My friend, my daughter, and I just left the Carrabba's location 8460 Lyra Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43230 at approx. 7:50 09/02/13. Upon initial seating we were assigned to our server Jodey T. He greeted us with the usual hello's of which he was not very warm. We were seated during what appeared to be a dinner rush so I paid no mind to the rush introduction. Being that we visit this location often and have been doing so for the past seven years my friend asked about the happy hour discount price for the Quartino Blackberry Sangria and our server Jodey looked at us with a confused look and then said no we only have wine deals and did not bother to inquire for us. STRIKE 1. So my friend decided not to press the issue with him. Instead she went up to the bar personally to ask and was given the deal she was accustomed to. While she was at the bar the server came up to the table with a smirk on his face and asked me "so what is she just going to sit at the bar now" and I replied with no she will be back she is doing some fact checking. I placed my order and he asked if I knew what she wanted and I was perplexed that he was asking me to order for her but I responded with she will return to place her own order and he left and came back to take her order. STRIKE 2 As the meal went on he checked on us once and we asked for more bread being that there were three people at our table and then when the meal came we asked for more FREE bread and after our request he had a look on his face as if he could not understand why we were asking for more FREE bread. STRIKE 3 As we continued with our meal the server decided to prematurely bring us to go boxes before we even asked for them as we're were NOT finished eating. STRIKE 4 I advised him that there would be two checks and we would like some bread to take with our leftovers. He returns with one bag and one bread ASSuming that we were going to the same location. I proceeded to ask him for a second bag and bread. He paused and said you want more bread? We typically charge for the bread but I won't charge you just be nice to me. STRIKE AGAIN. Who has the audacity to ask for a tip. REALLY? And furthermore we have NEVER been charged when we ask for some bread before leaving. We did not respond. By this time I am so exhausted with this lackluster experience. The server then brings the checks and by this time we are so outdone but even so, I still understand that this job is not an easy one and I never leave zero for a tip. So even though this server deserved nothing because of his poor service I went ahead and tipped according to my cell phone tip app. I decided to tip him a FAIR rate. My friend paid with cash and he gave her cash right at the table and then he took my debit card and returned it. After we discussed what we thought of his service we filled out the tip and put the receipt holders over by the wall of our booth. I would notice the server looking out at us through his peripheral each time he walked by as we continued to finish our Sangria's. He then (before we were finished) approached our table and attempted to reach over my friend to get the receipts (to check his tip amount obviously) back instead of attempting to clear some of the dirty dishes. I have never experienced a server trying to pick up the receipts before clearing the table first. Because I knew what he was attempting to do I told him he can pick them up once we leave and he seemed to be upset. ANOTHER STRIKE. We finally get up to leave and as we walk to the car we are standing there talking to each other and the next thing we notice is our server and another server come out of the side exit to look at us my friend looks over and notices this. The server then proceeds to say in front of customers dining outside "THE NEXT TIME I WILL CHARGE YOU FOR THE BREAD!" Now I am LIVID! We walk back into the restaurant request the manager and tell him everything that happened from beginning to end. I am totally disgusted. The manager Mr. Paul Victor did a wonderful job of damage control and the young lady at the seating podium was helpful with providing our servers name. I do feel as if our server Jodey T needs to be fired immediately. You do not accost a paying customer, tips are NOT a given, nor are they entitled to receive a tip if not rightfully earned. This server did NOT deserve one red cent but we gave anyway because not tipping at all is not what we do. VERY DISGUSTED with this entire experience with the exception of the save on behalf of the manager on duty Paul Victor and the lady at the seating podium. Jodey T needs to be put on dish washing duty or FIRED because he does not deserve to work around customers who are using hard earned money to receive a decent meal. I will post on whatever website I can find. This was the worst dining experience service wise that I have ever received. Food,drink,and manager save was WONDERFUL. This rating weighs heavily on the service received.
(1)
Sarah P.
BEST most fantabulous Italian food out there! In my opinion, much better than Spaghetti Warehouse. The 1st time we went, they gave our 3 kids pizza dough to play with while they waited for their food. The bread they give you is superb. Everything that I have tasted (including drinks from the bar) has been wonderful. The service is ALWAYS wonderful. This is my family's go to place when we want Italian and I dont want to cook.
(5)
Amy H.
Great food, fast service. Lobster ravioli was amazing. Neprea is a fabulous waitress.
(5)
Sarah C.
Jana was our server and she was very friendly! The food was perfect and the service was great! We had the salmon which was perfectly grilled and the cannoli was a delicious finish! Thanks jana!
(5)
John T.
Three words... Tag Pic Pac. Delicious, fresh, colorful. Tomatoes, garlic cloves, basil and fresh pasta. Service is great. Very Attentive, with lack of a lunch crowd. Near to Polaris mall, but oddly out of the way to get there. A great lunch or dinner place, but a best bet for lunch!
(4)
Elaine N.
This is one of the only chain restaurants I will go to. Came here with a girlfriend for lunch and the service and food were great! I had the Toast of Tuscany for a drink (yum, love the champagne in it). For a meal my girlfriend and I shared the create your own pizza and spaghetti and meat sauce. Both were delicious. You won't be disappointed with this restaurant!
(4)
Elizabeth B.
As a Florida native, I grew up with a Carrabba's around the corner from my house for five years, so as a now Pittsburgh resident, I crave it often. While in Columbus for work this summer, I drove 20 minutes out of my way to enjoy dinner by myself here. The service was great. I've actually discovered the service seems to be particularly good when dining alone in a sit-down restaurant. Maybe it's because you just sit there looking either super awkward as you stare at couples and families or super bored as you play on your iPhone. The bread... the veal marsala... the fettuccine alfredo... was all exactly what I wanted and expected. Mmm mmm mmm. I also ordered Sangria for the first time from Carrabba's, which was good but not as good as their food. Here's hoping that I'll be back soon!
(4)
Keith B.
I can't say this place was bad, I can't say it was great. I came here on a date, and our server was awesome - he recommended a sangria, he recommended dishes, and was very attentive. Unfortunately, other staff was hanging around chatting loudly while we ate - I have no problem with staff conversing, hanging around *at all* - but I have a problem when they're acting like patrons aren't around. Our food was delicious - not remarkable, but tasty. All in all, it wasn't bad. I never crave Carraba's (and nor does my date) but we took an off chance with a coupon offer. And now we know why they need coupons.
(3)
Lo S.
I'M NOT EVEN REMOTELY IMPRESSED BY THIS PLACE. The waiter was slow....the food was ALL TYPES OF BLAND...DO THEY EVEN SEASON THE FOOD??? Where's the cracked fresh pepper people. .AND IT WAS CROWDED. What FOR PEOPLE? The prices.....for all of the mediocrity, UNACCEPTABLE!!!!! You couldn't bribe me into another Carrabba's with a lifetime supply of MAC Cosmetics!!! I wish I would....Not with all those restaurants in the area. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else, please!!
(2)
Jodi L.
They have one of my favorite meals in town. The service is consistently good. My only complaint is that it's a little too expensive for the value so we do not go as often. Better than expected food for a chain restaurant.
Love this place, we had Alexis as our server and she was AWESOME! The food is always good so hats off the the cooks and guys behind the scenes that make it happen. Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Â!
(5)
L E.
One of the best calamari appitizers in town! Tender and crispy with wonderful dipping sauce. They have fun bar type seating overlooking the wood fired oven. You can watch them prepare pizzas and they will give your children a little dough to play with. Delicious bread with olive oil and herbs to dip it in. Fresh pasta and wonderful grill. Great service and they have no problems with special orders.
(4)
Jeff K.
Had the dinner Sirloin Marsala and Mahi combo with sauteed green beans. I ordered the sirloin medium rare and got the sirloin medium rare. It had the right combination of season and marsala sauce. The mahi was lightly breaded and moist. The green beans with sauteed perfectly - done but they maintained a snap. This was a great dish!
(4)
Sulema M.
Haven't had Carrabas in ages, so we decided to stop in on a Friday night and it was packed. A 30 min wait turned into a 50 min wait, but it was the weekend, I guess you can expect it. The food was ok, nothing of this place I ever remembered being good, but it worked for my craving of lasagna. Since I don't eat pasta very often, this worked out just fine and the portion was beyond huge. We started with an appetizer of calamari and I could have done without it. The batter was very peppery and the marinara was salty as heck. However, I do like their crushed seasoning in oil that you get with your bread. Now that had me eating more bread than I do in year! My DH had the buttery noodles and shrimp dish, but he didn't take to the buttery noodles very well - way too much butter, not enough seasoning. It looked boring too. Our friend had the veal marsala with veggies and his looked and smelled great. Our server was great, he had an amazing attitude and was prompt with everything. Overall, this is your typical big chain place and it will probably be another 5 years before I eat here again.
(3)
Will P.
Consistent Chain Italian I am pretty hard on chain restaurants. That being said, Carrabba's is an italian establishment that I really have no complaints about. The staff is always kind and the food is done well. This particular restaurant is too dark, but that is just a personal preference. The kalamari is particularly delicious. Great for families
(3)
Alan L.
Went to this Carrabas in Polaris last night and was very disappointed. We've gone several times before as my wife loves(used to) the food. Calamari was overlooked and bland, lasagna was cold, salad was unappetizing and portions have shrunk considerably. The tiramisu was still good though.
(2)
Mike B.
This was a typical Carrabas...nothing special or out of the ordinary. The food was descent and the service good. My only complaint was the room temperature. We were sitting in the back of the restaurant next to the "employee entrance." Whenever the door opened, the cold air rushed in and hit us. Given that it was 25 F outside, this was uncomfortable until the waiter finally asked the manager to turn up the temp in the restaurant. This took too long to finally rectify.
(3)
Bob S.
Outstanding food and service!!! Hard to believe this is a chain!!! I have eaten at hundreds of Italian restaurants and this is in the top ten for sure.
(5)
Casey S.
Having been new to Carrabba's I was unsure of what to expect but I adore italian food and have grown tired of Olive Garden. My most solid compliments were that the calamari was spicy but succulent, my pasta was filling, and the atmosphere was comforting. I do have complaints as well. My bread pudding was repulsive with no flavor, utterly the worst I've ever ate in my lifetime. Also my pasta was very filling but the portion was too large and I had to take the majority home for leftovers. Overall I would go just for the calamari because it was plenty of food.
(3)
Thomas B.
Wanna hate the franchises but Carrabba's always gets it right. Well-trained wait staff, great bread, good selection of wine, food is tasty (if unimaginative) and consistently good...on the table in 10 minutes in my case! I travel a lot and am never disappointed when I eat at a Carrabba's. --TB
(4)
Derek S.
Took the gf on a date here and it was pretty good. Service was extremely good. Just about every time the waiter walked by he asked how everything was. We ordered an appetizer of of calamari, which was very salty unfortunately. My meal was wonderfully delicious i forget the name but it had shrimp, scallops, mushrooms and an alfredo sauce. My girlfriend had lasagna which looked awesome, but she said it was kind of cold. Would go back for the exceptional service.
(4)
John G.
This is my favorite "chain" Italian restaurant. Always consistent, and I love the bread with olive dipping oil that you get when you sit down. The Polaris location has consistently good wait staff every time we have gone. Very friendly, fast and attentive.
(4)
Christopher G.
This was our second visit to a Carrabbas...our first was at the Hilliard location which wasnt very good. This visit was better, however, just like the other location, it is dark. Very dark. Luckily, our booth had a window, and we adjusted the (closed) shutters to shed some more light on the table, without adding light to the surrounding area. We had the shrimp scampi appetizer which was very rich and decadent. All courses are offer with fresh grated Parmesan cheese by the server, who provided outstanding service throughout. My vinaigrette salad was just okay. It says its served with a host of topping, but all were light. For example, it said it came with kalamata olives, but only had two small ones in the whole thing. It was also under seasoned and dressed. I had the "Johnny" which was a (perfectly cooked) steak topped with mushroom sauce and (slightly dry...slightly over cooked) chicken breast cutlet with a blue cheese, sun dried tomato topping. I had this with their garlic mashed potatoes. She had their chicken soup which she said was very good, and grilled Tilapia, which she said was over seasoned, and a little mushy, but tasted great. The potatoes were excellent, and the rest of my meal was generally very good, but I felt my portion sizes were small for the price. These are all generally small nits, and we would certainly return, but the price (our bill was $60+ for 2 with no desert) may keep our frequency to a minimum.
(4)
Brian W.
I hate this place is a chain, but I've got to admit, it's a good chain. Lot's of interesting food choices, almost all good. Even a semi-interesting wine list, many available by the glass. The place is really dark, and I'm not sure why that is. Parking for this particular one is okay, but tough to find and to get to.
(3)
Courtney W.
Dining in here is great. The food is good, the waiters are friendly and offer advice, and you always leave feeling happy and satisfied; like you just ate at mom's. Their blackberry sangria is still my favorite drink ever and it's why I keep coming back here. Their food isn't my version of ideal Italian food but that doesn't mean it doesn't taste great. Their pasta here is wonderful, something I usually avoid getting out but always get here. If you're looking for a nice place to tuck into and relax with friends or a special someone this is defiantly a good place to check out.
(4)
Bryant M.
I wanted to hate this place. I really did. But I didn't hate it. In fact, I kinda loved it - for a chain. Yes, I hate chains. And, yes, I hate Polaris. But the Mister wanted Carrabba's for his birthday, and who am I to disagree with the Birthday Princess? So, off to Carrabba's we went. We walked in about 5:30 pm on a Saturday night - and on a holiday weekend - and only waited about five minutes to be seated. The hostesses were very polite, and our server was fantastic! She made great recommendations, kept our glasses filled, and never once was annoying. Gold star to her! And the food was seriously delicious. Our party ordered: fried zucchini, mozzarella, lentil soup, salad, chicken Bryan, chicken marsala, and blackberry sangria. Everything we had was great! I would definitely say my favorites were the marsala and the blackberry sangria. Good grief - get the sangria. It was some of the best I've ever had! Oh, and the price for three people? About $90 + tip. Not bad for appies, drinks, and main courses, eh? Even though Carrabba's won't become a staple for me anytime soon, I definitely won't protest if somebody tries to drag me there.
(4)
Steve B.
We were on our way to another place up the road and the traffic was so miserable, that we couldn't get over the bridge. Thankfully we found this place. Had no trouble getting a table on a Friday night. Our server was very quick with the drinks and fresh bread. The drink selection is fantastic (extensive wine and beer list, even some non-alcoholic choices). The food was to die for. I couldn't get over the smell of the wood fire stove, and so I had to get a wood fired pizza with meatballs and sausage. Some of the best pizza I have ever had - hands down. My wife ordered more of a traditional rolled cheese pasta and it was fantastic. It's been literally years since I have been in a nice sit-down Italian place where I came away happy. I would have never guessed this is a chain. Will definitely come back to this place again when I am in town.
(5)
Ila B.
Mood lighting. Light enough to see your food and dim enough to feel sexy. I saw huge cobwebs in a corner by the light. NOTE: There was a table in this same corner. -_- Art work is of family history and Italy- snore. Warm bread plates and cold salad plates is a nice touch. Quick and great service for a Sunday. No wait. Pretty servers. Mines was awesome tipped her 35%. Her name was Renee. Lasagna size is medium and taste is 8. The meet and cheese is really strong. The sauce is delish! I would visit again.
(3)
Kim F.
Expensive but good. Our food was pretty good, but not extraordinary. The food at Monte Carlo is just as good and not nearly as expensive. They did feature a spicy lentil and sausage soup that was good and also nice to see on the menu. Most Italian restaurants do not offer such a soup. Most restaurants offer a Minestrone or Italian Wedding soup, which gets boring after a while. The bread was fresh - fluffy on the inside and crusty on the outside. The salads were chilled and crisp. Overall, good but not outstanding. On a scale of 1-10, I would give them a 7.5.
(3)
Zack R.
Since I'm on a roll today, I'll go ahead and review another chain place. Carrabba's wasn't one of those places that I would ever just go to and eat with my wife. But we had friends in town, and one wanted Italian, and it was right in front of us. Easy, peasy, Italianeezy. We were told that our wait would be 45 minutes. We were seated in about 15. Very cool. Our server was very friendly, and attentive. The food? Wife and her friend had lasagna. Smallish portion, which is weird for and Italian place, but it was damn tasty. My friend had the veal. He was disappointed because you can't just get veal over angel hair or spaghetti. So he got it with some thick curly noodles. Meh. I had the spaghetti with Italian sausage. It was pretty damn good too, and it was a big portion of pasta with 2 big tasty spicy sausages. The complimentary bread was a little underdone. We got a second loaf, and same thing. The herbs for dipping were very good though. These chain Italian places like to put the lights down as far as they'll go. Is this supposed to be an ambiance thing? More like a "somebody's gonna get knocked down" kind of thing amirite?
(3)
Alex K.
This is my favorite chain Italian restaurant. The service is always great and the food is superb. A little pricy, but that's what you pay for. If you avoid wine you can keep the tab lower. The menu is a little short - I mean, they literally have like 6 pastas or something. Isn't this an Italian restaurant? But I pick one of the 6 and it's great. So... perhaps if you can do a few things right, why try to do more? Would definitely go back.
(5)
Moose F.
In town for a meeting, one of the participants picked Carrabba's for dinner. Due to a strange food allergy Italian food is usually low on my list, but I figured since it's a chain I could probably find something safe to eat. I give them big bonus points for two things: seating a party of 10 within a half hour on a Saturday night, and knowledgeable, polite, and excellent wait staff, who both acknowledged my food allergy, handled our service efficiently and kept our drink glasses full. These things are the only thing keeping them from a one star rating. As for the food -- other reviews here call this place "Better than Olive Garden." That's kinda like saying "Better than Hot Dog Water", but I'm not sure it really is better. Someone at the table ordered a bowl of mussels, which was, upon arrival, about 1/3 empty shells. It turned out that many had had the meat fall out, and what meat there was [in or out of shells] was very small. The sauce it came in wasn't too bad - I got to try some on some of the bread. The bread, now, that was tasty. It might have been the tastiest part of the meal. I ordered pork chops and the waitress asked how I wanted them. I've never been asked this about pork before so I looked at her blankly. She said she'd put them in for "medium well" which I thought would be too much, so I requested medium. What I got was well done -- overcooked and dry, despite the marsala sauce. I know I should have sent them back but I was hungry. The dish also had some fettucini alfredo which was absolutely tasteless, if a bit salty. Other of my dining companions complained of their dishes being too salty as well. And even the unsweetened iced tea accompanying my meal was bland. A good iced tea has enough flavor that it does not require sweetener, but without it this was like drinking a rock. Bleck. Even for a chain restaurant -- yuck.
(2)
Annie M.
I love Carrabba's. This is a family favorite. Matter of fact, we have running joke in our family. You know how you go through all the trouble to save money by eating cheap, traveling the extra mile to save a buck and then after all that hard work or settle for whatever you realized you just spent as much money as if you went to your favorite restaurant. Well we have the Carrabba's rule. When we are trying to pick a place to eat and we are about ready to settle for anything we always say is this a Carrabba's moment. Because I don't want to waste our time and money on anything... If we are it's going to be Carrabba's. We have tried a lot of things but our stapes are: 1) Mezzaluna - Half moon ravioli with chicken, ricotta, and spinach in tomato cream sauce 2) Lobster Ravioli - Ravioli with tender Maine lobster in a white wine cream sauce 3) Sirloin or Chicken Marsala
(5)
Kristen J.
We love Carrabbas at Polaris! The Blackberry Sangria is a MUST!!!!!!! This last time, our server was slightly tacky! He took our tip slip away while we were still sitting there... He was just short with us in every conversation
(4)
Vanessa B.
My boyfriend and I went here tonight. The atmosphere is very warm and accommodating, though the parking lot is a little hard to get to. Our waitress was prompt with our drink order but took a while to deliver the complimentary bread to the table, which was nothing to brag about itself. To start, I had their soup of the day--fennel and lentil. It was delicious and I dipped pieces of the bread into it. My boyfriend got the house salad, which consisted of chopped ice-lettuce and two olives. To me it seemed a little weak for the price. For the main course my boyfriend ordered the grilled chicken and I had a fettuccine alfredo with added chicken and artichoke that I cannot recall the name of. My pasta was dry and lacked flavor. While the added chicken was excellent, the artichokes tasted like the brine that they are canned in, as if they had simply been dumped onto the dish with no prep before hand. My boyfriends chicken was bland as well. Our waitress was polite but rather aloof. It took her a while to bring us the check and she didn't ask us how the meal was or stop by to check if we needed anything often. I would have over looked this had the place been busy, but it was five in the evening on a monday and not a lot was going on. We will most likely not be returning.
(2)
Meloney B.
You should know that I love Carrabba's. I'm just not impressed with this store. Usually, I go to the store on Mill Run, which I love. It always feels like a treat - fresh, relaxing, wonderful. And while I've given the Polaris store several tries, it just never lives up to those expectations. I can't really pinpoint it, but there's always something - the server is either obnoxious or inattentive, or the food is not what I was expecting (salad is drenched in dressing to the point that you may as well not bother with the vegetables, or the salmon came out with what appeared to be tons of red salsa all over it, again defeating any chance of tasting the salmon), not to mention the fact that it's damn-near impossible to get to - truly a maze of parking lots in the dark. Regardless, I think I'm done with this location. Even though it's less convenient now, when I want Carrabba's, I'll be driving south.
(2)
Trevor S.
This restaurant is definitely a step up from Olive Garden as far as food and atmosphere go, but it still has may ways to improve. They proudly profess how all there sauces are homemade and their vegetables and spices hand chopped, but despite these things I had a few complaints with my order. First of all my Caesar Salad consisted of more then just Romaine Lettuce which was not only unexpected, but led to a overly fair experience. Also it appeared to have been prepared sometime in advance as the dressing had been soaked up by the lettuce causing it to seem mushy. One thing I do appreciate though is that they serve cold foods on chilled plates and hot foods on hot plates, a definite plus! All in all this is not a prime Italian restaurant, but if you are looking for a step up from Olive Garden and good food, you won't be disappointed. Bring a flashlight though to read your menu as the place is hardly lit.
(4)
Drew R.
Love this place. Never have had a bad meal, service has always been great, and they have gluten free menu. I would put it into the Bravo's/Brio category. The parking is the most ridiculous land grab I have ever seen, It's like apocalypse of parking lots. There is no signage, and every surrounding restaurant is very territorial of who is to park where. Once your inside, it's comfortable, inviting, and the food is great, and the kids love it.
(4)
Kelli C.
Carrabba's is great because of it's versatility. You can come alone in jeans or come in a suit and tie. Beware the ides of March--err May, as Prom takes over you can expect a wait. In fact, having to wait wasn't that bad due to the large waiting area. I ordered Linguine Pescatore which, as the name implies, includes shrimp scallops and mussels. I'm not a shellfish kind of girl so I asked if they could change it to chicken which they did and they didn't skimp on the chicken! Now, if you plan on going alone (which I recommend at least once) ask to sit at the counter. There are about 5 seats at the counter and it looks into the kitchen. The chef and other kitchen personnel offer decent conversation and give you samples of other dishes! Not to mention you see yours being prepared and having your food served hot is never a problem. Sitting at the counter was one of the more enjoyable experiences because you feel like you're apart of the atmosphere and not the person sitting at a table for two, alone.
(4)
Ginger K.
Excellent food. Gluten free available. Fun staff. A little noisy.
(5)
M. R.
My husband and I decided to check this place out as we were visiting from Los Angeles. When we arrived it was about an hour wait, so we sat at the bar. My father in-law ordered us some drinks and the bartender made an extra drink and decided to give it to us on the house which was nice. When our table became available I ordered a pasta dish with fresh tomatoes and it had Lot's of garlic in it. There were 7 of us all together last night so when the food was ready, there was a bit of wait for my father in -law's dish and when my step mom's dish arrived it was cold. Overall all the staff was really great and the manager came around and told us that since the food was late and my step mom's dish was cold, that they took those items off the bill.. so again that was great. The food was pretty tasty and the fried zucchini was sooo good! I only gave it a three because the pasta had way too much garlic in it, and it gave my husband and I a stomach ache. Excellent customer service though!
(3)
Mike H.
We decided to take our out-of-town visitors to Carrabba's Italian Grill for dinner. After sitting for 25 minutes I had to get up and find a waiter. The waiter acted like he didn't want to be bothered. We ended up waiting a long time for the food, which was horrible. The soup was lukewarm and tasted like a mound of salt. There was a pile of beans towering above the liquid. I mentioned to the waiter that the soup was cold and he said, "oh, do you want another one?" The plates all came at different times and most were cold like they were sitting around too long before served. We informed the manager but she didn't seem to be proactive in providing better service. We did catch her lecturing her cooks about the food. We asked for a check and left. We will not be back.
(1)
David K.
Went here over Thanksgiving and it was crowded but call ahead seating got us in with only a 10-15 minute wait. It's much better than the Olive Garden at Polaris, that's what really earns it the 4th star for me as it is a chain and there is nothing particularly noteworthy about the place. The food and service were pretty good and I left full and in a good mood.
(4)
MJ L.
I like Carrabba's. Good food, good drinks and wonderful service, can't go wrong on a casual evening out. We started the dinner with zucini fries which were addictive! Can't remember the names of the dishes, but we had a delightfully light tomato-based pasta dish and a bit heavier chicken dish with cheese stuffing... YUMMMMmmm. Both dishes were wonderful! We had blackberry sangria which was absolutely delicious! Our server was very attentive without being intrusive. So what's with 3 stars? Here's a couple of issues I had... the place was packed so we were seated at a table which wouldn't have been a problem but unfortunately, tables were so closely packed together that we felt like we were seated with bunch of strangers. The wait staffs were zipping through extremely narrow spaces between the tables which I thought wasn't possible, but they made it happen and in the process, our chairs kept getting hip checked... not pleasant! At one point, when our very nice waiter was grinding cheese over our plates, I thought that I might get punched by his hand when another server bumped him while walking by. The second issue was with our dessert... we ordered tiramisu and one of their mini desserts that comes in a shooter glass. I loved my mini dessert - chocolate mousse, it was on a heavier side, but the portion was small enough to be just right. Tiramisu on the other hand was a disaster! The cream base for this particular dessert was waaaaay too heavy to the point of resembling crisco or lard in texture - yuck! Light cake component of the dish was ok, but it was soaked in coffee liquor rather than expresso... not the way I prefer. So we only had a couple bites and called it quits. Overall, good times were had at Carrabba's. We will return here the next time we are in the area, but we will be sure to sit in a booth and perhaps skip desserts.
(3)
Keith W.
better then olive garden
(4)
Jeremy K.
I don't frequent Carrabbas but my family and I decided to stop in before our evening church service. We were seated warmly and quickly. The host was a young man who was very pleasant and so was our server Jay. The food came out quickly and was pretty good! I wouldn't say it was the type of food I would propose to my wife to, but I wasn't disappointed. I had the opportunity to explain that the pizza was lightly charred and not burned(to my children who ordered the kids meal) and after the explanation they were immediately impressed with the pizza haha. A very very small demerit would be the staff congregating(6-7) near the kitchen and overlooking the dining room. It wasn't too bad but at times felt like I was being watched. Definitely didn't ruin my meal but that could be fine tuned a bit. Bathroom was clean and everyone I met was friendly. Good job guys.
(4)
Barbara S.
I have fallen in love with this place!!! I was looking for a new italian restaurant and this just fell into my lap! My fiance and I went to amore mondays where you can get a deal for $12.99 (2 apps, 2 entrees, soup or salad and a dessert). I cant remember the names of our dishes but just know that anything you order here is bound to be so delicious!!
(5)
Meredith Z.
Like the steak flatbread. The signature chicken pasta (good but) can be better if it's less oily.
(4)
Richard P.
Diners be ware,, this location has changed Franchise owners... Service isn't what it used to be. After being seated it was to the point I was going to get up and ask if someone was going to wait on us. Waiter finally came,... Took order, we ordered Pizza for an appetizer, and she specifically asked if we wanted it before meals.... Yes appetizer. So... Out comes the Pizza, 20 seconds later our meals. I told them I didn't want the Pizza with my meal, they took back. The owner ( I assume) came out after with the Pizza in a box and apologized and said it was on the house. As for the service,, didn't get any refills on Water during meal, she asked when she took away my plate. Not good. Food prices went up,,, portions went smaller. Don't want to keep rambling on... So just know , it's not what it once was... Was our favorite, now, not so much.
(1)
Jennifer C.
I don't share the general consensus about Carrabbas obviously. We went there last Saturday and our party of 5(1 child) cost us over $160. Now granted, we did have desserts and 2 alcoholic drinks (total) but seriously! 2 out of the 5 were very happy with their meals. I had the chicken Bryan which I understand is award winning. It was just okay in my books.I've always enjoyed their pasta side so I concentrated on that. I didn't even enjoy the house salad. I've got to remember to always get the Caesar if I ever return. About 4 hours later my husband and I felt horrible though. We think it was just the richness of everything though. The service was just okay. The waiter spoke waayyy to fast and we really couldn't understand him but that's just me nitpicking.
(2)
Jeffrey J.
Had the new pasta lovers meal tagliarini with asparagus tomato and basil mmmmmmmm good. Waitress was awesome. We have been enjoying the food at Carrabbas since 1999 it is a never fail. Good atmosphere good food great time.
(5)
Joe T.
Not a bad Carrabbas, but not a spectacular one, either. I ordered a seafood dish with linguine and asked for it to be prepared Al Dente. It came out crunchy. I sent it back, and it was back out in a heartbeat, which tells me that it was microwaved. There was so much watery sauce on it that it got everywhere, no matter how careful I was. On the other hand, the server handled the send-back well, and apologized, and the service was impeccable, so that earns another star.
(3)
Tanya B.
As a restaurant manager i feel my standards are a little high sometimes....but This place was clean, service was fast and food was delicious!!!!!! Definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Ashley R.
My husband and i absolutely love ordering pick up from here. I order the fettuccine weesie and I like to add chicken and some veggies to give it more flavor. It is so good! I will always order this as it is my favorite dish. My husband on the other hand had never ordered here before. He ordered cavatappi martino. He did not like his meal as much as he liked mine. Lol however his meal also tasted pretty good. We will be ordering here more often... I hope my husband finds a dish he likes here. Which I am sure he will. (-:
(5)
Paul F.
I went here for dinner a couple of nights ago and boy was it dark! I started with a cup of soup which was VERY salty, but still edible, and still halfway decent. For my main, I ordered the lobster ravioli. After a couple of bites, no lobster was to be found (just cheese) so I sent it back. I asked them to replace it with veal marsala and a side order of spagetti. This came out okay but again, was very salty. Fortunately, the extreme amount of salt didn't bother me but I know it would bother a lot of people. I'm disappointed with this restaurant. For the money, I would have expected more.
(3)
Victoria h.
18 of us came here for my mother-in-law's birthday dinner. There is absolutely nothing special about this place, at least not to me. It's a chain (apparently) and the food is very generic. My Rigatoni was very heavy and flavor-less. My husband's Chicken Bryan was also very average. This is a nice place, if you want good, quick service, like chain restaurants, and enjoy generic Italian food. Otherwise, if you're looking for authentic Italian food, you look past Carrabas.
(3)
becca p.
went here with my boyfriend last night and i cant say that i was all that impressed . . I personally love italian food, this place was good. .but i expected better. . As for the service EXCEPTIONAL! the man who was serving us was the best! (wish i remembered his name) He filled up my drink before i even finished the first one! he was also very good at checking on us to make sure we were doing good and everything was okay (i love a good waiter, makes all the difference in the world!) He even boxed up our leftovers for us =D To start the bring you bread, which was amazing!! i would go back just for the bread alone. .we also ordered calamari as an appetizer which wasn't bad but a little bit salty. .had a bit of a zip to it as well. . I ordered the lasagna which was pretty good, just wish it was hot all the way through. .i don't think i would order it again but i would definitely like to try some other things there! =)
(4)
Tracy T.
Horrible experience. The food was lousy for the money. Olive Garden is better and I really don't care for it. House salad consisted of iceberg lettuce and carrot slivers. That's it!? Lentil & sausage soup tasted like chili with no beans. Pizza was boring and soggy. Fried zucchini was very salty. Waiter didn't write down orders and totally forgot what I had ordered and had to come back and ask. Daughter's dish was supposed to be minus black olives and he forgot that too. Finally, my wife didn't get her credit card back. Prices are way too high for this sub-par food and service. Stay away.
(1)
Bill D.
Wifes favorite restaurant. I love the lobster ravioli, and the tortellini. kids love the pizza. Friendly considerate service.
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 : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Andrea H.
My friend, my daughter, and I just left the Carrabba's location 8460 Lyra Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43230 at approx. 7:50 09/02/13. Upon initial seating we were assigned to our server Jodey T. He greeted us with the usual hello's of which he was not very warm. We were seated during what appeared to be a dinner rush so I paid no mind to the rush introduction. Being that we visit this location often and have been doing so for the past seven years my friend asked about the happy hour discount price for the Quartino Blackberry Sangria and our server Jodey looked at us with a confused look and then said no we only have wine deals and did not bother to inquire for us. STRIKE 1. So my friend decided not to press the issue with him. Instead she went up to the bar personally to ask and was given the deal she was accustomed to. While she was at the bar the server came up to the table with a smirk on his face and asked me "so what is she just going to sit at the bar now" and I replied with no she will be back she is doing some fact checking. I placed my order and he asked if I knew what she wanted and I was perplexed that he was asking me to order for her but I responded with she will return to place her own order and he left and came back to take her order. STRIKE 2 As the meal went on he checked on us once and we asked for more bread being that there were three people at our table and then when the meal came we asked for more FREE bread and after our request he had a look on his face as if he could not understand why we were asking for more FREE bread. STRIKE 3 As we continued with our meal the server decided to prematurely bring us to go boxes before we even asked for them as we're were NOT finished eating. STRIKE 4 I advised him that there would be two checks and we would like some bread to take with our leftovers. He returns with one bag and one bread ASSuming that we were going to the same location. I proceeded to ask him for a second bag and bread. He paused and said you want more bread? We typically charge for the bread but I won't charge you just be nice to me. STRIKE AGAIN. Who has the audacity to ask for a tip. REALLY? And furthermore we have NEVER been charged when we ask for some bread before leaving. We did not respond. By this time I am so exhausted with this lackluster experience. The server then brings the checks and by this time we are so outdone but even so, I still understand that this job is not an easy one and I never leave zero for a tip. So even though this server deserved nothing because of his poor service I went ahead and tipped according to my cell phone tip app. I decided to tip him a FAIR rate. My friend paid with cash and he gave her cash right at the table and then he took my debit card and returned it. After we discussed what we thought of his service we filled out the tip and put the receipt holders over by the wall of our booth. I would notice the server looking out at us through his peripheral each time he walked by as we continued to finish our Sangria's. He then (before we were finished) approached our table and attempted to reach over my friend to get the receipts (to check his tip amount obviously) back instead of attempting to clear some of the dirty dishes. I have never experienced a server trying to pick up the receipts before clearing the table first. Because I knew what he was attempting to do I told him he can pick them up once we leave and he seemed to be upset. ANOTHER STRIKE. We finally get up to leave and as we walk to the car we are standing there talking to each other and the next thing we notice is our server and another server come out of the side exit to look at us my friend looks over and notices this. The server then proceeds to say in front of customers dining outside "THE NEXT TIME I WILL CHARGE YOU FOR THE BREAD!" Now I am LIVID! We walk back into the restaurant request the manager and tell him everything that happened from beginning to end. I am totally disgusted. The manager Mr. Paul Victor did a wonderful job of damage control and the young lady at the seating podium was helpful with providing our servers name. I do feel as if our server Jodey T needs to be fired immediately. You do not accost a paying customer, tips are NOT a given, nor are they entitled to receive a tip if not rightfully earned. This server did NOT deserve one red cent but we gave anyway because not tipping at all is not what we do. VERY DISGUSTED with this entire experience with the exception of the save on behalf of the manager on duty Paul Victor and the lady at the seating podium. Jodey T needs to be put on dish washing duty or FIRED because he does not deserve to work around customers who are using hard earned money to receive a decent meal. I will post on whatever website I can find. This was the worst dining experience service wise that I have ever received. Food,drink,and manager save was WONDERFUL. This rating weighs heavily on the service received.
(1)Sarah P.
BEST most fantabulous Italian food out there! In my opinion, much better than Spaghetti Warehouse. The 1st time we went, they gave our 3 kids pizza dough to play with while they waited for their food. The bread they give you is superb. Everything that I have tasted (including drinks from the bar) has been wonderful. The service is ALWAYS wonderful. This is my family's go to place when we want Italian and I dont want to cook.
(5)Amy H.
Great food, fast service. Lobster ravioli was amazing. Neprea is a fabulous waitress.
(5)Sarah C.
Jana was our server and she was very friendly! The food was perfect and the service was great! We had the salmon which was perfectly grilled and the cannoli was a delicious finish! Thanks jana!
(5)John T.
Three words... Tag Pic Pac. Delicious, fresh, colorful. Tomatoes, garlic cloves, basil and fresh pasta. Service is great. Very Attentive, with lack of a lunch crowd. Near to Polaris mall, but oddly out of the way to get there. A great lunch or dinner place, but a best bet for lunch!
(4)Elaine N.
This is one of the only chain restaurants I will go to. Came here with a girlfriend for lunch and the service and food were great! I had the Toast of Tuscany for a drink (yum, love the champagne in it). For a meal my girlfriend and I shared the create your own pizza and spaghetti and meat sauce. Both were delicious. You won't be disappointed with this restaurant!
(4)Elizabeth B.
As a Florida native, I grew up with a Carrabba's around the corner from my house for five years, so as a now Pittsburgh resident, I crave it often. While in Columbus for work this summer, I drove 20 minutes out of my way to enjoy dinner by myself here. The service was great. I've actually discovered the service seems to be particularly good when dining alone in a sit-down restaurant. Maybe it's because you just sit there looking either super awkward as you stare at couples and families or super bored as you play on your iPhone. The bread... the veal marsala... the fettuccine alfredo... was all exactly what I wanted and expected. Mmm mmm mmm. I also ordered Sangria for the first time from Carrabba's, which was good but not as good as their food. Here's hoping that I'll be back soon!
(4)Keith B.
I can't say this place was bad, I can't say it was great. I came here on a date, and our server was awesome - he recommended a sangria, he recommended dishes, and was very attentive. Unfortunately, other staff was hanging around chatting loudly while we ate - I have no problem with staff conversing, hanging around *at all* - but I have a problem when they're acting like patrons aren't around. Our food was delicious - not remarkable, but tasty. All in all, it wasn't bad. I never crave Carraba's (and nor does my date) but we took an off chance with a coupon offer. And now we know why they need coupons.
(3)Lo S.
I'M NOT EVEN REMOTELY IMPRESSED BY THIS PLACE. The waiter was slow....the food was ALL TYPES OF BLAND...DO THEY EVEN SEASON THE FOOD??? Where's the cracked fresh pepper people. .AND IT WAS CROWDED. What FOR PEOPLE? The prices.....for all of the mediocrity, UNACCEPTABLE!!!!! You couldn't bribe me into another Carrabba's with a lifetime supply of MAC Cosmetics!!! I wish I would....Not with all those restaurants in the area. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else, please!!
(2)Jodi L.
They have one of my favorite meals in town. The service is consistently good. My only complaint is that it's a little too expensive for the value so we do not go as often. Better than expected food for a chain restaurant.
(4)Jordan B.
This was my first time to Carrabbas in Polaris. I always drove past and wondered what was in the restaurant with trees on top of the building, so last Friday night I decided to finally go with a group of three friends When we arrived, the hostess said it would be approximately a 30 minute wait, which wasn't too bad for a Friday night, so we decided to stay and try it. Their estimate for waiting time was pretty spot on because the buzzer went off after close to 30 min. Our waiter was nice and the atmosphere of the restaurant was enjoyable. First off, the bread was good. I'm not much of a fan for oil on my bread, but it wasn't too bad when they added the strange assortment of spices. To eat, I ordered the fettuccine carrabba which came with peas and sautéed mushrooms and a soup or side salad (the Caesar salad was great!) The pasta was okay, perhaps a little dry. I'll definitely be ordering something else if I come back. It was humorous watching my friends order because they have never been to nicer restaurants. No one knew what anything on the menu was, so I had to explain some of it. One girl wondered why there were two forks in her napkin and didn't know why I put my napkin on my lap. When the waiter listed off the salads, no one knew what vinaigrette dressing or a Caesar salad was, so they just got ranch. I tried their salads, and I would much more recommend the Caesar salad instead. Two of the other people got the thing as me and one girl got the baked ravioli. I don't like ravioli, but I even thought it looked good. I forgot to taste some, but she liked it and just about finished all of it. The serving sizes are pretty big here; no one was able to finish their food (I are about 2/3 of my pasta). I had a good experience here, but I'm just not sure if this is the place for me, so I may or may not be back. The food I had was okay, and I didn't see too much stuff that appealed to me on the menu.
(3)Mr M.
Love this place, we had Alexis as our server and she was AWESOME! The food is always good so hats off the the cooks and guys behind the scenes that make it happen. Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Â!
(5)L E.
One of the best calamari appitizers in town! Tender and crispy with wonderful dipping sauce. They have fun bar type seating overlooking the wood fired oven. You can watch them prepare pizzas and they will give your children a little dough to play with. Delicious bread with olive oil and herbs to dip it in. Fresh pasta and wonderful grill. Great service and they have no problems with special orders.
(4)Jeff K.
Had the dinner Sirloin Marsala and Mahi combo with sauteed green beans. I ordered the sirloin medium rare and got the sirloin medium rare. It had the right combination of season and marsala sauce. The mahi was lightly breaded and moist. The green beans with sauteed perfectly - done but they maintained a snap. This was a great dish!
(4)Sulema M.
Haven't had Carrabas in ages, so we decided to stop in on a Friday night and it was packed. A 30 min wait turned into a 50 min wait, but it was the weekend, I guess you can expect it. The food was ok, nothing of this place I ever remembered being good, but it worked for my craving of lasagna. Since I don't eat pasta very often, this worked out just fine and the portion was beyond huge. We started with an appetizer of calamari and I could have done without it. The batter was very peppery and the marinara was salty as heck. However, I do like their crushed seasoning in oil that you get with your bread. Now that had me eating more bread than I do in year! My DH had the buttery noodles and shrimp dish, but he didn't take to the buttery noodles very well - way too much butter, not enough seasoning. It looked boring too. Our friend had the veal marsala with veggies and his looked and smelled great. Our server was great, he had an amazing attitude and was prompt with everything. Overall, this is your typical big chain place and it will probably be another 5 years before I eat here again.
(3)Will P.
Consistent Chain Italian I am pretty hard on chain restaurants. That being said, Carrabba's is an italian establishment that I really have no complaints about. The staff is always kind and the food is done well. This particular restaurant is too dark, but that is just a personal preference. The kalamari is particularly delicious. Great for families
(3)Alan L.
Went to this Carrabas in Polaris last night and was very disappointed. We've gone several times before as my wife loves(used to) the food. Calamari was overlooked and bland, lasagna was cold, salad was unappetizing and portions have shrunk considerably. The tiramisu was still good though.
(2)Mike B.
This was a typical Carrabas...nothing special or out of the ordinary. The food was descent and the service good. My only complaint was the room temperature. We were sitting in the back of the restaurant next to the "employee entrance." Whenever the door opened, the cold air rushed in and hit us. Given that it was 25 F outside, this was uncomfortable until the waiter finally asked the manager to turn up the temp in the restaurant. This took too long to finally rectify.
(3)Bob S.
Outstanding food and service!!! Hard to believe this is a chain!!! I have eaten at hundreds of Italian restaurants and this is in the top ten for sure.
(5)Casey S.
Having been new to Carrabba's I was unsure of what to expect but I adore italian food and have grown tired of Olive Garden. My most solid compliments were that the calamari was spicy but succulent, my pasta was filling, and the atmosphere was comforting. I do have complaints as well. My bread pudding was repulsive with no flavor, utterly the worst I've ever ate in my lifetime. Also my pasta was very filling but the portion was too large and I had to take the majority home for leftovers. Overall I would go just for the calamari because it was plenty of food.
(3)Thomas B.
Wanna hate the franchises but Carrabba's always gets it right. Well-trained wait staff, great bread, good selection of wine, food is tasty (if unimaginative) and consistently good...on the table in 10 minutes in my case! I travel a lot and am never disappointed when I eat at a Carrabba's. --TB
(4)Derek S.
Took the gf on a date here and it was pretty good. Service was extremely good. Just about every time the waiter walked by he asked how everything was. We ordered an appetizer of of calamari, which was very salty unfortunately. My meal was wonderfully delicious i forget the name but it had shrimp, scallops, mushrooms and an alfredo sauce. My girlfriend had lasagna which looked awesome, but she said it was kind of cold. Would go back for the exceptional service.
(4)John G.
This is my favorite "chain" Italian restaurant. Always consistent, and I love the bread with olive dipping oil that you get when you sit down. The Polaris location has consistently good wait staff every time we have gone. Very friendly, fast and attentive.
(4)Christopher G.
This was our second visit to a Carrabbas...our first was at the Hilliard location which wasnt very good. This visit was better, however, just like the other location, it is dark. Very dark. Luckily, our booth had a window, and we adjusted the (closed) shutters to shed some more light on the table, without adding light to the surrounding area. We had the shrimp scampi appetizer which was very rich and decadent. All courses are offer with fresh grated Parmesan cheese by the server, who provided outstanding service throughout. My vinaigrette salad was just okay. It says its served with a host of topping, but all were light. For example, it said it came with kalamata olives, but only had two small ones in the whole thing. It was also under seasoned and dressed. I had the "Johnny" which was a (perfectly cooked) steak topped with mushroom sauce and (slightly dry...slightly over cooked) chicken breast cutlet with a blue cheese, sun dried tomato topping. I had this with their garlic mashed potatoes. She had their chicken soup which she said was very good, and grilled Tilapia, which she said was over seasoned, and a little mushy, but tasted great. The potatoes were excellent, and the rest of my meal was generally very good, but I felt my portion sizes were small for the price. These are all generally small nits, and we would certainly return, but the price (our bill was $60+ for 2 with no desert) may keep our frequency to a minimum.
(4)Brian W.
I hate this place is a chain, but I've got to admit, it's a good chain. Lot's of interesting food choices, almost all good. Even a semi-interesting wine list, many available by the glass. The place is really dark, and I'm not sure why that is. Parking for this particular one is okay, but tough to find and to get to.
(3)Courtney W.
Dining in here is great. The food is good, the waiters are friendly and offer advice, and you always leave feeling happy and satisfied; like you just ate at mom's. Their blackberry sangria is still my favorite drink ever and it's why I keep coming back here. Their food isn't my version of ideal Italian food but that doesn't mean it doesn't taste great. Their pasta here is wonderful, something I usually avoid getting out but always get here. If you're looking for a nice place to tuck into and relax with friends or a special someone this is defiantly a good place to check out.
(4)Bryant M.
I wanted to hate this place. I really did. But I didn't hate it. In fact, I kinda loved it - for a chain. Yes, I hate chains. And, yes, I hate Polaris. But the Mister wanted Carrabba's for his birthday, and who am I to disagree with the Birthday Princess? So, off to Carrabba's we went. We walked in about 5:30 pm on a Saturday night - and on a holiday weekend - and only waited about five minutes to be seated. The hostesses were very polite, and our server was fantastic! She made great recommendations, kept our glasses filled, and never once was annoying. Gold star to her! And the food was seriously delicious. Our party ordered: fried zucchini, mozzarella, lentil soup, salad, chicken Bryan, chicken marsala, and blackberry sangria. Everything we had was great! I would definitely say my favorites were the marsala and the blackberry sangria. Good grief - get the sangria. It was some of the best I've ever had! Oh, and the price for three people? About $90 + tip. Not bad for appies, drinks, and main courses, eh? Even though Carrabba's won't become a staple for me anytime soon, I definitely won't protest if somebody tries to drag me there.
(4)Steve B.
We were on our way to another place up the road and the traffic was so miserable, that we couldn't get over the bridge. Thankfully we found this place. Had no trouble getting a table on a Friday night. Our server was very quick with the drinks and fresh bread. The drink selection is fantastic (extensive wine and beer list, even some non-alcoholic choices). The food was to die for. I couldn't get over the smell of the wood fire stove, and so I had to get a wood fired pizza with meatballs and sausage. Some of the best pizza I have ever had - hands down. My wife ordered more of a traditional rolled cheese pasta and it was fantastic. It's been literally years since I have been in a nice sit-down Italian place where I came away happy. I would have never guessed this is a chain. Will definitely come back to this place again when I am in town.
(5)Ila B.
Mood lighting. Light enough to see your food and dim enough to feel sexy. I saw huge cobwebs in a corner by the light. NOTE: There was a table in this same corner. -_- Art work is of family history and Italy- snore. Warm bread plates and cold salad plates is a nice touch. Quick and great service for a Sunday. No wait. Pretty servers. Mines was awesome tipped her 35%. Her name was Renee. Lasagna size is medium and taste is 8. The meet and cheese is really strong. The sauce is delish! I would visit again.
(3)Kim F.
Expensive but good. Our food was pretty good, but not extraordinary. The food at Monte Carlo is just as good and not nearly as expensive. They did feature a spicy lentil and sausage soup that was good and also nice to see on the menu. Most Italian restaurants do not offer such a soup. Most restaurants offer a Minestrone or Italian Wedding soup, which gets boring after a while. The bread was fresh - fluffy on the inside and crusty on the outside. The salads were chilled and crisp. Overall, good but not outstanding. On a scale of 1-10, I would give them a 7.5.
(3)Zack R.
Since I'm on a roll today, I'll go ahead and review another chain place. Carrabba's wasn't one of those places that I would ever just go to and eat with my wife. But we had friends in town, and one wanted Italian, and it was right in front of us. Easy, peasy, Italianeezy. We were told that our wait would be 45 minutes. We were seated in about 15. Very cool. Our server was very friendly, and attentive. The food? Wife and her friend had lasagna. Smallish portion, which is weird for and Italian place, but it was damn tasty. My friend had the veal. He was disappointed because you can't just get veal over angel hair or spaghetti. So he got it with some thick curly noodles. Meh. I had the spaghetti with Italian sausage. It was pretty damn good too, and it was a big portion of pasta with 2 big tasty spicy sausages. The complimentary bread was a little underdone. We got a second loaf, and same thing. The herbs for dipping were very good though. These chain Italian places like to put the lights down as far as they'll go. Is this supposed to be an ambiance thing? More like a "somebody's gonna get knocked down" kind of thing amirite?
(3)Alex K.
This is my favorite chain Italian restaurant. The service is always great and the food is superb. A little pricy, but that's what you pay for. If you avoid wine you can keep the tab lower. The menu is a little short - I mean, they literally have like 6 pastas or something. Isn't this an Italian restaurant? But I pick one of the 6 and it's great. So... perhaps if you can do a few things right, why try to do more? Would definitely go back.
(5)Moose F.
In town for a meeting, one of the participants picked Carrabba's for dinner. Due to a strange food allergy Italian food is usually low on my list, but I figured since it's a chain I could probably find something safe to eat. I give them big bonus points for two things: seating a party of 10 within a half hour on a Saturday night, and knowledgeable, polite, and excellent wait staff, who both acknowledged my food allergy, handled our service efficiently and kept our drink glasses full. These things are the only thing keeping them from a one star rating. As for the food -- other reviews here call this place "Better than Olive Garden." That's kinda like saying "Better than Hot Dog Water", but I'm not sure it really is better. Someone at the table ordered a bowl of mussels, which was, upon arrival, about 1/3 empty shells. It turned out that many had had the meat fall out, and what meat there was [in or out of shells] was very small. The sauce it came in wasn't too bad - I got to try some on some of the bread. The bread, now, that was tasty. It might have been the tastiest part of the meal. I ordered pork chops and the waitress asked how I wanted them. I've never been asked this about pork before so I looked at her blankly. She said she'd put them in for "medium well" which I thought would be too much, so I requested medium. What I got was well done -- overcooked and dry, despite the marsala sauce. I know I should have sent them back but I was hungry. The dish also had some fettucini alfredo which was absolutely tasteless, if a bit salty. Other of my dining companions complained of their dishes being too salty as well. And even the unsweetened iced tea accompanying my meal was bland. A good iced tea has enough flavor that it does not require sweetener, but without it this was like drinking a rock. Bleck. Even for a chain restaurant -- yuck.
(2)Annie M.
I love Carrabba's. This is a family favorite. Matter of fact, we have running joke in our family. You know how you go through all the trouble to save money by eating cheap, traveling the extra mile to save a buck and then after all that hard work or settle for whatever you realized you just spent as much money as if you went to your favorite restaurant. Well we have the Carrabba's rule. When we are trying to pick a place to eat and we are about ready to settle for anything we always say is this a Carrabba's moment. Because I don't want to waste our time and money on anything... If we are it's going to be Carrabba's. We have tried a lot of things but our stapes are: 1) Mezzaluna - Half moon ravioli with chicken, ricotta, and spinach in tomato cream sauce 2) Lobster Ravioli - Ravioli with tender Maine lobster in a white wine cream sauce 3) Sirloin or Chicken Marsala
(5)Kristen J.
We love Carrabbas at Polaris! The Blackberry Sangria is a MUST!!!!!!! This last time, our server was slightly tacky! He took our tip slip away while we were still sitting there... He was just short with us in every conversation
(4)Vanessa B.
My boyfriend and I went here tonight. The atmosphere is very warm and accommodating, though the parking lot is a little hard to get to. Our waitress was prompt with our drink order but took a while to deliver the complimentary bread to the table, which was nothing to brag about itself. To start, I had their soup of the day--fennel and lentil. It was delicious and I dipped pieces of the bread into it. My boyfriend got the house salad, which consisted of chopped ice-lettuce and two olives. To me it seemed a little weak for the price. For the main course my boyfriend ordered the grilled chicken and I had a fettuccine alfredo with added chicken and artichoke that I cannot recall the name of. My pasta was dry and lacked flavor. While the added chicken was excellent, the artichokes tasted like the brine that they are canned in, as if they had simply been dumped onto the dish with no prep before hand. My boyfriends chicken was bland as well. Our waitress was polite but rather aloof. It took her a while to bring us the check and she didn't ask us how the meal was or stop by to check if we needed anything often. I would have over looked this had the place been busy, but it was five in the evening on a monday and not a lot was going on. We will most likely not be returning.
(2)Meloney B.
You should know that I love Carrabba's. I'm just not impressed with this store. Usually, I go to the store on Mill Run, which I love. It always feels like a treat - fresh, relaxing, wonderful. And while I've given the Polaris store several tries, it just never lives up to those expectations. I can't really pinpoint it, but there's always something - the server is either obnoxious or inattentive, or the food is not what I was expecting (salad is drenched in dressing to the point that you may as well not bother with the vegetables, or the salmon came out with what appeared to be tons of red salsa all over it, again defeating any chance of tasting the salmon), not to mention the fact that it's damn-near impossible to get to - truly a maze of parking lots in the dark. Regardless, I think I'm done with this location. Even though it's less convenient now, when I want Carrabba's, I'll be driving south.
(2)Trevor S.
This restaurant is definitely a step up from Olive Garden as far as food and atmosphere go, but it still has may ways to improve. They proudly profess how all there sauces are homemade and their vegetables and spices hand chopped, but despite these things I had a few complaints with my order. First of all my Caesar Salad consisted of more then just Romaine Lettuce which was not only unexpected, but led to a overly fair experience. Also it appeared to have been prepared sometime in advance as the dressing had been soaked up by the lettuce causing it to seem mushy. One thing I do appreciate though is that they serve cold foods on chilled plates and hot foods on hot plates, a definite plus! All in all this is not a prime Italian restaurant, but if you are looking for a step up from Olive Garden and good food, you won't be disappointed. Bring a flashlight though to read your menu as the place is hardly lit.
(4)Drew R.
Love this place. Never have had a bad meal, service has always been great, and they have gluten free menu. I would put it into the Bravo's/Brio category. The parking is the most ridiculous land grab I have ever seen, It's like apocalypse of parking lots. There is no signage, and every surrounding restaurant is very territorial of who is to park where. Once your inside, it's comfortable, inviting, and the food is great, and the kids love it.
(4)Kelli C.
Carrabba's is great because of it's versatility. You can come alone in jeans or come in a suit and tie. Beware the ides of March--err May, as Prom takes over you can expect a wait. In fact, having to wait wasn't that bad due to the large waiting area. I ordered Linguine Pescatore which, as the name implies, includes shrimp scallops and mussels. I'm not a shellfish kind of girl so I asked if they could change it to chicken which they did and they didn't skimp on the chicken! Now, if you plan on going alone (which I recommend at least once) ask to sit at the counter. There are about 5 seats at the counter and it looks into the kitchen. The chef and other kitchen personnel offer decent conversation and give you samples of other dishes! Not to mention you see yours being prepared and having your food served hot is never a problem. Sitting at the counter was one of the more enjoyable experiences because you feel like you're apart of the atmosphere and not the person sitting at a table for two, alone.
(4)Ginger K.
Excellent food. Gluten free available. Fun staff. A little noisy.
(5)M. R.
My husband and I decided to check this place out as we were visiting from Los Angeles. When we arrived it was about an hour wait, so we sat at the bar. My father in-law ordered us some drinks and the bartender made an extra drink and decided to give it to us on the house which was nice. When our table became available I ordered a pasta dish with fresh tomatoes and it had Lot's of garlic in it. There were 7 of us all together last night so when the food was ready, there was a bit of wait for my father in -law's dish and when my step mom's dish arrived it was cold. Overall all the staff was really great and the manager came around and told us that since the food was late and my step mom's dish was cold, that they took those items off the bill.. so again that was great. The food was pretty tasty and the fried zucchini was sooo good! I only gave it a three because the pasta had way too much garlic in it, and it gave my husband and I a stomach ache. Excellent customer service though!
(3)Mike H.
We decided to take our out-of-town visitors to Carrabba's Italian Grill for dinner. After sitting for 25 minutes I had to get up and find a waiter. The waiter acted like he didn't want to be bothered. We ended up waiting a long time for the food, which was horrible. The soup was lukewarm and tasted like a mound of salt. There was a pile of beans towering above the liquid. I mentioned to the waiter that the soup was cold and he said, "oh, do you want another one?" The plates all came at different times and most were cold like they were sitting around too long before served. We informed the manager but she didn't seem to be proactive in providing better service. We did catch her lecturing her cooks about the food. We asked for a check and left. We will not be back.
(1)David K.
Went here over Thanksgiving and it was crowded but call ahead seating got us in with only a 10-15 minute wait. It's much better than the Olive Garden at Polaris, that's what really earns it the 4th star for me as it is a chain and there is nothing particularly noteworthy about the place. The food and service were pretty good and I left full and in a good mood.
(4)MJ L.
I like Carrabba's. Good food, good drinks and wonderful service, can't go wrong on a casual evening out. We started the dinner with zucini fries which were addictive! Can't remember the names of the dishes, but we had a delightfully light tomato-based pasta dish and a bit heavier chicken dish with cheese stuffing... YUMMMMmmm. Both dishes were wonderful! We had blackberry sangria which was absolutely delicious! Our server was very attentive without being intrusive. So what's with 3 stars? Here's a couple of issues I had... the place was packed so we were seated at a table which wouldn't have been a problem but unfortunately, tables were so closely packed together that we felt like we were seated with bunch of strangers. The wait staffs were zipping through extremely narrow spaces between the tables which I thought wasn't possible, but they made it happen and in the process, our chairs kept getting hip checked... not pleasant! At one point, when our very nice waiter was grinding cheese over our plates, I thought that I might get punched by his hand when another server bumped him while walking by. The second issue was with our dessert... we ordered tiramisu and one of their mini desserts that comes in a shooter glass. I loved my mini dessert - chocolate mousse, it was on a heavier side, but the portion was small enough to be just right. Tiramisu on the other hand was a disaster! The cream base for this particular dessert was waaaaay too heavy to the point of resembling crisco or lard in texture - yuck! Light cake component of the dish was ok, but it was soaked in coffee liquor rather than expresso... not the way I prefer. So we only had a couple bites and called it quits. Overall, good times were had at Carrabba's. We will return here the next time we are in the area, but we will be sure to sit in a booth and perhaps skip desserts.
(3)Keith W.
better then olive garden
(4)Jeremy K.
I don't frequent Carrabbas but my family and I decided to stop in before our evening church service. We were seated warmly and quickly. The host was a young man who was very pleasant and so was our server Jay. The food came out quickly and was pretty good! I wouldn't say it was the type of food I would propose to my wife to, but I wasn't disappointed. I had the opportunity to explain that the pizza was lightly charred and not burned(to my children who ordered the kids meal) and after the explanation they were immediately impressed with the pizza haha. A very very small demerit would be the staff congregating(6-7) near the kitchen and overlooking the dining room. It wasn't too bad but at times felt like I was being watched. Definitely didn't ruin my meal but that could be fine tuned a bit. Bathroom was clean and everyone I met was friendly. Good job guys.
(4)Barbara S.
I have fallen in love with this place!!! I was looking for a new italian restaurant and this just fell into my lap! My fiance and I went to amore mondays where you can get a deal for $12.99 (2 apps, 2 entrees, soup or salad and a dessert). I cant remember the names of our dishes but just know that anything you order here is bound to be so delicious!!
(5)Meredith Z.
Like the steak flatbread. The signature chicken pasta (good but) can be better if it's less oily.
(4)Richard P.
Diners be ware,, this location has changed Franchise owners... Service isn't what it used to be. After being seated it was to the point I was going to get up and ask if someone was going to wait on us. Waiter finally came,... Took order, we ordered Pizza for an appetizer, and she specifically asked if we wanted it before meals.... Yes appetizer. So... Out comes the Pizza, 20 seconds later our meals. I told them I didn't want the Pizza with my meal, they took back. The owner ( I assume) came out after with the Pizza in a box and apologized and said it was on the house. As for the service,, didn't get any refills on Water during meal, she asked when she took away my plate. Not good. Food prices went up,,, portions went smaller. Don't want to keep rambling on... So just know , it's not what it once was... Was our favorite, now, not so much.
(1)Jennifer C.
I don't share the general consensus about Carrabbas obviously. We went there last Saturday and our party of 5(1 child) cost us over $160. Now granted, we did have desserts and 2 alcoholic drinks (total) but seriously! 2 out of the 5 were very happy with their meals. I had the chicken Bryan which I understand is award winning. It was just okay in my books.I've always enjoyed their pasta side so I concentrated on that. I didn't even enjoy the house salad. I've got to remember to always get the Caesar if I ever return. About 4 hours later my husband and I felt horrible though. We think it was just the richness of everything though. The service was just okay. The waiter spoke waayyy to fast and we really couldn't understand him but that's just me nitpicking.
(2)Jeffrey J.
Had the new pasta lovers meal tagliarini with asparagus tomato and basil mmmmmmmm good. Waitress was awesome. We have been enjoying the food at Carrabbas since 1999 it is a never fail. Good atmosphere good food great time.
(5)Joe T.
Not a bad Carrabbas, but not a spectacular one, either. I ordered a seafood dish with linguine and asked for it to be prepared Al Dente. It came out crunchy. I sent it back, and it was back out in a heartbeat, which tells me that it was microwaved. There was so much watery sauce on it that it got everywhere, no matter how careful I was. On the other hand, the server handled the send-back well, and apologized, and the service was impeccable, so that earns another star.
(3)Tanya B.
As a restaurant manager i feel my standards are a little high sometimes....but This place was clean, service was fast and food was delicious!!!!!! Definitely recommend this place!
(5)Ashley R.
My husband and i absolutely love ordering pick up from here. I order the fettuccine weesie and I like to add chicken and some veggies to give it more flavor. It is so good! I will always order this as it is my favorite dish. My husband on the other hand had never ordered here before. He ordered cavatappi martino. He did not like his meal as much as he liked mine. Lol however his meal also tasted pretty good. We will be ordering here more often... I hope my husband finds a dish he likes here. Which I am sure he will. (-:
(5)Paul F.
I went here for dinner a couple of nights ago and boy was it dark! I started with a cup of soup which was VERY salty, but still edible, and still halfway decent. For my main, I ordered the lobster ravioli. After a couple of bites, no lobster was to be found (just cheese) so I sent it back. I asked them to replace it with veal marsala and a side order of spagetti. This came out okay but again, was very salty. Fortunately, the extreme amount of salt didn't bother me but I know it would bother a lot of people. I'm disappointed with this restaurant. For the money, I would have expected more.
(3)Victoria h.
18 of us came here for my mother-in-law's birthday dinner. There is absolutely nothing special about this place, at least not to me. It's a chain (apparently) and the food is very generic. My Rigatoni was very heavy and flavor-less. My husband's Chicken Bryan was also very average. This is a nice place, if you want good, quick service, like chain restaurants, and enjoy generic Italian food. Otherwise, if you're looking for authentic Italian food, you look past Carrabas.
(3)becca p.
went here with my boyfriend last night and i cant say that i was all that impressed . . I personally love italian food, this place was good. .but i expected better. . As for the service EXCEPTIONAL! the man who was serving us was the best! (wish i remembered his name) He filled up my drink before i even finished the first one! he was also very good at checking on us to make sure we were doing good and everything was okay (i love a good waiter, makes all the difference in the world!) He even boxed up our leftovers for us =D To start the bring you bread, which was amazing!! i would go back just for the bread alone. .we also ordered calamari as an appetizer which wasn't bad but a little bit salty. .had a bit of a zip to it as well. . I ordered the lasagna which was pretty good, just wish it was hot all the way through. .i don't think i would order it again but i would definitely like to try some other things there! =)
(4)Tracy T.
Horrible experience. The food was lousy for the money. Olive Garden is better and I really don't care for it. House salad consisted of iceberg lettuce and carrot slivers. That's it!? Lentil & sausage soup tasted like chili with no beans. Pizza was boring and soggy. Fried zucchini was very salty. Waiter didn't write down orders and totally forgot what I had ordered and had to come back and ask. Daughter's dish was supposed to be minus black olives and he forgot that too. Finally, my wife didn't get her credit card back. Prices are way too high for this sub-par food and service. Stay away.
(1)Bill D.
Wifes favorite restaurant. I love the lobster ravioli, and the tortellini. kids love the pizza. Friendly considerate service.
(5)