The closest thing to Italian that I've come to find since moving out here. Loooove their homemade bread and butter. And hey, the Italian food is even better. Great quality service, large portions and a huge selection of great things to eat. Run there as fast as you can! :)
(4)
Kyle S.
Love Carrabba's and their great food. They are often crowded and seating is rather close to each other.
(5)
Swt P.
We had lunch at this place on Mother's Day this year - an Italian restaurant located in the southside of Indianapolis. The wait was not horrible (about 20 minutes without reservation), however we got seated in the most uncomfortable location - near the exit door - busy traffic :-(( The kids menu is typical - but the meal does not come with any kids dessert. Pasta dishes starting from $10 up to $17, and their specialty dishes starting from $14.5-$19. I think the price is relatively high compared to other chain Italian restaurants. Check their local restaurant menu on the web before you go for current prices and dishes. We tried regular size calamari for appetizer - the portion is big but it tastes too salty and very oily... We liked our meals - Spiedino di Mare ($18) and Linguini Pescatore ($16.5) and we have plenty to bring back home. For dessert, we tried "Tiramisu" for $6 - the size is big, but this is the worst Tiramisu from an Italian restaurant that I have had in my life. It had too much cream...Avoid. We ended up going home with some left over food and headache - from greasy calamari, too creamy tiramisu and an almost $100 bill. Oh boy... :-p
(3)
Rick K.
I am an Italian-American who grew-up eating southern Italian food. Carrabba's is my favorite chain Italian restaurant because their entrees are true to Italian cuisine. Carrabba's borrows from all Italian regions, but most specifically from southern Italian and Sicilian cuisine. This particular restaurant is my favorite of all of the Carrabba's that I've visited. It is very well managed by Mark, a young and energetic manager who truly wants to provide a superior experience to his patrons. My favorite menu items are Spiedino de Mare, Salmon, and the specials. The mussel appetizer is surprisingly good and the Calamari appetizer is fantastic. Many Indianapolis Italian restaurants lower their standards in order to appeal to local Hoosiers that have no idea about authentic Italian cuisine and want mushy overcooked pasta and lots of acidic tomato sauce. I am thankful that Carrabba's has not lowered their standards to appeal to this clientele.
(5)
Michael E.
I love this place. The food is great. The service is great. On Sundays for lunch it is never too crowded which is to bad for them because I really want them to succeed, but it is nice to go out and not have to wait too long. Sirloin Marsala with a side of their great fettucini alfraedo is unbelievable.
(5)
shelley d.
I wish this wasn't a chain, but honestly the service and food are so consistently well done that I can't help going back regularly. At least I'm not addicted to Olive Garden. :)
(5)
Amy S.
I enjoy Carrabba's and am glad this location is still open, as others have closed. Although pricey, the Pomegranate Martini is very, very good. Love the fresh bread served with dinner and also recommend the lobster ravioli.
(4)
John B.
I went to dinner at Carrabba's one evening while traveling. I was seated in a little booth even though there were many seats open. I don't know why restaurants do this but it is common in the industry. Come on guys, use some common sense, the little tables do not give enough rm to eat and read a newspaper. I will start with the good. My server was a sweet person that paid attention to me, refilled my water glass and checked back a few times to see if I was alright. The bread was the was I like it, hot and crusty with a soft middle. I thought the olive oil was ok but needed better seasoning (roasted garlic perhaps). I had a glass of the economic chianti and it was very enjoyable. Now the not so good. The calamari tasted like it was precooked and heated in the oil upon serving. This makes the texture of the squid very rubbery. The marinara was just ok. The chicken parmigiana consisted of a half a chicken breast (thin cut). This may be the reason it was so dry. The pasta was over cooked. All in all, I would avoid the restaurant if you are looking for authentic Italian food but stop by for a glass of wine.
Gotta love a $25 two-year old gift card from grams and gramps that leads you to a business you wouldn't typically choose on your own. Here's the quick run down: -loved their spaghetti! No, seriously, they're not stingy on the garlic. I like to leave Italian restaurants with a 5 mile cloud of garlic following me. -they offer a whole wheat pasta substitute and menu items that are under 600 calories are noted with a green leaf -they could lighten up on the Italian salad dressing - I like to taste my greens -is that really olive oil that comes with the bread? Yikes. It tasted so "off" - the bread was great but the olive oil selection process could use some love -excellent service and Wine Wednesdays offer deals on wine by the bottle
(3)
Jack R.
It had awesome survice I tried my first salad there this place is the best I give this place 1000000000000000000 stars. My server was awesome He was super amazing
(5)
Ashley S.
Ah Carrabba's - a refreshing spin on Italian! There is tons of available parking at this location and the booth spaces are very private. Service has always been top notch with servers having a good knowledge base of the menu and can provide without being too invasive. The blackberry sangria is absolutely delicious and refreshing with chunks of fresh fruit in it. I recently tried the Wood roasted sirloin flatbread appetizer and was impressed with the flavors but wished there was more than a few chunks of steak on it. The caesar salad had anchovies in the dressing so the flavor is quite strong. I usually prefer a caesar but at this restaurant I go for the house salad with Parmesan dressing. The mezzaluna is yummy with chicken, spinach, and onion in a tomato cream sauce and also recommend their veal with roasted potatoes or the shrimp Alfredo. Good sized portions and decent prices make this a great alternative to your standard Olive Garden experience. Worth stopping in for a bite!
(5)
Amber E.
Wasn't impressed... I had been wanting to go to Carrabba's for a long time. When I finally went I was disappointed. It took forever to be seated on a Thursday when it wasn't even crowded. The oil and bread was pretty good; different. I ordered spaghetti and meatballs. It tasted like the oregano had spilled in it during plating. It was just okay. I wanted tiramisu for dessert but they were out. Who runs out of dessert four hours before closing? Our waitress was great so I gave them 2 stars.
(2)
Chad M.
Had the spicy seafood Alfredo pasta, calamari, and Cesar salad. All was tasty, good food at a good price. Service was fine, drinks were kept filled. Nice place to eat Italian food. Was plenty of seats and no wait, lots of close parking.
(4)
Angel D.
We went on Valentine's Day so naturally the wait was long, but not as long as a few other places we tried. Once we were seated, our waitress was super friendly and didn't seem overwhelmed even though they were very busy. Service was so quick. I was shocked. We had the calamari which was amazing. Our food was delicious and by bf's steak was cooked perfectly! Overall an absolutely enjoyable experience once we sat down. The noise level wasn't even loud even though they have an open kitchen and so many people. I will totally go back again.
(5)
Paula M.
Bread and oil/pesto came first. It was pretty good. No bold flavors like Buca though. The appetizer was just ok. A little disappointing that a regular bruschetta is not on the menu anymore. We ordered a really tomato-flavored-sauce-blended-with-melted-cheese bruschetta. It came with 6 small slices of toasted bread. The toasted bread tasted good. The house salad (included with my entree price) was just lettuce and lots of carrots. It wasn't much of a variety to eat and got boring after a few bites, however, they had balsamic dressing. So, I was a little satisfied. The entree came and that looked liked the star of the show! I ordered the baked ravioli land my boyfriend had lasagna. We were both pleased. The ravioli had a breaded, toasted texture which was different. It didn't have any dry/rubbery taste in my mouth. Carrabbas provides a different pleasing ambience than what Olive Garden gives the customer, which is a compliment. We will be back - and it definitely tops Olive Garden and Carino's.
(4)
Steve F.
Everyone was talking about how this is a chain....well, I personally love reviewing chains. Its the way that we know if there is consistent service/etc while traveling... I had never been to a Carrabba's before last night. I probably never would have gone because the chain idea....and there are great chain Italian options nearby (Johnny Carino's, Olive Garden, Bucca do Beppo's, etc....). We got a gift card for Xmas. The free bread they give is par. It was nothing special...you get to dip in olive oil with a couple spices....nothing to write home about. We had the fire roasted bruschetta for our appetizer. We love bruschetta. This had such a different twist on a classic. I loved it! It looked like salsa, but had huge chunks of basil with a perfectly toasted slice of bread. Yum! The entree came with a soup or salad. My man got the salad and said it was good and had kalamata olives and lots of cheese. I got the minestrone soup. Again, they put a completely different twist to the soup. Its not at all what I was expecting....but it was great on a cold winter day. I could have stopped eating after the soup and been full... Then came the entrees while I was already full. I had the tagrialini (sp?) noodles which were another new item for me. This was a delicious pillowy angel hair pasta with Picchi Pachui sauce (garlic, oil, tomato). It came with a ton of veggies. All prices were so reasonable. $12 for my Donner, $8 for appetizer, $8 for a quartino of wine, $15 for the entree with meat.....and we have lunch today! Total including tip for 2=$50
(4)
Michele B.
Wonderful atmosphere, thoroughly enjoyed a late lunch of ravioli. Salad was perfectly served with olives on a chilled plate, awesome presentation. The red sauce is outstanding & so fresh tasting! The service was exemplary. This is the best Italian restaurant in the area!
(4)
Dana A.
Yummy. Friendly staff. Excellent food. beautiful wines. If there is a problem they are always willing and ready to make it right.
(5)
Pat B.
Walked to Carraba's from Fairfield Inn. Our waitress, Meghann, was very attentive and even refigured our bill after we belatedly presented a $10.00 coupon. My husband is an amateur lasagna critic, and declared this lasagna as excellent. I had shrimp and scallops in a tomato vodka sauce. It was served hot and full of shrimp and scallops - very tasty.
(5)
Chris Y.
Like many, I'm not in the habit of reviewing chains, but I had a great meal at Carrabba's this weekend! The atmosphere is great and even on a busy Saturday night they move people with fast efficient service. I really liked the visual appeal of the dining room nad the lighting. The free basket of bread is just ok. Most places have better bread, We had the calamari appetizer, which was great. The breading was so tasty I didn't bother to dip in marinara. The superstar of the night was sausage and lentil soup. This stuff was fantastic! Spicy Italian sausage, tender lentils, in a rich reduced broth with Italian seasonings. I think this is a fall seasonal item - not on the menu. My meal was the johnny Combo - Sirloin Marsala and Chicken Bryan with garlic mashed potatoes. The steak was correctly cooked to medium with a marsala and mushroom sauce It was tender and tasty! The Chicken Bryan is a seasoned grilled chicken breast topped with fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and sun dried tomato. Great flavor in everything and more mashed potatoes than most people would eat. I was pleasantly surprised!
(4)
Reed N.
I like Carrabbas. It is hard for a franchise Italian place to make it with all of the nice little mom and pop places. Carrabbas does it by keeping it simple. The menu is a one page affair. The flip side being wine and beer. I like that. And it also allows them to make the limited number of items well... instead of a bunch of items mediocre. I had the Johnny combo... Sirloin Marsala and Chicken Bryan. Both very flavorful and totally different. It was a good combo. The sirlion was earthy and salty with the sauce, ham, and mushrooms. Really good. The chicken was also very bold... with earthy sun-dried tomatoes and tangy goat cheese... all brought together with a little herb butter. There are some decent wines at about $10 and under for a glass. Not the cheapest place for wine... but not the most pricey either. Our group of eight had great service.
(4)
Angie A.
I know I know it's a chain...but hey it's not Applebees! Hands down the best Veal Marsala I've ever had. I do a happy dance just thinking about it. Sorry if you have a problem with Veal. I grew up on a Cattle farm and bottle fed some of the Veal...they are so cute...and tasty! If you just can't do the Veal they also have Beef, Chicken, & Pork Marsala. It's so good I'm happy to drive to Southport from Speedway just to eat here.
(4)
Todd S.
Another great visit to this Carrabba's --- the food was superb and the service , outstanding! Mahi Wulfe style is dynamite as is the Johnny Rocca salad with yummy shrimp and scallops ! The Sangria selection is perfect ! Will return next weekend for our regular visit !
Portion was a little less than expected,however,the taste and service were excellent. Will come back again.
(4)
Joe E.
I've been going here for many years. It's our go-to Italian place on the south side. The food is very good and consistently so. The service is attentive but not annoying. Fast but usually not rushed. They can be pretty packed sometimes, so a wait isn't unheard of. They do offer call-ahead seating, if you're so inclined. Our favorites are the Chicken Bryan (mine) and the Sirloin Marsala (wife's). There are only a couple things I'd stay away from, and that'll be easy because they were seasonal specials offered in the past. But in case it comes up again, their risotto isn't "right." I don't know exactly what's wrong about it -- it looks like you'd expect a risotto. But it doesn't taste or feel right. Or something I can't put my finger on. Let's be clear about one thing: It's not a cheap eat. Dinner for two with a shared appetizer and dessert will in the neighborhood of $60, without wine. That said, it's good enough to pull that price. PS: blackberry sangria? Oh yes, it's worth $10 for a quartino.
(4)
Mark C.
I used to come here a lot and never had a bad experience. Last night lived up to the same memories I had. Our waitress, according to the manager, was rather new. She was fantastic! The food was great!! The table behind us had some problems with manners and how to respect a waitress, the manager handled the situation very professionaly. It was all around a great evening.
(5)
Wally P.
My wife and I ate at Carrabba's Italian Grill for the first time last week and we had a very good experience. She loved her spaghetti with Meat Sauce and I had the grilled pork chop was really good.
(4)
TOMMY o.
At the end of restaurant alley, a dead end ..great for nearby hotel guests handicapped bathroom stall had it's own sink, bar with TV great coffee not sure if it's coffee, cute little bread baskets
(4)
Leslie H.
Service was great. However, its a hit and miss when it comes to the food. The calamari was salty, the salad was good, the pasta was decent and the dessert is ok.
(3)
Leah H.
Wonderful food and service. My husband and I had never been, but will likely visit another based on our good experience. We are from out of town and will look for one by us!
(5)
Kristy R.
Ok I love this place but tonight was different had Casey as a server took forever to get even waters when asked for something did not get it. The people behind me also had her and he had a complaint on his desert and she said "I'm sorry some of our cooks here suck." Said this to a table of older people. Second the people who brought me the salad practically threw the plates down said nothing and just walked off. I was really shocked and dissapointed in the service the food and just my overall experience this time.
(2)
Jennifer F.
Good food. Good service. The only complaint was that there were not enough dishes that included Italian sausage. Service was good. steak was very tender and well-done.
(4)
Molly W.
This was our first-ever experience at Carrabba's. We'll probably be back, but we won't be regulars. The good -- Our server, Mary Beth, was friendly and overall great. The bread and oil was more than sufficient -- and I appreciated they kept the olive oil on the table so you could add more to the spices if necessary. The food was served fast. We were in and out in 45 minutes. 45 MINUTES! And my husband loved the double-decker brownie drizzled with Kahlua and chocolate. The maybe-could-do-better part -- As another reviewer mentioned, the food was slightly better than Olive Garden, but it wasn't as good as some other Italian places we've eaten at in the South Indy/Greenwood area. And while I mentioned our server was great, there were three staff members standing at the door -- and keep in mind it wasn't busy -- who couldn't bother to tell us thanks for coming, have a good day, nothing. It didn't ruin our experience, but it just would have been a nice touch.
(3)
Matt H.
My wife and I used to be regulars here, unfortunately they seem to keep raising the prices every time we go there. The atmosphere is very relaxing while you listen to some great jazz, big band and vocal music! The food is excellent, I always order the chicken bryan, it is my favorite. My wife loves the sirloin marsala! They have excellent service and this place seems very clean. We have never had a complaint about this place, we will be back many more times!
(4)
Pat S.
Used to love this restaurant. I was surprised when we went last weekend and there was virtually no wait. After the service we received, I can understand why no one wants to eat here! Our waiter was friendly until we said no thank you to appetizers or adult beverages. Do they receive a commission on these? After that, he was very rude. He literally dropped our plates on the table when he brought out our food. I honestly have never had such deliberately rude service in a restaurant. It doesn't matter how good their food is, my family and I will NEVER eat here again.
(1)
Michelle M.
Did you know? Carrabba's has a new menu and I hate it.. I used to get the salmon salad which was amazingly delicious with the citrus vinagrette. They dont have it anymore... so I opted for the shrimp and scallop salad, which was wilted, bitter, oily, and not as good. I was really disappointed. However, their chicken soup is always good. Go for that.
(2)
Niki U.
My boys and I have been here a few times. The food is pretty good. My son loves the norwegian salmon and always asks to return for it. My younger son gets the spaghetti and meatball(s) off the kids menu for $5.99. One big meatball and good tomato sauce hits the spot. They also give kids a bit of pizza dough if you ask for free. The boys love making little pizzas while they wait. I think it is a bit over priced and havent had great luck w/ the adult menu. Good house salad. I've had the chicken cannelloni (eh) and angel hair pasta with basil and tomato (better). Overall, not earth shattering but OK for an overpriced Olive Garden.
(3)
J J.
Friendly, efficient wait service. Food was descent with fairly good prices. Better than an olive garden but nothing to rave about either.
(3)
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Address :4690 Southport Crossing Dr
Southport, IN, 46237
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : 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.
Donna M.
The closest thing to Italian that I've come to find since moving out here. Loooove their homemade bread and butter. And hey, the Italian food is even better. Great quality service, large portions and a huge selection of great things to eat. Run there as fast as you can! :)
(4)Kyle S.
Love Carrabba's and their great food. They are often crowded and seating is rather close to each other.
(5)Swt P.
We had lunch at this place on Mother's Day this year - an Italian restaurant located in the southside of Indianapolis. The wait was not horrible (about 20 minutes without reservation), however we got seated in the most uncomfortable location - near the exit door - busy traffic :-(( The kids menu is typical - but the meal does not come with any kids dessert. Pasta dishes starting from $10 up to $17, and their specialty dishes starting from $14.5-$19. I think the price is relatively high compared to other chain Italian restaurants. Check their local restaurant menu on the web before you go for current prices and dishes. We tried regular size calamari for appetizer - the portion is big but it tastes too salty and very oily... We liked our meals - Spiedino di Mare ($18) and Linguini Pescatore ($16.5) and we have plenty to bring back home. For dessert, we tried "Tiramisu" for $6 - the size is big, but this is the worst Tiramisu from an Italian restaurant that I have had in my life. It had too much cream...Avoid. We ended up going home with some left over food and headache - from greasy calamari, too creamy tiramisu and an almost $100 bill. Oh boy... :-p
(3)Rick K.
I am an Italian-American who grew-up eating southern Italian food. Carrabba's is my favorite chain Italian restaurant because their entrees are true to Italian cuisine. Carrabba's borrows from all Italian regions, but most specifically from southern Italian and Sicilian cuisine. This particular restaurant is my favorite of all of the Carrabba's that I've visited. It is very well managed by Mark, a young and energetic manager who truly wants to provide a superior experience to his patrons. My favorite menu items are Spiedino de Mare, Salmon, and the specials. The mussel appetizer is surprisingly good and the Calamari appetizer is fantastic. Many Indianapolis Italian restaurants lower their standards in order to appeal to local Hoosiers that have no idea about authentic Italian cuisine and want mushy overcooked pasta and lots of acidic tomato sauce. I am thankful that Carrabba's has not lowered their standards to appeal to this clientele.
(5)Michael E.
I love this place. The food is great. The service is great. On Sundays for lunch it is never too crowded which is to bad for them because I really want them to succeed, but it is nice to go out and not have to wait too long. Sirloin Marsala with a side of their great fettucini alfraedo is unbelievable.
(5)shelley d.
I wish this wasn't a chain, but honestly the service and food are so consistently well done that I can't help going back regularly. At least I'm not addicted to Olive Garden. :)
(5)Amy S.
I enjoy Carrabba's and am glad this location is still open, as others have closed. Although pricey, the Pomegranate Martini is very, very good. Love the fresh bread served with dinner and also recommend the lobster ravioli.
(4)John B.
I went to dinner at Carrabba's one evening while traveling. I was seated in a little booth even though there were many seats open. I don't know why restaurants do this but it is common in the industry. Come on guys, use some common sense, the little tables do not give enough rm to eat and read a newspaper. I will start with the good. My server was a sweet person that paid attention to me, refilled my water glass and checked back a few times to see if I was alright. The bread was the was I like it, hot and crusty with a soft middle. I thought the olive oil was ok but needed better seasoning (roasted garlic perhaps). I had a glass of the economic chianti and it was very enjoyable. Now the not so good. The calamari tasted like it was precooked and heated in the oil upon serving. This makes the texture of the squid very rubbery. The marinara was just ok. The chicken parmigiana consisted of a half a chicken breast (thin cut). This may be the reason it was so dry. The pasta was over cooked. All in all, I would avoid the restaurant if you are looking for authentic Italian food but stop by for a glass of wine.
(2)WILLIAM P.
Nice late Sunday dinner with the Family. We got there at 8:30 and they close at 9:00 PM, so service was a little rushed. Calamari, Mussels in white Wine Lemon Butter and shrimp diavolo appetizers where delicious. My wife thought the shrimp was a little salty. Caesar salad was good, but dressing was not quite authentic. Excellent entrées were the SHRIMP & SCALLOP SPIEDINO, Veal Marsala and Chicken Trio. The Banfi Classico Riserva Chianti was excellent, but I knew our waiter was in a hurry when he DUMPED the entire Quartino into my glass upon serving. No dessert review since the kitchen was closed at when we finished at 9:40 PM. Waiter never asked about this before the kitchen closed. Not sure why they are not open for lunch during the week! Overall would return, but prefer Bravo!
(3)Brittany S.
Gotta love a $25 two-year old gift card from grams and gramps that leads you to a business you wouldn't typically choose on your own. Here's the quick run down: -loved their spaghetti! No, seriously, they're not stingy on the garlic. I like to leave Italian restaurants with a 5 mile cloud of garlic following me. -they offer a whole wheat pasta substitute and menu items that are under 600 calories are noted with a green leaf -they could lighten up on the Italian salad dressing - I like to taste my greens -is that really olive oil that comes with the bread? Yikes. It tasted so "off" - the bread was great but the olive oil selection process could use some love -excellent service and Wine Wednesdays offer deals on wine by the bottle
(3)Jack R.
It had awesome survice I tried my first salad there this place is the best I give this place 1000000000000000000 stars. My server was awesome He was super amazing
(5)Ashley S.
Ah Carrabba's - a refreshing spin on Italian! There is tons of available parking at this location and the booth spaces are very private. Service has always been top notch with servers having a good knowledge base of the menu and can provide without being too invasive. The blackberry sangria is absolutely delicious and refreshing with chunks of fresh fruit in it. I recently tried the Wood roasted sirloin flatbread appetizer and was impressed with the flavors but wished there was more than a few chunks of steak on it. The caesar salad had anchovies in the dressing so the flavor is quite strong. I usually prefer a caesar but at this restaurant I go for the house salad with Parmesan dressing. The mezzaluna is yummy with chicken, spinach, and onion in a tomato cream sauce and also recommend their veal with roasted potatoes or the shrimp Alfredo. Good sized portions and decent prices make this a great alternative to your standard Olive Garden experience. Worth stopping in for a bite!
(5)Amber E.
Wasn't impressed... I had been wanting to go to Carrabba's for a long time. When I finally went I was disappointed. It took forever to be seated on a Thursday when it wasn't even crowded. The oil and bread was pretty good; different. I ordered spaghetti and meatballs. It tasted like the oregano had spilled in it during plating. It was just okay. I wanted tiramisu for dessert but they were out. Who runs out of dessert four hours before closing? Our waitress was great so I gave them 2 stars.
(2)Chad M.
Had the spicy seafood Alfredo pasta, calamari, and Cesar salad. All was tasty, good food at a good price. Service was fine, drinks were kept filled. Nice place to eat Italian food. Was plenty of seats and no wait, lots of close parking.
(4)Angel D.
We went on Valentine's Day so naturally the wait was long, but not as long as a few other places we tried. Once we were seated, our waitress was super friendly and didn't seem overwhelmed even though they were very busy. Service was so quick. I was shocked. We had the calamari which was amazing. Our food was delicious and by bf's steak was cooked perfectly! Overall an absolutely enjoyable experience once we sat down. The noise level wasn't even loud even though they have an open kitchen and so many people. I will totally go back again.
(5)Paula M.
Bread and oil/pesto came first. It was pretty good. No bold flavors like Buca though. The appetizer was just ok. A little disappointing that a regular bruschetta is not on the menu anymore. We ordered a really tomato-flavored-sauce-blended-with-melted-cheese bruschetta. It came with 6 small slices of toasted bread. The toasted bread tasted good. The house salad (included with my entree price) was just lettuce and lots of carrots. It wasn't much of a variety to eat and got boring after a few bites, however, they had balsamic dressing. So, I was a little satisfied. The entree came and that looked liked the star of the show! I ordered the baked ravioli land my boyfriend had lasagna. We were both pleased. The ravioli had a breaded, toasted texture which was different. It didn't have any dry/rubbery taste in my mouth. Carrabbas provides a different pleasing ambience than what Olive Garden gives the customer, which is a compliment. We will be back - and it definitely tops Olive Garden and Carino's.
(4)Steve F.
Everyone was talking about how this is a chain....well, I personally love reviewing chains. Its the way that we know if there is consistent service/etc while traveling... I had never been to a Carrabba's before last night. I probably never would have gone because the chain idea....and there are great chain Italian options nearby (Johnny Carino's, Olive Garden, Bucca do Beppo's, etc....). We got a gift card for Xmas. The free bread they give is par. It was nothing special...you get to dip in olive oil with a couple spices....nothing to write home about. We had the fire roasted bruschetta for our appetizer. We love bruschetta. This had such a different twist on a classic. I loved it! It looked like salsa, but had huge chunks of basil with a perfectly toasted slice of bread. Yum! The entree came with a soup or salad. My man got the salad and said it was good and had kalamata olives and lots of cheese. I got the minestrone soup. Again, they put a completely different twist to the soup. Its not at all what I was expecting....but it was great on a cold winter day. I could have stopped eating after the soup and been full... Then came the entrees while I was already full. I had the tagrialini (sp?) noodles which were another new item for me. This was a delicious pillowy angel hair pasta with Picchi Pachui sauce (garlic, oil, tomato). It came with a ton of veggies. All prices were so reasonable. $12 for my Donner, $8 for appetizer, $8 for a quartino of wine, $15 for the entree with meat.....and we have lunch today! Total including tip for 2=$50
(4)Michele B.
Wonderful atmosphere, thoroughly enjoyed a late lunch of ravioli. Salad was perfectly served with olives on a chilled plate, awesome presentation. The red sauce is outstanding & so fresh tasting! The service was exemplary. This is the best Italian restaurant in the area!
(4)Dana A.
Yummy. Friendly staff. Excellent food. beautiful wines. If there is a problem they are always willing and ready to make it right.
(5)Pat B.
Walked to Carraba's from Fairfield Inn. Our waitress, Meghann, was very attentive and even refigured our bill after we belatedly presented a $10.00 coupon. My husband is an amateur lasagna critic, and declared this lasagna as excellent. I had shrimp and scallops in a tomato vodka sauce. It was served hot and full of shrimp and scallops - very tasty.
(5)Chris Y.
Like many, I'm not in the habit of reviewing chains, but I had a great meal at Carrabba's this weekend! The atmosphere is great and even on a busy Saturday night they move people with fast efficient service. I really liked the visual appeal of the dining room nad the lighting. The free basket of bread is just ok. Most places have better bread, We had the calamari appetizer, which was great. The breading was so tasty I didn't bother to dip in marinara. The superstar of the night was sausage and lentil soup. This stuff was fantastic! Spicy Italian sausage, tender lentils, in a rich reduced broth with Italian seasonings. I think this is a fall seasonal item - not on the menu. My meal was the johnny Combo - Sirloin Marsala and Chicken Bryan with garlic mashed potatoes. The steak was correctly cooked to medium with a marsala and mushroom sauce It was tender and tasty! The Chicken Bryan is a seasoned grilled chicken breast topped with fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and sun dried tomato. Great flavor in everything and more mashed potatoes than most people would eat. I was pleasantly surprised!
(4)Reed N.
I like Carrabbas. It is hard for a franchise Italian place to make it with all of the nice little mom and pop places. Carrabbas does it by keeping it simple. The menu is a one page affair. The flip side being wine and beer. I like that. And it also allows them to make the limited number of items well... instead of a bunch of items mediocre. I had the Johnny combo... Sirloin Marsala and Chicken Bryan. Both very flavorful and totally different. It was a good combo. The sirlion was earthy and salty with the sauce, ham, and mushrooms. Really good. The chicken was also very bold... with earthy sun-dried tomatoes and tangy goat cheese... all brought together with a little herb butter. There are some decent wines at about $10 and under for a glass. Not the cheapest place for wine... but not the most pricey either. Our group of eight had great service.
(4)Angie A.
I know I know it's a chain...but hey it's not Applebees! Hands down the best Veal Marsala I've ever had. I do a happy dance just thinking about it. Sorry if you have a problem with Veal. I grew up on a Cattle farm and bottle fed some of the Veal...they are so cute...and tasty! If you just can't do the Veal they also have Beef, Chicken, & Pork Marsala. It's so good I'm happy to drive to Southport from Speedway just to eat here.
(4)Todd S.
Another great visit to this Carrabba's --- the food was superb and the service , outstanding! Mahi Wulfe style is dynamite as is the Johnny Rocca salad with yummy shrimp and scallops ! The Sangria selection is perfect ! Will return next weekend for our regular visit !
(5)Mark V.
I am long overdue to review a sit down chain restaurant, and I would like to start off by saying Carrabba's is a "decent" restaurant even though I am going to pick it apart. I am not directing this to Carrabba only, but more to all chain restaurants and I why I so despise them. Before the food, I just want to say that Carrabba's is a nice looking place both inside and out, and for the most part the service is average or above average. I went in for their 3 entrees for $15.00. I had the Chicken Bryan, Lasagne and one other pasta dish. They start you off with bread and olive oil with a seasoning plate. I enjoy the bread and it is good for a starter. Second, you get a choice of salad. I always get the Italian salad which is just average, but is better than any of the other salad choices. Here comes the entrée! It is on a huge plate even though over half the plate is empty space. The Chicken Bryan is my recommended dish for this place based on taste only. My big complaint is that the size of the chicken breast keeps getting smaller and smaller. If you're a young lady watching her weight or a 7 year old kid, this might be the perfect size. The flavor is great with the goat cheese on top. On the regular menu, I believe one breast is $14.99 and two are $17.99 and this is way over priced for the portion size. The Lasagne is below average and I would avoid it. The last dish was a pasta dish with a spicy red sauce. This was bland and look terrible on the plate. The sauce was runny. I am sure every ounce on that plate was to specifications by this corporation. It looked very cookie cutter to me. Here are the reasons I do not eat at this chain restaurant or any others more than a couple of times per year. 1. Where does your money go. First high end rent/lease for the building. Multi million dollar advertising budget. The rest goes to Bloomin' Brands. They pay their employees as little as possible and they put as little as possible into their food. This is all about getting you to spend as much as possible but giving you very little in return. If we ever want to have an America for everyone to live the American dream, we have to stop supporting these corporations that funnel all of our money to the wealthiest one percent. 2. There is not one person in the entire organization that cares about you as a customer. You are cattle to them. They want you to move through in a prescribe period of time, have an average check size and flip your table to the next cow (family) in line. 3. The quality of the food. Again this place is better than most chain restaurants. However, your food is product of focus groups and research. The goal is to make you happy but to give you as little as possible with no attention to quality, but at the same time charge you the maximum amount. Why do so many people go to chain restaurants? The power of suggestion. Watching TV and the commercials that companies spend 100s of millions of dollars to get you to walk through that door. Fear of the mom and pop place. I can guarantee you that these chain restaurants are on the whole dirtier, more food sanitation issues, with cooks that are being underpaid and don't care about their jobs versus a quality well run mom and pop place. Every time, I walk into these places and spend my hard earn money, I am feeding the cold corporate monsters that are ruining this great country. With that said, I will not eat at this place again, and I will miss the Chicken Bryan, but I have to vote with my wallet and my money needs to be spent on top notch local restaurants. If you are bored of chain restaurants and think for yourself and are not manipulated by millions of dollars in TV commercials to make yourself believe you have to eat average to below average overpriced food at some chain restaurant, I am one of you. Let's all keep supporting the true food scene in Indiana.
(3)T Q.
Portion was a little less than expected,however,the taste and service were excellent. Will come back again.
(4)Joe E.
I've been going here for many years. It's our go-to Italian place on the south side. The food is very good and consistently so. The service is attentive but not annoying. Fast but usually not rushed. They can be pretty packed sometimes, so a wait isn't unheard of. They do offer call-ahead seating, if you're so inclined. Our favorites are the Chicken Bryan (mine) and the Sirloin Marsala (wife's). There are only a couple things I'd stay away from, and that'll be easy because they were seasonal specials offered in the past. But in case it comes up again, their risotto isn't "right." I don't know exactly what's wrong about it -- it looks like you'd expect a risotto. But it doesn't taste or feel right. Or something I can't put my finger on. Let's be clear about one thing: It's not a cheap eat. Dinner for two with a shared appetizer and dessert will in the neighborhood of $60, without wine. That said, it's good enough to pull that price. PS: blackberry sangria? Oh yes, it's worth $10 for a quartino.
(4)Mark C.
I used to come here a lot and never had a bad experience. Last night lived up to the same memories I had. Our waitress, according to the manager, was rather new. She was fantastic! The food was great!! The table behind us had some problems with manners and how to respect a waitress, the manager handled the situation very professionaly. It was all around a great evening.
(5)Wally P.
My wife and I ate at Carrabba's Italian Grill for the first time last week and we had a very good experience. She loved her spaghetti with Meat Sauce and I had the grilled pork chop was really good.
(4)TOMMY o.
At the end of restaurant alley, a dead end ..great for nearby hotel guests handicapped bathroom stall had it's own sink, bar with TV great coffee not sure if it's coffee, cute little bread baskets
(4)Leslie H.
Service was great. However, its a hit and miss when it comes to the food. The calamari was salty, the salad was good, the pasta was decent and the dessert is ok.
(3)Leah H.
Wonderful food and service. My husband and I had never been, but will likely visit another based on our good experience. We are from out of town and will look for one by us!
(5)Kristy R.
Ok I love this place but tonight was different had Casey as a server took forever to get even waters when asked for something did not get it. The people behind me also had her and he had a complaint on his desert and she said "I'm sorry some of our cooks here suck." Said this to a table of older people. Second the people who brought me the salad practically threw the plates down said nothing and just walked off. I was really shocked and dissapointed in the service the food and just my overall experience this time.
(2)Jennifer F.
Good food. Good service. The only complaint was that there were not enough dishes that included Italian sausage. Service was good. steak was very tender and well-done.
(4)Molly W.
This was our first-ever experience at Carrabba's. We'll probably be back, but we won't be regulars. The good -- Our server, Mary Beth, was friendly and overall great. The bread and oil was more than sufficient -- and I appreciated they kept the olive oil on the table so you could add more to the spices if necessary. The food was served fast. We were in and out in 45 minutes. 45 MINUTES! And my husband loved the double-decker brownie drizzled with Kahlua and chocolate. The maybe-could-do-better part -- As another reviewer mentioned, the food was slightly better than Olive Garden, but it wasn't as good as some other Italian places we've eaten at in the South Indy/Greenwood area. And while I mentioned our server was great, there were three staff members standing at the door -- and keep in mind it wasn't busy -- who couldn't bother to tell us thanks for coming, have a good day, nothing. It didn't ruin our experience, but it just would have been a nice touch.
(3)Matt H.
My wife and I used to be regulars here, unfortunately they seem to keep raising the prices every time we go there. The atmosphere is very relaxing while you listen to some great jazz, big band and vocal music! The food is excellent, I always order the chicken bryan, it is my favorite. My wife loves the sirloin marsala! They have excellent service and this place seems very clean. We have never had a complaint about this place, we will be back many more times!
(4)Pat S.
Used to love this restaurant. I was surprised when we went last weekend and there was virtually no wait. After the service we received, I can understand why no one wants to eat here! Our waiter was friendly until we said no thank you to appetizers or adult beverages. Do they receive a commission on these? After that, he was very rude. He literally dropped our plates on the table when he brought out our food. I honestly have never had such deliberately rude service in a restaurant. It doesn't matter how good their food is, my family and I will NEVER eat here again.
(1)Michelle M.
Did you know? Carrabba's has a new menu and I hate it.. I used to get the salmon salad which was amazingly delicious with the citrus vinagrette. They dont have it anymore... so I opted for the shrimp and scallop salad, which was wilted, bitter, oily, and not as good. I was really disappointed. However, their chicken soup is always good. Go for that.
(2)Niki U.
My boys and I have been here a few times. The food is pretty good. My son loves the norwegian salmon and always asks to return for it. My younger son gets the spaghetti and meatball(s) off the kids menu for $5.99. One big meatball and good tomato sauce hits the spot. They also give kids a bit of pizza dough if you ask for free. The boys love making little pizzas while they wait. I think it is a bit over priced and havent had great luck w/ the adult menu. Good house salad. I've had the chicken cannelloni (eh) and angel hair pasta with basil and tomato (better). Overall, not earth shattering but OK for an overpriced Olive Garden.
(3)J J.
Friendly, efficient wait service. Food was descent with fairly good prices. Better than an olive garden but nothing to rave about either.
(3)