Carrabba’s

There is no doubt that service can really ruin someone’s experience. I’m a long time guest of Carrabas, and now Mia’s, but my experience last Sunday changed my outlook! Food was great, as usual, but service was mediocre and poor. Server never brought water to the table, we had to ask for bread and butter, and herbs, iced tea refills. I was not going to say anything, but when I noticed that he was being way too friendly to the table next to us, and over delivering to everyone else, I did bring it up to him. His response was that I never asked for water, bread or refills. Instead of admitting it, he got way too defensive. I excused myself, paid my bill, and left him a 20% tip.
Not to mention that there were 3 people in our party, and we all got a soup/​salad and main entrée, each. We skipped dessert because I just wanted to leave.
I will never return to this location. I will consider going to the one on Voss, but there are way too many choices in Houston to dine. This location is certainly not one for me.
Sorry for the long post, but, I just want to bring up the issue of bad service/​bad attitude at a restaurant. Unfortunately, no matter how hard the back of the house works, if the waiter is a jerk, the customer leaves with a bad taste.

I am a fan of the Kirby’s Carrabba’s but don’t go on a Saturday night between 7 and 8 pm because it’s so crowded it’s just hectic. You walk in and there’s people everywhere.
And I tried the call ahead seating, and even arrived 15 minutes early but that didn’t do shit. The hostess said it would be 20 to 25 minutes. That’s always a lie though. But I was cool about it.
Still we waited an hour which sucked only to get the shittiest table in the house. The table was small, and a slanted non level surface. WTF?
What a crock? How could I not be insulted. I was so pissed at that point, no way I was enjoying the experience. I would have just left but my wife wanted to stay.
Here’s a tip Hostess staff and Carrabbas people, don’t have shit tables and just be honest about the wait. But I know you don’t care, nobody ever really cares. And this restaurant obviously earns bank.
Food is good though. And the waiters are good. I still like the place, just never coming back during peak times. That hectic busy waiting shit is brutal and not worth how much it costs to eat here.

My wife and I had dinner here last … We visited this restaurant because of a family member and reviews on Unilocal… We eat out for dinner 5 to 6 times per week… we were not impressed… The only things that were good was the hot bread and waitstaff … The restaurant should consider discussing the menu with the head chef and dial back the amount of wood smoke used… the smoke should be used as an accent and not still tasting it the next morning.

Five star service and delicious food. Really nice way to have a tasty Friday night dinner. Would recommend!

I would do five stars but parking is ridiculous… and non existent… you have to valet or park on the street or in the parking garage across the street…
I came here for a baby shower being held in a private room. It was very nice– everyone was seated and we had a fixed menu with a couple of choices for soup/​salad/​and entrée. The servers were good and attentive for our party. They even helped carry all of the gifts out to the car. I’d highly recommend for a baby or wedding shower (aside from the parking…)

My husband planned a wonderful evening out at this establishment for my birthday. I thought this would be a wonderful place, however, the night took a turn for the worse as soon as we arrived.
1) My husband made reservations a week ago with the Events/​Sales woman. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were told that they do not accept reservations and that it would be up to an hour and a half wait! What? Imagine the confusion on my face considering the restaurant called us that morning to confirm!
2) Eventually we were seated and I thought things would get better, wrong! I asked the server to bring me some straws and butter for the bread. Unfortunately it never came. I had to ask him a second time! When he brought the straws to the table, he had them in his bare hand! They were uncovered. Imagine the look of horror on my face! I guess he assumed we wanted germs with our water?
3) We ordered appetizers and the servers did not even bring the correct soup! They gave one of my guests the wrong soup and did not bring out the correct one until the entrees came out. Entrees did not come out until an hour later! At this point, so many things happened that night and I just accepted the fact that this restaurant choice was a horrible one.
So for anyone who is interested in having a group gathering at this place, dont! They are not good for groups and will ruin your special occasion. I am very disappointed and will never set foot here again.

I love the Carrabba’s franchise and had high hopes coming to the original. Unfortunately our experience was less than satisfactory. Let me first say they were extremely busy (standing room concert kind of crowded) and it was just before the Houston marathon, so I don’t if this was a typical Saturday or not. Service was friendly, however our server seemed afraid to take initiative (you don’t have to ask if I want a refill every time my glass gets low). The main reason though for the low review was it took 2 hours to receive our entrees AND salads (all we had was Spaghetti and 1 salad), while people around us who arrived after us received theirs. We’ll likely go again, because this may have been a fluke. Hopefully the second visit will be more pleasant.

From the phone call to see how long the wait was on New Years Eve to the arrival. The hostess was extremely accommodating, not short nor attitude. Very pleasant gretting. Very smiley & nice! The bartender I didn’t get his name very very nice stalky white guy. I know I should have got his name. All I remember is very collective very professional demeanor as well for how busy it was. No attitude not freaking out had entire bar under control & helped me with choosing another Whisky since they were out of the one I wanted. I let him surprise me by what I was describing I wanted my drink to taste like. Very on point. My bf and I got seated within a reasonable time and our server was amazing. I didn’t get her name either. Definitely not like me. I’m very good with names but being New Years my only concern was for that night to not have a care in the world. Obviously they did there job. My boyfriend ordered the Capalettii & I ordered the chicken stuffed prosciutto. My bf’s dish was amazing. I will be ordering that next time. Mine was delicious as well. I swear I saw no prosciutto in mind or very little but all around if that’s the least that happened that night I was doing very well. The mashed potatoes and asparagus were amazing. We will definitely be coming back as a regulars. Thank you for making our New Years so memorable.

Delicious food and fun atmosphere, respectful and fun staff that you can tell love their job. I came here with my brothers wedding party of 23 people. Even though the wait was long, an hour, I still enjoyed it. I think what sold it for me was the atmosphere more than the food itself. I liked that people dressed up for the occasion. The vale parking was good too, very friendly and attentive staff. Perfect place to have dinner with anyone!

Place is as bust as busy could be. It was the s cons week of December, we had a go my away party of 10 and they were nice enough to to put us in the room with doors. Food was great as always a little on the salty side but still good. Service was great, we had a great wait staff and they kept coming in and taking care of us. We like coming her over any of the other Carrabba’s restaurants. I know they are always busy and if you do not want to valet then you have to park in the garage and walk a bit.

I had the pleasure of dining here for the first time on a Friday night. I usually don’t expect much from chain restaurants, but I must say Carrabba’s surprised me.
The Kirby location is very nice and accommodating, starting with the complimentary valet (always a bonus, IMO). There is also a parking garage nearby if you opt to self-​park. Based on the décor and ambiance, this is a great spot for pre-​dinner cocktails, ladies night or a first date.
Though the bar area was overflowing with folks, the hostesses handled everything gracefully. Our estimated wait time of 15 minutes was more like 25, but once seated, service was more prompt for the remainder of the evening. We sat in the dining area that is left of the bar area. The lighting in there is very dim, giving it an intimate vibe.
I normally skip the bread at restaurants, but it was strongly suggested that I try it here. It’s served warm with a plate of fresh herbs and the server added olive oil at the table. We requested balsamic vinegar, as well. The combination was AH-​MAZING, no lie. If you can get me to indulge in bread, it HAS to be good. I ordered a small house salad for an appetizer. The house Parmesan dressing tasted more like Cesar dressing and it was a little on the sweet side, so I added some of the balsamic vinegar to the salad and it was perfect. For my meal, I chose the Shrimp Damien. Can we talk about that garlic butter sauce?! It’s sort of like a scampi sauce, but 10x better. Downright lip-​smackable! My friend was dipping the bread in the sauce on MY plate. It came with Fettuccini Alfredo, which was a meal within itself. Alfredo is usually a plain dish that I often pass up. Not here, though. The Fettuccini noodles were really thick (as in wider than usual) and the Alfredo sauce literally melted in my mouth. My friend had the Chicken Marsala (moist and grilled to perfection from the piece that I tasted) and substituted the vegetables for some kind of stuffed pasta (the name escapes me at the moment).
Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and I wouldn’t hesitate to return.

Stopped in for a quick, but delicious, meal and they were very accommodating. The atmosphere is certainly more conducive to spending a while there, but I did not have the time this particular evening. My server picked up on that fact immediately and saw that I was taken care of. I had the Veal Piccata, on his recommendation, and was not disappointed. The meat was exceptional and the sauce was just right. Really spot on.

Great food, excellent service. We celebrated my sister’s Birthday and had wonderful time.

Absolutely love this place! My boyfriend and I have now made this out Friday night dinner rituals for the past couple months and we haven’t changed it since.

Great service, great food abound at the Original Carrabba’s!
I came here for a co-​workers birthday with a group of about 10 people. It also happened to be my first time visiting.
We started with several appetizers, which included: Sausage and Peepers, Calamari Fritti, Fried Mozzarella, and a crab and shrimp dish that is off menu. All were great. The calamari and mozzarella were perfectly fried, and the off menu item was probably the best thing I had all afternoon.
For an entrée I got the 16 oz Rib-​eye steak with asparagus and creamed spinach. I ordered the steak rare and it came out rare/​medium rare, but the flavor was excellent. The cut had very little fat or gristle, which is not something I can say for other places in Houston. The sides were cooked nicely, but had no frills.
Additionally, there is a nearby parking garage that makes parking very easy.
I enjoyed myself throughly abd would happily come back to Carrabba’s.

I have come here a few times since I brought my family here after finding it on Unilocal.They have one of the best Margherita pizza I’ve ever had and also great price for the quality of food, service, and ambiance.
After my last visit here a couple of days ago I’m starting to believe that pretty much everything here is good. I ordered salad Johnny Rocco which has roasted red peppers that I don’t like much. I forgot to ask the waiter to take it out. When I got the salad I decided to just try the peppers, and I’m glad I did. It tasted home made, sweeter and less salty.
It’s also one of those places that are good for both families and couples.

We have been coming to Carraba’s regularly since moving to Houston three years ago. It has become out go-​to family restaurant when we want something nicer than Beck’s Prime or Mia’s.
Now, this is not the best Italian food I have ever had and cannot hold a candle to some of the Italian places in NY or Philly I have been to. But the food is very good and the family always leaves very satisfied. (my favorite is the linguine with the red clam sauce). Pizza is also very good. Wine list is well thought out, diverse and fairly priced.
What sets Carraba’s apart and why I give it 5 stars is because it provides the entire family a very enjoyable dining experience. It does this in a way that no other restaurant in Houston can touch. It is the restaurant where everyone in the family gets what they want: the adults can feel like they are at a nice place with the nice ambience and table cloths and the kids can get a wide variety of foods they like and don’t feel like they’re in a stuffy restaurant. It is very kid friendly yet still provides a nice dining experience. Service is excellent as well and very family friendly. There is a reason why there is always a family celebration of some sort going on.
Yes, there are better restaurants in Houston but we really like it and is a family favorite. Keep up the good work!

This is the first time I’ve been to the original Johnny Carrabba’s on Kirby. I’ve been to the one off of Katy, which apparently is not completely affiliated with this original location since it has a different menu and website — so don’t be mistaken.
Location /​Parking: It’s located next to Mia’s and Grace’s, both of which are also owned by Johnny Carrabba. There is valet parking, if you choose to utilize this service, or you can park in the garage right next to the restaurant (which is also shared with Mia’s and Grace’s). It’s easy to get in and out of the garage, the spaces are a bit compact, and there is good lighting so it doesn’t feel shady/​creepy as you’re walking back to your car.
Ambiance: The atmosphere is very dim/​romantic which doesn’t really line up with the noise factor. It can get really loud if it’s busy which was the case when I was there for dinner. I found myself having to talk loudly the whole night just to hear those across the table and to make sure my waiter can hear my order.
Service: Our waiter was fine. He knew when to give us time/​space for us to chat and look over the menu and when to come back to take our order. One thing that stood out to me is how he kept switching out the coasters (napkins) whenever it got soaking wet from the condensation from our water glasses. He probably did it 3 – 4 times for each person at our table within the 2 hours we were there. I actually thought about telling him that he could stop wasting the napkins, but I decided not to. It’s the thought that counts, I suppose.
Food: They have a pretty large menu ranging from salads, soups, pasta, steaks, chicken, and a few seafood options — basically something for everyone. If you are allergic to gluten, they even have a separate gluten-​free menu, which was pretty extensive on its own. Good job, Johnny. You’ve managed to prove that Italian restaurants CAN also offer gluten-​free items to its patrons. You can check out both of their menus online if you want a sneak peak.
For appetizers, we ordered the crab cakes (came with 2) and fried calamari & shrimp, both of which were good. However, the crab cake kept falling apart as we tried to cut it apart and share it. Ain’t no thang.
I ordered the insalata johnny rocco which was a mixed green salad with grilled shrimp and scallop and vinaigrette dressing. It was pretty tasty… as tasty as a salad can get. Some of the others got the spaghetti with meatballs /​meat sauce and said it tasted alright — nothing to be excited about.
Overall, I wouldn’t say this is a must-​try restaurant. It’s not authentic Italian, and the dishes all taste mediocre — like something you can easily make at home and save some dough (pun intended). Each dish costs about $ 15-​$ 20. I suggest that you spend it on something else…

For years I’ve heard people say «you’ve gotta go to carrabas on kirby!» I would then question why i needed to try a chain Italian restaurant in Houston when there are so many other options.
Well i admit it, i was wrong.
The only family owned carrabas left really delivers.
I went on a Friday at noon for lunch and the restaurant was packed, but the service was still top notch. In and out in under an hour should be expected, but is easier said than done.
The food was fresh, portions big and every entrée came with soup or salad. They seemingly have frequent specials all of which sounded great.
Overall the food was solid and I’d definitely return.

I made reservations on a weekend night for dinner with friends. The place was packed! We still had to wait 45 min for a table. Once we were seated, we had a good view of the kitchen. The bread and olive oil/​oregano dip starter was delicious and staved our hunger until our appetizer and entrees arrived.
We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was good, but a little saltier than I’d like it to be. I had the Pasta Carrabba entrée, which was good but not great. I have to say it was creamy enough to make me really full. My friends had the PAPPARDELLE CAMPAGNOLO and the fish of the day. The pasta was again too salty and the fish was quite dry. Aside from our food, our waitress was great. She was attentive, and kept our waters full through our entire dinner. I think I’ll come back again to try their other dishes. Hopefully, they won’t be as salty.