This is one of my favorite restaurants, and I've always found the food and service to be consistently very good. We came on a weeknight during Christmas week. There was no wait, and we chose to sit at the kitchen counter -- like Waffle House, but a lot more pleasant. At first, no server showed up for a while. We asked someone and got superb service after that. They comped our soft drinks, which made up for the minor inconvenience. The Mezzaluna ravioli was excellent -- perfectly cooked with tasty filling and a flavorful sauce. The shrimp and scallop pasta also was very good. Overall, a great meal.
(4)
Chris L.
Chicken Bryan and "the Johnny" rule the menu here. We always try something else but make sure someone gets it. Great folks and fine food!
(5)
Tracy C.
Took my wife out for her birthday. Started with a peach sangria one of her favorites. Tried the crab cakes that were very good not overly bready, if that's a word. My wife had the champagne seafood and I had the pork tenderloin. We enjoyed them both very much... The tenderloin is fast becoming my favorite dish. We finished off our meal with the John Cole ice cream, the rum cinnamon pecans with the ice cream was the perfect finish to our meal. This was one of our most enjoyable meals we have ever had at Carrabba's .
(4)
Clay W.
Great location off I-65. Great place for your family. Strengths: Great food. Always consistent. Service is very friendly. Opportunities: Tables are almost on top of each other. You have to almost yell to hear what your table guests say. Summary: A great place to eat with your friends or family.
(5)
Kathy J.
Was very excited to try them , but found them to be priced a little much. The service was less impressive than expected. The food was very good, but small portions. Also the server had no clue, how to use a gift card, and cash combo. Used the cash first and left a balance on the gift card. Disappointed, was really hoping this would be a lovely meal.
(3)
Eric B.
My wife and I went here for dinner on Friday, February 20th and, as always, a wonderful experience. We waited a few minutes to be seated but the waiting area had room to sit and talk while we waited. After we were seated the waitress introduced herself and asked for our drink order. She recommended a wonderful cabernet which I will now be looking for by the bottle. Simply amazing. She chit-chatted with us and was polite without being obtrusive. She covered the specials and made a couple personal recommendations which I followed. The Calamari was amazing as usual and the chicken bryan was very good. We ended the evening with some coffee and were pleased as always. Thanks Carrabba's!
(5)
Rachel S.
Great porch for a relaxing dinner and the best bread ever! Service can be a little slow. The lobster ravioli is awesome and under 600 calories
(4)
Meredith R.
I love it here! Especially the curb side take out. The spegetti and meatballs are my favorite! The warm bread is mouth watering super yummy. The bar is fun and friendly. It's a great place to hang out with friends or take the family. But, because of the young age of our kids, we always prefer take out. Yummy!!! One of my go to favorites in Cool Springs.
(5)
S M.
Excellent food, stellar service
(4)
Chris T.
I really don't have much to add considering the two reviews matched up to what our group experienced, but it's helpful to have as much feedback as possible right!? You would think that with a group of 9, our service would be top-notch... well that wasn't the case. It wasn't that our servers (we had 2) were rude, just overly serious. A smile goes a long way. I will say that our food arrived promptly and the sausage and lentil soup was amazing. Food goes a long way too. If this location could work on the attitude, they truly would be five stars.
(4)
Brandon L.
This place does quality. It is a "chain" style restaurant though... So some of the really tasty, good food your enjoying is made from a strict menu plan that they can not go left or right on. They would get in trouble (lose there job) if they put extra salt in a dish because they "though it would taste better. You catch my drift? Its a great place to eat though for sure! Its like Macaroni Grill, The Cheesecake Factory, or even Buca Di Beppo. They are all great... But they are ALL chain. Wonderful place to eat! Get the Lobster Ravioli!!!
(4)
Joshua C.
Awesome service! As soon as I ordered anything, it was sitting in front of me within 3-4 minutes. The food was hot and fresh and the servers were extremely friendly. Everything was beautiful!
(5)
L. J.
We have never had bad food or service here. It is the most requested restaurant choice by our two teenage boys and we are so glad they quit saying O'Charley's.
(4)
Robert U.
This is my favorite of the similarly-priced italian chains. It's always a reliable choice. Food is consistently good, as is service. This particular location seems to be very well managed.
(3)
Taylor W.
Never had a poor experience here. A lot of people seem upset about the wait times to get a table- but anywhere you go in cool springs will have a wait. We use the carside service a lot. I always ask for extra bread and check the bag before I leave - the food is always there packed neatly where it doesn't spill in my car. We haven't received poor service as a lot of people on here seem to be experiencing... all in all I'd recommend this Carrabbas to anyone on a week night. If you're impatient- then never on a weekend when half the state is waiting for a table at any given major chain restaurant in cool springs.
(5)
Angie G.
My complaint about this place is not with the food, which was fine. It's with the service. I stopped to eat here with some friends. We were starving after a long day. We ordered a pitcher of sangria with our food and when it came the distracted waiter accidentally spilled the ENTIRE pitcher of wine all over me. I mean the ENTIRE pitcher. My shirt, pants, even my underwear was soaked. To top it off, this was one of my favorite, more expensive dry clean only outfits. The waiter was understandably apologetic. I tried to wash up in the bathroom but I ended up feeling sticky for the entire meal. Luckily one of my friends had a spare undershirt but I was still so uncomfortable, wet and sticky. I sat there embarrassed, eating in someone else's underwear. When the bill came we expected there to be some compensation for the fact that we didn't even get to drink any sangria ( and for the fact that I was wearing most of it). I complained to the manager who offered to pay my dry cleaning bill after much cajoling-- but really??? When I go out to eat I don't expect this experience. It was awful.
(2)
Ryan P.
Great food, slightly expensive and ok service. On recent visit wife and I ordered our food and were happy with the quality, however having to wait for a refill on our drinks till we were eating the ice wasn't five star to us
(4)
Tim G.
We've gone a few times. Service is always lacking. Food is never great.
(1)
Grace Anne H.
We waited forever! Like 2 hours! Ridiculous. The menu is small and mostly fattening, creamy carbs. . They will never refill your drink and my husbands steak was literally mooing at us! The manager did come apologize and take it back to have it re-cooked. There are lots of screaming babies and not enough room for people to wait. Unless I get a gift card or something, I will not eat here again.
(1)
Marlena J.
We had horrible food here. The food was so spicey. We had a gift card and they messed up running it and I ended up paying for the whole meal. I wint be back.
(1)
Darlyn S.
The best Italian food I have ever tasted. Bar none. Love the bread with oil and herb to dip!! Yum.
(4)
Eric N Tara J.
Disappointing Management and customer service reflects bad management! Do not order curbside take out! They charge $5.00 for any bread over one loaf. One loaf is complimentary and each additional is $5.00. We have never paid for extra bread while dining in or taking out. Carrabbas must not being doing so well. That is approx. 8 slices of bread for $5.00, really? Even though my online order with extra bread said $0? Also, we ordered three sides (ramiken size) of the rustic tomato sauce and they told me they had to charge for the sauce. They charged $3.00 for each sauce. When I questioned them about why a ramiken of sauce was so expensive their excuse was that they give you a larger white container of sauce. So I said just give me one side then. So they give me a larger white container 1/8 full - basically the sauce that would fit in a ramiken just in a bigger container for $3.00. The manager John Carico (or something like that). He was rude and unhospitable. Terrible attitude and customer service. If you must go to Carrabbas because it is good food- Go to the Green Hills, Nashville location the manager there was at Cool Springs and when he was it was excellent. Management really makes the difference in the dining out or taking out experience. The food taste better when the staff is friendly, honest, and helpful.
(1)
Jessica C.
Stick to Macaroni Grill or even Olive Garden for that matter. Calamari was extremely chewy, bread was not very good, entrees were just decent. Service was fine, but everything else was lacking.
(2)
Lorraine N.
If I am the one that decides what kind of food we are seeking for the evening pasta wins hands down everytime-----I typically try to stay away from the chains and support more mom and pop local restaurants.....however Franklin does not have much to offer with italian so I ended up here and I wasn't impressed with the environment the food was good.....Prices are decent....you will probably have to wait here ..but if you like relaxing, enjoying some wine and bread---and having some decent pasta that you don't have to cook---you may enjoy this....Best thing about this place is the chicken o'brien worst thing is the seating and decor---i like having a more cozy and private area not open seating in the middle of the floor...
(3)
Alishah N.
Carrabba's has some pretty fresh tasting pastas and dishes are family-friendly prices. Good atmosphere, and tasty drinks!
(4)
Pete N.
We went last night and it was Wine Wednesday so we got $10 off a bottle of wine. Service was good if not a little too attentive. I had The Damian with asparagus and a caesar salad. The salad was okay but could have been larger and included more leaf and less stem. The Damian was good but it seemed strange to eat a dish named after the anti-Christ from The Omen. The wine and plenty of bread with olive oil made it all good.
(4)
Bess R.
We were craving some Olive Garden goodness, but had to settle for Carrabba's. I had never been there before, and it wasn't bad...food was okay, and price was good. I had the spinach and chicken cannelloni - could have used more sauce and cheese on the inside. My friend had the chicken parmesan - also not bad, but not exciting. We had the fried zucchini to start, which was hot and very tasty. Our server was okay, too serious, but at least he brought us a lot of drink refills...eliminating my dehydration from the previous night.
(3)
Jeffrey G.
Food is always good and consistent. The service lately seems not to be top shelf. Ten minute wait to get sweetener for tea. Bar staff looking at pics on people's phone while you are clearly waiting.
(4)
Julie K.
Always delicious! Our server was new and somehow our salad and soup came out after the entrees. Jacob the manager came by made me a new salad to take to work dressing on the side. He also told us dessert was comped and to please get one. I got the chicken Rosa Maria delicious w garlic mashed potatoes, plenty of left overs. Hubby got the spaghetti also plenty of left overs. Even with the salad/ soup mix up our meal was delicious as usual if you want great food and a lot of food for not a ton of money go here. Last time our waiter was Seth he was beyond great. I believe our waitress tonight was Stacy, but I may be wrong. She is very nice so I hope I got her name right. Service Food Atmosphere
(5)
Mark H.
I have been here a handful of times, and as the three stars suggest...it falls in the A-OK category. We started with the minestrone soup which was good, but the house italian salad was not much more than some hand shredded lettuce - not what I was expecting. Also had the Arancini, which again was just ok. The entrees were alright...we had the Pasta Carrabba and the Conchiglie ai Formaggi. Flavors were good, but the pasta on each was a bit oily and sticky...which seems to contradict one another. Desert was good with Panna Cotta and a Frangelico, so it ended nicely. All in all (as is the theme of this review) it was just ok. Odds are, we will come back, but most likely it will be for lunch as there are other Italian restaurants in the area that we feel are a better choice for a dinner.
(3)
Mark H.
You know what bugs me... Walking into a restaurant at noon on Saturday seeing two thirds of the restaurant not sat and being told it will be 10 to 15 min. to get a table. Yeah... you're seeing this more and more in lots of restaurants just not here at Carrabba's. But talking about starting off your experience on a sour note. It was kind of cool out so I really wanted to have a bowl of their spicy sausage lentil soup (so the product is with waiting for). Not to mention they made me wait for a table that was open from the time I walk through the door, our meals which consisted of soups and salads took 25 min. At no time the manager even take the time to stop by our table or any of the tables in the dining room. As we sat and waited for food and ate we watched the same event over and over as people came through the door and were made to wait before being sat in a half empty restaurant. It was amazing watching how many people just turn around and left when told they would have to wait. They obviously scanned the restaurant and saw all the open tables and it made no sense for them. "Hey manager what were you thinking? You can't make money if you don't have the butts in the seats. And servers what are you doing about helping out getting these people sat? You can't make any money either". Very frustrating.
(2)
Sarah B.
It seems like many of my friends and acquaintances who are chefs all eat at Carrabba's. Sometimes when I've visited here, I can see why... other times, I leave frustrated and wondering why I picked them. This past weekend was the latter. Let me be up front on a couple of things to start with: Carrabba's used to be a significant supporter of the non-profit I work for, and they are very kind people. That support was most recently more than a year ago, so I feel comfortable writing a review. Second, I am trying to be on a low-carb diet, yet I choose Carrabba's for dinner Friday night. Am I a little crazy? Yes. But two factors, we had received a $100 gift card as a thank you from someone, so dinner was free (big plus) and I had previously experienced a most excellent steak there (you'll hear more later on that), so I knew what I was going to order before we ever arrived and had an acceptable menu in mind that I could enter into my sparkpeople and feel good about. The wait. Not horrible, Friday night in Cool Springs at 6:00 pm - wait was quoted at 15-20 minutes, in reality a little less. Typical Cool Springs weekend crowd of a little bit of everything from families with toddlers to one girl in formal wear I guess on her way to an affair. Our server, oh my goodness. This evening was quite possibly the worst service we have experienced in a sit down restaurant in more than a decade. The party of six behind us (seated immediately prior to us) ate their entire meal and left just as our entrees arrived. The family of four who was seated prior to us enjoyed their meals, left, and the next group came in and received their salads before we did. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. We order fried mozzarella as an appetizer, which was fine. As the server dropped our app off, she also dropped off bread (for hubby, I promise), but she neglected to leave the dipping herbs and set up for the bread. And then she did not reappear for seriously more than five minutes. Piping hot bread, right in front of my carb-loving husband and yet he couldn't eat it (or chose not to, I realize) as we looked longingly around the restaurant, trying to at least make eye contract with another server, a busboy, hostess - none would glance our way. When she finally returned with such, my husband more than half jokingly mentioned how frustrating it was without the bread set-up, and I think he must have scared her because our service the rest of the night went further downhill. We both ordered the filets. I have first exposed to a Carrabba's filet more than three years ago when they catered an event for my work with such - and then, as well as on other visits since, this was a surprisingly delicious choice. This visit's steak was good, but I asked hubby if we were sure this was the filet and not a kitchen mix-up with a sirloin. Again, not horrible, but not what I was all set for that evening. They were both cooked properly, and mine was marsala... but again, just not up to par. The filet is only $23, so I guess expectations shouldn't have been so high to start with, but still $23 isn't cheap, either. Vegetable/side item choices on Friday night, seriously... garlic mashed potatoes, their corkscrew pasta with marinara that has a name longer than it deserves, zucchini sauteed in a garlic based sauce, or sauteed spinach. I have a garlic gastro-intestinal reaction, so I ordered the spinach. Imagine how said I was when it arrived with probably 2-3 cloves diced up with it. I was just really sad that there wasn't some other sort of option to choose from as well - hubby doesn't like spinach or zucchini, so he even skipped one of his sides. Frustration on that note as well, if you opt for fettucini alfredo as your side item instead of the red sauce pasta, they charge you an extra $1.50. Hubby had done so, but wouldn't a considerate server have skipped the $1.50 upcharge for that since he totally said leave off side item #2 his entree was entitled to? Well our server did not, again - this was a horrible service night. Our entrees were delivered by servers other than her, and she did check on us once to make sure everything was OK, well past the point of being able to actually rectify anything. The hostess refilled my water, and another guy brought bread for hubby. I wish we could've tipped all of them. While waiting for our server who had literally DROPPED the check valet on our table to retrieve such so we could finally leave... a busboy accidentally kicked the chair beside hubby where the wood rammed right into his knee. You know that tender part of your knee jsut to the left of the kneecap? The part that my husband had less than a month ago had to go have an MRI done for because of a work injury, and two weeks he had to receive an anti-inflammatory steroid shot right in that very spot. The busboy smiled coyly after my husband's sincere exclamation of pain and patted him on the head. Seriously.
(2)
Mike K.
Pretty good but if it gets 40F or below, they over react and think it is zero out and really crank the heat up (not exaggerating)...couldn't believe the heat pouring onto my head last week.....anyways, fare is pretty good, friendly barmaids, but the location in Huntsville is better.
(3)
amy e.
I had one of the worst lunches I've had in a long time here the other day. The only reason this review is getting 2 stars is because the wait staff was passable; otherwise, we would be talking NEGATIVE stars. I ordered a simple lunch: calamari and a side salad, and I ordered spaghetti and meatballs for my daughter. The calamari was like a salt lick- so salty it was revolting. The vinaigrette in the salad was unbalanced- waaay too much vinegar- and soggy. I tasted my daughter's spaghetti, because she wasn't eating it, and it was incredibly bland. It was like the chef was sending out food that they hadn't tasted. Everything was off, and really to call it "food" would be a stretch. Sorry to have to post a bad review- and I do have a gift card for this restaurant- so I may try them again in the future and hopefully, with better luck!
(2)
Jasper T.
Carrabba's has long been one of my favorite chain restaurants. You can always count on great food every time you go. Especially when you go to this location. The food is always amazing and the service can not be beat!!! We typically sit in Davids section and he is one of the best waiters there!!! He always comes to your table with a friendly smile and makes our dinning experience top notch! Thanks David for great service! I know this is a chain restaurant but this place is top notch! Highly recommend!!!!
(5)
Michael L.
It's better than Olive Garden at least.
(3)
Danielle D.
Not a great place if you have to eat lunch and get back to work in under an hour. I hadn't been to Carraba's in quite a while and was really craving some minestrone. We decided to try it out for lunch. Firstly, they don't have a lunch menu. I thought they did, but they must have changed their policy. We thought we'd be fine since there was hardly anyone there. We immediately ordered our food with our drinks once the waiter got around to our table. The drinks didn't have a price so I knew they'd be expensive. I went with a coffee and water. At the end of the bill I was surprised to find the coffee was $2.55 so I'm sure the drinks were closer to if not more than $3.00 which I just find absurd. I ordered the soup and salad (minestrone soup with the Italian salad and dressing) and my fiance ordered the sphagetti with meat sauce and side Italian salad. Our thought was that they would have the different pasta sauces and noodles already prepared since it is a large area for people to visit on their lunch hour. My fiance got his salad after about 15 minutes after we had gotten our drinks (not 15 minutes after our order). I didn't receive either of mine since it was my entree. 20 minutes after he got his salad we got our entrees, but by that time we had to be back at work within 10 minutes to make it within our designated lunch hour. I liked the soup. I don't think you can go wrong with vegetable minestrone. The salad was a little disappointing however. I didn't realize that the dressing was already mixed in with the salad. It seemed like they just had the salad sitting out on the counter in their kitchen because it wasn't cold when I got it. It was also so drenched in the Italian dressing that I hardly ate it. The greens were very soggy and warm. The bread was good. I always love it. I felt it was a little overpriced, but again, they didn't have a lunch menu. I'll probably visit this place again when I have more time to really sit down and eat.
(2)
J C.
I love Carrabba's. Yes, I do. And my most favorite item on the menu? Spiedino di mare with scallops. Rich, buttery, and smothered in garlic...mmm. Add a glass of Riesling, and I'm a happy girl. The last time I was in, my husband and I went with another couple, and we were offered a free appetizer. We had no idea why, but we weren't complaining. Service is always quick and efficient, and I don't think my glass ever gets below half full. Yes, it's a chain, but it is one of the better chains I've been to, and we'll keep going back as our go-to Italian joint.
(5)
Margaret C.
My favorite standby. Great food and service every single time. Favorites= peach sangria, Scotty Thompson bruschetta (not on the menu....but oh so worth it), spicy chicken soup, and chicken Bryan. In Cool Springs, ask for Harold or Stacy, they are both great! Oh....and the take out....you don't even have to get out of the car!
(5)
Steph M.
Highly disappointing and overpriced. The caeser salad was decent but all three pasta dishes were salty and over cheesed . The calamari was unedible even for a hungry dog, the batter so thick and overseasoned you forgot there was seafood underneath. Eat at your own risk.
(1)
Oscar B.
I'm a pretty big fan of Carrabba's. It's significantly better than Olive Garden. But ranks a slight notch below Macaroni Grill in my book. Overall the food is very good, though I have had my share of dud dishes over the years. There's plenty on the menu I like but I usually can't pass up the veal, specifically the Veal Piccata. Delicious. They have a pretty decent wine list too. I recently got turned on to my new favorite wine of the moment there (the Coppola Claret). I really can't recall ever having bad service at Carrabba's. The wait staff has always proven competent and helpful in my experiences. Definitely recommend them for moderately priced Italian in Franklin.
(4)
Philip H.
Carrabba's in Franklin is good food, good service (ask for Scotty) and good ambiance. Topped off the meal with a great desert...a chocolate martini - yum!
Takes Reservations : No 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 : 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.
James S.
This is one of my favorite restaurants, and I've always found the food and service to be consistently very good. We came on a weeknight during Christmas week. There was no wait, and we chose to sit at the kitchen counter -- like Waffle House, but a lot more pleasant. At first, no server showed up for a while. We asked someone and got superb service after that. They comped our soft drinks, which made up for the minor inconvenience. The Mezzaluna ravioli was excellent -- perfectly cooked with tasty filling and a flavorful sauce. The shrimp and scallop pasta also was very good. Overall, a great meal.
(4)Chris L.
Chicken Bryan and "the Johnny" rule the menu here. We always try something else but make sure someone gets it. Great folks and fine food!
(5)Tracy C.
Took my wife out for her birthday. Started with a peach sangria one of her favorites. Tried the crab cakes that were very good not overly bready, if that's a word. My wife had the champagne seafood and I had the pork tenderloin. We enjoyed them both very much... The tenderloin is fast becoming my favorite dish. We finished off our meal with the John Cole ice cream, the rum cinnamon pecans with the ice cream was the perfect finish to our meal. This was one of our most enjoyable meals we have ever had at Carrabba's .
(4)Clay W.
Great location off I-65. Great place for your family. Strengths: Great food. Always consistent. Service is very friendly. Opportunities: Tables are almost on top of each other. You have to almost yell to hear what your table guests say. Summary: A great place to eat with your friends or family.
(5)Kathy J.
Was very excited to try them , but found them to be priced a little much. The service was less impressive than expected. The food was very good, but small portions. Also the server had no clue, how to use a gift card, and cash combo. Used the cash first and left a balance on the gift card. Disappointed, was really hoping this would be a lovely meal.
(3)Eric B.
My wife and I went here for dinner on Friday, February 20th and, as always, a wonderful experience. We waited a few minutes to be seated but the waiting area had room to sit and talk while we waited. After we were seated the waitress introduced herself and asked for our drink order. She recommended a wonderful cabernet which I will now be looking for by the bottle. Simply amazing. She chit-chatted with us and was polite without being obtrusive. She covered the specials and made a couple personal recommendations which I followed. The Calamari was amazing as usual and the chicken bryan was very good. We ended the evening with some coffee and were pleased as always. Thanks Carrabba's!
(5)Rachel S.
Great porch for a relaxing dinner and the best bread ever! Service can be a little slow. The lobster ravioli is awesome and under 600 calories
(4)Meredith R.
I love it here! Especially the curb side take out. The spegetti and meatballs are my favorite! The warm bread is mouth watering super yummy. The bar is fun and friendly. It's a great place to hang out with friends or take the family. But, because of the young age of our kids, we always prefer take out. Yummy!!! One of my go to favorites in Cool Springs.
(5)S M.
Excellent food, stellar service
(4)Chris T.
I really don't have much to add considering the two reviews matched up to what our group experienced, but it's helpful to have as much feedback as possible right!? You would think that with a group of 9, our service would be top-notch... well that wasn't the case. It wasn't that our servers (we had 2) were rude, just overly serious. A smile goes a long way. I will say that our food arrived promptly and the sausage and lentil soup was amazing. Food goes a long way too. If this location could work on the attitude, they truly would be five stars.
(4)Brandon L.
This place does quality. It is a "chain" style restaurant though... So some of the really tasty, good food your enjoying is made from a strict menu plan that they can not go left or right on. They would get in trouble (lose there job) if they put extra salt in a dish because they "though it would taste better. You catch my drift? Its a great place to eat though for sure! Its like Macaroni Grill, The Cheesecake Factory, or even Buca Di Beppo. They are all great... But they are ALL chain. Wonderful place to eat! Get the Lobster Ravioli!!!
(4)Joshua C.
Awesome service! As soon as I ordered anything, it was sitting in front of me within 3-4 minutes. The food was hot and fresh and the servers were extremely friendly. Everything was beautiful!
(5)L. J.
We have never had bad food or service here. It is the most requested restaurant choice by our two teenage boys and we are so glad they quit saying O'Charley's.
(4)Robert U.
This is my favorite of the similarly-priced italian chains. It's always a reliable choice. Food is consistently good, as is service. This particular location seems to be very well managed.
(3)Taylor W.
Never had a poor experience here. A lot of people seem upset about the wait times to get a table- but anywhere you go in cool springs will have a wait. We use the carside service a lot. I always ask for extra bread and check the bag before I leave - the food is always there packed neatly where it doesn't spill in my car. We haven't received poor service as a lot of people on here seem to be experiencing... all in all I'd recommend this Carrabbas to anyone on a week night. If you're impatient- then never on a weekend when half the state is waiting for a table at any given major chain restaurant in cool springs.
(5)Angie G.
My complaint about this place is not with the food, which was fine. It's with the service. I stopped to eat here with some friends. We were starving after a long day. We ordered a pitcher of sangria with our food and when it came the distracted waiter accidentally spilled the ENTIRE pitcher of wine all over me. I mean the ENTIRE pitcher. My shirt, pants, even my underwear was soaked. To top it off, this was one of my favorite, more expensive dry clean only outfits. The waiter was understandably apologetic. I tried to wash up in the bathroom but I ended up feeling sticky for the entire meal. Luckily one of my friends had a spare undershirt but I was still so uncomfortable, wet and sticky. I sat there embarrassed, eating in someone else's underwear. When the bill came we expected there to be some compensation for the fact that we didn't even get to drink any sangria ( and for the fact that I was wearing most of it). I complained to the manager who offered to pay my dry cleaning bill after much cajoling-- but really??? When I go out to eat I don't expect this experience. It was awful.
(2)Ryan P.
Great food, slightly expensive and ok service. On recent visit wife and I ordered our food and were happy with the quality, however having to wait for a refill on our drinks till we were eating the ice wasn't five star to us
(4)Tim G.
We've gone a few times. Service is always lacking. Food is never great.
(1)Grace Anne H.
We waited forever! Like 2 hours! Ridiculous. The menu is small and mostly fattening, creamy carbs. . They will never refill your drink and my husbands steak was literally mooing at us! The manager did come apologize and take it back to have it re-cooked. There are lots of screaming babies and not enough room for people to wait. Unless I get a gift card or something, I will not eat here again.
(1)Marlena J.
We had horrible food here. The food was so spicey. We had a gift card and they messed up running it and I ended up paying for the whole meal. I wint be back.
(1)Darlyn S.
The best Italian food I have ever tasted. Bar none. Love the bread with oil and herb to dip!! Yum.
(4)Eric N Tara J.
Disappointing Management and customer service reflects bad management! Do not order curbside take out! They charge $5.00 for any bread over one loaf. One loaf is complimentary and each additional is $5.00. We have never paid for extra bread while dining in or taking out. Carrabbas must not being doing so well. That is approx. 8 slices of bread for $5.00, really? Even though my online order with extra bread said $0? Also, we ordered three sides (ramiken size) of the rustic tomato sauce and they told me they had to charge for the sauce. They charged $3.00 for each sauce. When I questioned them about why a ramiken of sauce was so expensive their excuse was that they give you a larger white container of sauce. So I said just give me one side then. So they give me a larger white container 1/8 full - basically the sauce that would fit in a ramiken just in a bigger container for $3.00. The manager John Carico (or something like that). He was rude and unhospitable. Terrible attitude and customer service. If you must go to Carrabbas because it is good food- Go to the Green Hills, Nashville location the manager there was at Cool Springs and when he was it was excellent. Management really makes the difference in the dining out or taking out experience. The food taste better when the staff is friendly, honest, and helpful.
(1)Jessica C.
Stick to Macaroni Grill or even Olive Garden for that matter. Calamari was extremely chewy, bread was not very good, entrees were just decent. Service was fine, but everything else was lacking.
(2)Lorraine N.
If I am the one that decides what kind of food we are seeking for the evening pasta wins hands down everytime-----I typically try to stay away from the chains and support more mom and pop local restaurants.....however Franklin does not have much to offer with italian so I ended up here and I wasn't impressed with the environment the food was good.....Prices are decent....you will probably have to wait here ..but if you like relaxing, enjoying some wine and bread---and having some decent pasta that you don't have to cook---you may enjoy this....Best thing about this place is the chicken o'brien worst thing is the seating and decor---i like having a more cozy and private area not open seating in the middle of the floor...
(3)Alishah N.
Carrabba's has some pretty fresh tasting pastas and dishes are family-friendly prices. Good atmosphere, and tasty drinks!
(4)Pete N.
We went last night and it was Wine Wednesday so we got $10 off a bottle of wine. Service was good if not a little too attentive. I had The Damian with asparagus and a caesar salad. The salad was okay but could have been larger and included more leaf and less stem. The Damian was good but it seemed strange to eat a dish named after the anti-Christ from The Omen. The wine and plenty of bread with olive oil made it all good.
(4)Bess R.
We were craving some Olive Garden goodness, but had to settle for Carrabba's. I had never been there before, and it wasn't bad...food was okay, and price was good. I had the spinach and chicken cannelloni - could have used more sauce and cheese on the inside. My friend had the chicken parmesan - also not bad, but not exciting. We had the fried zucchini to start, which was hot and very tasty. Our server was okay, too serious, but at least he brought us a lot of drink refills...eliminating my dehydration from the previous night.
(3)Jeffrey G.
Food is always good and consistent. The service lately seems not to be top shelf. Ten minute wait to get sweetener for tea. Bar staff looking at pics on people's phone while you are clearly waiting.
(4)Julie K.
Always delicious! Our server was new and somehow our salad and soup came out after the entrees. Jacob the manager came by made me a new salad to take to work dressing on the side. He also told us dessert was comped and to please get one. I got the chicken Rosa Maria delicious w garlic mashed potatoes, plenty of left overs. Hubby got the spaghetti also plenty of left overs. Even with the salad/ soup mix up our meal was delicious as usual if you want great food and a lot of food for not a ton of money go here. Last time our waiter was Seth he was beyond great. I believe our waitress tonight was Stacy, but I may be wrong. She is very nice so I hope I got her name right. Service Food Atmosphere
(5)Mark H.
I have been here a handful of times, and as the three stars suggest...it falls in the A-OK category. We started with the minestrone soup which was good, but the house italian salad was not much more than some hand shredded lettuce - not what I was expecting. Also had the Arancini, which again was just ok. The entrees were alright...we had the Pasta Carrabba and the Conchiglie ai Formaggi. Flavors were good, but the pasta on each was a bit oily and sticky...which seems to contradict one another. Desert was good with Panna Cotta and a Frangelico, so it ended nicely. All in all (as is the theme of this review) it was just ok. Odds are, we will come back, but most likely it will be for lunch as there are other Italian restaurants in the area that we feel are a better choice for a dinner.
(3)Mark H.
You know what bugs me... Walking into a restaurant at noon on Saturday seeing two thirds of the restaurant not sat and being told it will be 10 to 15 min. to get a table. Yeah... you're seeing this more and more in lots of restaurants just not here at Carrabba's. But talking about starting off your experience on a sour note. It was kind of cool out so I really wanted to have a bowl of their spicy sausage lentil soup (so the product is with waiting for). Not to mention they made me wait for a table that was open from the time I walk through the door, our meals which consisted of soups and salads took 25 min. At no time the manager even take the time to stop by our table or any of the tables in the dining room. As we sat and waited for food and ate we watched the same event over and over as people came through the door and were made to wait before being sat in a half empty restaurant. It was amazing watching how many people just turn around and left when told they would have to wait. They obviously scanned the restaurant and saw all the open tables and it made no sense for them. "Hey manager what were you thinking? You can't make money if you don't have the butts in the seats. And servers what are you doing about helping out getting these people sat? You can't make any money either". Very frustrating.
(2)Sarah B.
It seems like many of my friends and acquaintances who are chefs all eat at Carrabba's. Sometimes when I've visited here, I can see why... other times, I leave frustrated and wondering why I picked them. This past weekend was the latter. Let me be up front on a couple of things to start with: Carrabba's used to be a significant supporter of the non-profit I work for, and they are very kind people. That support was most recently more than a year ago, so I feel comfortable writing a review. Second, I am trying to be on a low-carb diet, yet I choose Carrabba's for dinner Friday night. Am I a little crazy? Yes. But two factors, we had received a $100 gift card as a thank you from someone, so dinner was free (big plus) and I had previously experienced a most excellent steak there (you'll hear more later on that), so I knew what I was going to order before we ever arrived and had an acceptable menu in mind that I could enter into my sparkpeople and feel good about. The wait. Not horrible, Friday night in Cool Springs at 6:00 pm - wait was quoted at 15-20 minutes, in reality a little less. Typical Cool Springs weekend crowd of a little bit of everything from families with toddlers to one girl in formal wear I guess on her way to an affair. Our server, oh my goodness. This evening was quite possibly the worst service we have experienced in a sit down restaurant in more than a decade. The party of six behind us (seated immediately prior to us) ate their entire meal and left just as our entrees arrived. The family of four who was seated prior to us enjoyed their meals, left, and the next group came in and received their salads before we did. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. We order fried mozzarella as an appetizer, which was fine. As the server dropped our app off, she also dropped off bread (for hubby, I promise), but she neglected to leave the dipping herbs and set up for the bread. And then she did not reappear for seriously more than five minutes. Piping hot bread, right in front of my carb-loving husband and yet he couldn't eat it (or chose not to, I realize) as we looked longingly around the restaurant, trying to at least make eye contract with another server, a busboy, hostess - none would glance our way. When she finally returned with such, my husband more than half jokingly mentioned how frustrating it was without the bread set-up, and I think he must have scared her because our service the rest of the night went further downhill. We both ordered the filets. I have first exposed to a Carrabba's filet more than three years ago when they catered an event for my work with such - and then, as well as on other visits since, this was a surprisingly delicious choice. This visit's steak was good, but I asked hubby if we were sure this was the filet and not a kitchen mix-up with a sirloin. Again, not horrible, but not what I was all set for that evening. They were both cooked properly, and mine was marsala... but again, just not up to par. The filet is only $23, so I guess expectations shouldn't have been so high to start with, but still $23 isn't cheap, either. Vegetable/side item choices on Friday night, seriously... garlic mashed potatoes, their corkscrew pasta with marinara that has a name longer than it deserves, zucchini sauteed in a garlic based sauce, or sauteed spinach. I have a garlic gastro-intestinal reaction, so I ordered the spinach. Imagine how said I was when it arrived with probably 2-3 cloves diced up with it. I was just really sad that there wasn't some other sort of option to choose from as well - hubby doesn't like spinach or zucchini, so he even skipped one of his sides. Frustration on that note as well, if you opt for fettucini alfredo as your side item instead of the red sauce pasta, they charge you an extra $1.50. Hubby had done so, but wouldn't a considerate server have skipped the $1.50 upcharge for that since he totally said leave off side item #2 his entree was entitled to? Well our server did not, again - this was a horrible service night. Our entrees were delivered by servers other than her, and she did check on us once to make sure everything was OK, well past the point of being able to actually rectify anything. The hostess refilled my water, and another guy brought bread for hubby. I wish we could've tipped all of them. While waiting for our server who had literally DROPPED the check valet on our table to retrieve such so we could finally leave... a busboy accidentally kicked the chair beside hubby where the wood rammed right into his knee. You know that tender part of your knee jsut to the left of the kneecap? The part that my husband had less than a month ago had to go have an MRI done for because of a work injury, and two weeks he had to receive an anti-inflammatory steroid shot right in that very spot. The busboy smiled coyly after my husband's sincere exclamation of pain and patted him on the head. Seriously.
(2)Mike K.
Pretty good but if it gets 40F or below, they over react and think it is zero out and really crank the heat up (not exaggerating)...couldn't believe the heat pouring onto my head last week.....anyways, fare is pretty good, friendly barmaids, but the location in Huntsville is better.
(3)amy e.
I had one of the worst lunches I've had in a long time here the other day. The only reason this review is getting 2 stars is because the wait staff was passable; otherwise, we would be talking NEGATIVE stars. I ordered a simple lunch: calamari and a side salad, and I ordered spaghetti and meatballs for my daughter. The calamari was like a salt lick- so salty it was revolting. The vinaigrette in the salad was unbalanced- waaay too much vinegar- and soggy. I tasted my daughter's spaghetti, because she wasn't eating it, and it was incredibly bland. It was like the chef was sending out food that they hadn't tasted. Everything was off, and really to call it "food" would be a stretch. Sorry to have to post a bad review- and I do have a gift card for this restaurant- so I may try them again in the future and hopefully, with better luck!
(2)Jasper T.
Carrabba's has long been one of my favorite chain restaurants. You can always count on great food every time you go. Especially when you go to this location. The food is always amazing and the service can not be beat!!! We typically sit in Davids section and he is one of the best waiters there!!! He always comes to your table with a friendly smile and makes our dinning experience top notch! Thanks David for great service! I know this is a chain restaurant but this place is top notch! Highly recommend!!!!
(5)Michael L.
It's better than Olive Garden at least.
(3)Danielle D.
Not a great place if you have to eat lunch and get back to work in under an hour. I hadn't been to Carraba's in quite a while and was really craving some minestrone. We decided to try it out for lunch. Firstly, they don't have a lunch menu. I thought they did, but they must have changed their policy. We thought we'd be fine since there was hardly anyone there. We immediately ordered our food with our drinks once the waiter got around to our table. The drinks didn't have a price so I knew they'd be expensive. I went with a coffee and water. At the end of the bill I was surprised to find the coffee was $2.55 so I'm sure the drinks were closer to if not more than $3.00 which I just find absurd. I ordered the soup and salad (minestrone soup with the Italian salad and dressing) and my fiance ordered the sphagetti with meat sauce and side Italian salad. Our thought was that they would have the different pasta sauces and noodles already prepared since it is a large area for people to visit on their lunch hour. My fiance got his salad after about 15 minutes after we had gotten our drinks (not 15 minutes after our order). I didn't receive either of mine since it was my entree. 20 minutes after he got his salad we got our entrees, but by that time we had to be back at work within 10 minutes to make it within our designated lunch hour. I liked the soup. I don't think you can go wrong with vegetable minestrone. The salad was a little disappointing however. I didn't realize that the dressing was already mixed in with the salad. It seemed like they just had the salad sitting out on the counter in their kitchen because it wasn't cold when I got it. It was also so drenched in the Italian dressing that I hardly ate it. The greens were very soggy and warm. The bread was good. I always love it. I felt it was a little overpriced, but again, they didn't have a lunch menu. I'll probably visit this place again when I have more time to really sit down and eat.
(2)J C.
I love Carrabba's. Yes, I do. And my most favorite item on the menu? Spiedino di mare with scallops. Rich, buttery, and smothered in garlic...mmm. Add a glass of Riesling, and I'm a happy girl. The last time I was in, my husband and I went with another couple, and we were offered a free appetizer. We had no idea why, but we weren't complaining. Service is always quick and efficient, and I don't think my glass ever gets below half full. Yes, it's a chain, but it is one of the better chains I've been to, and we'll keep going back as our go-to Italian joint.
(5)Margaret C.
My favorite standby. Great food and service every single time. Favorites= peach sangria, Scotty Thompson bruschetta (not on the menu....but oh so worth it), spicy chicken soup, and chicken Bryan. In Cool Springs, ask for Harold or Stacy, they are both great! Oh....and the take out....you don't even have to get out of the car!
(5)Steph M.
Highly disappointing and overpriced. The caeser salad was decent but all three pasta dishes were salty and over cheesed . The calamari was unedible even for a hungry dog, the batter so thick and overseasoned you forgot there was seafood underneath. Eat at your own risk.
(1)Oscar B.
I'm a pretty big fan of Carrabba's. It's significantly better than Olive Garden. But ranks a slight notch below Macaroni Grill in my book. Overall the food is very good, though I have had my share of dud dishes over the years. There's plenty on the menu I like but I usually can't pass up the veal, specifically the Veal Piccata. Delicious. They have a pretty decent wine list too. I recently got turned on to my new favorite wine of the moment there (the Coppola Claret). I really can't recall ever having bad service at Carrabba's. The wait staff has always proven competent and helpful in my experiences. Definitely recommend them for moderately priced Italian in Franklin.
(4)Philip H.
Carrabba's in Franklin is good food, good service (ask for Scotty) and good ambiance. Topped off the meal with a great desert...a chocolate martini - yum!
(4)