servers is a complete idiot. She ran our food without the Marsala sauce and when she handed them to us didn't tell us which steak belonged to who. I ordered mine rare and my gf medium rare. When I asked her how do I know which steak is mine she said the rare one is the more fatty one. Kevin was great. I'd come back because the food is surprisingly well seasoned and good service except for that one hiccup.
(4)Gus F.
This is my preferred Carabbas in the Orlando area for a number of reasons. Best bartenders in the city, good food and friendly smiles. This bar setting allows you to enjoy a drink and a conversation without having to yell over people. And it's now open for lunch!!
(4)Doreen H.
This place was so much better than any Olive Garden that I've ever gone to. The food was fresh and tasty. The chocolate delight dessert that we shared was out of this world! Donald our waiter was so sweet and nice and gave great service.
(4)Angie M.
Always fresh, Always delicious!!! The bread, the tomato caprese, the wood grilled chicken w/ mashed potatoes or cavatappi is just delectable! pair it with the blackberry sangria!!!! SOOOOOO GOOOD!
(5)Patty G.
Met up w/ some girl friends last night; had been a few years since we all were in town, so definitely a special occasion. Each person ordered a drink at bar, then we checked in w/ hostess & she sat us promptly. We sat, chatting but after 20 mins, no server had ever come by. We were a large group (8) on a Fri. night at 7:15, so understandably busy time but this was way too long. Finally, one of our group approached a manager to advise we were left waiting. From there, they really went above & beyond to correct this & a few more hiccups. Our server was new & an experienced server assisted her to get things back in track. Overall, a really enjoyable evening out, catching up w/ friends when this could have gone terribly wrong. Big thank you to this store for stepping up in a big way!
(5)Elly L.
My first time at a Carabba's! We started off with their Calamari, and it was pretty great! Then, the soup came (Spicy Italian sausage soup) and it was absolutely delicious, I nearly finished my entire cup. Lastly, I had the spaghetti and meatballs. It was VERY average, to be honest. Not to say it was bad..but the pasta noodles tasted very cheap, like the ones you buy straight from a convenience store and the meatballs were very soft and broke apart by just a simple tap. But overall I like this restaurant a lot! We only waited 3 minutes because one of the employee's took my name down for a reservation over the phone when I was checking for their hours. Our server, Kiera, was very cheerful and extremely kind to us! Thank you very much, I will be coming again.
(4)Brett M.
I ordered the mussel appetizer and the chicken parmesan to go. The person that took my to go order forgot to give me plastic silverware and I was in a hotel so I did not have silverware ready handed. I called to Carrabba's and spoke to the kitchen manager chip i think his name was when I told him I didn't get any silverware instead of telling me he's sorry first words out of his mouth or so what do you want. Well I wanted to let you know when there's problems in your restaurant so you can address them I don't need your free dessert
(2)Amanda H.
I have never particularly had a bad experience at this restaurant but this was the longest I've ever waited on food. We waited over an hour for our main dish. The server was extremely nice, however, it was ridiculous how long we waited. From our table we could see the kitchen staff and it seemed as though getting our food out was their last concern. We won't be coming back to this particular location
(1)Cliff R.
I virtually never write a five star review for a chain restaurant unless the experience is incredible. In this case, that was my experience. I had the Cedar Planked Salmon with asparagus/muchrooms/peppers, and the house salad. The salmon comes topped with lump crab meat on top and is browned to perfecction. The fish was cooked just right for me. And that is cooked throughout, but not well done (read "dry"). And great flavors! I was expecting an adequately prepared piece of fish that would be nothing special. I was very very pleasantly suprised. Our meal came with decent bread served with herbed olive oil. Delicious! My wife also enjoyed her meal and the great service. But I will let her speak for herself. The server was also exceptional. Genuine and friendly. She made recommendations based on our preferences, and provided prompt and professional service. To top it all off, the manager came to our table when we were done eating to make sure we enjoyed our dinner experience. The management here really cares! What a concept. I cannot speak for other Carrabba's locations, but this one delivered a five star meal tonight. I would highly recommend this Carrabba's for dinner.
(5)Ivette R.
I love CARRABBA'S their Pizza and Salmon and Spaghetti and Meatballs are awesome it's way better than Macaroni Grill.The fresh baked bread is awesome the rigatoni is delicious and it's so nice
(5)Lee K.
This place is great (for what it is). I love Carraba's menu. I strongly prefer them over other similarly priced Italian chains like Olive Garden. Better flavors, better food overall. I've dined with this chain in several states and this location has exceptionally fast service and friendly staff. I ate here three nights in one week, three different waiters, excellent service every time.
(5)Joe I.
We go here all the time and it's our semi-casual dining favorite. They usually sit within 10 minutes and are child-friendly, but still set a nice pace and atmosphere to the meal. We've never sent food back, we've never had a server forget something. They always make good suggestions on specials and trying new flavors and we've also sat at the stools facing the kitchen and talked to the guys about sauces and stuff they were making.
(5)John K.
Once again I'm accosted by people who are "Florida Nice." You know the type, you'll get serviced in a timely manner, but somehow you know they'd rather be picking a scab than be nice AND friendly at the same time. The waiter walked passed our table, spun around and barked "what do you want to drink?" This threw me off because no one tried to catch his attention. We decided to also order calamari. I suggested two orders for the table of six. Then the tron was gone! No one else got to order starters. There seem to be a battery of expediters running around. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for great bread. Boy, this was the best. The crust had a great crisp and the center was dense like a good sourdough. The calamari arrived nice and hot, it's good to have expediters, they may not know who gets what, but it gets to the table quickly. The calamari was nicely seasoned with a very nice marinara sauce (there's nothing worse than great calamari with a side of mayo). For dinner, I opted for a simple mezzaluna ravioli. Again, arriving piping hot... these little pockets of cheese with a creamy tomato sauce was perfectly proportioned, unlike the trough meals my companions picked out. There were giant bowls of pasta with all sorts of concoctions dumped on top. This being a business dinner, I avoided spaghetti and the like (me and spaghetti become one... and usually down the front of my shirt). So, go there and have a nice dinner, ignore the "Florida Nice" attitude... before global warming makes it a floating restaurant.
(4)Extreme M.
While visiting my boyfriend, we ate at this Carrabba's. This restaurant is one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at anywhere anytime. The wait to be seated was only 5 or so minutes. The atmosphere was warm and cozy (as most italian restaurants are). Once seated, I liked how the tall booth walls that gave us privacy and buffered the noise level of the busy restaurant. The waiter was prompt, extremely courteous, and knowledgable about the menu. If there was something he didn't know, he would go find out for me. The Mozzarella Marinara appetizer was hot with heat and freshly made. The waiter gave us plenty of time to finish our appetizers before serving us our entrees. My boyfriend had the crab cakes which he said were the best he's had. I ordered the Grilled Salmon and it had the Chef's special sauce on it which the waiter said was some sort of mustard sauce. The salad was good; very fresh. The mustard sauce complimented the smokiness of the wood grilled salmon so well it melted in my mouth!!! Best salmon I have ever eaten ANYwhere....hands down! I chose the vegetable of the day which happened to be zucchini sauteed with tomatoes, onions, and garlic and spinkled with fresh parmesan cheese. That was the best zucchini I've ever eaten also! I've gotten close to recreating that at home but haven't been successful yet. The bread served with the meal was excellent also. It was hot, not cool or even warm. We ordered Tiramisu which was really good, very creamy and flavorful. We will defintely go back to this restaurant.
(5)Miliardo P.
This was a bit of a curve ball for me, I know Carrabbas and this will in no way stop me from going to the chain but this was just sad. Our waitress was clearly over-stressed, I get that really I do. Also we were eating dinner at the busiest time of the night so I can forgive the wait. What was unforgivable though was the portion size. When the dinner came out I looked around for the rest of it. As I was dining with two girls, both of whom had ordered smaller portions, I though there was just a mistake. After the waitress informed me that my minuscule plate WAS the large, I had no words. Next time guys just tell the truth, that's "its the evening rush and we're short on plates" Its been years since I left a restaurant still hungry, and like I said i know this chain (and its usual sizes) do a better job at living up to the Carrabbas standard!
(2)Pat Q.
DELICIOUS!! We were seated immediately and Yvette (Server) was taking our drink orders as soon as we sat down. Service was awesome and fast. My son was amazed at her remembering his name! I ordered the Trio d'Italia and it was very filling after a bowl of Sausage and Lentil soup.
(5)Daniel B.
The food here is kinda bla. That is to be expected in any Carrabba's/Olive Garden chain "Italian" food place. There is no 5 star chef in the back named Mario putting together authentic dishes. Most likely they just take frozen food out and heat it up for you. They do, however, have some pretty sweet happy hour deals! Just make sure you have some of their heated up pasta that was likely shipped in from another state brfore drinking and enjoy!
(3)Alex L.
This was my wife and I's first experience with Carrabbas Italian Grill and let me tell you it was a great one. We were driving through the area looking for somewhere to eat and we heard borders grill was a great place to go. After searching for borders for 15 minutes we "settled" with Carrabbas. What a blessing in disguise. Being in Orlando it is probably constantly busy. When we walked in they were packed, but we still got seated rather quickly. Our waitress was extremely polite and knowledgeable about their food. The food itself was very good. From the bread they serve at the beginning right down to the dessert everything was hot, fresh, and expedited in a timely manner. The price wasn't too bad. My wife and I got an appetizer, two entrees, two sodas, and a dessert for 45$. Cant beat that with a stick. The shining star here was the service. Everyone i came in contact with was extremely pleasant. Almost "out-of-their-way" pleasant. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone of any age.
(5)Chance S.
This has been a long time favorite chain restaurant. I am never disappointed with the food and service here. The bartender at this particular location was on top of her game. I wish I could remember her name. She was handling all of the duties at the bar by herself efficiently and professionally. She also informed me of the 2 for 1 specials they had at the bar. Thanks! It had been a long time since I had gone to a Carrabba's, and I think they made some changes to the menu. This is the only reason why I did not give it 5 stars. It seemed really difficult to find something that I wanted to try this time, which was not the case over the past several years of going to different Carrabba's locations. I do prefer this restaurant over Olive Garden for Italian food.
(4)Jim W.
The place is poor quality and service was slow and not good did not care of the customers and food poor quality the waiter tried but should get a job at the dump that is how how she is and kid not cafe about t
(2)Robin P.
The service was very good. The place is being remodeled. The foods was ok. My daughter didn't like hers at all, they were kind and gave us a dessert which we all enjoyed.
(2)Jaime C.
Very good food and had a good waiter, will go back...
(5)Laura V.
It's a chain... what do you want? I mean yeah, the happy hour is awesome and the Black Berry Sangria is literally to die for, but.. it is still a chain. Our waiter was as usual, decent, not bad, but not good either. The food is again, decent. Not fantastic, but not bad either. I always get the mussels and a salad as I am always watching my weight and I am not going to spend an extra hour on the treadmill for a chain restaurant. I am never disappointed leaving Carrabba's but I have never been wow'ed either. Its good. During this particular visit, they tried initially to sit us in the bar. The restaurant was NOT busy so I am still unsure why they tried to do that. We asked to be sat at a table rather than a booth. All the booths at this location slope down. It didn't bother me, but it did bother a member in our party.
(3)Akiko T.
happy hour is buy one drink, get another free! XD AWESOME. food was above average, i got this shrimp pasta, not the linguini one...i cant remember :( but yeah, it was SOOOO good :) service is fast and super friendly. definitely reccomend!
(5)Krissy M.
Had a great experience at Carrabba's last night! We were seated within 5 minutes, during the busy happy hour time. As we took our great booth by the window, my husband ordered a cosmopolitan, which was one of the 2-for-1 drinks and we also went ahead and ordered the antipasti platter as a splurge, since we were using a gift card. Our server's name was Rae, and she was awesome. From then on, it was a YUM-filled night - I loved the calamari in the appetizer, and hubs loved the fried cheese. For entrees, he ordered the combination that included chicken parmesan and lasagna and I ordered a seasonal special, which was scallops atop imported orzo pasta with sauteed spinach...and both came with salads - I ordered the Mediterranean and he had the Italian. So good. Oh, and I forgot to mention the bread...mmm, crusty baguette-style, served with a fabulous olive spread. We both took 1/2 our meals home and we ordered the limencello bread pudding. OH MY GOODNESS, this was fabulous. Straight from the menu: "Brioche bread pudding baked to perfection, topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and drizzled with our Limoncello liqueur sauce" In short, this was a great date night restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and tasty food! Definitely NOT somewhere to go if counting calories, though!
(4)Jerry V.
The reason for 2 stars is mostly due to the bang for your buck. SO EXPENSIVE! It's exactly what you'd expect from a chain. The host was a tad on the unpleasant side. Food not spectacular and ridiculously overpriced! $18 for Lobster Ravioli. REALLY? Finding the lobster was a challenge in itself since there wasn't much on the plate or in the raviolis. I prefer Olive Garden for chain quality Italian food, at least you get what you pay for! On the upside, service was good. Doubtful that I'll be back.
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