recently visited, 11-14-11. 6pm area. When first stepping in, pleasantly greeted, 10-15 min wait (Monday night!) The bar was almost full (Monday Night FB too) Bar has nice dining experience. But the big tables should be on the walls and the short tables in the middle this way folks watching the TV's in the bar they can all see. Seated, waitress WAS great from the start to the end. Don't have her name but she was SPOT-ON for service. Start to finish. She had long thin blond ponytail, wore classes. Maybe mid - late 20's. Food was very good, had calamari, poppers, 9oz tenderloin filet was COOKED PERFECT for med-rare. At my indecision, the waitress offered substituting normal sides for lobster ravioli. It was the perfect suggestion. We tried the jar desserts, nice taste & price w/o large expense for a dessert you can't finish. I wish we had this place out west too. Awesome meal, can't say enough good. Prices were very good; you all have an Italian jewel here in a family priced place.
(5)
Bilal M.
I love Carrabas. The entrees are consistently great. Check it out. I prefer to sit at the dessert bar. This is one of the only chain restaurants that I go to. The mussels are fantastic and the sauce is perfect for bread dipping.
(5)
Sindbad T.
Food Quality: Very good Prices: Fair Appearence and Cleanliness: very good Real italian food more than a lot of other italian food places. Atmosphere is really cool and friendly.
(4)
Jane F.
Service here was great ....the only drawback was the waitress asked us if we wanted a pitcher of sangria ..since there were 4 of us we said yes ..however, she did not inform it would be $33..and the pitcher was small. We ordered the sampler appetizer, the calamari ...what calimari ...it was practically all breadcrumbs and they were hard & chewy and needed all the sauce you put on them. The rest of the appetizers (mozzarella sticks, bruschetta) were good as was the bread. The entrees...my husband had the cioppino the.sauce was excellent as was the dish but.... 2 of the mussel shells did not open. You don't serve those.....my friends dish was steak Marsala and she asked for it be Cooked medium and it was undercooked. My dish was pork tenderloins with port wine fig sauce ..they were tasty and flavorful but overcooked. I think if I ever visit a carrabas again ..I will try the one in malvern or Springfield pa
(3)
Deb H.
Yes, Marjorie not ALL chain restaurants serve the same menu prepared well. Case in point, and trust me when I say this, the Carrabb's at this specific location, is NOT your usual chain restaurant franchise. The cooks and managerial staff at this location are exceptional. The food is consistently really tasty, it's always cooked to order, (yes, they even have a gluten free menu) and the prices are really affordable. If you want good American Italian food, this specific Carrabbba's (Painters Crossing in WC) is a best bet!
(5)
Gina M.
I would give them no stars if i could.. We always visit the Springfield location which we love. We went here because it was convenient. My husband ordered the chicken Marsala and somehow a bone appeared in his mouth. He asked me to say nothing because he knows i can get very loud when I'm mad. So i took it home and called Monday .The manager Vince called me back., from the start of the conversation this man was smug with a horrible attitude.He told me the chicken is boneless which i know, so i don't know where the bone came from. He basically came across as calling me a liar without saying it., He wanted me to send the bone to him, i refused. He said WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT??? I told him they need to inspect the food a little better! For the pure fact he had a bad attitude and was not compassionate at all i will tell everyone i know do not go.. !! You can kill someone.. what if it was a small child or a older person ??? Being smug will get you no where in life pal!
(1)
Alyssa T.
I hate Carrabba's, especially this one. I'll eat here if everyone else is determined to, which is a rare occasion anymore. This place blows. The food tastes like Americanized Italian, not authentic, I'm never happy with it. The service here has ALWAYS been terrible. I don't know how this place stays open anymore with the Bertucci's (mmm) down the road. Olive Garden is better than this place. (Which is ridiculous.)
(1)
Jason M.
Small portioned, good quality food . One of the only places where you can get Manicotti! The lasagna is really good as well. Carrabbas is a nice change from the normal Italian chain restaurants.
(3)
Sierra K.
We were staying in the area and ate here several times because we are from Seattle and don't have carrabbas. We love the mamas chicken soup, salad with their amazing creamy parm dressing, and bread with herbs. Their house red wine is great too. Christian and Kiala (sp?) Had great customer service and were nice to talk to. I'd recommend for sure!
(4)
Brian H.
Chicken Brian is wonderful but small in size service was great and met our every need the only downside was it seemed like the heat was on low for our visit. (on a Wednesday) But still a great value.
(4)
Vishnu B.
Nice place.. Good food.... Zucchini fritte and the pasta were awesome.. The menu is also different than the traditional Olive Garden restaurant.. I would definitely recommend a try if you are looking to eat Italian food and live close to Delaware..
(4)
Eric T.
We stopped on our way back from Phila around 5. They weren't terribly busy and got seated right away. Service was great. Food was good. The chicken parm was far better than the other chain. We will stop in again.
(5)
Keith K.
I've been looking forward to coming back for along time since they don't have any up in the Pacific Northwest. The service was great, we were sat promptly and our waitress was very friendly and attentive. However, we noticed a few area where it seems the chain is starting to skimp. First, there is no olive oil on the table. Second, when they bring you a small saucer with a little oil in it they only sprinkle the smallest amount of seasoning on it. The overall amount is barely enough to cover two slices of bread. As for the chicken parm they seemed to skimp on the sauce there too wow, are times really that bad for this once great chain?
(3)
Rob S.
Customer service was great, The Chicken Bryan and John Cole was Delicioso!...aka very good! I cannot wait to go back
(4)
Dee W.
This used to be my favorite restaurant. After our last visit, we have not returned and never will. The service was bad. Waitress never asked if we wanted refills of drinks or of the bread. We noticed changes like no more olive oil on the table, less bread in the basket and not to mention the new horrid decor! Hubby ordered "Panko fried ravioli. No panko, and they were dry and disgusting. I have never seen anything so bad being served. I ordered a salad. New one, with apples and beets. When it arrived, it was just a huge bowl of romaine lettuce, with 2 slices of apple, 2 thin slices of beets and no dressing. when she brought the dressing, it was a citrus dressing and the description said vinaigrette ( no mention of citrus). The manager was very cooperative. He took the salad & ravioli off the menu and offered to bring us something else. It used to be a nice place to go, but all good things come to an end.
(1)
Christine L.
Chicken arugula - delicious. With grilled asparagus, even better. Glad to see cavatappi Franco return. Yum. With Bocelli Sangiovese makes a tasty meal.
(5)
Derek B.
Horrible place. Don't judge a place by how it handles normal operations but handles problems. We found a fly in a wine glass after it had just been poured. When we asked that we get a new pitcher of wind the server said the fly likely flew to just the glass and not the pitcher. So right off he's arguing with us and admitting flys exist in the restaurant. When we asked yet again for a new pitcher he again pressed back. We finally got a new pitcher but when you pay $30 plus you should get guaranteed fly free wine.
(1)
Andrew C.
We ate here tonight for dinner and were very satisfied with both the food and the service. Out of all of the chain restaurants that we frequent, this place seems to deliver the most consistent meal every time. For a chain, good quality and very reasonably priced. A few favorites of mine are the Chicken Bryan, Sirloin Marsala, and the Fettuccine Carrabba. The Johnny combination is a great choice if you want a little variety. The bread with the oil and herbs is probably the thing I look forward to most! In summary, very good Italian food for a chain restaurant and very reasonably priced. Every time we leave, we leave satisfied with a great experience and I wonder why I don't come here more often. ****Solid 4 Stars****
(4)
Shelly C.
Carraba's has been a family favorite for some time now. We are regulars at this location and though there is high turn-over with the employees, it's not uncommon for a waiter to recognize my family. The food is fairly consistent and our favorite dishes are the shrimp diavolo, mama mandolas chicken soup, and the chicken parm. Mama Mandola's chicken soup is truly a comfort food and a must have on a cold and rainy or under the weather kind of day. The warm crusty bread is also the kryptonite of carbs for me. On our most recent visit we had a slight issue with a long delay between our salads and our chicken parm entrees. We saw tables that came in a good thirty minutes after us being served their main courses. It was apparent our server was avoiding us so we flagged down a hostess to request a manager. The manager apologized and explained our meals were being re-fired because they had been over-cooked and that dinner would be on him. When our waitress reappeared she claimed the food delay was due to a back-up in the kitchen. Despite the conflicting stories and food delay, our food was piping hot and cooked to perfection. At the end of our meal the manager came back to check on us and presented each of the three of us a sincere apology and a bonus $25 gift card! It would have been nice for the manager to approach us first or the waitress to take some ownership but overall we are more than happy with the outcome and will continue to be loyal customers.
(4)
Maria G.
Delicious! Whenever I visit my parents in PA, this is where I have to have dinner at least once. They need some in Chicago!
(5)
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Address :102 Painters Crossing
West Chester, PA, 19382
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Bike Parking : 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 : 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.
Leslie P.
recently visited, 11-14-11. 6pm area. When first stepping in, pleasantly greeted, 10-15 min wait (Monday night!) The bar was almost full (Monday Night FB too) Bar has nice dining experience. But the big tables should be on the walls and the short tables in the middle this way folks watching the TV's in the bar they can all see. Seated, waitress WAS great from the start to the end. Don't have her name but she was SPOT-ON for service. Start to finish. She had long thin blond ponytail, wore classes. Maybe mid - late 20's. Food was very good, had calamari, poppers, 9oz tenderloin filet was COOKED PERFECT for med-rare. At my indecision, the waitress offered substituting normal sides for lobster ravioli. It was the perfect suggestion. We tried the jar desserts, nice taste & price w/o large expense for a dessert you can't finish. I wish we had this place out west too. Awesome meal, can't say enough good. Prices were very good; you all have an Italian jewel here in a family priced place.
(5)Bilal M.
I love Carrabas. The entrees are consistently great. Check it out. I prefer to sit at the dessert bar. This is one of the only chain restaurants that I go to. The mussels are fantastic and the sauce is perfect for bread dipping.
(5)Sindbad T.
Food Quality: Very good Prices: Fair Appearence and Cleanliness: very good Real italian food more than a lot of other italian food places. Atmosphere is really cool and friendly.
(4)Jane F.
Service here was great ....the only drawback was the waitress asked us if we wanted a pitcher of sangria ..since there were 4 of us we said yes ..however, she did not inform it would be $33..and the pitcher was small. We ordered the sampler appetizer, the calamari ...what calimari ...it was practically all breadcrumbs and they were hard & chewy and needed all the sauce you put on them. The rest of the appetizers (mozzarella sticks, bruschetta) were good as was the bread. The entrees...my husband had the cioppino the.sauce was excellent as was the dish but.... 2 of the mussel shells did not open. You don't serve those.....my friends dish was steak Marsala and she asked for it be Cooked medium and it was undercooked. My dish was pork tenderloins with port wine fig sauce ..they were tasty and flavorful but overcooked. I think if I ever visit a carrabas again ..I will try the one in malvern or Springfield pa
(3)Deb H.
Yes, Marjorie not ALL chain restaurants serve the same menu prepared well. Case in point, and trust me when I say this, the Carrabb's at this specific location, is NOT your usual chain restaurant franchise. The cooks and managerial staff at this location are exceptional. The food is consistently really tasty, it's always cooked to order, (yes, they even have a gluten free menu) and the prices are really affordable. If you want good American Italian food, this specific Carrabbba's (Painters Crossing in WC) is a best bet!
(5)Gina M.
I would give them no stars if i could.. We always visit the Springfield location which we love. We went here because it was convenient. My husband ordered the chicken Marsala and somehow a bone appeared in his mouth. He asked me to say nothing because he knows i can get very loud when I'm mad. So i took it home and called Monday .The manager Vince called me back., from the start of the conversation this man was smug with a horrible attitude.He told me the chicken is boneless which i know, so i don't know where the bone came from. He basically came across as calling me a liar without saying it., He wanted me to send the bone to him, i refused. He said WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT??? I told him they need to inspect the food a little better! For the pure fact he had a bad attitude and was not compassionate at all i will tell everyone i know do not go.. !! You can kill someone.. what if it was a small child or a older person ??? Being smug will get you no where in life pal!
(1)Alyssa T.
I hate Carrabba's, especially this one. I'll eat here if everyone else is determined to, which is a rare occasion anymore. This place blows. The food tastes like Americanized Italian, not authentic, I'm never happy with it. The service here has ALWAYS been terrible. I don't know how this place stays open anymore with the Bertucci's (mmm) down the road. Olive Garden is better than this place. (Which is ridiculous.)
(1)Jason M.
Small portioned, good quality food . One of the only places where you can get Manicotti! The lasagna is really good as well. Carrabbas is a nice change from the normal Italian chain restaurants.
(3)Sierra K.
We were staying in the area and ate here several times because we are from Seattle and don't have carrabbas. We love the mamas chicken soup, salad with their amazing creamy parm dressing, and bread with herbs. Their house red wine is great too. Christian and Kiala (sp?) Had great customer service and were nice to talk to. I'd recommend for sure!
(4)Brian H.
Chicken Brian is wonderful but small in size service was great and met our every need the only downside was it seemed like the heat was on low for our visit. (on a Wednesday) But still a great value.
(4)Vishnu B.
Nice place.. Good food.... Zucchini fritte and the pasta were awesome.. The menu is also different than the traditional Olive Garden restaurant.. I would definitely recommend a try if you are looking to eat Italian food and live close to Delaware..
(4)Eric T.
We stopped on our way back from Phila around 5. They weren't terribly busy and got seated right away. Service was great. Food was good. The chicken parm was far better than the other chain. We will stop in again.
(5)Keith K.
I've been looking forward to coming back for along time since they don't have any up in the Pacific Northwest. The service was great, we were sat promptly and our waitress was very friendly and attentive. However, we noticed a few area where it seems the chain is starting to skimp. First, there is no olive oil on the table. Second, when they bring you a small saucer with a little oil in it they only sprinkle the smallest amount of seasoning on it. The overall amount is barely enough to cover two slices of bread. As for the chicken parm they seemed to skimp on the sauce there too wow, are times really that bad for this once great chain?
(3)Rob S.
Customer service was great, The Chicken Bryan and John Cole was Delicioso!...aka very good! I cannot wait to go back
(4)Dee W.
This used to be my favorite restaurant. After our last visit, we have not returned and never will. The service was bad. Waitress never asked if we wanted refills of drinks or of the bread. We noticed changes like no more olive oil on the table, less bread in the basket and not to mention the new horrid decor! Hubby ordered "Panko fried ravioli. No panko, and they were dry and disgusting. I have never seen anything so bad being served. I ordered a salad. New one, with apples and beets. When it arrived, it was just a huge bowl of romaine lettuce, with 2 slices of apple, 2 thin slices of beets and no dressing. when she brought the dressing, it was a citrus dressing and the description said vinaigrette ( no mention of citrus). The manager was very cooperative. He took the salad & ravioli off the menu and offered to bring us something else. It used to be a nice place to go, but all good things come to an end.
(1)Christine L.
Chicken arugula - delicious. With grilled asparagus, even better. Glad to see cavatappi Franco return. Yum. With Bocelli Sangiovese makes a tasty meal.
(5)Derek B.
Horrible place. Don't judge a place by how it handles normal operations but handles problems. We found a fly in a wine glass after it had just been poured. When we asked that we get a new pitcher of wind the server said the fly likely flew to just the glass and not the pitcher. So right off he's arguing with us and admitting flys exist in the restaurant. When we asked yet again for a new pitcher he again pressed back. We finally got a new pitcher but when you pay $30 plus you should get guaranteed fly free wine.
(1)Andrew C.
We ate here tonight for dinner and were very satisfied with both the food and the service. Out of all of the chain restaurants that we frequent, this place seems to deliver the most consistent meal every time. For a chain, good quality and very reasonably priced. A few favorites of mine are the Chicken Bryan, Sirloin Marsala, and the Fettuccine Carrabba. The Johnny combination is a great choice if you want a little variety. The bread with the oil and herbs is probably the thing I look forward to most! In summary, very good Italian food for a chain restaurant and very reasonably priced. Every time we leave, we leave satisfied with a great experience and I wonder why I don't come here more often. ****Solid 4 Stars****
(4)Shelly C.
Carraba's has been a family favorite for some time now. We are regulars at this location and though there is high turn-over with the employees, it's not uncommon for a waiter to recognize my family. The food is fairly consistent and our favorite dishes are the shrimp diavolo, mama mandolas chicken soup, and the chicken parm. Mama Mandola's chicken soup is truly a comfort food and a must have on a cold and rainy or under the weather kind of day. The warm crusty bread is also the kryptonite of carbs for me. On our most recent visit we had a slight issue with a long delay between our salads and our chicken parm entrees. We saw tables that came in a good thirty minutes after us being served their main courses. It was apparent our server was avoiding us so we flagged down a hostess to request a manager. The manager apologized and explained our meals were being re-fired because they had been over-cooked and that dinner would be on him. When our waitress reappeared she claimed the food delay was due to a back-up in the kitchen. Despite the conflicting stories and food delay, our food was piping hot and cooked to perfection. At the end of our meal the manager came back to check on us and presented each of the three of us a sincere apology and a bonus $25 gift card! It would have been nice for the manager to approach us first or the waitress to take some ownership but overall we are more than happy with the outcome and will continue to be loyal customers.
(4)Maria G.
Delicious! Whenever I visit my parents in PA, this is where I have to have dinner at least once. They need some in Chicago!
(5)