Have eaten at this Carrabas several times in the past few years. Has been remodeled since we were last here and the place looks very good. It is an Italian restaurant chain but most of the food is very well prepared and authentic tasting. My go-to meal at Italian restaurants is usually lasagne and their version is well prepared, flavorful and very pleasing. We had calamari as an appetizer which was outstanding. Others in our group tried the veal marsala, pork chop marsala, and a shrimp and scallop pasta combination. Everyone was well pleased with their food. Some of their prices are a little on the high side but combination meals with appetizer/entree and desert included seem to be quite reasonable and offer some interesting alternative menu choices. Service was quite good.
(5)
Pat B.
They must have got rid of the manager with hot flashes LOL. All kidding aside, things have been getting better, eating here once a week we have seen more consistency.
(4)
Marguerite M.
Tastes like Tex-Mex Italian. Some strange seasoning in the breaded veal cutlet. Just another chain restaurant.
(2)
Jules D.
Always spot on service, food, and ambiance. You can do call ahead seating instead of reservations as long as it is more than 30 min before the time you'll need a table. This is one of the family favorite spots to go. Calamari and the Mama Mandola's Chicken Soup are fantastic. I'd definitely recommend it.
(5)
Chloe L.
We went here last Monday for Amore Monday but ordered from the regular menu. My husband's pasta was still frozen inside. Also his portion size was the Amore menu size instead of the regular menu size. I asked that his meal be removed from the bill and they obliged. Also, my pasta was very soggy and over cooked although it was edible. Won't go back on Amore Monday night again as the quality goes down considerably.
(3)
Shannan T.
I have to say this location really has it together. We were greeted by a very friendly host and hostess and they were very accommodating to our needs. The interior Decore is quite lovely for a chain restaurant. Our server Nathan was very attentive, sweet and also very accommodating. We started off with ordering their quartino also known as a glass and a half of wine. A good value at $10 for that. Our meals and salads were both quite good. My husband had the combination specials they are running which included the mahi-mahi served with artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes and also a sirloin marsala with a large side of garlic mashed potatoes. The flavors were all there and quite tasty. Only setback is the sirloin was overcooked. I would attribute that to a small portion of steak since it was a combination platter. But at the price point of $16.90 it was a very good value for what you received. I ordered the rigatoni Martino and substituted fettuccine noodles which I absolutely loved. The portion was yummy and large so I was able to take half of it home for leftovers. All in all a great restaurant as always over the years. We will come back again and again as we have had done over the last 15 years of living in this area. Big kudos to this company for properly training their staff and having high standards of service for all employees.
(4)
Christopher M.
For a chain restaurant Italian food (I know that's an oxymoron), Carrabba's is good. I love their calamari and steak Marsala. It is much better than an Olive Garden, but doesn't come close to a mom & pop Italian restaurant.
(3)
Marinda H.
Visited a Carrabba's several years ago and was not impressed at all. Received a gift card and visited on a Monday night when they have dinner specials. Super impressed with the experience overall - not at all the Carrabba's we experienced several years ago. Great herbs and garlic in the bread dipping oil. Tag Pic Pac with chicken - totally my kind of sauce! Chunky tomatoes, garlic chunks, and fresh basil. Super impressed that pasta was fresh (not dried). Desserts were great too - mini cannoli's were very good and loved the John Cole (ice cream with caramel sauce and awesome crispy sugary pecans)! Our server was great - very friendly, responsive, and attentive. Kudos to him for alerting my BF that there were anchovies in the creamy parmesan salad dressing (BF told server he was allergic to everything seafood). So many servers and restaurants do not care about allergies and we completely appreciate that this server took it seriously and came back after we ordered to notify my BF.
(4)
Dianna B.
The place looks GORGEOUS since the renovation! I was in the mood for something, but i couldn't put my finger on it.. So we went for italian and I was able to get my Chicken Bryan. I LOVE that. We also indulged in a bit of calamari and some delightful peach sangria. GOD was that food good!
(4)
Manuela W.
Wrong review it's always good at carrabas
(5)
TJ T.
My bf and I have eaten here a few times, but this particular night we stopped by just to get dessert after dinner at the sushi place nearby. We're fans of a lot of items on Carrabba's menu and one in particular is the Tiramisu. Everything about the tiramisu is delicious. I especially like the chocolate shavings on it. Hmmm, actually, the only thing that could make it better is if the lady fingers are soaked in Kahlua. We sat at the bar and ordered coffee with Kahlua and shared a tiramisu. Life is good.
(5)
Jenner M.
Not bad, not great. Ate there last night with my wife. Had the new pork tenderloin, which is an awesome place. I've now had that three times. I decided to "upgrade" to the fettuccine Alfredo with was horrible. It was covered in butter and a stinky Alfredo sauce. Wife got the chicken Bryan, which is a great dish. Her garlic mashed potatoes however look liked a soupy gray liquid. They were awful. Waitress took it back and replaced it with green beans. The green beans were oily. The dessert was excellent: had the chocolate dream. And added one scoop of vanilla ice cream. As awesome as it was, it wasn't worth $11 for that dessert. Service was fine. Food was just mediocre.
(3)
Liz B.
Always delicious! The mezzaluna and Chicken Bryan is awesome. The kids love the spaghetti and meatballs. Ashley was a great server. Will come back for sure.
(5)
Salvatore M.
I would like to give zero stars. I called ahead for a party of 20. They told me sure we will work it out. When we got there they said they don't have the staffing to open the extra room in the back and whoever told us they could made a mistake. So a party of 20 is standing outside and the person in charge turned us away. Foolish. What an idiot.
(1)
Food L.
the food is great. the service is poor. the bottom line has taken over this location. we were rushed so much it was an unpleasant experience. half way through our salads our entre was served. this used to be a great place. will never return.
(1)
Ming Z.
I admit that grew up at metropolitan city, I am wired differently. I feel so relaxed at a restaurant pack with people, earful of noisy conversation at next table, smell saute garlic from kitchen, unpredictable service.....sounds like chaos to others, it is heaven to me. Carrabba's is probably the very few restaurants I can find nearby that brings the bussling sense of city life back to me. When I miss home, I come here to be cured :) The restaurant is full of energy and great for people watching. Layout is simple. We sat at the end corner with the view of most of the restaurant and enjoyed the great atmosphere. Food are always good and reliable. I have tried several good Italian restaurants at Palm Harbor, but at the end, Carrabba's won my heart. I know it is a chain restaurant, but I have never been disappointed at any Carrabba's I visited. It is my 'comfort restaurant'.
(4)
Sarah C.
Ate here twice and got food poisoned twice. Thankfully its closed in palm harbor. Ughhh chain restaurants are just, fill stations, nothing more.
(1)
Paul M.
One of the best causual restaurant experiences I've had. Didn't at all feel like a chain, so if you're thinking it's like some sort of gussied up Olive Garden, think again. Excellent food, pleasant ambiance and AMAZING service. And by amazing, I mean really one of the best servers I've had IN MY LIFE. Ask for Brian: warm, efficient, professional but never hovering or obsequious. As for the food, I had the Penne Franco (mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and black olives, in garlic and oil with ricotta salata cheese) which was pretty darned good. But OMG, the cannoli! Heavenly (dare I say "holy cannoli?") Not too sour, not too sweet...perfection.
(4)
Scott S.
it's good.
(5)
Lisa S.
.
(4)
Katie C.
I just wanted to write a follow up since this location has recently undergone a remodel. The interior looks really great - it's definitely an improvement! There is more area to sit by the bar (a few tables to sit first come first serve too), and the layout looks updated and with clean lines. Not that there was anything wrong with the decor before, but the new look is great!
(4)
Pat C.
Even though this restaurant is a chain, I always find the food and service to be excellent. Tonight I tried the braised short rib over risotto. It was very good- the short ribs were tender and the sauce was a great compliment to the risotto. The portion size was large and I had to take half home for lunch. I would recommend this restaurant if you like Italian.
(5)
Cal W.
Manager refused to credit my credit card after failing to fill my take out order in its entirety and accused me of getting angry over it. Not so, I asked respectively for a credit for a mistake they made....... Off to macaroni Grill in the future........
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No 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.
Deb P.
This location is one of a few in the Tampa area. The wait is not too bad as long as you go before 5p on weekends. The staff in the front are very nice and helpful. I witnessed one help an elderly women to her seat since she couldn't walk well and her husband was unable to help as he was on oxygen himself. We ordered calamari and breaded cheese sticks. They were both very good. The sauce was a bit spicier than expected but still good. The warm fresh bread with olive oil and seasoning dip is soooooo very delicious! For our main course we ordered Alfredo fettuccine with shrimp and mushrooms, Alfredo with chicken, chicken Marsala and Italian pizza. All were very good although my fiancée's chicken Marsala is much better. All the other dishes were very very good. There was ample supply of drinks and our waiter came back to check on us about 8 times even with a full section to wait on. This is a great restaurant for good Italian/American style food. We will go back again. Oh and it's wonderful for a date night, little pricey but the atmosphere is perfect.
(5)Milton S.
Have eaten at this Carrabas several times in the past few years. Has been remodeled since we were last here and the place looks very good. It is an Italian restaurant chain but most of the food is very well prepared and authentic tasting. My go-to meal at Italian restaurants is usually lasagne and their version is well prepared, flavorful and very pleasing. We had calamari as an appetizer which was outstanding. Others in our group tried the veal marsala, pork chop marsala, and a shrimp and scallop pasta combination. Everyone was well pleased with their food. Some of their prices are a little on the high side but combination meals with appetizer/entree and desert included seem to be quite reasonable and offer some interesting alternative menu choices. Service was quite good.
(5)Pat B.
They must have got rid of the manager with hot flashes LOL. All kidding aside, things have been getting better, eating here once a week we have seen more consistency.
(4)Marguerite M.
Tastes like Tex-Mex Italian. Some strange seasoning in the breaded veal cutlet. Just another chain restaurant.
(2)Jules D.
Always spot on service, food, and ambiance. You can do call ahead seating instead of reservations as long as it is more than 30 min before the time you'll need a table. This is one of the family favorite spots to go. Calamari and the Mama Mandola's Chicken Soup are fantastic. I'd definitely recommend it.
(5)Chloe L.
We went here last Monday for Amore Monday but ordered from the regular menu. My husband's pasta was still frozen inside. Also his portion size was the Amore menu size instead of the regular menu size. I asked that his meal be removed from the bill and they obliged. Also, my pasta was very soggy and over cooked although it was edible. Won't go back on Amore Monday night again as the quality goes down considerably.
(3)Shannan T.
I have to say this location really has it together. We were greeted by a very friendly host and hostess and they were very accommodating to our needs. The interior Decore is quite lovely for a chain restaurant. Our server Nathan was very attentive, sweet and also very accommodating. We started off with ordering their quartino also known as a glass and a half of wine. A good value at $10 for that. Our meals and salads were both quite good. My husband had the combination specials they are running which included the mahi-mahi served with artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes and also a sirloin marsala with a large side of garlic mashed potatoes. The flavors were all there and quite tasty. Only setback is the sirloin was overcooked. I would attribute that to a small portion of steak since it was a combination platter. But at the price point of $16.90 it was a very good value for what you received. I ordered the rigatoni Martino and substituted fettuccine noodles which I absolutely loved. The portion was yummy and large so I was able to take half of it home for leftovers. All in all a great restaurant as always over the years. We will come back again and again as we have had done over the last 15 years of living in this area. Big kudos to this company for properly training their staff and having high standards of service for all employees.
(4)Christopher M.
For a chain restaurant Italian food (I know that's an oxymoron), Carrabba's is good. I love their calamari and steak Marsala. It is much better than an Olive Garden, but doesn't come close to a mom & pop Italian restaurant.
(3)Marinda H.
Visited a Carrabba's several years ago and was not impressed at all. Received a gift card and visited on a Monday night when they have dinner specials. Super impressed with the experience overall - not at all the Carrabba's we experienced several years ago. Great herbs and garlic in the bread dipping oil. Tag Pic Pac with chicken - totally my kind of sauce! Chunky tomatoes, garlic chunks, and fresh basil. Super impressed that pasta was fresh (not dried). Desserts were great too - mini cannoli's were very good and loved the John Cole (ice cream with caramel sauce and awesome crispy sugary pecans)! Our server was great - very friendly, responsive, and attentive. Kudos to him for alerting my BF that there were anchovies in the creamy parmesan salad dressing (BF told server he was allergic to everything seafood). So many servers and restaurants do not care about allergies and we completely appreciate that this server took it seriously and came back after we ordered to notify my BF.
(4)Dianna B.
The place looks GORGEOUS since the renovation! I was in the mood for something, but i couldn't put my finger on it.. So we went for italian and I was able to get my Chicken Bryan. I LOVE that. We also indulged in a bit of calamari and some delightful peach sangria. GOD was that food good!
(4)Manuela W.
Wrong review it's always good at carrabas
(5)TJ T.
My bf and I have eaten here a few times, but this particular night we stopped by just to get dessert after dinner at the sushi place nearby. We're fans of a lot of items on Carrabba's menu and one in particular is the Tiramisu. Everything about the tiramisu is delicious. I especially like the chocolate shavings on it. Hmmm, actually, the only thing that could make it better is if the lady fingers are soaked in Kahlua. We sat at the bar and ordered coffee with Kahlua and shared a tiramisu. Life is good.
(5)Jenner M.
Not bad, not great. Ate there last night with my wife. Had the new pork tenderloin, which is an awesome place. I've now had that three times. I decided to "upgrade" to the fettuccine Alfredo with was horrible. It was covered in butter and a stinky Alfredo sauce. Wife got the chicken Bryan, which is a great dish. Her garlic mashed potatoes however look liked a soupy gray liquid. They were awful. Waitress took it back and replaced it with green beans. The green beans were oily. The dessert was excellent: had the chocolate dream. And added one scoop of vanilla ice cream. As awesome as it was, it wasn't worth $11 for that dessert. Service was fine. Food was just mediocre.
(3)Liz B.
Always delicious! The mezzaluna and Chicken Bryan is awesome. The kids love the spaghetti and meatballs. Ashley was a great server. Will come back for sure.
(5)Salvatore M.
I would like to give zero stars. I called ahead for a party of 20. They told me sure we will work it out. When we got there they said they don't have the staffing to open the extra room in the back and whoever told us they could made a mistake. So a party of 20 is standing outside and the person in charge turned us away. Foolish. What an idiot.
(1)Food L.
the food is great. the service is poor. the bottom line has taken over this location. we were rushed so much it was an unpleasant experience. half way through our salads our entre was served. this used to be a great place. will never return.
(1)Ming Z.
I admit that grew up at metropolitan city, I am wired differently. I feel so relaxed at a restaurant pack with people, earful of noisy conversation at next table, smell saute garlic from kitchen, unpredictable service.....sounds like chaos to others, it is heaven to me. Carrabba's is probably the very few restaurants I can find nearby that brings the bussling sense of city life back to me. When I miss home, I come here to be cured :) The restaurant is full of energy and great for people watching. Layout is simple. We sat at the end corner with the view of most of the restaurant and enjoyed the great atmosphere. Food are always good and reliable. I have tried several good Italian restaurants at Palm Harbor, but at the end, Carrabba's won my heart. I know it is a chain restaurant, but I have never been disappointed at any Carrabba's I visited. It is my 'comfort restaurant'.
(4)Sarah C.
Ate here twice and got food poisoned twice. Thankfully its closed in palm harbor. Ughhh chain restaurants are just, fill stations, nothing more.
(1)Paul M.
One of the best causual restaurant experiences I've had. Didn't at all feel like a chain, so if you're thinking it's like some sort of gussied up Olive Garden, think again. Excellent food, pleasant ambiance and AMAZING service. And by amazing, I mean really one of the best servers I've had IN MY LIFE. Ask for Brian: warm, efficient, professional but never hovering or obsequious. As for the food, I had the Penne Franco (mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and black olives, in garlic and oil with ricotta salata cheese) which was pretty darned good. But OMG, the cannoli! Heavenly (dare I say "holy cannoli?") Not too sour, not too sweet...perfection.
(4)Scott S.
it's good.
(5)Lisa S.
.
(4)Katie C.
I just wanted to write a follow up since this location has recently undergone a remodel. The interior looks really great - it's definitely an improvement! There is more area to sit by the bar (a few tables to sit first come first serve too), and the layout looks updated and with clean lines. Not that there was anything wrong with the decor before, but the new look is great!
(4)Pat C.
Even though this restaurant is a chain, I always find the food and service to be excellent. Tonight I tried the braised short rib over risotto. It was very good- the short ribs were tender and the sauce was a great compliment to the risotto. The portion size was large and I had to take half home for lunch. I would recommend this restaurant if you like Italian.
(5)Cal W.
Manager refused to credit my credit card after failing to fill my take out order in its entirety and accused me of getting angry over it. Not so, I asked respectively for a credit for a mistake they made....... Off to macaroni Grill in the future........
(1)Brett Z.
I like the food and the staff
(5)