After almost 2 hours of waiting and other parties with 2 people being sat before my wife and i even though they came after us ...the food was very disappointing!!! Bone in my chicken soup and both of our meals burned so badly i couldnt even use a steak knife to cut through my lasagna!!! The manager recooked the food but it tasted like cardboard...wont go back to this location again!!!
(1)
Kerry C.
Let me first preface that we love Carrabba's! we know what we like and we don't stray too far from that. The food is consistent with all the other Carrabba's that we've gone too. The staff is very friendly. The biggest issue that I have is takeout. For some unknown reason we order takeout our order is wrong. Then we wait for them to get it right. We might as well dine-in. The last time I had the soup I found a bone! That pretty much ended my love affair with their soup. We're still going to go to Carrabba's but having a salad from now on.
(3)
Terry R.
Two stars for the food. Three start blanked for the mindless staff, the customers and the logistics of the restaurant. The hostess led us to our table and it was like making my way thru a sea of the fat, the obnoxious, and the trash I THOUGHT Ellicott City wouldn't have as visitors. It was like an Atlantic City Greyhound on its way back from the Claridge pulled up and filled the fake Italian villa. After a 10 minute adventure the hostess brought us to a table. When we asked if we could have a booth instead, the 80 pound pimple looked at us like we had asked her for her plan to eradicate world hunger. She finally spit out "uuuuhhhh you may have to wait .. longer". Considering there were two empty booths right next to us .. we quickly replied that we understood and would sit at the table we didn't want. Where we had a front row view of no patrons using the comfy padded seat my butt so desired. The food was decent but overpriced and under-portioned. I'm not sure why I don't stick to being the guy I was in my 20s. He stayed far away from chains such as this. In Little Italy there wouldn't be enough trunks to hold all the bodies if the idiots here got whacked. Take a PASS. PS. Watch out for the greyhound
(2)
Paul S.
Wasn't the worst experience nor was it the greatest. There were 7 of us, did call ahead seating for 7:30pm, called at noon to let them know this. Arrived 30 mins early and still waited a total of an hour 30 mins. An hour for the reservation in which we asked why weren't we buzzed yet, they said they were clearing/setting up the table (an additional 20 mins of wait time later we got seated) Waitress said bread could not be given until salads came which is a lie, other locations give you bread right away. Though the appetizers and salads did come quickly one guest had eaten already and wanted a desert right away. They ignored this request. Once we all inquired about dessert mid-meal we were informed the brownie we all wanted (especially the person who wanted one 30 mins ago) was all gone. I got a tiramisu to go but no one else got a dessert if they couldn't have the brownie. Refills on sodas were not a problem, my meal tasted great, i loved the mozzarella sticks, best I ever tasted. One friend said it tasted like her Manicotti was undercooked. They did take the charge off the bill when she sent it back but it said "Don't like it" on the Bill. Seemed like a rude statement in my opinion. Overall a very mixed experience, would go back but perhaps earlier if we can help it. Most places like these you need to show up at 4pm to get a great dining experience.
(3)
Bill K.
My wife and I went on a slow Monday evening to try Carraba's. We've lived in the area for many years and had never been to this Carraba's since it opened - mainly since we have a wonderful little Italian place near our home that we prefer. The service was acceptable. Attentive, without being too attentive. The food was, as the Yelp two star indicator describes, "meh." It seemed on the bland side and just didn't wow me at all. The mozzarella sticks were heavy and greasy, the chicken parmesan didn't even come with pasta unless you ordered it as a side (WTH!?).
(2)
Ma-e M.
It's surprising to find that this particular Carrabas location is not in the yelp list that I have to add it. How long is this particular Carrabas have been in this location? It's kinda disturbing to me that I have been eating out in chain restaurants instead of trying independent own restaurants in the area; this is because there are not a lot of small business restaurants in Maryland. The outer areas of Baltimore City is not really fully urbanized. These so called semi-cities such as Ellicott City, Columbia although are flourishing in building beautiful, large lot expensive houses, they lack creativity, innovation, and business savy to establish small business restaurants that can become world class status similar to restaurants of NYC, Chicago, and DC. Well, I'm not really a fan of Carrabbas; some people like Carrabbas, but not me. I like Olive Garden better because OG is more authentic and has nicer decor and different kinds of italian food style. Carrabbas is rustic, stuffy, and dark. Bertucci is better design than Carrabbas. It's sad that Carrabbas has this effect on me. I could imagine that other customers too are getting the similar vibe. At that time, we did not have any complains on how fast and nice the service was. The food was okay, however, I don't find Carrabas menu appealing; the menu is short, direct, and not much of options to choose from. And it needs change in menu; it needs specials.
(3)
Allison L.
I have to say, this really is a good chain. And they're clearly doing something right since there's generally an hour long wait at dinner time (call ahead seating is absolutely necessary). The food is, for the most part, consistently good. I've had several dishes here over the course of a few years and the pollo rosa maria chicken, lobster ravioli, and grilled salmon are some of the best. The calamari ricardo (calamari with a spicy lemon butter sauce with chopped peppers) is awesome. Their fresh baked bread is really good and comes with really good olive oil and spices. Most dishes come with soup or salad. The house dressing (creamy parmesan) is really good and fattening. The garlic mashed potatos are pretty excellent. The last time we were there, we got the calamari for an app and I got the grilled salmon while the boyfriend got the veal parmesan. My salmon was cooked well and came with a lemon butter sauce and garlic mashed potatos. Definitely enough for 2-3 meals although the leftovers didn't reheat very well. Wayyyy better than the Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill, not quite as good as Maggiano's.
(4)
Standards H.
For a chain restaurant, I thinks Carrabas is pretty good. I don't particularly appreciate that they don't take reservations but this evening we got right in. Our server was very nice although I think he could have had a bit more wine knowledge, however, I understand given the type if restaurant this is, wine knowledge isn't necessarily a priority. My favorite dish is the chicken bryan (I can't ever get enough goat cheese) but I usually get the chicken trio so I don't get bored. The servings are large and filling but not to the point that I need to be wheeled out. They also have a nice fair priced wine list for a chain. Overall, a good week night somewhat inexpensive and filling meal.
(4)
RB19971 R.
We visited some friends in Ellicott City and I asked if we could go the Carrabba's. Shocking! The service was slower than a wet week - we asked a number of times for missing dishes, refills etc I would NOT recommend it.
(1)
Mike W.
Great place to eat for grown folks. Its a little difficult to please children (pizza usually works). The staff is fantastic and the food is always awesome. Being in the industry I will tip my hat to the management as I'm sure it is not easy to keep employees as long as this place seems to. Each time I go in I recognize at least 3 employees that have been there for a number of years. In this industry that's hard to find....
(3)
Kristin A.
By far one of the best dining experiences we've had in the 'burbs. You can't beat the prices, consistency and very friendly staff. My husband and I have tried some of the trendy restaurants in Ellicott City and every time we do, we wish we had just gone to Carrabas!
(5)
Tho D.
I've eaten at this place multiple times and I have to say that I am still disappointed at the quality of the food. I mean, the best dish I've had there so far was the lobster ravioli, and it's not even worth $18. Everything else was mediocre so I don't think I'll eat at Carabba's again.
(2)
NK B.
Yay! We (my wife, son and myself) are a fan! It is now in our "repeat" list of restaurants. Pleasant ambiance, friendly staff, tasty delicious food and quick service. We had Mozzarella Marinara appetizer. Man O Man....it was so delicious that we 3 finished it off in a split of a second. The marinara sauce is zesty and adds flavor to cheese sticks. And then we had Chicken Bryan. I just have no words to explain the beauty of that entree. The basil lemon butter sauce along with the goat cheese is like Romeo and Juliet! Now when you are at Carrabbas, you must not leave without having Creme Brulee. What an awesome dessert! Completely enjoyed the whole experience. And yes O yes....they have this special ice cream - Blue Bell Home Made vanilla - which you can find only in TX. If you have a kid, he/she will become an instant fan of it.
(4)
Robyn S.
Went out for dinner on a Sunday night of a Holiday weekend... so a busy night. There was a very long wait, but we had called ahead to put our name in, so only had to wait about 10 minutes. Every staff person was friendly, and greeted us. Our waiter, Tucker was exceptional! I'm a pretty picky customer with high expectations for customer service, and Tucker exceeded them all. He was friendly, professional and helpful. He had some great recommendations about different dishes, which he thought were very good, and some he thought were not as good. I really love when a waiter is intimately familiar with a menu, and has his own preferences! I loved that he was able to be relaxed and joke with us, but not be so familiar that he didn't maintain his professionalism. He seemed to really like what he did, and was very good at it! The food was also very good. There were 3 of us, and we got the grilled salmon (very tasty and delicious), the chicken marsala (the sauce is excellent!) and the chicken brian (a really delightful combination of flavors- really delicious!).... we each got salads, very nice! And the vegetable of the day was zucchini (nice, but I didn't love the sauce that was over it. I would have preferred it grilled). Dessert was a Cinnamon Apple Crostada that Tucker recommended we split. I didn't partake (too full!), but it was reported to be very good! The food came in a timely fashion, with the salads perfectly timed to come early. Tucker kept the pace of our meal at a perfect speed (even though they could have been justified in rushing us with the amount of people waiting to be seated). We were never ignored for any length of time, and he came to check on us after we received our food, something many wait staff forget. Overall the food was very good, but they get a 5 Stars because of the excellent service that we received. Great job Tucker! I hope that your coworkers are as good as you! If so, I'll be back!
(5)
BJ F.
Love the food here but not waiting for it. You have to either come early, before 5 , or after 8 , to get a table easily. Ask for your salad dressing on the side it can be too heavy if they toss it for you. Service is usually very good. Can sometimes be too rushed because they get so busy. Prices are pretty good for what you get. I usually bring home food and have lunch the next day.
(4)
Jana V.
The "Pasta Carrabba", which is what they call fettuccine alfredo, is as good as my own homemade. I mean it does not even need salt or pepper! I get it without the chicken, and ask for the mushrooms sauteed extra well done. The fettuccine tastes like it was made that morning, and the mushrooms taste like they're sauteed in sherry, w/ maybe a hint of butter and garlic. It tastes perfect every time, too. My son gets the Sirloin Marsala, which is cut-with-your-fork tender, and topped with mushrooms sauteed in a sweet red wine sauce. Out of maybe 10 times I only sent it back once, because the steak did not cut with a butter knife like it usually does. The manager apologized profusely, quickly got us another, perfect steak, and gave us a discount coupon for our next visit. I have been eating here since 2001, about 6 times a year or more.
(5)
Emily R.
Went to Carrabba's to celebrate Father's Day/my grandma's birthday. And no, I didn't take MY mama to Carrabba's; my mama wanted to take HER mama to Carrabba's. Just so she could sing the song. As soon as we got into the restaurant. This was my first time at a Carrabba's and my impression was that it's basically like an Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill. Meh, food was fine, we had an attentive waitress. I had the mezzaluna, ravioli with chicken and spinach. I also was freezing most of the time, despite the fact that I had long sleeves on, and my butt was killing me from sitting in a wooden chair. I should probably attribute these complaints to the fact that I was sick, so maybe I would have had a different experience had I not been feeling poorly.
(3)
Phil D.
Calamari is great. Their curbside takeout works really well. The atmosphere is relaxing too. Often has a pretty long wait especially on weekends.
(3)
jong m.
I really don't care what other people say. Comments like these are based on your experience. Had dinner with my wife and a couple of friends and we had a blast. I like the food. So good! My rating should have been 5 star, but our server didn't quite fair well. I will come back there again!!! Good food!!!!
(4)
Danielle J.
My parents & I started going here sometime in the first year that they were open... I'm pretty sure that was at least 10 years ago and I still love this place. I know it's a suburban chain but honestly I've always enjoyed my my dinner here.... and lunch the next day. Hooray for leftovers! The food is consistent and I cannot recall a time where we've sent something back. I think service is consistently good here, nothing great nothing bad. We ALWAYS get the shrimp scampi... garlic lovers, this is paradise. My favorite dish is the Pollo Rosa Maria, followed closely by Mezzaluna and Chicken Marsala. My dad always gets Spiedino Di Mare (not as big of a portion but the scallops are delish) and my mom usually gets the Italian Classics Combo. As far as drinks: Blackberry Sangria Pitcher, period. They used to offer a full size portion of the Dessert Rosa, which we'd scarf down in about 2 minutes flat, but now it only comes in the mini portion. :( The John Cole Sundae is yummy if you want something on the lighter side. I haven't had the Tiramisu in awhile but I remember enjoying it.
(4)
David P.
Love this place - for a chain, it's far and away the best Italian food around here on a consistent basis. Friday and Saturday nights can get crowded with long waits for a table but that's OK. The wait staff is generally good although our waitress we had tonight was an unpleasant exception to that. Pricing is on the higher side for casual dining but I feel like you get what you pay for here. Desert is usually awesome and their specials are great. The standards (lasagna, spagetti, manicotti, etc.) are all up to snuff and then some.
(4)
Yaka H.
I feel a bit odd for giving a chain restaurant such a high rating, but the food was actually quite decent (went Friday night). SX and I didn't plan on going to Carrabba's. Like some of the other diners, we originally planned on eating at the Outback which is next door. The wait was too long so we just went on next door. We browsed the menu while waiting to be seated and we seemed a bit skeptical due to the dish names (same of these dishes really could have better names, imo). We started off with the calamari appetizer with both the marinara sauce and the ricardo sauce. The portion size was very generous. Also, it was 50/50 crispy legs or crispy, tender squid body (erm, I'm not sure what the technical term is for that part of the squid). As a person who loves to eat the legs, it was wonderful. It's rare to get this many legs these days. Afterwards, the soup (tomato basil, nice a thick) and salad (creamy parm dressing). For the entree, I opted for the veal marsala. It was surprisingly tender. The sauce was rich and had the yummy butter undertones. The mushrooms are sauteed until super small (looked unnaturally small to me, but cute in an odd way) but, my dish had a large helping of them. I only wished for some minced parsley to be sprinkled on top. I opted to not get the usual side for marsala (mashed potatoes) and asked for rigatoni in marinara sauce. It's the same sauce as used in the calamari app. and I really liked it. Chunky tomatoes, visible pieces of basil and chopped garlic, it was a quite change from the watery, one-note marinara found at such restaurants. SX got the Pollo Rosa Maria which was equally flavorful (though his mushrooms looked bigger than mine!). SX loves mushrooms, so he certainly welcomed the large heap of mushrooms. Our server was courteous, but seemed a bit awkward in his serving style. But, he was attentive to refill our drinks and stopped by to see how everything was. SX and I were pleasantly surprised at the quality of food for this chain restaurant. I thought the food here was a notch better than the Olive garden. We hope to have the same positive experience the next time we come (seems that other reviewers have questioned it's consistency).
(4)
Chris N.
Carrabba's is probably my favorite Italian chain. The food is consistently good across locations, the wine selection is ample, and the Chicken Bryan is 3 kinds of divine. My friends and I spent every Friday night at the Shreveport, LA location back in college. The Ellicott City Long Gate location, however, is a shame and a mockery to the franchise. I have been to the location 3 times hoping that maybe it was just an "off night." Sadly, that was not the case. I should point out that I'm not a picky eater or a gourmet. I just expect a basic level of competence. Hosting: The wait is normally not too bad, and the staff is courteous. Wait time estimates are accurate and there is ample seating in this location. Wait Staff: The last time I went it was horribly incompetent and clumsy. We ordered a bottle of the Argentinian Syrah since it was "wine night." The server was apparently untrained in how to open a bottle of wine. The corkscrew was barely inserted before yanking so of course she broke the cork in half. She returned to the bar to "get another bottle" and returned with the same bottle shortly and a Beringer cork so it looked like it was in fact a different bottle. Of course, we ended up with little pieces of cork in our glasses from the removal of the broken piece. Later on, more clumsiness resulted in Parmesan cheese falling in both my wine and water glasses. Food: Trip # 1 was acceptable. The Pasta Weezie was what I expected. Trip #2 involved cardboard - literally. I ordered a pasta dish once (I forget which one) and noticed 2 pieces of what looked like oddly colored linguini - gray, with an odd texture. Further examination showed that they were in fact little strips of cardboard, like the kind you tear off some cardboard boxes to easily open them. Trip # 3 (the corky-wine night) my chicken was not just overdone, but burned to a blackened crisp. It literally crunched when I tried to cut into it, despite being covered in sauce. Needless to say, I won't put myself through another try. 3 times is enough.
(1)
Emmy M.
Went with my family this (Saturday) evening. The salad was decent, but way too much dressing, and the waiter was nice and good about refilling sodas, but the part that ruined it was the food. I got the Pasta Carrabba and it was disgusting. It wasn't an alfredo sauce at all, or if it was it had been sitting there long enough to separate. The peas also weren't very good. I didn't have the chicken, but then again my dinning companions didn't finish their chicken so it couldn't have been vary good. Can't say I'd voluntarily go back again.
(2)
Todd K.
We had a choice of sitting at the main bar or the bar overlooking the kitchen.. we opted for the main bar. that was a huge mistake. the bartenders preferred to wash glasses and pick up crumbs from the floor instead of serve beers. I was soooo frustrated by the end that I didnt even leave a tip. this is the first time I ever even considered not leaving one. The food was cold and terrible and the service was unbelievably bad. They had 3 bartenders too! The couple next to us was complaining just as much so I know it wasnt us! If there was a zero stars this would have received it! good luck!
(1)
Lori D.
This place is hit or miss, never consistent. Sometimes the calamari is fantastic, other times it seems underdone. Sometimes the service is fantastic, other times it leaves much to be desired. I think your best bet with this location is to make sure they're not too busy...
(2)
Hoyt H.
Went here for the first time a few days ago, during dinner service. The place was packed, so the food took a little while to come out, but it was quite tasty. I tried the chicken trio, which was well cooked and tasty. It came with a salad, so I tried the house salad. Also tasty. Service was friendly, which is appreciated. It was a little on the spendy side, so I don't think we'll be back often, but we'll definitely try again.
(4)
Brook H.
I have always enjoyed Carrabba's, both the one in Bowie and this one down the street. The food is excellent and I have never had a meal that wasn't tasty. The service has always been good and our server has done their best to pay attention to us. Although a bit pricey, it's worth every penny for what you're eating. A bit of a warning, though, that this place gets extremely crowded. The dinner rush is bad enough; the Fri. & Sat. dinner rush is almost unbearable. Although this is to be expected, it does affect the dining experience beyond the usual wait. Also, Carrabba's really tries to squeeze a lot of tables into a limited space. This means you're often eating back-to-back or elbow-to-back with nearby diners (if you're sat in the middle and not a booth). In addition, your server can ~try~ to pay attention to you, but if they're handling tons of people there will be delays. Still, this is my mother's favorite place and I really do love eating here. If you don't mind a bit of a wait, or try to eat in the off-hours, then this place is great. Alternately, call in with your name on a busy night; it's awesome to just walk in, say your name, and be shown to your table (to the chagrin of those still waiting :P).
(4)
LC C.
Went here last week with a party of 10. The service was impeccable. We had 2 servers waiting on us and they were very friendly and knowledgeable. They also kept up with drink refills and came to check on us often. I ordered the lobster ravioli which wasnt great IMO. I wouldnt reccomend it. Everyone else loved their food. I ventured out and tried something different which was a miss, for me. Overall, the place was clean, nice atmosphere, and friendly staff.
(4)
BRANDON P.
An excellent Italian Restaurant! This place I must say has very good food and service. Our waiter, Jason, did a phenomenal job and is truly a consummate professional at what he does. He was very courteous and considerate. The timing between ordering food, preparation, and serving was on point almost down to a science it would seem. My lovely wife and I will come back soon as well as recommend this place to friends. Lastly, I decided to go out my way to inform the Manager how excellent this place is as well. Keep up the great work everyone!
(5)
Jason W.
Food is always good but sometimes, its great. A bit more consistency would do them well. Service is always top notch.
(4)
Stefanie A.
It's not gourmet, but it's good. We don't do chain restaurants. However, if we're going to go to one, we'll come here. We shared the mussels; my oh were they good. My boyfriend had the Weensie pasta and I had the pork tenderloin. While it was tasty, the portions for my meal were a bit small. I shared this the manager, and she was gracious and listened. We enjoyed the meal & and the service so much we'll be coming back.
(4)
Carissa C.
Went there with my family and for the most part the experience was great. UNTIL my daughter saw a poor mouse slowly walking under our table. I believe he was going to die soon. We immediately got our waiter without causing a scene. She was so shocked and said she has not seen a mouse in the years of being here. Which was fine. I totally understand. But it was the management that was lacking! She got her manager and he nonchalantly got a broom and dust pan, walked right by our table, swept up the mouse, looked right at us and kept going. Now i wasnt looking for a discount, or free food. But maybe an apology? Ive worked in the restaurant business and ive seen better customer service than that coming from management. But luckily our server was more understanding, she was great. She got her manager to take off 20% of our bill. Which was not necessary but showed she cared! Food though, really yummy! I WILL Return.
(4)
Sylvia B.
I love everything about this place. I purchased the chicken marsala with mushrooms. Staff is very friendly and punctual. Wine was excellent as well. I ordered the red wine called Ecco Domani Merlot from Italy;-). I always leave very pleased and satisfied.
(5)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :4430 Long Gate Pkwy
Ellicott City, MD, 21043
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.
Joe K.
After almost 2 hours of waiting and other parties with 2 people being sat before my wife and i even though they came after us ...the food was very disappointing!!! Bone in my chicken soup and both of our meals burned so badly i couldnt even use a steak knife to cut through my lasagna!!! The manager recooked the food but it tasted like cardboard...wont go back to this location again!!!
(1)Kerry C.
Let me first preface that we love Carrabba's! we know what we like and we don't stray too far from that. The food is consistent with all the other Carrabba's that we've gone too. The staff is very friendly. The biggest issue that I have is takeout. For some unknown reason we order takeout our order is wrong. Then we wait for them to get it right. We might as well dine-in. The last time I had the soup I found a bone! That pretty much ended my love affair with their soup. We're still going to go to Carrabba's but having a salad from now on.
(3)Terry R.
Two stars for the food. Three start blanked for the mindless staff, the customers and the logistics of the restaurant. The hostess led us to our table and it was like making my way thru a sea of the fat, the obnoxious, and the trash I THOUGHT Ellicott City wouldn't have as visitors. It was like an Atlantic City Greyhound on its way back from the Claridge pulled up and filled the fake Italian villa. After a 10 minute adventure the hostess brought us to a table. When we asked if we could have a booth instead, the 80 pound pimple looked at us like we had asked her for her plan to eradicate world hunger. She finally spit out "uuuuhhhh you may have to wait .. longer". Considering there were two empty booths right next to us .. we quickly replied that we understood and would sit at the table we didn't want. Where we had a front row view of no patrons using the comfy padded seat my butt so desired. The food was decent but overpriced and under-portioned. I'm not sure why I don't stick to being the guy I was in my 20s. He stayed far away from chains such as this. In Little Italy there wouldn't be enough trunks to hold all the bodies if the idiots here got whacked. Take a PASS. PS. Watch out for the greyhound
(2)Paul S.
Wasn't the worst experience nor was it the greatest. There were 7 of us, did call ahead seating for 7:30pm, called at noon to let them know this. Arrived 30 mins early and still waited a total of an hour 30 mins. An hour for the reservation in which we asked why weren't we buzzed yet, they said they were clearing/setting up the table (an additional 20 mins of wait time later we got seated) Waitress said bread could not be given until salads came which is a lie, other locations give you bread right away. Though the appetizers and salads did come quickly one guest had eaten already and wanted a desert right away. They ignored this request. Once we all inquired about dessert mid-meal we were informed the brownie we all wanted (especially the person who wanted one 30 mins ago) was all gone. I got a tiramisu to go but no one else got a dessert if they couldn't have the brownie. Refills on sodas were not a problem, my meal tasted great, i loved the mozzarella sticks, best I ever tasted. One friend said it tasted like her Manicotti was undercooked. They did take the charge off the bill when she sent it back but it said "Don't like it" on the Bill. Seemed like a rude statement in my opinion. Overall a very mixed experience, would go back but perhaps earlier if we can help it. Most places like these you need to show up at 4pm to get a great dining experience.
(3)Bill K.
My wife and I went on a slow Monday evening to try Carraba's. We've lived in the area for many years and had never been to this Carraba's since it opened - mainly since we have a wonderful little Italian place near our home that we prefer. The service was acceptable. Attentive, without being too attentive. The food was, as the Yelp two star indicator describes, "meh." It seemed on the bland side and just didn't wow me at all. The mozzarella sticks were heavy and greasy, the chicken parmesan didn't even come with pasta unless you ordered it as a side (WTH!?).
(2)Ma-e M.
It's surprising to find that this particular Carrabas location is not in the yelp list that I have to add it. How long is this particular Carrabas have been in this location? It's kinda disturbing to me that I have been eating out in chain restaurants instead of trying independent own restaurants in the area; this is because there are not a lot of small business restaurants in Maryland. The outer areas of Baltimore City is not really fully urbanized. These so called semi-cities such as Ellicott City, Columbia although are flourishing in building beautiful, large lot expensive houses, they lack creativity, innovation, and business savy to establish small business restaurants that can become world class status similar to restaurants of NYC, Chicago, and DC. Well, I'm not really a fan of Carrabbas; some people like Carrabbas, but not me. I like Olive Garden better because OG is more authentic and has nicer decor and different kinds of italian food style. Carrabbas is rustic, stuffy, and dark. Bertucci is better design than Carrabbas. It's sad that Carrabbas has this effect on me. I could imagine that other customers too are getting the similar vibe. At that time, we did not have any complains on how fast and nice the service was. The food was okay, however, I don't find Carrabas menu appealing; the menu is short, direct, and not much of options to choose from. And it needs change in menu; it needs specials.
(3)Allison L.
I have to say, this really is a good chain. And they're clearly doing something right since there's generally an hour long wait at dinner time (call ahead seating is absolutely necessary). The food is, for the most part, consistently good. I've had several dishes here over the course of a few years and the pollo rosa maria chicken, lobster ravioli, and grilled salmon are some of the best. The calamari ricardo (calamari with a spicy lemon butter sauce with chopped peppers) is awesome. Their fresh baked bread is really good and comes with really good olive oil and spices. Most dishes come with soup or salad. The house dressing (creamy parmesan) is really good and fattening. The garlic mashed potatos are pretty excellent. The last time we were there, we got the calamari for an app and I got the grilled salmon while the boyfriend got the veal parmesan. My salmon was cooked well and came with a lemon butter sauce and garlic mashed potatos. Definitely enough for 2-3 meals although the leftovers didn't reheat very well. Wayyyy better than the Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill, not quite as good as Maggiano's.
(4)Standards H.
For a chain restaurant, I thinks Carrabas is pretty good. I don't particularly appreciate that they don't take reservations but this evening we got right in. Our server was very nice although I think he could have had a bit more wine knowledge, however, I understand given the type if restaurant this is, wine knowledge isn't necessarily a priority. My favorite dish is the chicken bryan (I can't ever get enough goat cheese) but I usually get the chicken trio so I don't get bored. The servings are large and filling but not to the point that I need to be wheeled out. They also have a nice fair priced wine list for a chain. Overall, a good week night somewhat inexpensive and filling meal.
(4)RB19971 R.
We visited some friends in Ellicott City and I asked if we could go the Carrabba's. Shocking! The service was slower than a wet week - we asked a number of times for missing dishes, refills etc I would NOT recommend it.
(1)Mike W.
Great place to eat for grown folks. Its a little difficult to please children (pizza usually works). The staff is fantastic and the food is always awesome. Being in the industry I will tip my hat to the management as I'm sure it is not easy to keep employees as long as this place seems to. Each time I go in I recognize at least 3 employees that have been there for a number of years. In this industry that's hard to find....
(3)Kristin A.
By far one of the best dining experiences we've had in the 'burbs. You can't beat the prices, consistency and very friendly staff. My husband and I have tried some of the trendy restaurants in Ellicott City and every time we do, we wish we had just gone to Carrabas!
(5)Tho D.
I've eaten at this place multiple times and I have to say that I am still disappointed at the quality of the food. I mean, the best dish I've had there so far was the lobster ravioli, and it's not even worth $18. Everything else was mediocre so I don't think I'll eat at Carabba's again.
(2)NK B.
Yay! We (my wife, son and myself) are a fan! It is now in our "repeat" list of restaurants. Pleasant ambiance, friendly staff, tasty delicious food and quick service. We had Mozzarella Marinara appetizer. Man O Man....it was so delicious that we 3 finished it off in a split of a second. The marinara sauce is zesty and adds flavor to cheese sticks. And then we had Chicken Bryan. I just have no words to explain the beauty of that entree. The basil lemon butter sauce along with the goat cheese is like Romeo and Juliet! Now when you are at Carrabbas, you must not leave without having Creme Brulee. What an awesome dessert! Completely enjoyed the whole experience. And yes O yes....they have this special ice cream - Blue Bell Home Made vanilla - which you can find only in TX. If you have a kid, he/she will become an instant fan of it.
(4)Robyn S.
Went out for dinner on a Sunday night of a Holiday weekend... so a busy night. There was a very long wait, but we had called ahead to put our name in, so only had to wait about 10 minutes. Every staff person was friendly, and greeted us. Our waiter, Tucker was exceptional! I'm a pretty picky customer with high expectations for customer service, and Tucker exceeded them all. He was friendly, professional and helpful. He had some great recommendations about different dishes, which he thought were very good, and some he thought were not as good. I really love when a waiter is intimately familiar with a menu, and has his own preferences! I loved that he was able to be relaxed and joke with us, but not be so familiar that he didn't maintain his professionalism. He seemed to really like what he did, and was very good at it! The food was also very good. There were 3 of us, and we got the grilled salmon (very tasty and delicious), the chicken marsala (the sauce is excellent!) and the chicken brian (a really delightful combination of flavors- really delicious!).... we each got salads, very nice! And the vegetable of the day was zucchini (nice, but I didn't love the sauce that was over it. I would have preferred it grilled). Dessert was a Cinnamon Apple Crostada that Tucker recommended we split. I didn't partake (too full!), but it was reported to be very good! The food came in a timely fashion, with the salads perfectly timed to come early. Tucker kept the pace of our meal at a perfect speed (even though they could have been justified in rushing us with the amount of people waiting to be seated). We were never ignored for any length of time, and he came to check on us after we received our food, something many wait staff forget. Overall the food was very good, but they get a 5 Stars because of the excellent service that we received. Great job Tucker! I hope that your coworkers are as good as you! If so, I'll be back!
(5)BJ F.
Love the food here but not waiting for it. You have to either come early, before 5 , or after 8 , to get a table easily. Ask for your salad dressing on the side it can be too heavy if they toss it for you. Service is usually very good. Can sometimes be too rushed because they get so busy. Prices are pretty good for what you get. I usually bring home food and have lunch the next day.
(4)Jana V.
The "Pasta Carrabba", which is what they call fettuccine alfredo, is as good as my own homemade. I mean it does not even need salt or pepper! I get it without the chicken, and ask for the mushrooms sauteed extra well done. The fettuccine tastes like it was made that morning, and the mushrooms taste like they're sauteed in sherry, w/ maybe a hint of butter and garlic. It tastes perfect every time, too. My son gets the Sirloin Marsala, which is cut-with-your-fork tender, and topped with mushrooms sauteed in a sweet red wine sauce. Out of maybe 10 times I only sent it back once, because the steak did not cut with a butter knife like it usually does. The manager apologized profusely, quickly got us another, perfect steak, and gave us a discount coupon for our next visit. I have been eating here since 2001, about 6 times a year or more.
(5)Emily R.
Went to Carrabba's to celebrate Father's Day/my grandma's birthday. And no, I didn't take MY mama to Carrabba's; my mama wanted to take HER mama to Carrabba's. Just so she could sing the song. As soon as we got into the restaurant. This was my first time at a Carrabba's and my impression was that it's basically like an Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill. Meh, food was fine, we had an attentive waitress. I had the mezzaluna, ravioli with chicken and spinach. I also was freezing most of the time, despite the fact that I had long sleeves on, and my butt was killing me from sitting in a wooden chair. I should probably attribute these complaints to the fact that I was sick, so maybe I would have had a different experience had I not been feeling poorly.
(3)Phil D.
Calamari is great. Their curbside takeout works really well. The atmosphere is relaxing too. Often has a pretty long wait especially on weekends.
(3)jong m.
I really don't care what other people say. Comments like these are based on your experience. Had dinner with my wife and a couple of friends and we had a blast. I like the food. So good! My rating should have been 5 star, but our server didn't quite fair well. I will come back there again!!! Good food!!!!
(4)Danielle J.
My parents & I started going here sometime in the first year that they were open... I'm pretty sure that was at least 10 years ago and I still love this place. I know it's a suburban chain but honestly I've always enjoyed my my dinner here.... and lunch the next day. Hooray for leftovers! The food is consistent and I cannot recall a time where we've sent something back. I think service is consistently good here, nothing great nothing bad. We ALWAYS get the shrimp scampi... garlic lovers, this is paradise. My favorite dish is the Pollo Rosa Maria, followed closely by Mezzaluna and Chicken Marsala. My dad always gets Spiedino Di Mare (not as big of a portion but the scallops are delish) and my mom usually gets the Italian Classics Combo. As far as drinks: Blackberry Sangria Pitcher, period. They used to offer a full size portion of the Dessert Rosa, which we'd scarf down in about 2 minutes flat, but now it only comes in the mini portion. :( The John Cole Sundae is yummy if you want something on the lighter side. I haven't had the Tiramisu in awhile but I remember enjoying it.
(4)David P.
Love this place - for a chain, it's far and away the best Italian food around here on a consistent basis. Friday and Saturday nights can get crowded with long waits for a table but that's OK. The wait staff is generally good although our waitress we had tonight was an unpleasant exception to that. Pricing is on the higher side for casual dining but I feel like you get what you pay for here. Desert is usually awesome and their specials are great. The standards (lasagna, spagetti, manicotti, etc.) are all up to snuff and then some.
(4)Yaka H.
I feel a bit odd for giving a chain restaurant such a high rating, but the food was actually quite decent (went Friday night). SX and I didn't plan on going to Carrabba's. Like some of the other diners, we originally planned on eating at the Outback which is next door. The wait was too long so we just went on next door. We browsed the menu while waiting to be seated and we seemed a bit skeptical due to the dish names (same of these dishes really could have better names, imo). We started off with the calamari appetizer with both the marinara sauce and the ricardo sauce. The portion size was very generous. Also, it was 50/50 crispy legs or crispy, tender squid body (erm, I'm not sure what the technical term is for that part of the squid). As a person who loves to eat the legs, it was wonderful. It's rare to get this many legs these days. Afterwards, the soup (tomato basil, nice a thick) and salad (creamy parm dressing). For the entree, I opted for the veal marsala. It was surprisingly tender. The sauce was rich and had the yummy butter undertones. The mushrooms are sauteed until super small (looked unnaturally small to me, but cute in an odd way) but, my dish had a large helping of them. I only wished for some minced parsley to be sprinkled on top. I opted to not get the usual side for marsala (mashed potatoes) and asked for rigatoni in marinara sauce. It's the same sauce as used in the calamari app. and I really liked it. Chunky tomatoes, visible pieces of basil and chopped garlic, it was a quite change from the watery, one-note marinara found at such restaurants. SX got the Pollo Rosa Maria which was equally flavorful (though his mushrooms looked bigger than mine!). SX loves mushrooms, so he certainly welcomed the large heap of mushrooms. Our server was courteous, but seemed a bit awkward in his serving style. But, he was attentive to refill our drinks and stopped by to see how everything was. SX and I were pleasantly surprised at the quality of food for this chain restaurant. I thought the food here was a notch better than the Olive garden. We hope to have the same positive experience the next time we come (seems that other reviewers have questioned it's consistency).
(4)Chris N.
Carrabba's is probably my favorite Italian chain. The food is consistently good across locations, the wine selection is ample, and the Chicken Bryan is 3 kinds of divine. My friends and I spent every Friday night at the Shreveport, LA location back in college. The Ellicott City Long Gate location, however, is a shame and a mockery to the franchise. I have been to the location 3 times hoping that maybe it was just an "off night." Sadly, that was not the case. I should point out that I'm not a picky eater or a gourmet. I just expect a basic level of competence. Hosting: The wait is normally not too bad, and the staff is courteous. Wait time estimates are accurate and there is ample seating in this location. Wait Staff: The last time I went it was horribly incompetent and clumsy. We ordered a bottle of the Argentinian Syrah since it was "wine night." The server was apparently untrained in how to open a bottle of wine. The corkscrew was barely inserted before yanking so of course she broke the cork in half. She returned to the bar to "get another bottle" and returned with the same bottle shortly and a Beringer cork so it looked like it was in fact a different bottle. Of course, we ended up with little pieces of cork in our glasses from the removal of the broken piece. Later on, more clumsiness resulted in Parmesan cheese falling in both my wine and water glasses. Food: Trip # 1 was acceptable. The Pasta Weezie was what I expected. Trip #2 involved cardboard - literally. I ordered a pasta dish once (I forget which one) and noticed 2 pieces of what looked like oddly colored linguini - gray, with an odd texture. Further examination showed that they were in fact little strips of cardboard, like the kind you tear off some cardboard boxes to easily open them. Trip # 3 (the corky-wine night) my chicken was not just overdone, but burned to a blackened crisp. It literally crunched when I tried to cut into it, despite being covered in sauce. Needless to say, I won't put myself through another try. 3 times is enough.
(1)Emmy M.
Went with my family this (Saturday) evening. The salad was decent, but way too much dressing, and the waiter was nice and good about refilling sodas, but the part that ruined it was the food. I got the Pasta Carrabba and it was disgusting. It wasn't an alfredo sauce at all, or if it was it had been sitting there long enough to separate. The peas also weren't very good. I didn't have the chicken, but then again my dinning companions didn't finish their chicken so it couldn't have been vary good. Can't say I'd voluntarily go back again.
(2)Todd K.
We had a choice of sitting at the main bar or the bar overlooking the kitchen.. we opted for the main bar. that was a huge mistake. the bartenders preferred to wash glasses and pick up crumbs from the floor instead of serve beers. I was soooo frustrated by the end that I didnt even leave a tip. this is the first time I ever even considered not leaving one. The food was cold and terrible and the service was unbelievably bad. They had 3 bartenders too! The couple next to us was complaining just as much so I know it wasnt us! If there was a zero stars this would have received it! good luck!
(1)Lori D.
This place is hit or miss, never consistent. Sometimes the calamari is fantastic, other times it seems underdone. Sometimes the service is fantastic, other times it leaves much to be desired. I think your best bet with this location is to make sure they're not too busy...
(2)Hoyt H.
Went here for the first time a few days ago, during dinner service. The place was packed, so the food took a little while to come out, but it was quite tasty. I tried the chicken trio, which was well cooked and tasty. It came with a salad, so I tried the house salad. Also tasty. Service was friendly, which is appreciated. It was a little on the spendy side, so I don't think we'll be back often, but we'll definitely try again.
(4)Brook H.
I have always enjoyed Carrabba's, both the one in Bowie and this one down the street. The food is excellent and I have never had a meal that wasn't tasty. The service has always been good and our server has done their best to pay attention to us. Although a bit pricey, it's worth every penny for what you're eating. A bit of a warning, though, that this place gets extremely crowded. The dinner rush is bad enough; the Fri. & Sat. dinner rush is almost unbearable. Although this is to be expected, it does affect the dining experience beyond the usual wait. Also, Carrabba's really tries to squeeze a lot of tables into a limited space. This means you're often eating back-to-back or elbow-to-back with nearby diners (if you're sat in the middle and not a booth). In addition, your server can ~try~ to pay attention to you, but if they're handling tons of people there will be delays. Still, this is my mother's favorite place and I really do love eating here. If you don't mind a bit of a wait, or try to eat in the off-hours, then this place is great. Alternately, call in with your name on a busy night; it's awesome to just walk in, say your name, and be shown to your table (to the chagrin of those still waiting :P).
(4)LC C.
Went here last week with a party of 10. The service was impeccable. We had 2 servers waiting on us and they were very friendly and knowledgeable. They also kept up with drink refills and came to check on us often. I ordered the lobster ravioli which wasnt great IMO. I wouldnt reccomend it. Everyone else loved their food. I ventured out and tried something different which was a miss, for me. Overall, the place was clean, nice atmosphere, and friendly staff.
(4)BRANDON P.
An excellent Italian Restaurant! This place I must say has very good food and service. Our waiter, Jason, did a phenomenal job and is truly a consummate professional at what he does. He was very courteous and considerate. The timing between ordering food, preparation, and serving was on point almost down to a science it would seem. My lovely wife and I will come back soon as well as recommend this place to friends. Lastly, I decided to go out my way to inform the Manager how excellent this place is as well. Keep up the great work everyone!
(5)Jason W.
Food is always good but sometimes, its great. A bit more consistency would do them well. Service is always top notch.
(4)Stefanie A.
It's not gourmet, but it's good. We don't do chain restaurants. However, if we're going to go to one, we'll come here. We shared the mussels; my oh were they good. My boyfriend had the Weensie pasta and I had the pork tenderloin. While it was tasty, the portions for my meal were a bit small. I shared this the manager, and she was gracious and listened. We enjoyed the meal & and the service so much we'll be coming back.
(4)Carissa C.
Went there with my family and for the most part the experience was great. UNTIL my daughter saw a poor mouse slowly walking under our table. I believe he was going to die soon. We immediately got our waiter without causing a scene. She was so shocked and said she has not seen a mouse in the years of being here. Which was fine. I totally understand. But it was the management that was lacking! She got her manager and he nonchalantly got a broom and dust pan, walked right by our table, swept up the mouse, looked right at us and kept going. Now i wasnt looking for a discount, or free food. But maybe an apology? Ive worked in the restaurant business and ive seen better customer service than that coming from management. But luckily our server was more understanding, she was great. She got her manager to take off 20% of our bill. Which was not necessary but showed she cared! Food though, really yummy! I WILL Return.
(4)Sylvia B.
I love everything about this place. I purchased the chicken marsala with mushrooms. Staff is very friendly and punctual. Wine was excellent as well. I ordered the red wine called Ecco Domani Merlot from Italy;-). I always leave very pleased and satisfied.
(5)