We had the 3 fer 12.99 meal. Good options to choose from. Separate menu limited selection. But adequate. Food was good. Smaller portions Appetizers were good. Smaller portions. I had a Angry Orchard that cost me $6.00. Service was great. Seriously good server.
(3)
Mike A.
Probably the better quick service Italian option in the US over Olive Garden. The menu is full of well prepared entries. The chick parm, while no great feat of culinary prowess, is prepared very well here. Ate in the dining room one night and at the bar the following week. Service was somewhat off in both areas: dining room due to capacity and bar due to giggly servers. They tended to joke back and forth, spend quite a bit of time yakking it up with one diner, but neglecting to check on how my meal was and to ask if I wanted another beer.
(4)
Sam S.
Great food and good prices, nice staff, nicely located and nice interior decor; great for families or a romantic dinner. First Italian place that wasn't over-salty. They let us have 2 loafs of their yummy bread to take home.
(5)
Brad T.
This is one of the more nicer Italian chain restaurants. They have decent food and friendly staff. The only problem I have is the price has slowly been rising.
(3)
Joe L.
Used to give it a 5 but the seafood was tiny and overcooked. We sent our shrimp back twice due to being overcooked and it was still overcooked and rubbery. Seems like Outback (same company?) is cutting back on quality also and keeping prices the same. Makes me hesitant to come back. Steak was great though.
(4)
Sheena B.
We ordered take out and to our surprise you really do get the whole experience. We got bread, olive oil packet and seasoning just like when dining in. The food was just as good as eating there.
(5)
Karen W.
Amber deserves an AWARD!!! She was really great! There was a group of 12 of us there celebrating a birthday. Amber had the patience of a saint! She handled our table single handed and didn't miss a beat!! Appetizers, soups, salads, entree's, drinks.... we had coupons, someone else in the group wanted our points... we had separate bills.... MAN! anyone else probably would have been so frustrated. But Amber kept a smile and a sense of humor. Mind you our group ranged from 50 yrs old to 80 years old. Use your imagination! Some may take their time when ordering, some may change their minds. LOL!! Now to the food! Everything was great. Lentil soup, ceasar salad, lasagna, pasta, veal, calamari... we probably had one of everything on the menu. There were No complaints. Nice portions. I think we all had left overs. At the end of the meal Amber heard us sing Happy Birthday to the birthday girl. Without hesitation, without being asked, she came over with dessert for the birthday girl. I would definitely go back. AMBER IS THE BEST!!! GIVE HER A RAISE AND A PROMOTION!!!
(5)
Desiree T.
I had the lobster ravioli tonight and it was wonderful. You can never go wrong with the a streak here either. We love it
(5)
Trung P.
FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT is on point! Everything about it is superb! Fresh hot food. Service was on it. And Dave is always fun inviting guy that will make u feel like family! Well done!
(5)
Megan K.
Sangrias. Um, yes please. Perfect with my Fettucine Carraba which had peas and mushrooms and chicken. I was a little in love with the fresh bread too. Out of three of us, I think we plowed through about 4 loaves. Love me some bread! Our waiter was friendly. The guy who served us and kept giving us bread was awesome too. Thumbs up, Carraba's!
(4)
Angelica S.
I know this is a chain restaurant and usually I like going to places I've never gone before or local restaurants. I've never gone there before but I expected it to be like Olive Garden which my thoughts were confirmed. We went on just this past Saturday at prime dinner time so it was busy. No problems there. I've waited at other restaurants so no biggie. They said about a 15 minute wait and it was about 10 minutes. It was a nice day so we waited outside so probably another reason why I was okay with waiting. Every time I've driven by, they are always swamped anyway. We finally get to sit down and order. With it being swamped, I'm sure the waiting staff was stressed. I definitely understand that, but I also expect to have great service. This waiter was not. I felt his delivery was sub par. He got everything correct which is a plus but I felt he didn't really care about checking back in with us periodically. For the amount of money for the food I would hope the service matches it. And on top of it, considering the expense of the food, I'd hope it would be really tasty. It's was meh to me. I definitely are it. I'm not super picky but I wish I would've gone to a different restaurant for Italian food. I told my bf we wouldn't be back. I guess I'm spoiled when it comes to local fresh foods.
(3)
Nancy S.
One time it's great the next time it's awful!! Last time had the lasagne awful! Tastes like mush! Very over cooked yuk!!!!! Won't go back
(1)
Tony G.
This night definitely was not one of the better nights we have had going to eat at Carrabba's. Our food was okay however we have noticed over time that the food quality and quantity at this particular restaurant has seem to suffer and go down a little bit. My wife got the chicken parmesan, however it was burned and dry and left an oily residue on the plate. The side salad quantity that you used to get has been greatly reduced also. The bread has always been and remains very good along with the dipping seasonings and oil, no real changes there, still very tasty. We ended up sending the meal back the restaurant was very accommodating took the dinner off our bill provide us with a coupon for money off next visit and also offered my wife dessert so while the chicken Parmesan was not very good the staff did what they could to try to accommodate us and make us happy to which we greatly appreciate it. Over all the staff was wonderful, other than the issue with my wife's meal, it was just OK. Which is sad because we have been going to this restaurant for almost 8 years. Maybe this was just a bad night. We will be back with our fingers crossed.
(3)
Aly O.
Pros: Their food is delicious and the restaurant is beautiful. More often than not, I've had a professional waiter. Cons: Last time I was there, it was the first time my significant other and myself have been on a date since before I had our baby... 4 months+ ago, so this was a very special night for us. While the food was great, it took over 20 minutes to get our Sangria, and the hostess was noticeably stuck up. It was such a long wait, but they had multiple tables with no one at them that just needed to be cleaned. It's very tight in there too. I used to love going there, but for the price, the portions are fairly small and the service seems to be declining.
(3)
Traveler M.
On 8/25/14 at about 4:30PM: The meal took an hour and half from sit down to departure. That would be great for a 7 course meal with wine or a large group of diners but an intimate light dinner for two should have been served in way under an hour. The plating of the appetizer was horrible and the bruschetta was delivered with broken and torn pieces of toasted bread rather than slices. The pasta for the main course was over cooked, sticky and clumped together. This was visible and the plate should never been allowed to depart the ready line. Delays were attributable to two factors: wait staff hanging our it and socializing n the drink prep room and the cook staff flirting with waitresses on the ready line. First time I have even given a 1 star and last time I will ever eat there.
(1)
Nathan L.
First off I have to say that I am not a fan of chains. I just don't think the quality and atmosphere is the same as locally owned places. That said, wow I love Carrabba's! I have eaten here many times and every time I am impressed by the food, the drinks and the service. It is a little pricey but I am ok paying for the delicious experience. I never walk away hungry and I am happy every time.
(5)
Lily L.
I always order the grilled salmon, and my husband has ordered the steak. We've only had pleasant experiences here, with yummy food, good wine, and friendly service. I love the bread and olive oil before the meal! :)
(5)
Nikki M.
Tonight was my third visit to this location. It is too crowded. You can barely walk between tables and there is very little room to stand while you wait for your table. This being said, of all the three times I have been here, I have felt that the staff was annoyed at us just being there. Tonight, While taking our order, the server constantly surveyed the entire dining room rather than look us in the eye. She seemed put out. I could almost here her mentally saying "come on already, let's go, let's go." The food was decent and the portions are good. On our way out, the hostess literally yelled, "thank God table 45 is leaving." Wow. I will NEVER go back and do not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(2)
Abigail D.
Great food, great service, but we noticed that the manage is really touchy feel-y with some of the waitresses. Kind of disturbing to watch, so we dont go very often. First class restaurant otherwise!
(4)
Nicole G.
I have to get the stars up for this restaurant because I'm sickened by Olive Garden having 4.5 stars and this having 3.5. I would reverse those two ratings. The Kalamazoo area could use more easily accessible, family-friendly Italian places, but this might be the place that best meets all of those requirements at this time. Their pizza is really good, and the pasta dishes I've had are good as well. They'll give your kids a little bit of dough to play with at the table, which the kids love.
(5)
Eric C.
I've been going to this Carrabba's for several years and the experiences is always great. We have become "regulars" and are known by the manager and several of the servers. They now welcome us as family, which is not always the case at other resturants where we have become known. The food is always top notch, and the prices are reasonable. I will continue to go there again and again.
(4)
Philip T.
Great standby when you want a familiar, mid-priced Italian restaurant. Consistent and good with staff who are enthusiastic and helpful. Nice atmosphere and great desserts. Very good appetizers as well. Not on menu but Veal Parmesan is wonderful (to replace Chicken Parmesan on Menu). Bread Pudding outstanding!
(4)
Sham W.
They missed the mark last night. Normally I would give them 5 stars this time they deserve 2 stars. They sacrificed quality and service for a wedding party. It will be awhile till I go back.
(3)
Curt P.
I wish there were more truly vegetarian options and some vegan options. My parents love this place and it's hard for me to eat there.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Jim B.
We had the 3 fer 12.99 meal. Good options to choose from. Separate menu limited selection. But adequate. Food was good. Smaller portions Appetizers were good. Smaller portions. I had a Angry Orchard that cost me $6.00. Service was great. Seriously good server.
(3)Mike A.
Probably the better quick service Italian option in the US over Olive Garden. The menu is full of well prepared entries. The chick parm, while no great feat of culinary prowess, is prepared very well here. Ate in the dining room one night and at the bar the following week. Service was somewhat off in both areas: dining room due to capacity and bar due to giggly servers. They tended to joke back and forth, spend quite a bit of time yakking it up with one diner, but neglecting to check on how my meal was and to ask if I wanted another beer.
(4)Sam S.
Great food and good prices, nice staff, nicely located and nice interior decor; great for families or a romantic dinner. First Italian place that wasn't over-salty. They let us have 2 loafs of their yummy bread to take home.
(5)Brad T.
This is one of the more nicer Italian chain restaurants. They have decent food and friendly staff. The only problem I have is the price has slowly been rising.
(3)Joe L.
Used to give it a 5 but the seafood was tiny and overcooked. We sent our shrimp back twice due to being overcooked and it was still overcooked and rubbery. Seems like Outback (same company?) is cutting back on quality also and keeping prices the same. Makes me hesitant to come back. Steak was great though.
(4)Sheena B.
We ordered take out and to our surprise you really do get the whole experience. We got bread, olive oil packet and seasoning just like when dining in. The food was just as good as eating there.
(5)Karen W.
Amber deserves an AWARD!!! She was really great! There was a group of 12 of us there celebrating a birthday. Amber had the patience of a saint! She handled our table single handed and didn't miss a beat!! Appetizers, soups, salads, entree's, drinks.... we had coupons, someone else in the group wanted our points... we had separate bills.... MAN! anyone else probably would have been so frustrated. But Amber kept a smile and a sense of humor. Mind you our group ranged from 50 yrs old to 80 years old. Use your imagination! Some may take their time when ordering, some may change their minds. LOL!! Now to the food! Everything was great. Lentil soup, ceasar salad, lasagna, pasta, veal, calamari... we probably had one of everything on the menu. There were No complaints. Nice portions. I think we all had left overs. At the end of the meal Amber heard us sing Happy Birthday to the birthday girl. Without hesitation, without being asked, she came over with dessert for the birthday girl. I would definitely go back. AMBER IS THE BEST!!! GIVE HER A RAISE AND A PROMOTION!!!
(5)Desiree T.
I had the lobster ravioli tonight and it was wonderful. You can never go wrong with the a streak here either. We love it
(5)Trung P.
FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT is on point! Everything about it is superb! Fresh hot food. Service was on it. And Dave is always fun inviting guy that will make u feel like family! Well done!
(5)Megan K.
Sangrias. Um, yes please. Perfect with my Fettucine Carraba which had peas and mushrooms and chicken. I was a little in love with the fresh bread too. Out of three of us, I think we plowed through about 4 loaves. Love me some bread! Our waiter was friendly. The guy who served us and kept giving us bread was awesome too. Thumbs up, Carraba's!
(4)Angelica S.
I know this is a chain restaurant and usually I like going to places I've never gone before or local restaurants. I've never gone there before but I expected it to be like Olive Garden which my thoughts were confirmed. We went on just this past Saturday at prime dinner time so it was busy. No problems there. I've waited at other restaurants so no biggie. They said about a 15 minute wait and it was about 10 minutes. It was a nice day so we waited outside so probably another reason why I was okay with waiting. Every time I've driven by, they are always swamped anyway. We finally get to sit down and order. With it being swamped, I'm sure the waiting staff was stressed. I definitely understand that, but I also expect to have great service. This waiter was not. I felt his delivery was sub par. He got everything correct which is a plus but I felt he didn't really care about checking back in with us periodically. For the amount of money for the food I would hope the service matches it. And on top of it, considering the expense of the food, I'd hope it would be really tasty. It's was meh to me. I definitely are it. I'm not super picky but I wish I would've gone to a different restaurant for Italian food. I told my bf we wouldn't be back. I guess I'm spoiled when it comes to local fresh foods.
(3)Nancy S.
One time it's great the next time it's awful!! Last time had the lasagne awful! Tastes like mush! Very over cooked yuk!!!!! Won't go back
(1)Tony G.
This night definitely was not one of the better nights we have had going to eat at Carrabba's. Our food was okay however we have noticed over time that the food quality and quantity at this particular restaurant has seem to suffer and go down a little bit. My wife got the chicken parmesan, however it was burned and dry and left an oily residue on the plate. The side salad quantity that you used to get has been greatly reduced also. The bread has always been and remains very good along with the dipping seasonings and oil, no real changes there, still very tasty. We ended up sending the meal back the restaurant was very accommodating took the dinner off our bill provide us with a coupon for money off next visit and also offered my wife dessert so while the chicken Parmesan was not very good the staff did what they could to try to accommodate us and make us happy to which we greatly appreciate it. Over all the staff was wonderful, other than the issue with my wife's meal, it was just OK. Which is sad because we have been going to this restaurant for almost 8 years. Maybe this was just a bad night. We will be back with our fingers crossed.
(3)Aly O.
Pros: Their food is delicious and the restaurant is beautiful. More often than not, I've had a professional waiter. Cons: Last time I was there, it was the first time my significant other and myself have been on a date since before I had our baby... 4 months+ ago, so this was a very special night for us. While the food was great, it took over 20 minutes to get our Sangria, and the hostess was noticeably stuck up. It was such a long wait, but they had multiple tables with no one at them that just needed to be cleaned. It's very tight in there too. I used to love going there, but for the price, the portions are fairly small and the service seems to be declining.
(3)Traveler M.
On 8/25/14 at about 4:30PM: The meal took an hour and half from sit down to departure. That would be great for a 7 course meal with wine or a large group of diners but an intimate light dinner for two should have been served in way under an hour. The plating of the appetizer was horrible and the bruschetta was delivered with broken and torn pieces of toasted bread rather than slices. The pasta for the main course was over cooked, sticky and clumped together. This was visible and the plate should never been allowed to depart the ready line. Delays were attributable to two factors: wait staff hanging our it and socializing n the drink prep room and the cook staff flirting with waitresses on the ready line. First time I have even given a 1 star and last time I will ever eat there.
(1)Nathan L.
First off I have to say that I am not a fan of chains. I just don't think the quality and atmosphere is the same as locally owned places. That said, wow I love Carrabba's! I have eaten here many times and every time I am impressed by the food, the drinks and the service. It is a little pricey but I am ok paying for the delicious experience. I never walk away hungry and I am happy every time.
(5)Lily L.
I always order the grilled salmon, and my husband has ordered the steak. We've only had pleasant experiences here, with yummy food, good wine, and friendly service. I love the bread and olive oil before the meal! :)
(5)Nikki M.
Tonight was my third visit to this location. It is too crowded. You can barely walk between tables and there is very little room to stand while you wait for your table. This being said, of all the three times I have been here, I have felt that the staff was annoyed at us just being there. Tonight, While taking our order, the server constantly surveyed the entire dining room rather than look us in the eye. She seemed put out. I could almost here her mentally saying "come on already, let's go, let's go." The food was decent and the portions are good. On our way out, the hostess literally yelled, "thank God table 45 is leaving." Wow. I will NEVER go back and do not recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(2)Abigail D.
Great food, great service, but we noticed that the manage is really touchy feel-y with some of the waitresses. Kind of disturbing to watch, so we dont go very often. First class restaurant otherwise!
(4)Nicole G.
I have to get the stars up for this restaurant because I'm sickened by Olive Garden having 4.5 stars and this having 3.5. I would reverse those two ratings. The Kalamazoo area could use more easily accessible, family-friendly Italian places, but this might be the place that best meets all of those requirements at this time. Their pizza is really good, and the pasta dishes I've had are good as well. They'll give your kids a little bit of dough to play with at the table, which the kids love.
(5)Eric C.
I've been going to this Carrabba's for several years and the experiences is always great. We have become "regulars" and are known by the manager and several of the servers. They now welcome us as family, which is not always the case at other resturants where we have become known. The food is always top notch, and the prices are reasonable. I will continue to go there again and again.
(4)Philip T.
Great standby when you want a familiar, mid-priced Italian restaurant. Consistent and good with staff who are enthusiastic and helpful. Nice atmosphere and great desserts. Very good appetizers as well. Not on menu but Veal Parmesan is wonderful (to replace Chicken Parmesan on Menu). Bread Pudding outstanding!
(4)Sham W.
They missed the mark last night. Normally I would give them 5 stars this time they deserve 2 stars. They sacrificed quality and service for a wedding party. It will be awhile till I go back.
(3)Curt P.
I wish there were more truly vegetarian options and some vegan options. My parents love this place and it's hard for me to eat there.
(3)