I was worried it would be another Olive Garden mediocre, overly-oily restaurant experience. I was very pleasantly surprised! The pasta was clearly freshly made, and sauces were tasty. Considering the reasonable prices (around $10-$20/plate) and phenomenal (truly, phenomenal) customer service, I give Carrabba's 5 stars.
(5)
S H.
We were really excited to eat here, and left completely shocked at the poor quality of the food. Four adults with entrees and a large appetizer was $90.00 which would have been fine if the food was good. It was not. The pasta was overcooked and sloppy and clumpy. This is an Italian restaurant mind you, so they should have the skills to cook pasta. I ordered chicken fettuccine Alfredo. My favorite dish. A simple dish. Yuck. Anyway, all four of us left quite disappointed. I would avoid at all cost. Perhaps they just had an off night. I don't know. But I will never go back.
(1)
Rod S.
Italian comfort food chain that has its format nailed. Good food, service and facility all adds up to good to very good food that goes down easy. I've dined here at least a hundred times. It's was the go to place when I flew home most Fridays from work. Now I don't fly weekly, but I still go here. Chain places tend to be complete cookie cutter copies of each other. Carrabba's can be more variable. Unlike the Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden, the sauces are made locally instead of showing up in frozen tubs to be reheated. This also means management has to make a bigger effort to keep the quality up. Of all the Carrabba's I've been to, this is the best. They have low cook turnover. Clay and Leo really keep things going properly. I also like not having a gimmick when the server shows up. The only thing I miss over Carrabba's in cities is the lack of a bar here. Having a drink before dinner at the bar is a really nice thing. In the end, the food has to be good. They nearly always have steamed mussels. Even if they are not on the menu, ask. They may have them. I find the local sauce a little too lemony. I ask for less lemon, and since they make it locally, it comes with less lemon. I never order pork chops at casual dining places. They are always overcooked and dry. Here they will cook them medium and showing pink if you ask. That makes them very good. They may not be a steakhouse, but their Filet is the best steak in town. The veal isn't completely overcooked. It's pretty good. There's a real wood burning stove and the pizza is quite good too. I used to go to the Macaroni place and thought they had really nailed the casual chain Italian. I went here a few times and then back to that other place. Everything had a salty edge I hadn't noticed before. I've noticed that since. Carrabba's still salts higher than I would like on some things, but it's miles above the competition. When business is really good they bring in higher priced veg like the haricot vert (the smaller tastier French green bean). Other times they are creative with zucchini. That's the kind of touch other chains aren't doing. The service is usually quite good. The facility is nice. I make sure I come early, or preferably late on busy days since there are no reservations. That's about the only negative. It may be a chain, but it's one of Orem's best restaurants.
(4)
carol b.
Delicious, delicious, delicious. We had to wait about 30 minutes for a table on a Saturday night, but that's to be expected. The service was excellent right from the get-go, friendly and timely. We started with the mussels and breaded calamari. I can't begin to tell you how delicious they were. The mussels were a little small but hey...at least they had them - and they were steamed in the most amazing garlic wine sauce. If you get the calamari, ask for "the other" sauce they can bring with it. I can't remember the name but it's a creamier, lemony sauce. It's amazing. Way better than the standard tomato based sauce. I always get the fettuccine weesie with mushrooms and shrimp and it was divine. The shrimp was cooked perfectly, and the lemon flavored mushroom sauce was the icing on the cake. My husband didn't know what to order so he asked the waitress to pick something for him. She brought out what was, he said, "...the best steak I've had in a very long time". It was cooked perfectly, wood-fired with light seasoning. We were both very, very happy people. We don't live near Orem, but Carrabba's is definitely worth a drive now and then.
(5)
Mariel C.
Always happy when we eat here. One of the best Italian places you can find in Utah county, and there aren't much to choose from. Super fRiendly staff, warm delicious bread, and yummy pastas. We have always had great service and enjoyed everything we tried. I love the mezzaluna pasta and the chicken parmigan.
(4)
Jeff F.
Is it 4 star Italian food? No. Is it 4 star Italian food in Utah - Absolutely! Service was good and atmosphere was solid for higher end chain Italian. Rundown on the grub: -Sicilian Chicken Soup- excellent -very good Shrimp Scampi app (tough to nail this overdone 'Italian" dish, but they did it) -Speidino di Mare - ok, but after I ate it I felt like I just took my third Jager Bomb... too heavy -Gnocchi on the specials menu - very good - worth ordering -solid wine selection - I'm useless when it comes to wine, but thought both the Chianti Classico Riserva, Ruffino Ducale and the Chianti, Gabbiano, DOCG was pretty good
(4)
Colleen A.
Several colleagues and I arrived without a reservation for dinner here on a weeknight in July. We were greeted and seated right away. Our waiter Luke was great - kept up with drinks and water for the table and was available when needed. I ordered the "Pasta Sostanza" and added shrimp. Good flavors and the pasta was cooked perfectly. My Caesar salad was overdressed, but the dressing tasted as it should.
(3)
Rudy W.
Had the salad for starter, main course sirloin with crab cake. The meat was too dry, even they cook it as medium rare. The crab cake, almost felt like eating bread patty with salt. Not sure why they put so much sauce and parsley. the taste, I can't recall if there is any crab in there (flavor wise) but I can see it. lol.. then I finish it up with Cinnamon Apple Crostata. too much sugar. I have to doze it with water to neutralize the carmel & sugar. This is a chain restaurant, so other location might vary. service was average.
(2)
Mike B.
Food: High class dining, for sure, but you have to order the right thing. You'll find better pasta elsewhere, but their steak is killer. I think it was the rib-eye I got, and it came with a bleu cheese sauce that was awesome! It was like $22 but it was sooo worth it! Atmosphere: High-class but not imposing Prices: $12/plate... ish. Also, fantastic service.
(4)
Toni M.
We left my brother's house this morning for the drive to Bryce and by 12:30 were starting to get hungry for lunch. We are of the opinion that college towns are the best location for interesting ethnic restaurants. We avoid chains. So when we saw a sign for BYU we pulled off I-15 and drove into town. Eventually we pulled into a shopping center to reconnoiter. Alan found Carrabba's on his iPhone. He saw an electronics store right in that shopping center and headed that way to pick up an accessory for listening to the iPod in the car. He checked w/ the fellow who helped him about Carrabba's and was heartily encouraged to give it a try, so we did. We were greeted and seated. The specials board by the hostess station listed Limoncello bread pudding, which sounded heavenly. Our waitress greeted us enthusiastically, asking if we'd been there before, etc. She assured us that everything there was homemade. I requested iced tea and Alan requested water. We were brought bread and a plate of herbs to which she added olive oil. She offered to bring balsamic and we added that. We both decided to order a steak sandwich, mine rare, Alan's medium rare. Alan ordered a side salad for us to share. Alan asked that his sandwich not contain provolone. I was fine w/ provolone on mine. Our waitress checked back w/ us to see if we needed more bread (no, we were limiting ourselves because we were having sandwiches) and brought a refill of iced tea, which I passed on to Alan. Both sandwiches came w/ provolone, but he was hungry so he ate it as is. The sandwiches were delicious, the meat of good quality and the mushrooms and sauce containing bits of prosciutto enhancing it. The rolls were on the small side and not too heavy, just the way we like them. The sandwiches were accompanied by a scattering of tasty French fries rather than a mountain, which we also prefer. The salad never arrived. Our waitress was dismayed and apologetic about the cheese on Alan's sandwich and the missing salad. I was about to order a bread pudding which she wanted to comp me but then she mentioned that it would take 20 minutes and we wanted to get back on the road. Finally she offered to bring us tiny little house desserts. I took a chocolate one and it was delicious. Alan declined. She made sure that the salad was removed from our bill and then asked me if she could send some iced tea w/ us to drink on the road. It was the sweetest offer and I didn't even get her name! The tea definitely did taste good.
(4)
shane b.
This is my favorite chain style Italian restaurant, even my wife loves it. She even just said that we need to go here for Christmas Eve dinner. Here is why i love Carrabas. 1. the bread that comes before the meal is tasty and i love the balsamic vinegar and olive oil the put out. 2. Everything I've eaten here i have been pleased with. My favorite is the chicken parm with a side of Alfredo noodles. 3. I always have had great service the only negative i have and it's not specific to this restaurant, is i hate how low the lights have to go at night, i just hate dimmed out light. But if you like Olive Garden i can guarantee you'll like this better, that is if you haven't been drinking maltov cocktails lately to destroy your taste buds.
(4)
Richard S.
Everything I eat here is fantastic. It's even good enough that I went there when I knew there was a 20% chance of my wife's ex-boyfriend being my waiter (and he was twice). Best Calamari I have had, love the baby squids, they're so cute!
(4)
Ryan P.
For Utah County, this is as good as it gets. I used to go to Macaroni Grill for all of my Italian Food needs, but while a bit more expensive, this place is worth the extra cash. It took me a while to get around to trying it because a friend of mine went soon after they opened and I guess they had some struggles early on, but those seem completely fixed after I've been there twice now and loved both times. Fortunately I've been able to get there at times when it was not busy, so no wait. The service was very attentive and I felt like our server really was able to intuit our personal needs and interests without having to dig too deep (it was my wife's birthday and he made it a very special experience without embarassing her). The chicken bryan is excellent and pollo maria something-or-other also is very tasty. This is the reason you eat out: to eat something you can't make at home, right? I know there are other reasons to eat out, but how often are we satisfied with a meal that we could have cooked better in our own kitchen? Not likely. Carrabba's makes delicious food that can be produced in very few kitchens that I know of. The food is as unique as it gets in Provo, and the portions are larger than anything else in this price category (for the price, you can get a few crab legs and leave hungry from Red Lobster, a dinky 8-oz steak from Ruby River or Outback, or a few pieces of lettuce w/ no dressing at Chef's Table). I strongly recommend Carrabba's, especially for special occasions on a budget.
(5)
Drew D.
For what you pay this place is very very mediocre. I don't even have anything good to say here. The food is weak, noodles overcooked, everything is over seasoned, sauces are watery, and the service is blah at best. Drinks are expensive, wine selection is painful. I know its Utah valley but come on. You're much better off going to Macaroni Grille, its 10x better.
(2)
Jessie M.
Carrabbas is, hands down, the best Italian you can get in Utah Valley. Not only it's more authentic than the other places around but I love that everything is fresh and original. When it comes to Italian Carrabbas is the place to go around here. I also love the ambiance and staff. The manager ALWAYS comes to every single table every single time. I love it! One of my favorite things there is their Pasta Weezy. It's soooo delish! With all the either bland, average, dirty, or disappointing restaurants in Utah Valley, Carrabba's is like a coke in the dessert good lol. No lie though. I like it a lot! PS: I'm comparing it to all the restaurants here except the VERY new ones I know there's a couple new Italian places I haven't tried at the Riverwoods mall...I need to get to it.
(4)
Stacie R.
This is my all time favorite restaurant! Personal favorites are the filet bryan or filet marsala! The portions are large enough that my husband and I generally split an entree.
(5)
Eric C.
Id never been to a carrabas before, so im not sure how this one compares, but i can honestly say that i havent had a better experience than this since i moved to the salt lake area a month ago. The food was above average thanks to the right balance of seasonings, but my chicken was a little dry and my girlfriends steak was so underdone that it was cold to the touch in the middle. The cheesecake was fabulous, and the service was by far the best ive had anywhere, thank you Cami.
(4)
Haylee S.
The costumer service here is top notch, always great! The workers are always smiling and this is a MUST VISIT! Their food is authentic and delicious, almost to die for! I'm a sucker for baked Ziti, theirs puts pasta Ive had in Italy to shame! It is my absolute favorite Italian restaurant. It is a must go for all italian food lovers!
(4)
Logan T.
Carrabba's is just good, basic dining. I'd rate it maybe just slightly above Macaroni Grill. It's nothing you need to dress up for but I feel fully and utterly comfortable bringing my wife here for an anniversary. It says, "I care, but I'd also like to put gas in the car next week." Being a chain means its pretty consistent.
(4)
Lucky B.
The salmon is the best I've had (I'm from Seattle; we know fish). They have different sauces for it, depending on the day. My fav is the fresh tomato one or just peppered. They serve a dense peasant-style bread with olive oil and a special herb for dipping; ask for a splash of balsamic vinegar. Mezzaluna Carrabba is my favorite off-menu dish; half-moon chicken ravioli, white sauce, peas, mushrooms and grilled chicken. Their Caesar salad is the best I've had; super cold and crisp with the right amount of dressing. Have an Italian soda with cream or the strawberry-banana smoothie and do NOT forget dessert! The Chocolate Dream is to be shared (very rich, sweet and delicious) and the yellow cake with fruit and custard is a fresh, light alternative. Oh, and their calamari is delisioso!
(5)
Lisa A.
This restaurant used to be awesome, but a few months ago they changed their policies and started severely skimping. They give you just a pinch of herbs to go with your oil for bread dipping. When I asked for more, I was told it was $8 for a full serving but for free they would continue bringing me more little plates, each with a pinch of herbs. What a joke, trying to get your waiter's attention just to get a tiny pinch of herbs. I always order the fried calamari, but their new skimpy policies ruined even that. They downsized the large portion so now it is the size the regular portion used to be. Another joke. Oh well, good things never last long.
(2)
Jason K.
Again, context is everything. Am I saying this place is better than the French Laundry (which I gave four stars)? No. But I am saying that this is about as good as you can get at a casual dining "Italian" restaurant. This place is a little more upscale than Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden, but it isn't as fancy as another chain, Il Fornaio. The atmosphere is nice but nothing really special. Service has always been very friendly and efficient. Most importantly, the food is always consistently good. The fried calamari Ricardo is a particular favorite...the calamari is nicely crisp, tasty tentacles are included (a pet peeve of mine), and it is accompanied by a hot pepper lemon butter sauce. Other favorites include the Insalata Johnny Rocco, a grilled seafood salad, and the Pollo Rosa Maria, a stuffed chicken dish.
(5)
Erik M.
I really like eating here. The service is friendly, the food is always fresh and tasty. There is enough variety in the menu to please everyone, all in all a very good place to go. I
(4)
Dustin B.
Great Italian place. It's really similar to most "By the Mall" chain Italian restaurants, it's good food, good price, and always a safe call for good food. If you've been to Romano's Macaroni Grill, or Johny Carino's then this place will be completely familiar to you. There are lots of Italian dishes that you can't really go wrong with. The portions were a little bit smaller than I thought I'd get but since these places always give you too much it was actually quite nice. You can walk away full without having to worry about hauling a take home box that will sit at the bottom of your refrigerator for 2 weeks.
(4)
Pernilla K.
For a chain Italian restaurant, this is definitely a place worth a paying a visit. It's not the same as your small family run Italian restaurant with that personal touch that may be worth a 5 star, but it's also not super Americanized and plastic like Olive Garden. The food is better than Olive Garden - and cheaper! The staff here were wonderful. From giving food samples to the people waiting for a table to make sure they weren't starving (it was getting to a 60-70 min wait), to a great waiter who was very very attentive to every single table he was responsible for, to the waiter of the table next to us who were engaging in a discussion about various kinds of pasta, to quick service even during a busy Saturday evening - it was simply a great experience. The best part is that it's cheap! I looked at the menu and I couldn't believe their prices. $15 for a Seafood Cannelloni - most places charge you a $20 for just saying the word "Sea". So: Good food, good service, great prices. Absolutely a good spot to go if you want something between casual and high-end.
(4)
Ani V.
I love Carrabbas! I always have such great service. Your drink is always full (even on busy nights). The food is to die for! I love their grilled chicken and the rosa maria. The manager always comes around to your table and I just love it! I've been going there for years and keep going back.
(5)
John H.
Great food. Great service. ....We need one in the SLC valley. We've eaten at this establishment several times and they've never failed to deliver.
(5)
Robert M.
My business partner and I stopped in for dinner and ate at the bar. There is nothing like being close to the kitchen and we could literally feel the heat from the stoves. I had the shrimp and scallops on linguine. Very good!
(4)
Amanda C.
Carrabba's is wonderful! The food always tastes good and the service is great. The manager always comes around and checks to make sure everything is okay. The only thing I don't like the wait, it always takes at least an hour waiting before you can get a table. But perhaps that is because the food is so great!
(3)
Robert F.
No cannoli. No tiramisu. Not much of an Italian resturaunt huh?
(2)
Matt S.
Amazing Marsala sauce!
(5)
Laura R.
Hard to find great food in a college town, where cost is so often the primary consideration. Also hard to get a table on a Friday game night! Carrabba's provides a glimmer of hope. Decor is upscale, service is both friendly and competent (in fact, this was the BEST service we've had at any restaurant in Utah County). You can see the flaming grill and authentic pizza oven from the dining room -- always a plus for the ambiance. Have to echo some of the other comments -- the fresh, warm bread dipped in olive oil with crumbled herbs was a great starter (we requested balsamic vinegar to add). Unlike the Johnny-one-note chains, Carrabba's offered a choice of three delicious soups (not just the ubiquitous minestrone). The chicken soup was hearty, and almost enough for a meal rather than just a starter! I had a lasagna and chicken parmesan combo with grilled vegetables. The veggies were great -- could have eaten a whole plate of those. Husband had the seafood linguini with scallops and shrimp (hold the mussels, which he doesn't care for). No clams and linguini available, unfortunately; that would be a great menu addition, though! Many of the rather authentic recipes include cheese (salty) and have prepared tomato products (which include salt), and seasoning (yup -- more salt). It doesn't taste unpleasantly salty, but if you're on a low sodium diet, be conscious of what you're ordering. Like I said, the grilled veggies were terrific -- and guilt free! Portions were generous; we're taking home leftovers. Should have skipped dessert, but soooooooooo glad we didn't! The mixed berry cobbler in a sizzling skillet with a scoop of vanilla ice cream was wonderful, and plenty for 2-3 people. In fact, if you blew it and had dinner somewhere else, head over to Carrabba's for dessert! And one correction to a previous reviewer ... Carrabba's DOES have tiramisu nightly, unless/until they run out. One more correction .. Macaroni Grill and Olive Garden are both poor excuses for Italian compared to Carrabba's. We'll definitely be back.
(4)
Allyson C.
Definately had better Italian. They make a great Chicken Marsala.. but it was pretty un-original.. but tasty. For dessert they gave us a free sampler because they were out of steak.. which was nice. I chose the tiramisu, which was a good, but again Italian food has seen better days. Agreed. Not bad for a chain.
(2)
Jeff C.
Good food, Good service, whenever my parents come in to town it's a family favorite.
(4)
Vince B.
Anything that you order on their woodfire grill is absolutely the best. Polla Rosa Maria chicken is definitely the best item on the menu...it's hard for us to choose anything else. My wife and I have been on dates here and have also brought our kids and they have been excellent experiences every time.
(5)
Greg R.
Much better than I expected. Food wasn't the typical over-spiced fare like one comes to expect from most "Italian" eateries. I particularly enjoyed the Shrimp Scampi.
(4)
Carolyn N.
I got a gift card for this place. The bread they serve was good minus the crust. The dip you were supposed to dip your bread in was bland it needed something. I got the chicken pizza no good.they didn't cut my pizza.... I know that simple. My friend got fried zuchinne it was better then the pizza but the dip was waaaaaaaay to lemony. It a good thing I didn't pay for the food I would have been very disappointed.... O wait I am
(2)
Jeff G.
This is the classiest Italian restaurant you will find in Utah County. The food is comparable to Macaroni Grille but from my experience the portions seem to be a little larger. This along with the better tasting food justifies the price premium. The staff is very helpful and the service was great. The chef was visiting a few tables making the atmosphere really jovial.
(5)
Kem M.
I'd really like to give this 4.5 stars, but since I can't, I'll go with 4, reserving 5 for 'as good as it gets'. This place is pretty close though -- the pasta was nothing special, but if you get anything grilled, it is excellent. The steak marsala (as others have mentioned) was awesome. Their desserts are perfectly sized and the vanilla bean raspberry one is really good. The spicy chicken noodle soup was excellent, and the marinara sticks come with a red sauce that has just a bit of a kick to it, which I really enjoyed. Service was perfect also.
(4)
Rick G.
I've eaten at this location a number of times, and it's fantastic. I almost always get the steak marsala, because it's one of the best flavored steaks around. Service is great, and I never have to wait too long. Love it.
(5)
Scott H.
5 stars for one of the best resturaunt steaks I have ever eaten. I usually don't like anything on my steaks accept salt and pepper...but Carrabba's forced an exception with their steak topped with mushrooms and a heavenly sauce...it was soooo good! Another 5 points for our waiters who away's kept my beverage topped off, everytime I've gone there...I don't think my glass was dry more than 30 seconds and any one time...then he brought two drinks at a time...brilliant!
(5)
C L.
it's all about the chicken bryan. if u didn't order that you haven't lived.
(5)
ZuTroy D.
Honestly one of my favorite restaurants. If you go try the chicken trio. It's not on the menu but they'll still make it for you.
(5)
Dan P.
I've been here once and eaten here twice. (Chew on that for a while!) I came here with friends and we all sampled a bit of everything, from calimari to steak. I was impressed, the food was very good. I could tell our server had a real passion for food; he knew the menu in and out and he spoke like a chef. We became friends immediately. The other time I ate Carrabba's food was actually a good size piece of steak that my brother happened to bring home one day. He always special orders this, but evidently it's not even on the menu any more. It's called the Marsala Steak. I warmed it up and tried it, and even though it was day-old and reheated let me tell you it was HEAVENLY. Oh wow. Why do do Italian places have such good steak?
(4)
Andy H.
carabbas.com My wife and I first ate here a week or so after they opened, and the experience was a wreck. I just went back for the first time this week, and things were much improved. The food was good (what you'd expect for what you are paying and what type of restaurant it is), but the service was excellent. We were greeted by every member of the staff that we passed, our server was very attentive, refilling drinks when they got a little more than half empty, and everyone was very courteous. Most lunch dishes were priced under 10 dollars (and downsized accordingly from dinner portions).
(4)
Food E.
Excellent for the price, really delicious food and lots of it. Limited data points, but I'd say this is some of the finer Italian you'll get in the area. I had braised beef, another diner had steak marsala. Both excellent. Soups were better than salads. Enjoyed their bread dip with herbs, spices and olive oil.
(5)
Chris H.
I am surprised to see so many good reviews of this restaurant. I have been there five times now in the past 8 or 9 months. I keep going back because family and friends are buying and despite my opinion they always say, "we'll buy if you come", so I go. I have tried something different every time and have never thought "this is good". We always leave thinking, the price of that food is in no way justified! The atmosphere is great, the management is INCREDIBLY nice - the food, not so much....I really would prefer Fazoli's, taco bell, Wendy's, or WAY better is Jason's Deli. Carrabba's is not worth the money, but if you must go - get an Italian soda, those are pretty decent. That's my .02 - nothing is impressive though...nothing.
Just when I thought all Italian food was like Olive Garden(Lean Cuisine Dumped on a plate), I visited Carrabba's. I LOVE Carrabba's! It was some of the best food I've ever had. The service was excellent, and the setting was beautiful. I was happy to pay for this food and I can't wait to take a date to Carrabba's again.
(5)
Nic J.
Fun, open atmosphere. Great Italian food. Our server was awesome.
(4)
Don L.
For a chain, not bad. Try the veal piccatta.
(3)
cameron u.
I've been to Carrabba's a number of times and every time I've been there the food was great. It's a great environment, friendly service, and wonderful bread with olive oil and vinegar before the meal. The best item on the menu is the Sirloin Marsala and a close second is the Chicken Marsala. One of my favorite treats is their Italian sodas (peach and strawberry). Carrabba's is may favorite Italian restaurant in Orem.
(4)
Mark F.
I really like Carrabba's for the marsala sauce and the excellent bread they serve you when you have a seat. Take anything with the marsala sauce--chicken or steak--and you'll leave very happy. I've found the pasta dishes good, but somewhat forgettable. (I can't name one dish for you right now.) I've always found the service top notch. Better than Macaroni Grill, but not the best Italian food in town. For that, you'll need to visit La Dolce Vita.
(4)
Stacie K.
I am from Chicago, but am in Provo/Orem for 2 weeks for work. It has been SO hard to find a decent place to eat, in terms of good quality, good and friendly service, and a CLEAN establishment! Maybe Chicago is just more strict? I had lost ALL hope for Provo, but then I went to Carrabas, a restaurant that I had gone to in Ohio. We sat at the bar, where we could watch the food being prepared (a kitchen in the open like that is a plus for me--it shows they have nothing to hide!). Our server was great, friendly, and helpful. The manager, Jack (?) was SO great! He seemed as though he was genuinely concerned for how are meal was. GREAT!! Two thumbs up for Carraba's in Provo/Orem!
(5)
Tia L.
Wow! This place was amazing. I enjoyed it to the fullest. I went with a friend that used to work there and we got some items off the menu. They were so delicious. The waitress was amazing as well, she was the perfect waitress. Our drinks were always filled full, she was very nice, and very helpful. We started with the side Mediterranean salad - so delicious and a very good side portion with olives, banana peppers, etc. and it wasn't too small. Next, we got the steak sandwich with the fried zucchini - Steak was cooked just perfect and very juicy, the fried zucchini was like a healthier version of fries that melted in your mouth with it lightly fried and still crispy. We ended with the John cole dessert - It was a simple dessert, ice cream with caramel sauce and roasted cinnamon rum pecans but oh my, it was just perfectly delicious and worth trying. It was much better than the picture. The pecans were far better than those cinnamon roasted almonds you see. There were many other delicious options on the menu and I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Garrett N.
Went with a work group for lunch and pleased that we did. To our dismay, their fridge had broken earlier that day and about half of their menu was out. That everything my coworkers and I ordered was still delicious speaks to the dynamism of their menu. The waitress was very apologetic and clearly wanted to improve our situation through her service--and she did just that. Eagerly feeding my Diet Coke addiction, she refilled my glass no fewer than four times. The bread (which is actually warm, crusty bread and not that Olive Garden product) was delicious and plentiful. They serve it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar that soaks up quite nicely. My original plan was to get the Johnny Rocco salad (seafood), but it was temporarily unavailable because of the fridge. I was encouraged by my mates to try the house salad and soup lunch special and got a lovely, flavorful minestrone. The salad came with a tasty thick, creamy dressing. I joined the Carrabba's rewards club before hand and received one free appetizer. We all shared the zucchini fries. They were decent, but nothing to get too giddy about. All in all, the lunch was better than I would have expected given the circumstances. I've only been to Olive Garden before this trip, and I must say I will be redirecting all my mid-price Italian cravings to Carrabba's from now on.
(4)
Alan D.
Its one of the better chain restaurants. Good Italian food, good service and for the most part, its clean. On a date? You're good to go here. You'll get a better quality food than another chain, and this place is orem seems to pay attention to details. I got the Sirloin Marsala, and the chef cooked my steak just right. It wasn't the *best* cut of beef I've ever seen, but it was pretty good. It's a chain, and they buy em in the hundreds. The chef here, seems to know what he is doing. Really good. Everything was cooked well. Mussels were awesome. Moist and and delicious. So was the Zucchini Fritte and Calimari. I came here for a wedding dinner. We passed appetizers around, and there was always a server close by to take care of a thing, and make sure you were happy. I'd come back here in a hearbeat. Well done, Carrabas of Orem.
(4)
Connor R.
Every experience I've had with Carrabas has been beyond satisfactory. It's a chain restaurant that's obviously managed very well. I'm always greeted with a smile right when I walk in, and if it's not a weekend I'm seated immediately. The waitresses I've had have been very helpful and you can tell they love the food as well. The complimentary bread and oil with herbs is delicious, the Parmesan salad is a classic. Everything I've had here I've loved, but the Sirloin Marsala stands out significantly. It's a tender sirloin covered in Marsala sauce with mushrooms. It's delicious. All in all Carrabas is a great restaurant.
(4)
Rick L.
We were driving up to salt lake. So I knew they had a Carrabba's in Provo I have been to a Carrabba's in Colorado. I really liked it. So I wanted my wife and kid to try it. The place is off the main interstate 15 a few miles so it is easy to get to. The place is clean and they have good service. Our server Nicole was very nice and proficient. She was very good at explaining all the choices the menu had to offer. I had the chicken trio my wife has lobster ravioli and my daughter has tilapia. We all liked our dishes. I will post some pics later. So I left satisfied and will go to another Carrabba's the next town I visit.
(5)
Eduard L.
This is actually our very first visit to Carrabba's. We're impressed! It' an upgrade from Olive Garden. The foods are delicious. The loaf of bread with the olive oil alone is very Italian already and they smelled great as well. For starters we ordered their Cozze in Bianco and Chicken Bryan Pizza. The Cozze is a made up of mussels steamed in white wine, basil and their signature housemade lemon butter sauce. It tasted great and you can actually eat it with the loaf of bread they give for free. You can tell that the mussels are fresh and cooked perfectly and are soft and smooth to the taste. Yeah, the Bryan pizza is not an appetizer but we ordered one to taste. It was a wise decision! The dough was freshly made and the stone-oven made the difference plus of course the chicken, sun dried tomatoes, goat cheese, basil and their lemon butter. For our main course, I had their Mahi Wulfe and my wife had their Chicken Marsala. Both are great tasting dishes as well. Both are really a step or two above Olive Garden. I guess Carrabba's can be likened to 'em fancy Italian restaurant then? Maybe not but we'll surely be back for more and maybe skip Olive Garden for the meantime. It'll surely be a stop over for us whenever we drive down and visit Ore/Provo area.
(4)
Rob R.
Used to be a regular here (2x a week) was always good. It still is good. Outdoor seating today and waitress Nicole was great. Thank you for a great meal Leo.
(5)
Jason C.
This is my first time being here. I was kind of sad they didn't bring out breadsticks but the bread was still great! I ended up getting the chicken Parmesan and I was pleasantly surprised. It didn't look that great but tasted very good! Will definitely order in the future. I still prefer olive gardens chicken parm, but this was a close second. The service was great and overall it was a great experience :)
(4)
David E.
Was highly disappointed on my last visit. Our waiter was not that great. The egg noodles were so over cooked they were sticking to each other it was so bad I could not finish my meal. Looks like it is time to find another Italian restaurant.
(2)
Alexandra S.
I'm not really a fan of this place. I just really don't enjoy how they season/ prepare their food. The service is pretty good but I wouldn't choose to go here for the food. Many other good options in the area
(2)
Eve H.
Thinking about Carrabba's makes me smile and kind of drool. The last time I went, I had the Mahi Wulfe, which was like the seafood version of a great filet mignon. I'm always impressed by their food. It may not be the world's most authentic Italian, but it makes me happy. By the way, try the mini cannolis. You'll thank me.
(4)
Jean W.
Forward: I called several hours ahead to see if I could make a reservation, as it was a Saturday night. She said, "No, sorry, we don't take reservations, but we can add your name to our Call-Ahead list and that will make your wait shorter." ??? So, I gave her my name for our non-reservation. When we arrived at 6:00 p.m., we were told that instead of the 45-60 minute wait they currently had, we should only have to wait 20. Turns out, it worked. They vibrated our buzzer almost exactly 20 minutes later. Now I understand why they don't call it a reservation. We ended up having a great experience here. Sincerely great service, informed and prompt. Plus, the staff we dealt with had personalities, which we always appreciate. The food was good. Was it the best Italian we've had? No. Was it the best we've had in the last 30 days? Yes. We ordered a Peach Bellini smoothie, and a strawberry lemonade. The smoothie was fantastic. Beautifully flavored and blended very nicely. I will certainly order this again. Hubby also enjoyed the lemonade. I would have tried it myself, but he's getting over a cold, so... The Italian salad course was delicious, served with a mix of lettuces, a few cherry tomatoes, a couple of Italian olives, and tasty Italian dressing. We found the bread to be just okay. The olive oil dip improved it to a small degree, but the bread itself was a bit dreary, relatively. I wasn't interested in giving up that much digestive real estate to mediocre bread, nor caloric sacrifice for that much oil to make it more palatable. I had the new Pollo La Scalla - chicken medallions dressed in the perfect amount of delicious sauce of white wine, mascarpone, and roasted red bell pepper. Not a huge portion, which I was glad for. It tasted rich, so the amount was perfect. It was surprisingly delicious. I was a little disappointed in the choices of sides, I wanted a great veggie choice, like sauteed zucchini, or grilled asparagus...but only a "medley" of undefined, and therefore questionable, vegetables, or steamed spinach for me. So, I defaulted to garlic mashed potatoes. They were good, but I could only manage to eat one of the two mounds served. Hubby had the lasagna; a good sized, nicely plated portion. He said it was good, but he'd had better at home, or in his Grandma's kitchen. It was still completely devoured in a matter of about 6 minutes. The dessert menu here always looks really tempting, but we're always too full. Our gem of a waitress couldn't have been better at her job. She could have easily simply served her utilitarian purpose, but instead she actually added to our nice dinner experience at Carrabba's. We wouldn't hesitate to come back and try something else, including dessert next time.
(4)
Lisa H.
We went in with our expectations low because we had been here a couple of times a few years ago and were not impressed at all. It immediately became a great dining experience. Our server was quick with the menus and our drinks, bread and dipping oil. We asked for a few minutes to look at the menu. He returned shortly and asked if we had any questions. I did. I was concerned about how garlicky the sauce was on the dish I was looking at. (It sounds stupid but as I've gotten older the very strong smell of garlic can be a migraine trigger, not so much the taste, so I have to be a little careful.) He immediately offered to bring a sample of the sauce out. That was great service that you see very rarely anymore. The sauce was delicious. I ordered the the pasta dish "Tag Pic Pac" which was enough for two and while waiting put the sauce on some bread and finish it. The dish was fantastic. My husband ordered the Chicken Bryan, chicken topped with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, after a couple of questions to the server which were answered very knowledgeably. He said his food was delicious also. The restaurant was clean and inviting and when you walk in the smell reminded me of my Italian grandfather's kitchen when he decided to cook large family meals. The server was attentive and friendly and we will be going back soon.
(5)
Chad L.
My first Carrabba's experiences were about 10 years ago while traveling and I loved this place! But we've grown apart. It's just not the same when we're together. A friend of ours wanted to eat here because they have a great gluten free selection. I'm pro-gluten so in speaking to the glutennous of the place do your homework. Saturday night, place is packed. We sat at the bar and were seated quickly. I'm assuming that because we were in Provo, UT the epicenter of eccentric, odd, LDS social culture, no one would be caught dead at the bar for fear of appearing evil but I could be wrong on that one? I really like the ambiance the open kitchen creates. It seems vibrant and energetic and the atmosphere feels social to me. The bread that came with the drinks was great and the accompanying oil and spice was excellent (3 baskets worth!) It seemed to take a long time to complete orders and deliver food, which wasn't a problem because we left the kids home and it was nice to relax and visit. But when the orders were complete and food delivered is when I realized how far we had grown apart... The Sirloin Marsala I ordered had so much gristle in it that I really couldn't eat more that half. The accompanying pasta was okay. Nothing like I remember. My beautiful, sexy, smart wife ordered a caprese salad that was good and our friend enjoyed the gluten free chicken very much. Summary. Fun place to dine. Hit the bar for faster seating, don't order the sirloin.
(4)
Sean B.
Best Italian grill in Utah County... although I think it is also the only Italian Grill. That's beside the point though. It is a huge step up from the microwave plastic garbage that Olive Garden tries to pass off as food (let alone Italian food). I absolutely love their marsala steak, their bread, their salads, soups... everything! Definitely worth a visit.
(5)
Dave B.
It is rare for a chain restaurant to have such high quality food and service. This place blows me away. I've eaten here at a company party as well as just dining in and both times the service has been outstanding. They do a good job with the steaks here. That is rare for a chain. Get the Chocolate Dream dessert. I could eat it anytime.
(4)
David R.
Took an Hour to Get My Carryout Order! I have been working in Provo all this week and yesterday ended up being an exceptionally long day for me. I was tired and really didn't feel like eating at a restaurant, so I decided to phone an order in to eat in my hotel room. At 6:40, right before I left the office, I put my order in over the phone. The lady told me it should be ready by 7PM. I arrived at about 6:55, and not having ever done anything like the carside carryout before, I poked my head in the carryout door and let them know I was there. The lady asked me who I was and then told me she would bring it out to my vehicle as soon as it was ready. Then I waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. After sitting in my vehicle with the engine and AC running for 35 minutes and not hearing a thing from them, I called them again to make sure they hadn't forgotten about me. (While I waited, two other vehicles had their meals brought out to them.) They assured me that they hadn't forgotten about me, and told me the appetizer I had ordered was taking a long time. A little less than ten minutes after that, she brought out my meal. She was extremely apologetic for the wait. I was nice to her about it, but I was pretty frustrated that I had been told 7PM but then my food hadn't been ready until nearly 7:40. I am sure they were busy, it being a Friday night and all, but I felt pretty bad about being ignored while waiting for 45 minutes. The appetizer I ordered was the Cozze in Bianco (Prince Edward Island mussels steamed in white wine, basil and our signature housemade lemon butter sauce.) It was amazing! So delicious that I literally licked both sides of the mussel shells clean before discarding them. (Another benefit of eating alone in my hotel room.) My entre was the lasagna and I had minestrone soup with it. The soup was quite good. Not super-impressive, but I was very satisfied with it. The lasagna was only so-so. Maybe it's because my family is half Italian and we cook a really great spaghetti/lasagna sauce, but I just found the lasagna to be bland and lacking in flavor. I'll probably give this place another try next time I am in town, but my experience this time was pretty mediocre.
(3)
Seth B.
All you need to know is Sirloin Marsala. I have them prepare it without mushrooms and always get an extra side of Marsala sauce to dip in. The flavor is amazing. It is easily the best $15 steak you will find. Also, the spicy sausage and lentil soup is incredible.
(5)
Daniel H.
Great service! The waiter and waitresses here are exceptional and so is the food! Everything was fresh and hot as ordered! Nice for a great night out.
(5)
Bryan W.
You can't go wrong here. I love the filet Bryan as well as the chicken Bryan. Pasta is good as well as salads and desserts. Love this place.
(5)
Free Orcas N.
If you want to be beat up about where you cannot sit when you walk in the door and never even asked, have your bread basket removed when the entree' is served (and I only got to eat one small demi-loaf slice from it), and then hassled about redeeming your gift card that you gave the cold hard cash for last month, then this is the place!
(1)
Amber M.
My favorite restaurant of all time! the chicken bryan is to die for and the most unique thing ive ever tasted. the fried calamari is fantastic. If you cant decide, go for the chicken trio which has the bryan, pollo rosa maria and chicken marsala. The pizzas are fantastic and the free bread at the beginning is the best. Highly recommended!
(5)
Deb M.
Chicken Serrano is really great. Our waitress was there for us with refills and suggestions. We enjoyed the chops, the steak and spaghetti. We were all filled and satisfied. This location is clean and pretty. We got in and out in good time.
(5)
TJ H.
This is our favorite restaurant! The flavor is incredible. Everything I have ever had is delicious. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Jennifer S.
The zucchini fries were delicious. The dipping sauce is reminiscent of an onion blossom sauce--it has a little kick to it. The batter reminded me and my husband of Long John Silver's clam strip batter, which for us isn't a bad thing. "The Johnny" was delicious. The steak was perfectly medium well and very flavorful. The Chicken Bryan was my favorite between the two. You just don't taste goat cheese that often, so the flavor combo of goat cheese, basil, and sundries tomatoes is phenomenal. I'll try the garlic mashed potatoes next time because the cavatappi wasn't anything amazing. My husband got the "Fettucini Weesie." The name is pretty weird, but he said it was an ok dish. He wasn't super impressed and said Olive Garden's fettuccine alfredo was better (in his opinion). Daughter got the cheese pizza. Looked heartier than Olive Garden's and more "authentic." She liked it ok. My husband liked the mini cannoli we got to go. Not the most appetizing presentation (the crushed pistachio makes it look like it was rolled in guacamole). But at $5 he feels they're pretty over priced for the tiny things they are. The service was "eh." Wasn't impressed by it, but also didn't ruin our experience. We went just before 5pm on Black Friday and it was dead. By the time we left (just after 6) it was almost full. I'm going back just for the Chicken Bryan. :)
(4)
Zach L.
Better than Olive Garden. Good grilled chicken. I always liked the Chicken Bryan until my wife had it with me and said "I feel like I'm eating sweaty goat" because of the Chevre. Once she put that thought in my mind, I could taste it too . . . I do like their bread (but not their olive oil or basalmic. Oil's too cheap and basalmic's too acidic. If you want good olive oil, buy some from a good grocer or a gourmet store like Williams and Sonoma. You'll pay $40+ for a small bottle, but you'll think it's liquid gold). I've always thought their side salads were pitiful, and their portions too small. The steak's tender if you get it MR. For me, like most big chains, it's A-OK. Nothing to write home about. Decent enough to enjoy.
(3)
Joe S.
Apps were great. Lentil soup was nice. Salads were good drinks were good. Main course was a disaster. 3 plates of inedible food.
(1)
Sean R.
If you request seating at the bar, you get faster service without waiting in line. I received great attentive service from the kitchen staff as well as the wait staff, so to me, that's an added bonus. Not only that, the kitchen staff gave me some leftover pasta to try while waiting for my order which was great considering I was starving! Love their lobster ravioli. Carrabba's makes great Italian food and I wish I had one in Seattle. It had been a long five years since I last visited one.
(5)
Angie Chrisley L.
The service is impeccable. The food is amazing. I have been here multiple times and have never been disappointed.
(5)
Melinda M.
Each and every time we have dined at Carraba's, the service, atmosphere and food were outstanding. It would seem that the managers of this establishment are very adept at costumer service and relationships. We will continue to frequent this amazing restaurant. Thanks, Clay!
(5)
Brad V.
Nice restaurant chain. Food is good. Having lived in New Jersey, where there is an Italian restaurant on every corner, this Italian chain is better than macaroni grill or olive garden any day of the week.
(4)
Nadia F.
This place is amazing. Customer service is almost always great, and when it's not, they bend over backwards to make it up to you. Both times I've been there, I've had the most incredibly tasting foods! Now it's on my "MUST VISIT" list each time I go to Utah!! Love it here and totally recommend!
(5)
Brittany H.
I love this place! The luna caraba (off menu) is my go to. I switch out the mushrooms for sun dried tomatoes and it is divine. Their smoothies are amazing. I get one every time. The staff is very friendly as well.
(4)
Cindy P.
Every time we eat here its an experience. Great food, nice ambiance. Staff is very courteous and friendly. It's a great place to meet up with friends. The pastas are delicious - I've had several, and the bar is nice. Its busy on weekends at dinner time so be prepared to wait. One of the few 'nice' places open on Sunday in happy valley. Four stars instead of 5 because of the higher corkage fee, smaller portions and wait times for dinner.
(4)
Brett S.
Leaves Olive Garden in the Dust Carrabba's is the better version of Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill. It is absolutely my favorite Italian restaurant. The steak marsala is like looking into the face of a new born baby....wow! I ate there last night and was constantly grunting my satisfaction, much like Bob Wylie did when he ate corn at Dr. Marvin's house.....mmmmm. If you go there try the Steak Marsala and then when you return from taste bud island, hit me back with a thank you. Tip: They will give you hot bread and oil w/some spices to dip it in but you can ask them for fresh cheese and balsamic as well. If you mix all of that together and then sop it up with their bread you'll be in heaven. Also, the caesar dressing is excellent but improved even further if you dip a tiny bit of your lettuce in the above mentioned concoction. Recommend: Steak Marsala and of course their excellent bread & oil
(5)
Laurie B.
Carrabba's is the only decent Italian I've found in Utah county. This is what Olive Garden wishes it could be when it cries itself to sleep at night. Italian dishes, accessible to the average American, lots of food (also to appeal to the average American), but without being as coma-inducing (read: heavy) as Romano's. The atmosphere is great and the waitstaff is always polite and helpful.
(4)
Ann G.
2 stars because it's a step above Olive Garden and they only get 1 star. My review of Olive Garden...Salt Lick! I opted to keep it safe with the Caesar Salad with grilled chicken, washed down with a glass of wine. My dining companions dinner was unmemorable except for lasagna coming out semi-frozen in the middle. LOL for servers using the word "fresh" to describe lasagna that was made earlier and reheated in the microwave. And then reheated again! My husband who had lived in the city for many years did comment that the food has gone downhill. Best restaurant in Orem IMO is Pizzeria 712.
(2)
Ray M.
My absolute favorite Italian restaurant. I would come here more often but it is diffidently a bit pricey. The food is outstanding, I love the chicken Marsala. The service is always good and the atmosphere is very inviting. This is diffidently Utah's best Italian.
(5)
Grace R.
I am not a fan of chain restaurants specially Italian ones but I was hungry for vegetable or salad and this was not bad at all. service was good!
(4)
Charles S.
The filet mignon was AWESOME! 5 stars!! Perfectly cooked medium rare (even though Grandpa ordered it "medium"). This steak could be cut with a fork and just melted in my mouth. It was maybe a bit over-seasoned, but not so much as to be obtrusive. Everything went slightly downhill from there, but Carrabba's is still "A-OK" in my book. It's a chain, so my expectations weren't over the moon to begin with. The service was great. Our waiter was good and the manager stopped by to talk football with us, since all three of us were decked out in Utah Utes Gear, here behind enemy lines. I was very pleasantly surprised to see that over 50% of the tables had beer and/or wine on them. Nice! I felt right at home, which is not easy for me when I'm in Utah County, despite being born and raised there for 17 years (Ironic, huh?). But I digress... back to the restaurant. I ordered the "Italian Classics" which I'm prone to do when trying an Italian restaurant for the first time. Chicken Parm and Lasagna. Both were good, but nothing approaching great. On par with Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill, but nowhere near my top 10. Lisa got the Shrimp Caeser salad and was not very impressed. It was a bucket of Romaine lettuce with 5 shrimp and some shredded cheese on top. $12 was a bit steep. It should have come with a cup o' soup or something for that price. My entree was $15, which i thought was fair, although O.G. or M.G. would have given me much more food for the same price. The prices seem to be about 20% high for the quality and quantity of food here, but I'd go back again and again for that steak. I'll just go elsewhere when I'm looking for the "Italian Classics" comfort food.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Morgan M.
I was worried it would be another Olive Garden mediocre, overly-oily restaurant experience. I was very pleasantly surprised! The pasta was clearly freshly made, and sauces were tasty. Considering the reasonable prices (around $10-$20/plate) and phenomenal (truly, phenomenal) customer service, I give Carrabba's 5 stars.
(5)S H.
We were really excited to eat here, and left completely shocked at the poor quality of the food. Four adults with entrees and a large appetizer was $90.00 which would have been fine if the food was good. It was not. The pasta was overcooked and sloppy and clumpy. This is an Italian restaurant mind you, so they should have the skills to cook pasta. I ordered chicken fettuccine Alfredo. My favorite dish. A simple dish. Yuck. Anyway, all four of us left quite disappointed. I would avoid at all cost. Perhaps they just had an off night. I don't know. But I will never go back.
(1)Rod S.
Italian comfort food chain that has its format nailed. Good food, service and facility all adds up to good to very good food that goes down easy. I've dined here at least a hundred times. It's was the go to place when I flew home most Fridays from work. Now I don't fly weekly, but I still go here. Chain places tend to be complete cookie cutter copies of each other. Carrabba's can be more variable. Unlike the Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden, the sauces are made locally instead of showing up in frozen tubs to be reheated. This also means management has to make a bigger effort to keep the quality up. Of all the Carrabba's I've been to, this is the best. They have low cook turnover. Clay and Leo really keep things going properly. I also like not having a gimmick when the server shows up. The only thing I miss over Carrabba's in cities is the lack of a bar here. Having a drink before dinner at the bar is a really nice thing. In the end, the food has to be good. They nearly always have steamed mussels. Even if they are not on the menu, ask. They may have them. I find the local sauce a little too lemony. I ask for less lemon, and since they make it locally, it comes with less lemon. I never order pork chops at casual dining places. They are always overcooked and dry. Here they will cook them medium and showing pink if you ask. That makes them very good. They may not be a steakhouse, but their Filet is the best steak in town. The veal isn't completely overcooked. It's pretty good. There's a real wood burning stove and the pizza is quite good too. I used to go to the Macaroni place and thought they had really nailed the casual chain Italian. I went here a few times and then back to that other place. Everything had a salty edge I hadn't noticed before. I've noticed that since. Carrabba's still salts higher than I would like on some things, but it's miles above the competition. When business is really good they bring in higher priced veg like the haricot vert (the smaller tastier French green bean). Other times they are creative with zucchini. That's the kind of touch other chains aren't doing. The service is usually quite good. The facility is nice. I make sure I come early, or preferably late on busy days since there are no reservations. That's about the only negative. It may be a chain, but it's one of Orem's best restaurants.
(4)carol b.
Delicious, delicious, delicious. We had to wait about 30 minutes for a table on a Saturday night, but that's to be expected. The service was excellent right from the get-go, friendly and timely. We started with the mussels and breaded calamari. I can't begin to tell you how delicious they were. The mussels were a little small but hey...at least they had them - and they were steamed in the most amazing garlic wine sauce. If you get the calamari, ask for "the other" sauce they can bring with it. I can't remember the name but it's a creamier, lemony sauce. It's amazing. Way better than the standard tomato based sauce. I always get the fettuccine weesie with mushrooms and shrimp and it was divine. The shrimp was cooked perfectly, and the lemon flavored mushroom sauce was the icing on the cake. My husband didn't know what to order so he asked the waitress to pick something for him. She brought out what was, he said, "...the best steak I've had in a very long time". It was cooked perfectly, wood-fired with light seasoning. We were both very, very happy people. We don't live near Orem, but Carrabba's is definitely worth a drive now and then.
(5)Mariel C.
Always happy when we eat here. One of the best Italian places you can find in Utah county, and there aren't much to choose from. Super fRiendly staff, warm delicious bread, and yummy pastas. We have always had great service and enjoyed everything we tried. I love the mezzaluna pasta and the chicken parmigan.
(4)Jeff F.
Is it 4 star Italian food? No. Is it 4 star Italian food in Utah - Absolutely! Service was good and atmosphere was solid for higher end chain Italian. Rundown on the grub: -Sicilian Chicken Soup- excellent -very good Shrimp Scampi app (tough to nail this overdone 'Italian" dish, but they did it) -Speidino di Mare - ok, but after I ate it I felt like I just took my third Jager Bomb... too heavy -Gnocchi on the specials menu - very good - worth ordering -solid wine selection - I'm useless when it comes to wine, but thought both the Chianti Classico Riserva, Ruffino Ducale and the Chianti, Gabbiano, DOCG was pretty good
(4)Colleen A.
Several colleagues and I arrived without a reservation for dinner here on a weeknight in July. We were greeted and seated right away. Our waiter Luke was great - kept up with drinks and water for the table and was available when needed. I ordered the "Pasta Sostanza" and added shrimp. Good flavors and the pasta was cooked perfectly. My Caesar salad was overdressed, but the dressing tasted as it should.
(3)Rudy W.
Had the salad for starter, main course sirloin with crab cake. The meat was too dry, even they cook it as medium rare. The crab cake, almost felt like eating bread patty with salt. Not sure why they put so much sauce and parsley. the taste, I can't recall if there is any crab in there (flavor wise) but I can see it. lol.. then I finish it up with Cinnamon Apple Crostata. too much sugar. I have to doze it with water to neutralize the carmel & sugar. This is a chain restaurant, so other location might vary. service was average.
(2)Mike B.
Food: High class dining, for sure, but you have to order the right thing. You'll find better pasta elsewhere, but their steak is killer. I think it was the rib-eye I got, and it came with a bleu cheese sauce that was awesome! It was like $22 but it was sooo worth it! Atmosphere: High-class but not imposing Prices: $12/plate... ish. Also, fantastic service.
(4)Toni M.
We left my brother's house this morning for the drive to Bryce and by 12:30 were starting to get hungry for lunch. We are of the opinion that college towns are the best location for interesting ethnic restaurants. We avoid chains. So when we saw a sign for BYU we pulled off I-15 and drove into town. Eventually we pulled into a shopping center to reconnoiter. Alan found Carrabba's on his iPhone. He saw an electronics store right in that shopping center and headed that way to pick up an accessory for listening to the iPod in the car. He checked w/ the fellow who helped him about Carrabba's and was heartily encouraged to give it a try, so we did. We were greeted and seated. The specials board by the hostess station listed Limoncello bread pudding, which sounded heavenly. Our waitress greeted us enthusiastically, asking if we'd been there before, etc. She assured us that everything there was homemade. I requested iced tea and Alan requested water. We were brought bread and a plate of herbs to which she added olive oil. She offered to bring balsamic and we added that. We both decided to order a steak sandwich, mine rare, Alan's medium rare. Alan ordered a side salad for us to share. Alan asked that his sandwich not contain provolone. I was fine w/ provolone on mine. Our waitress checked back w/ us to see if we needed more bread (no, we were limiting ourselves because we were having sandwiches) and brought a refill of iced tea, which I passed on to Alan. Both sandwiches came w/ provolone, but he was hungry so he ate it as is. The sandwiches were delicious, the meat of good quality and the mushrooms and sauce containing bits of prosciutto enhancing it. The rolls were on the small side and not too heavy, just the way we like them. The sandwiches were accompanied by a scattering of tasty French fries rather than a mountain, which we also prefer. The salad never arrived. Our waitress was dismayed and apologetic about the cheese on Alan's sandwich and the missing salad. I was about to order a bread pudding which she wanted to comp me but then she mentioned that it would take 20 minutes and we wanted to get back on the road. Finally she offered to bring us tiny little house desserts. I took a chocolate one and it was delicious. Alan declined. She made sure that the salad was removed from our bill and then asked me if she could send some iced tea w/ us to drink on the road. It was the sweetest offer and I didn't even get her name! The tea definitely did taste good.
(4)shane b.
This is my favorite chain style Italian restaurant, even my wife loves it. She even just said that we need to go here for Christmas Eve dinner. Here is why i love Carrabas. 1. the bread that comes before the meal is tasty and i love the balsamic vinegar and olive oil the put out. 2. Everything I've eaten here i have been pleased with. My favorite is the chicken parm with a side of Alfredo noodles. 3. I always have had great service the only negative i have and it's not specific to this restaurant, is i hate how low the lights have to go at night, i just hate dimmed out light. But if you like Olive Garden i can guarantee you'll like this better, that is if you haven't been drinking maltov cocktails lately to destroy your taste buds.
(4)Richard S.
Everything I eat here is fantastic. It's even good enough that I went there when I knew there was a 20% chance of my wife's ex-boyfriend being my waiter (and he was twice). Best Calamari I have had, love the baby squids, they're so cute!
(4)Ryan P.
For Utah County, this is as good as it gets. I used to go to Macaroni Grill for all of my Italian Food needs, but while a bit more expensive, this place is worth the extra cash. It took me a while to get around to trying it because a friend of mine went soon after they opened and I guess they had some struggles early on, but those seem completely fixed after I've been there twice now and loved both times. Fortunately I've been able to get there at times when it was not busy, so no wait. The service was very attentive and I felt like our server really was able to intuit our personal needs and interests without having to dig too deep (it was my wife's birthday and he made it a very special experience without embarassing her). The chicken bryan is excellent and pollo maria something-or-other also is very tasty. This is the reason you eat out: to eat something you can't make at home, right? I know there are other reasons to eat out, but how often are we satisfied with a meal that we could have cooked better in our own kitchen? Not likely. Carrabba's makes delicious food that can be produced in very few kitchens that I know of. The food is as unique as it gets in Provo, and the portions are larger than anything else in this price category (for the price, you can get a few crab legs and leave hungry from Red Lobster, a dinky 8-oz steak from Ruby River or Outback, or a few pieces of lettuce w/ no dressing at Chef's Table). I strongly recommend Carrabba's, especially for special occasions on a budget.
(5)Drew D.
For what you pay this place is very very mediocre. I don't even have anything good to say here. The food is weak, noodles overcooked, everything is over seasoned, sauces are watery, and the service is blah at best. Drinks are expensive, wine selection is painful. I know its Utah valley but come on. You're much better off going to Macaroni Grille, its 10x better.
(2)Jessie M.
Carrabbas is, hands down, the best Italian you can get in Utah Valley. Not only it's more authentic than the other places around but I love that everything is fresh and original. When it comes to Italian Carrabbas is the place to go around here. I also love the ambiance and staff. The manager ALWAYS comes to every single table every single time. I love it! One of my favorite things there is their Pasta Weezy. It's soooo delish! With all the either bland, average, dirty, or disappointing restaurants in Utah Valley, Carrabba's is like a coke in the dessert good lol. No lie though. I like it a lot! PS: I'm comparing it to all the restaurants here except the VERY new ones I know there's a couple new Italian places I haven't tried at the Riverwoods mall...I need to get to it.
(4)Stacie R.
This is my all time favorite restaurant! Personal favorites are the filet bryan or filet marsala! The portions are large enough that my husband and I generally split an entree.
(5)Eric C.
Id never been to a carrabas before, so im not sure how this one compares, but i can honestly say that i havent had a better experience than this since i moved to the salt lake area a month ago. The food was above average thanks to the right balance of seasonings, but my chicken was a little dry and my girlfriends steak was so underdone that it was cold to the touch in the middle. The cheesecake was fabulous, and the service was by far the best ive had anywhere, thank you Cami.
(4)Haylee S.
The costumer service here is top notch, always great! The workers are always smiling and this is a MUST VISIT! Their food is authentic and delicious, almost to die for! I'm a sucker for baked Ziti, theirs puts pasta Ive had in Italy to shame! It is my absolute favorite Italian restaurant. It is a must go for all italian food lovers!
(4)Logan T.
Carrabba's is just good, basic dining. I'd rate it maybe just slightly above Macaroni Grill. It's nothing you need to dress up for but I feel fully and utterly comfortable bringing my wife here for an anniversary. It says, "I care, but I'd also like to put gas in the car next week." Being a chain means its pretty consistent.
(4)Lucky B.
The salmon is the best I've had (I'm from Seattle; we know fish). They have different sauces for it, depending on the day. My fav is the fresh tomato one or just peppered. They serve a dense peasant-style bread with olive oil and a special herb for dipping; ask for a splash of balsamic vinegar. Mezzaluna Carrabba is my favorite off-menu dish; half-moon chicken ravioli, white sauce, peas, mushrooms and grilled chicken. Their Caesar salad is the best I've had; super cold and crisp with the right amount of dressing. Have an Italian soda with cream or the strawberry-banana smoothie and do NOT forget dessert! The Chocolate Dream is to be shared (very rich, sweet and delicious) and the yellow cake with fruit and custard is a fresh, light alternative. Oh, and their calamari is delisioso!
(5)Lisa A.
This restaurant used to be awesome, but a few months ago they changed their policies and started severely skimping. They give you just a pinch of herbs to go with your oil for bread dipping. When I asked for more, I was told it was $8 for a full serving but for free they would continue bringing me more little plates, each with a pinch of herbs. What a joke, trying to get your waiter's attention just to get a tiny pinch of herbs. I always order the fried calamari, but their new skimpy policies ruined even that. They downsized the large portion so now it is the size the regular portion used to be. Another joke. Oh well, good things never last long.
(2)Jason K.
Again, context is everything. Am I saying this place is better than the French Laundry (which I gave four stars)? No. But I am saying that this is about as good as you can get at a casual dining "Italian" restaurant. This place is a little more upscale than Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden, but it isn't as fancy as another chain, Il Fornaio. The atmosphere is nice but nothing really special. Service has always been very friendly and efficient. Most importantly, the food is always consistently good. The fried calamari Ricardo is a particular favorite...the calamari is nicely crisp, tasty tentacles are included (a pet peeve of mine), and it is accompanied by a hot pepper lemon butter sauce. Other favorites include the Insalata Johnny Rocco, a grilled seafood salad, and the Pollo Rosa Maria, a stuffed chicken dish.
(5)Erik M.
I really like eating here. The service is friendly, the food is always fresh and tasty. There is enough variety in the menu to please everyone, all in all a very good place to go. I
(4)Dustin B.
Great Italian place. It's really similar to most "By the Mall" chain Italian restaurants, it's good food, good price, and always a safe call for good food. If you've been to Romano's Macaroni Grill, or Johny Carino's then this place will be completely familiar to you. There are lots of Italian dishes that you can't really go wrong with. The portions were a little bit smaller than I thought I'd get but since these places always give you too much it was actually quite nice. You can walk away full without having to worry about hauling a take home box that will sit at the bottom of your refrigerator for 2 weeks.
(4)Pernilla K.
For a chain Italian restaurant, this is definitely a place worth a paying a visit. It's not the same as your small family run Italian restaurant with that personal touch that may be worth a 5 star, but it's also not super Americanized and plastic like Olive Garden. The food is better than Olive Garden - and cheaper! The staff here were wonderful. From giving food samples to the people waiting for a table to make sure they weren't starving (it was getting to a 60-70 min wait), to a great waiter who was very very attentive to every single table he was responsible for, to the waiter of the table next to us who were engaging in a discussion about various kinds of pasta, to quick service even during a busy Saturday evening - it was simply a great experience. The best part is that it's cheap! I looked at the menu and I couldn't believe their prices. $15 for a Seafood Cannelloni - most places charge you a $20 for just saying the word "Sea". So: Good food, good service, great prices. Absolutely a good spot to go if you want something between casual and high-end.
(4)Ani V.
I love Carrabbas! I always have such great service. Your drink is always full (even on busy nights). The food is to die for! I love their grilled chicken and the rosa maria. The manager always comes around to your table and I just love it! I've been going there for years and keep going back.
(5)John H.
Great food. Great service. ....We need one in the SLC valley. We've eaten at this establishment several times and they've never failed to deliver.
(5)Robert M.
My business partner and I stopped in for dinner and ate at the bar. There is nothing like being close to the kitchen and we could literally feel the heat from the stoves. I had the shrimp and scallops on linguine. Very good!
(4)Amanda C.
Carrabba's is wonderful! The food always tastes good and the service is great. The manager always comes around and checks to make sure everything is okay. The only thing I don't like the wait, it always takes at least an hour waiting before you can get a table. But perhaps that is because the food is so great!
(3)Robert F.
No cannoli. No tiramisu. Not much of an Italian resturaunt huh?
(2)Matt S.
Amazing Marsala sauce!
(5)Laura R.
Hard to find great food in a college town, where cost is so often the primary consideration. Also hard to get a table on a Friday game night! Carrabba's provides a glimmer of hope. Decor is upscale, service is both friendly and competent (in fact, this was the BEST service we've had at any restaurant in Utah County). You can see the flaming grill and authentic pizza oven from the dining room -- always a plus for the ambiance. Have to echo some of the other comments -- the fresh, warm bread dipped in olive oil with crumbled herbs was a great starter (we requested balsamic vinegar to add). Unlike the Johnny-one-note chains, Carrabba's offered a choice of three delicious soups (not just the ubiquitous minestrone). The chicken soup was hearty, and almost enough for a meal rather than just a starter! I had a lasagna and chicken parmesan combo with grilled vegetables. The veggies were great -- could have eaten a whole plate of those. Husband had the seafood linguini with scallops and shrimp (hold the mussels, which he doesn't care for). No clams and linguini available, unfortunately; that would be a great menu addition, though! Many of the rather authentic recipes include cheese (salty) and have prepared tomato products (which include salt), and seasoning (yup -- more salt). It doesn't taste unpleasantly salty, but if you're on a low sodium diet, be conscious of what you're ordering. Like I said, the grilled veggies were terrific -- and guilt free! Portions were generous; we're taking home leftovers. Should have skipped dessert, but soooooooooo glad we didn't! The mixed berry cobbler in a sizzling skillet with a scoop of vanilla ice cream was wonderful, and plenty for 2-3 people. In fact, if you blew it and had dinner somewhere else, head over to Carrabba's for dessert! And one correction to a previous reviewer ... Carrabba's DOES have tiramisu nightly, unless/until they run out. One more correction .. Macaroni Grill and Olive Garden are both poor excuses for Italian compared to Carrabba's. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Allyson C.
Definately had better Italian. They make a great Chicken Marsala.. but it was pretty un-original.. but tasty. For dessert they gave us a free sampler because they were out of steak.. which was nice. I chose the tiramisu, which was a good, but again Italian food has seen better days. Agreed. Not bad for a chain.
(2)Jeff C.
Good food, Good service, whenever my parents come in to town it's a family favorite.
(4)Vince B.
Anything that you order on their woodfire grill is absolutely the best. Polla Rosa Maria chicken is definitely the best item on the menu...it's hard for us to choose anything else. My wife and I have been on dates here and have also brought our kids and they have been excellent experiences every time.
(5)Greg R.
Much better than I expected. Food wasn't the typical over-spiced fare like one comes to expect from most "Italian" eateries. I particularly enjoyed the Shrimp Scampi.
(4)Carolyn N.
I got a gift card for this place. The bread they serve was good minus the crust. The dip you were supposed to dip your bread in was bland it needed something. I got the chicken pizza no good.they didn't cut my pizza.... I know that simple. My friend got fried zuchinne it was better then the pizza but the dip was waaaaaaaay to lemony. It a good thing I didn't pay for the food I would have been very disappointed.... O wait I am
(2)Jeff G.
This is the classiest Italian restaurant you will find in Utah County. The food is comparable to Macaroni Grille but from my experience the portions seem to be a little larger. This along with the better tasting food justifies the price premium. The staff is very helpful and the service was great. The chef was visiting a few tables making the atmosphere really jovial.
(5)Kem M.
I'd really like to give this 4.5 stars, but since I can't, I'll go with 4, reserving 5 for 'as good as it gets'. This place is pretty close though -- the pasta was nothing special, but if you get anything grilled, it is excellent. The steak marsala (as others have mentioned) was awesome. Their desserts are perfectly sized and the vanilla bean raspberry one is really good. The spicy chicken noodle soup was excellent, and the marinara sticks come with a red sauce that has just a bit of a kick to it, which I really enjoyed. Service was perfect also.
(4)Rick G.
I've eaten at this location a number of times, and it's fantastic. I almost always get the steak marsala, because it's one of the best flavored steaks around. Service is great, and I never have to wait too long. Love it.
(5)Scott H.
5 stars for one of the best resturaunt steaks I have ever eaten. I usually don't like anything on my steaks accept salt and pepper...but Carrabba's forced an exception with their steak topped with mushrooms and a heavenly sauce...it was soooo good! Another 5 points for our waiters who away's kept my beverage topped off, everytime I've gone there...I don't think my glass was dry more than 30 seconds and any one time...then he brought two drinks at a time...brilliant!
(5)C L.
it's all about the chicken bryan. if u didn't order that you haven't lived.
(5)ZuTroy D.
Honestly one of my favorite restaurants. If you go try the chicken trio. It's not on the menu but they'll still make it for you.
(5)Dan P.
I've been here once and eaten here twice. (Chew on that for a while!) I came here with friends and we all sampled a bit of everything, from calimari to steak. I was impressed, the food was very good. I could tell our server had a real passion for food; he knew the menu in and out and he spoke like a chef. We became friends immediately. The other time I ate Carrabba's food was actually a good size piece of steak that my brother happened to bring home one day. He always special orders this, but evidently it's not even on the menu any more. It's called the Marsala Steak. I warmed it up and tried it, and even though it was day-old and reheated let me tell you it was HEAVENLY. Oh wow. Why do do Italian places have such good steak?
(4)Andy H.
carabbas.com My wife and I first ate here a week or so after they opened, and the experience was a wreck. I just went back for the first time this week, and things were much improved. The food was good (what you'd expect for what you are paying and what type of restaurant it is), but the service was excellent. We were greeted by every member of the staff that we passed, our server was very attentive, refilling drinks when they got a little more than half empty, and everyone was very courteous. Most lunch dishes were priced under 10 dollars (and downsized accordingly from dinner portions).
(4)Food E.
Excellent for the price, really delicious food and lots of it. Limited data points, but I'd say this is some of the finer Italian you'll get in the area. I had braised beef, another diner had steak marsala. Both excellent. Soups were better than salads. Enjoyed their bread dip with herbs, spices and olive oil.
(5)Chris H.
I am surprised to see so many good reviews of this restaurant. I have been there five times now in the past 8 or 9 months. I keep going back because family and friends are buying and despite my opinion they always say, "we'll buy if you come", so I go. I have tried something different every time and have never thought "this is good". We always leave thinking, the price of that food is in no way justified! The atmosphere is great, the management is INCREDIBLY nice - the food, not so much....I really would prefer Fazoli's, taco bell, Wendy's, or WAY better is Jason's Deli. Carrabba's is not worth the money, but if you must go - get an Italian soda, those are pretty decent. That's my .02 - nothing is impressive though...nothing.
(1)David G.
I highly recommend chicken bryan & minestrone soup. Expect excellent service.
(4)Alexander B.
Just when I thought all Italian food was like Olive Garden(Lean Cuisine Dumped on a plate), I visited Carrabba's. I LOVE Carrabba's! It was some of the best food I've ever had. The service was excellent, and the setting was beautiful. I was happy to pay for this food and I can't wait to take a date to Carrabba's again.
(5)Nic J.
Fun, open atmosphere. Great Italian food. Our server was awesome.
(4)Don L.
For a chain, not bad. Try the veal piccatta.
(3)cameron u.
I've been to Carrabba's a number of times and every time I've been there the food was great. It's a great environment, friendly service, and wonderful bread with olive oil and vinegar before the meal. The best item on the menu is the Sirloin Marsala and a close second is the Chicken Marsala. One of my favorite treats is their Italian sodas (peach and strawberry). Carrabba's is may favorite Italian restaurant in Orem.
(4)Mark F.
I really like Carrabba's for the marsala sauce and the excellent bread they serve you when you have a seat. Take anything with the marsala sauce--chicken or steak--and you'll leave very happy. I've found the pasta dishes good, but somewhat forgettable. (I can't name one dish for you right now.) I've always found the service top notch. Better than Macaroni Grill, but not the best Italian food in town. For that, you'll need to visit La Dolce Vita.
(4)Stacie K.
I am from Chicago, but am in Provo/Orem for 2 weeks for work. It has been SO hard to find a decent place to eat, in terms of good quality, good and friendly service, and a CLEAN establishment! Maybe Chicago is just more strict? I had lost ALL hope for Provo, but then I went to Carrabas, a restaurant that I had gone to in Ohio. We sat at the bar, where we could watch the food being prepared (a kitchen in the open like that is a plus for me--it shows they have nothing to hide!). Our server was great, friendly, and helpful. The manager, Jack (?) was SO great! He seemed as though he was genuinely concerned for how are meal was. GREAT!! Two thumbs up for Carraba's in Provo/Orem!
(5)Tia L.
Wow! This place was amazing. I enjoyed it to the fullest. I went with a friend that used to work there and we got some items off the menu. They were so delicious. The waitress was amazing as well, she was the perfect waitress. Our drinks were always filled full, she was very nice, and very helpful. We started with the side Mediterranean salad - so delicious and a very good side portion with olives, banana peppers, etc. and it wasn't too small. Next, we got the steak sandwich with the fried zucchini - Steak was cooked just perfect and very juicy, the fried zucchini was like a healthier version of fries that melted in your mouth with it lightly fried and still crispy. We ended with the John cole dessert - It was a simple dessert, ice cream with caramel sauce and roasted cinnamon rum pecans but oh my, it was just perfectly delicious and worth trying. It was much better than the picture. The pecans were far better than those cinnamon roasted almonds you see. There were many other delicious options on the menu and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Garrett N.
Went with a work group for lunch and pleased that we did. To our dismay, their fridge had broken earlier that day and about half of their menu was out. That everything my coworkers and I ordered was still delicious speaks to the dynamism of their menu. The waitress was very apologetic and clearly wanted to improve our situation through her service--and she did just that. Eagerly feeding my Diet Coke addiction, she refilled my glass no fewer than four times. The bread (which is actually warm, crusty bread and not that Olive Garden product) was delicious and plentiful. They serve it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar that soaks up quite nicely. My original plan was to get the Johnny Rocco salad (seafood), but it was temporarily unavailable because of the fridge. I was encouraged by my mates to try the house salad and soup lunch special and got a lovely, flavorful minestrone. The salad came with a tasty thick, creamy dressing. I joined the Carrabba's rewards club before hand and received one free appetizer. We all shared the zucchini fries. They were decent, but nothing to get too giddy about. All in all, the lunch was better than I would have expected given the circumstances. I've only been to Olive Garden before this trip, and I must say I will be redirecting all my mid-price Italian cravings to Carrabba's from now on.
(4)Alan D.
Its one of the better chain restaurants. Good Italian food, good service and for the most part, its clean. On a date? You're good to go here. You'll get a better quality food than another chain, and this place is orem seems to pay attention to details. I got the Sirloin Marsala, and the chef cooked my steak just right. It wasn't the *best* cut of beef I've ever seen, but it was pretty good. It's a chain, and they buy em in the hundreds. The chef here, seems to know what he is doing. Really good. Everything was cooked well. Mussels were awesome. Moist and and delicious. So was the Zucchini Fritte and Calimari. I came here for a wedding dinner. We passed appetizers around, and there was always a server close by to take care of a thing, and make sure you were happy. I'd come back here in a hearbeat. Well done, Carrabas of Orem.
(4)Connor R.
Every experience I've had with Carrabas has been beyond satisfactory. It's a chain restaurant that's obviously managed very well. I'm always greeted with a smile right when I walk in, and if it's not a weekend I'm seated immediately. The waitresses I've had have been very helpful and you can tell they love the food as well. The complimentary bread and oil with herbs is delicious, the Parmesan salad is a classic. Everything I've had here I've loved, but the Sirloin Marsala stands out significantly. It's a tender sirloin covered in Marsala sauce with mushrooms. It's delicious. All in all Carrabas is a great restaurant.
(4)Rick L.
We were driving up to salt lake. So I knew they had a Carrabba's in Provo I have been to a Carrabba's in Colorado. I really liked it. So I wanted my wife and kid to try it. The place is off the main interstate 15 a few miles so it is easy to get to. The place is clean and they have good service. Our server Nicole was very nice and proficient. She was very good at explaining all the choices the menu had to offer. I had the chicken trio my wife has lobster ravioli and my daughter has tilapia. We all liked our dishes. I will post some pics later. So I left satisfied and will go to another Carrabba's the next town I visit.
(5)Eduard L.
This is actually our very first visit to Carrabba's. We're impressed! It' an upgrade from Olive Garden. The foods are delicious. The loaf of bread with the olive oil alone is very Italian already and they smelled great as well. For starters we ordered their Cozze in Bianco and Chicken Bryan Pizza. The Cozze is a made up of mussels steamed in white wine, basil and their signature housemade lemon butter sauce. It tasted great and you can actually eat it with the loaf of bread they give for free. You can tell that the mussels are fresh and cooked perfectly and are soft and smooth to the taste. Yeah, the Bryan pizza is not an appetizer but we ordered one to taste. It was a wise decision! The dough was freshly made and the stone-oven made the difference plus of course the chicken, sun dried tomatoes, goat cheese, basil and their lemon butter. For our main course, I had their Mahi Wulfe and my wife had their Chicken Marsala. Both are great tasting dishes as well. Both are really a step or two above Olive Garden. I guess Carrabba's can be likened to 'em fancy Italian restaurant then? Maybe not but we'll surely be back for more and maybe skip Olive Garden for the meantime. It'll surely be a stop over for us whenever we drive down and visit Ore/Provo area.
(4)Rob R.
Used to be a regular here (2x a week) was always good. It still is good. Outdoor seating today and waitress Nicole was great. Thank you for a great meal Leo.
(5)Jason C.
This is my first time being here. I was kind of sad they didn't bring out breadsticks but the bread was still great! I ended up getting the chicken Parmesan and I was pleasantly surprised. It didn't look that great but tasted very good! Will definitely order in the future. I still prefer olive gardens chicken parm, but this was a close second. The service was great and overall it was a great experience :)
(4)David E.
Was highly disappointed on my last visit. Our waiter was not that great. The egg noodles were so over cooked they were sticking to each other it was so bad I could not finish my meal. Looks like it is time to find another Italian restaurant.
(2)Alexandra S.
I'm not really a fan of this place. I just really don't enjoy how they season/ prepare their food. The service is pretty good but I wouldn't choose to go here for the food. Many other good options in the area
(2)Eve H.
Thinking about Carrabba's makes me smile and kind of drool. The last time I went, I had the Mahi Wulfe, which was like the seafood version of a great filet mignon. I'm always impressed by their food. It may not be the world's most authentic Italian, but it makes me happy. By the way, try the mini cannolis. You'll thank me.
(4)Jean W.
Forward: I called several hours ahead to see if I could make a reservation, as it was a Saturday night. She said, "No, sorry, we don't take reservations, but we can add your name to our Call-Ahead list and that will make your wait shorter." ??? So, I gave her my name for our non-reservation. When we arrived at 6:00 p.m., we were told that instead of the 45-60 minute wait they currently had, we should only have to wait 20. Turns out, it worked. They vibrated our buzzer almost exactly 20 minutes later. Now I understand why they don't call it a reservation. We ended up having a great experience here. Sincerely great service, informed and prompt. Plus, the staff we dealt with had personalities, which we always appreciate. The food was good. Was it the best Italian we've had? No. Was it the best we've had in the last 30 days? Yes. We ordered a Peach Bellini smoothie, and a strawberry lemonade. The smoothie was fantastic. Beautifully flavored and blended very nicely. I will certainly order this again. Hubby also enjoyed the lemonade. I would have tried it myself, but he's getting over a cold, so... The Italian salad course was delicious, served with a mix of lettuces, a few cherry tomatoes, a couple of Italian olives, and tasty Italian dressing. We found the bread to be just okay. The olive oil dip improved it to a small degree, but the bread itself was a bit dreary, relatively. I wasn't interested in giving up that much digestive real estate to mediocre bread, nor caloric sacrifice for that much oil to make it more palatable. I had the new Pollo La Scalla - chicken medallions dressed in the perfect amount of delicious sauce of white wine, mascarpone, and roasted red bell pepper. Not a huge portion, which I was glad for. It tasted rich, so the amount was perfect. It was surprisingly delicious. I was a little disappointed in the choices of sides, I wanted a great veggie choice, like sauteed zucchini, or grilled asparagus...but only a "medley" of undefined, and therefore questionable, vegetables, or steamed spinach for me. So, I defaulted to garlic mashed potatoes. They were good, but I could only manage to eat one of the two mounds served. Hubby had the lasagna; a good sized, nicely plated portion. He said it was good, but he'd had better at home, or in his Grandma's kitchen. It was still completely devoured in a matter of about 6 minutes. The dessert menu here always looks really tempting, but we're always too full. Our gem of a waitress couldn't have been better at her job. She could have easily simply served her utilitarian purpose, but instead she actually added to our nice dinner experience at Carrabba's. We wouldn't hesitate to come back and try something else, including dessert next time.
(4)Lisa H.
We went in with our expectations low because we had been here a couple of times a few years ago and were not impressed at all. It immediately became a great dining experience. Our server was quick with the menus and our drinks, bread and dipping oil. We asked for a few minutes to look at the menu. He returned shortly and asked if we had any questions. I did. I was concerned about how garlicky the sauce was on the dish I was looking at. (It sounds stupid but as I've gotten older the very strong smell of garlic can be a migraine trigger, not so much the taste, so I have to be a little careful.) He immediately offered to bring a sample of the sauce out. That was great service that you see very rarely anymore. The sauce was delicious. I ordered the the pasta dish "Tag Pic Pac" which was enough for two and while waiting put the sauce on some bread and finish it. The dish was fantastic. My husband ordered the Chicken Bryan, chicken topped with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, after a couple of questions to the server which were answered very knowledgeably. He said his food was delicious also. The restaurant was clean and inviting and when you walk in the smell reminded me of my Italian grandfather's kitchen when he decided to cook large family meals. The server was attentive and friendly and we will be going back soon.
(5)Chad L.
My first Carrabba's experiences were about 10 years ago while traveling and I loved this place! But we've grown apart. It's just not the same when we're together. A friend of ours wanted to eat here because they have a great gluten free selection. I'm pro-gluten so in speaking to the glutennous of the place do your homework. Saturday night, place is packed. We sat at the bar and were seated quickly. I'm assuming that because we were in Provo, UT the epicenter of eccentric, odd, LDS social culture, no one would be caught dead at the bar for fear of appearing evil but I could be wrong on that one? I really like the ambiance the open kitchen creates. It seems vibrant and energetic and the atmosphere feels social to me. The bread that came with the drinks was great and the accompanying oil and spice was excellent (3 baskets worth!) It seemed to take a long time to complete orders and deliver food, which wasn't a problem because we left the kids home and it was nice to relax and visit. But when the orders were complete and food delivered is when I realized how far we had grown apart... The Sirloin Marsala I ordered had so much gristle in it that I really couldn't eat more that half. The accompanying pasta was okay. Nothing like I remember. My beautiful, sexy, smart wife ordered a caprese salad that was good and our friend enjoyed the gluten free chicken very much. Summary. Fun place to dine. Hit the bar for faster seating, don't order the sirloin.
(4)Sean B.
Best Italian grill in Utah County... although I think it is also the only Italian Grill. That's beside the point though. It is a huge step up from the microwave plastic garbage that Olive Garden tries to pass off as food (let alone Italian food). I absolutely love their marsala steak, their bread, their salads, soups... everything! Definitely worth a visit.
(5)Dave B.
It is rare for a chain restaurant to have such high quality food and service. This place blows me away. I've eaten here at a company party as well as just dining in and both times the service has been outstanding. They do a good job with the steaks here. That is rare for a chain. Get the Chocolate Dream dessert. I could eat it anytime.
(4)David R.
Took an Hour to Get My Carryout Order! I have been working in Provo all this week and yesterday ended up being an exceptionally long day for me. I was tired and really didn't feel like eating at a restaurant, so I decided to phone an order in to eat in my hotel room. At 6:40, right before I left the office, I put my order in over the phone. The lady told me it should be ready by 7PM. I arrived at about 6:55, and not having ever done anything like the carside carryout before, I poked my head in the carryout door and let them know I was there. The lady asked me who I was and then told me she would bring it out to my vehicle as soon as it was ready. Then I waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. After sitting in my vehicle with the engine and AC running for 35 minutes and not hearing a thing from them, I called them again to make sure they hadn't forgotten about me. (While I waited, two other vehicles had their meals brought out to them.) They assured me that they hadn't forgotten about me, and told me the appetizer I had ordered was taking a long time. A little less than ten minutes after that, she brought out my meal. She was extremely apologetic for the wait. I was nice to her about it, but I was pretty frustrated that I had been told 7PM but then my food hadn't been ready until nearly 7:40. I am sure they were busy, it being a Friday night and all, but I felt pretty bad about being ignored while waiting for 45 minutes. The appetizer I ordered was the Cozze in Bianco (Prince Edward Island mussels steamed in white wine, basil and our signature housemade lemon butter sauce.) It was amazing! So delicious that I literally licked both sides of the mussel shells clean before discarding them. (Another benefit of eating alone in my hotel room.) My entre was the lasagna and I had minestrone soup with it. The soup was quite good. Not super-impressive, but I was very satisfied with it. The lasagna was only so-so. Maybe it's because my family is half Italian and we cook a really great spaghetti/lasagna sauce, but I just found the lasagna to be bland and lacking in flavor. I'll probably give this place another try next time I am in town, but my experience this time was pretty mediocre.
(3)Seth B.
All you need to know is Sirloin Marsala. I have them prepare it without mushrooms and always get an extra side of Marsala sauce to dip in. The flavor is amazing. It is easily the best $15 steak you will find. Also, the spicy sausage and lentil soup is incredible.
(5)Daniel H.
Great service! The waiter and waitresses here are exceptional and so is the food! Everything was fresh and hot as ordered! Nice for a great night out.
(5)Bryan W.
You can't go wrong here. I love the filet Bryan as well as the chicken Bryan. Pasta is good as well as salads and desserts. Love this place.
(5)Free Orcas N.
If you want to be beat up about where you cannot sit when you walk in the door and never even asked, have your bread basket removed when the entree' is served (and I only got to eat one small demi-loaf slice from it), and then hassled about redeeming your gift card that you gave the cold hard cash for last month, then this is the place!
(1)Amber M.
My favorite restaurant of all time! the chicken bryan is to die for and the most unique thing ive ever tasted. the fried calamari is fantastic. If you cant decide, go for the chicken trio which has the bryan, pollo rosa maria and chicken marsala. The pizzas are fantastic and the free bread at the beginning is the best. Highly recommended!
(5)Deb M.
Chicken Serrano is really great. Our waitress was there for us with refills and suggestions. We enjoyed the chops, the steak and spaghetti. We were all filled and satisfied. This location is clean and pretty. We got in and out in good time.
(5)TJ H.
This is our favorite restaurant! The flavor is incredible. Everything I have ever had is delicious. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Jennifer S.
The zucchini fries were delicious. The dipping sauce is reminiscent of an onion blossom sauce--it has a little kick to it. The batter reminded me and my husband of Long John Silver's clam strip batter, which for us isn't a bad thing. "The Johnny" was delicious. The steak was perfectly medium well and very flavorful. The Chicken Bryan was my favorite between the two. You just don't taste goat cheese that often, so the flavor combo of goat cheese, basil, and sundries tomatoes is phenomenal. I'll try the garlic mashed potatoes next time because the cavatappi wasn't anything amazing. My husband got the "Fettucini Weesie." The name is pretty weird, but he said it was an ok dish. He wasn't super impressed and said Olive Garden's fettuccine alfredo was better (in his opinion). Daughter got the cheese pizza. Looked heartier than Olive Garden's and more "authentic." She liked it ok. My husband liked the mini cannoli we got to go. Not the most appetizing presentation (the crushed pistachio makes it look like it was rolled in guacamole). But at $5 he feels they're pretty over priced for the tiny things they are. The service was "eh." Wasn't impressed by it, but also didn't ruin our experience. We went just before 5pm on Black Friday and it was dead. By the time we left (just after 6) it was almost full. I'm going back just for the Chicken Bryan. :)
(4)Zach L.
Better than Olive Garden. Good grilled chicken. I always liked the Chicken Bryan until my wife had it with me and said "I feel like I'm eating sweaty goat" because of the Chevre. Once she put that thought in my mind, I could taste it too . . . I do like their bread (but not their olive oil or basalmic. Oil's too cheap and basalmic's too acidic. If you want good olive oil, buy some from a good grocer or a gourmet store like Williams and Sonoma. You'll pay $40+ for a small bottle, but you'll think it's liquid gold). I've always thought their side salads were pitiful, and their portions too small. The steak's tender if you get it MR. For me, like most big chains, it's A-OK. Nothing to write home about. Decent enough to enjoy.
(3)Joe S.
Apps were great. Lentil soup was nice. Salads were good drinks were good. Main course was a disaster. 3 plates of inedible food.
(1)Sean R.
If you request seating at the bar, you get faster service without waiting in line. I received great attentive service from the kitchen staff as well as the wait staff, so to me, that's an added bonus. Not only that, the kitchen staff gave me some leftover pasta to try while waiting for my order which was great considering I was starving! Love their lobster ravioli. Carrabba's makes great Italian food and I wish I had one in Seattle. It had been a long five years since I last visited one.
(5)Angie Chrisley L.
The service is impeccable. The food is amazing. I have been here multiple times and have never been disappointed.
(5)Melinda M.
Each and every time we have dined at Carraba's, the service, atmosphere and food were outstanding. It would seem that the managers of this establishment are very adept at costumer service and relationships. We will continue to frequent this amazing restaurant. Thanks, Clay!
(5)Brad V.
Nice restaurant chain. Food is good. Having lived in New Jersey, where there is an Italian restaurant on every corner, this Italian chain is better than macaroni grill or olive garden any day of the week.
(4)Nadia F.
This place is amazing. Customer service is almost always great, and when it's not, they bend over backwards to make it up to you. Both times I've been there, I've had the most incredibly tasting foods! Now it's on my "MUST VISIT" list each time I go to Utah!! Love it here and totally recommend!
(5)Brittany H.
I love this place! The luna caraba (off menu) is my go to. I switch out the mushrooms for sun dried tomatoes and it is divine. Their smoothies are amazing. I get one every time. The staff is very friendly as well.
(4)Cindy P.
Every time we eat here its an experience. Great food, nice ambiance. Staff is very courteous and friendly. It's a great place to meet up with friends. The pastas are delicious - I've had several, and the bar is nice. Its busy on weekends at dinner time so be prepared to wait. One of the few 'nice' places open on Sunday in happy valley. Four stars instead of 5 because of the higher corkage fee, smaller portions and wait times for dinner.
(4)Brett S.
Leaves Olive Garden in the Dust Carrabba's is the better version of Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill. It is absolutely my favorite Italian restaurant. The steak marsala is like looking into the face of a new born baby....wow! I ate there last night and was constantly grunting my satisfaction, much like Bob Wylie did when he ate corn at Dr. Marvin's house.....mmmmm. If you go there try the Steak Marsala and then when you return from taste bud island, hit me back with a thank you. Tip: They will give you hot bread and oil w/some spices to dip it in but you can ask them for fresh cheese and balsamic as well. If you mix all of that together and then sop it up with their bread you'll be in heaven. Also, the caesar dressing is excellent but improved even further if you dip a tiny bit of your lettuce in the above mentioned concoction. Recommend: Steak Marsala and of course their excellent bread & oil
(5)Laurie B.
Carrabba's is the only decent Italian I've found in Utah county. This is what Olive Garden wishes it could be when it cries itself to sleep at night. Italian dishes, accessible to the average American, lots of food (also to appeal to the average American), but without being as coma-inducing (read: heavy) as Romano's. The atmosphere is great and the waitstaff is always polite and helpful.
(4)Ann G.
2 stars because it's a step above Olive Garden and they only get 1 star. My review of Olive Garden...Salt Lick! I opted to keep it safe with the Caesar Salad with grilled chicken, washed down with a glass of wine. My dining companions dinner was unmemorable except for lasagna coming out semi-frozen in the middle. LOL for servers using the word "fresh" to describe lasagna that was made earlier and reheated in the microwave. And then reheated again! My husband who had lived in the city for many years did comment that the food has gone downhill. Best restaurant in Orem IMO is Pizzeria 712.
(2)Ray M.
My absolute favorite Italian restaurant. I would come here more often but it is diffidently a bit pricey. The food is outstanding, I love the chicken Marsala. The service is always good and the atmosphere is very inviting. This is diffidently Utah's best Italian.
(5)Grace R.
I am not a fan of chain restaurants specially Italian ones but I was hungry for vegetable or salad and this was not bad at all. service was good!
(4)Charles S.
The filet mignon was AWESOME! 5 stars!! Perfectly cooked medium rare (even though Grandpa ordered it "medium"). This steak could be cut with a fork and just melted in my mouth. It was maybe a bit over-seasoned, but not so much as to be obtrusive. Everything went slightly downhill from there, but Carrabba's is still "A-OK" in my book. It's a chain, so my expectations weren't over the moon to begin with. The service was great. Our waiter was good and the manager stopped by to talk football with us, since all three of us were decked out in Utah Utes Gear, here behind enemy lines. I was very pleasantly surprised to see that over 50% of the tables had beer and/or wine on them. Nice! I felt right at home, which is not easy for me when I'm in Utah County, despite being born and raised there for 17 years (Ironic, huh?). But I digress... back to the restaurant. I ordered the "Italian Classics" which I'm prone to do when trying an Italian restaurant for the first time. Chicken Parm and Lasagna. Both were good, but nothing approaching great. On par with Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill, but nowhere near my top 10. Lisa got the Shrimp Caeser salad and was not very impressed. It was a bucket of Romaine lettuce with 5 shrimp and some shredded cheese on top. $12 was a bit steep. It should have come with a cup o' soup or something for that price. My entree was $15, which i thought was fair, although O.G. or M.G. would have given me much more food for the same price. The prices seem to be about 20% high for the quality and quantity of food here, but I'd go back again and again for that steak. I'll just go elsewhere when I'm looking for the "Italian Classics" comfort food.
(3)