Carrabba’s Italian Grill

I’m not normally a huge fan of chain restaurants, preferring to support the local Mom & Pop restaurants within my community rather than the big conglomerates. That being said, Carrabba’s has always been my favorite Italian chain restaurant, and I’ll gladly eat there whenever I can.
We recently held a Unilocal Elite tasting event at this Carrabba’s to sample the new bar menu /​small plates appetizers. Justin, the manager, spent a lot of time talking with us about the menu, and generously rolled out plate after plate of food for us to try and then give him some feedback. Some of the comments from our gang were a bit harsh, but Justin took it all in stride, and really appreciated the responses.
I went back a few weeks later to enjoy an early dinner, and paid out of my own pocket so that I could give an honest review of the food and the restaurant. As coincidence would have it, Justin was there, and he stopped by my table for a visit, and thanked me for my fair and balanced review of the previous event.
For those who don’t know, Carrabba’s Italian Grill was founded in Houston in 1986 by Johnny Carrabba and Damian Mandola — two Sicilian boys who learned to cook from their parents and grandparents. The success of the Houston-​based restaurant chain caught the attention of Tampa Bay’s Outback Steakhouse ownership, and OSI acquired the rights to build Carrabba’s into a nationwide chain.
Carrabba’s is best known for its wood-​burning grill, inspired by the many tastes of Italy. Signature dishes like Chicken Bryan, Pollo Rosa Maria and, of course, Chicken Marsala are enhanced by the taste of the grill. Other house specialties include signature pastas, with sauces made from scratch every day and Cucina Casuale, or done casually in the Italian way featuring a wide variety of home-​style, delicious entrees.
I sat at a small booth in the bar and started with a cup of my favorite Italian fennel sausage and lentil soup. This is a thick, hearty soup, made with the savory fennel sausage. YUM!!! I could easily eat a big bowl of this and pair it with a salad for my meal. For my entrée I decided to try something new on their menu, and I ordered the Parmesan-​crusted chicken arugula, which was sautéed chicken breast crusted with grated parmesan and panko breadcrumbs, and topped with fresh arugula, tomatoes and shaved parmesan cheese in a Mediterranean lemon vinaigrette. That came with a choice of sides, and I added the Summery tomato and cucumber salad which also had a lemon vinaigrette.
The chicken entrée was actually two large chicken breasts, and so I was able to take home half of my meal for the next day. This is one of their new entrée items, and it pairs well with the some of the small plate appetizers that we had tried a few weeks previously.
Carrabba’s remains my favorite Italian chain restaurant, and I appreciate the fact that they continually update their menu and try different ideas in their kitchens. Delicious food and wonderful service. Oh yes, I’ll be back!

We were weekly regulars at this Carrabba’s from their opening until 2013. When we went out for my birthday last night we were surprised at how much the food & service changed! Overall portion sizes are smaller, dishes are somewhat under seasoned, and the staff (although helpful and friendly) are not as happy, accommodating, and attentive as they were «back in the day.» I ordered the Chicken Bryan and was pleased that the portion size was the same and loved that asparagus was added to the menu. The asparagus was awesome and the House Salad was fine yet it’s been changed. Some like radishes but I don’t and they were use for garnish as well as infused somehow into the dressing. The salad wasn’t tossed which was a little strange. The bottom was carrots, celery and dressing, the middle lettuce, and a little garnish on top. The Chicken Bryan wasn’t as fresh as it could be. All elements lacked in taste and if there was any sauce on it, it was missing that lemon bite to it. The same was true for the Spiendino De Mar which is now called Shrimp & Sea Scallop Spiendino. The scallops were a little under cooked. My husband ordered the build your own combo. The flavor of the lasagna was adequate but since it had no layers and was so small he thought it was ½ of a stuffed manicotti. The prosciutto wrapped pork tenderloin was also good and he wanted more. The Fettuccini Alfredo was also adequate but the cheese sauce might have been warmed up or something since it wasn’t smooth and creamy. We were sad to see that prices went up as well. All of the staff did check in with us, and do their duties; just not with as much passion about the food or their positions. We mentioned this to our waiter who told us he sent the floor manager by but apparently we thought he was a friendly bus boy on his way past us. Come on, it’s not like dining at your mamma’s! Don’t throw in the towel! We look forward to Carrabba’s with some of that old enthusiasm and passion for fresh food!

I am not sure what is going on at this location. They seem to have a new wait staff but the wait staff do not seem very trained. For example, do not vacuum t right next to someone while they are eating. Also, it shouldn’t take an hour and a half to complete a meal. Being someone who has served at a more affluent restaurant, I know that customer service and time management are the most important aspects of the job. We arrived at 630 and ate still here at 803. Hoping they improve after the new construction.

In most cases, I burn Outback family of restaurants gift card credit at either Outback or Fleming’s.
However, I branched out and visited this Carrabba’s for a change and was pleased with the results.
While the online website was easy to use, it did not offer as many customizing options for items as the Outback website. (For example, Outback allows you to remove individual ingredients from salads. Carrabba’s does not.)
Still, I remain a fan of online ordering for takeout and we received all items accurately and at the promised time.
The employees were welcoming and one in particular surprised me by saying she had worked at this location for 16 years.
Of note, when you enter the side door off the parking lot to pick up these types of orders, you are literally standing at the cash register. There is no lobby or sitting area. A gentleman was there looking at the menu to place his order to take home and there really is no room for anyone to do that without it being crowded and awkward.
Temperature and taste of all the food once we enjoyed it at the condo was excellent. Salad, soup, bread, ravioli, pork tenderloin, green beans and some appetizer I cannot pronounce. I’d order every single thing again… especially those wonderful pork medallions wrapped in prosciutto.
Price was very reasonable for a meal this good and somehow I got an addtional 20% off this online order by just paying attention to the website and entering the proper promo code.

incredibly pleasantly surprised with this latest experience at Carrabba’s! We sat at the bar for dinner. The mark West Pinot Noir was delicious! I always love their muscles in a white wine sauce and today was no different. The chicken noodle soup with some of the tastiest soup I’ve ever had. I ordered the filet prepared Bryan and it was incredible. I asked for medium rare and that was exactly the way it came out. Allison the bartender was incredibly sweet and attentive the entire time. I normally don’t go to chains but this is one I may return to soon.

I visited Carrabbas one evening after work. I was exhausted and knew I would not feel like cooking. I arrived in time to enjoy happy hour at the bar. I had to wait a minute for a seat at the bar to open because the bar was packed.
Since the menu recently changed I was interested to try a few of the new appetizers which are half price during happy hour. I was dining alone so I knew that I could only try a few so I selected two items I thought would make a composed meal. The caprese with burratta was ordered by a neighboring guest at the bar and it looked delish. She confirmed that it was so I was sold. I must admit when I tasted it I couldn’t help but agree. I did think it needed a little salt but that was an easy fix. I would definitely order this salad again and again. It was both delicious and filling. The other item I tried was the wings. I had heard how amazing these wings were so I was happy to give them a try. I completely disagree with the bartenders, friends and coworkers who all told me to order this appetizer. The wings are baked which is good if you are being health or weight conscious. The wings are not very well seasoned but they had a hint of pepper. They were served with a blue cheese sauce. I will not order these again. I will default to my usual wing spots when I have the urge next time.
The bartenders were busy so I had to work to get their attention every single time I needed something. That was a little bothersome; I would have hoped they would have conducted periodic checks to make sure that we were ok. There were some regulars at the bar at the time of my visit and they did get the personalized attention I think everyone should have received. Overall the ladies were pleasant and courteous, just not as attentive as I would have hoped.

I love Carrabbas and the food didn’t disappoint. But We arrived to the restaurant around 7:30 on a Thursday. Approximately 2/​3rds of the restaurant was empty. We were a small party of 2. When we arrived they asked about my party size took my name and handed me a pager. Which I thought was odd since the restaurant was empty. I went the restroom, the other guest went to the restroom and we were still waiting. More guest came and put their names on the list about 7 – 10 minutes there were about 10 – 12 of us just standing around. We went and asked the front desk how long and were told as soon as they could clear tables. Even though ²⁄₃ of the tables were empty and already set? It was extremely slow.

Went to Carrabba’s on a whim on a Wednesday night and it was PACKED. I’ve been to the Carrabba’s in Citrus Park and it was never this crowded. The wait wasn’t good bad, 20 – 25 minute wait so I would highly recommend making a reservation or calling ahead if you’re heading to this Carrabba’s.
The restaurant itself is very spacious and inviting. Right when we walked in we were welcomed by the staff so pretty smooth start to our night. Once we got seated, we immediately ordered and the food didn’t take too long. I ordered the Cioppino, which is a seafood soup. It was very well-​seasoned and hearty. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Unfortunately, we were unable to order drinks that night, which means I’ll have to come back again!
The food was good, service was nice, no complaints.

I was just there yesterday for dinner. I had the steak and shrimp dinner and the lentil soup is delicious. No room for dessert. Great service and a very convenient location right in the center of the city.

A very pleasant experience tonight! I hadn’t been here since I was in college around 2007, but this place has lasted since then. The restaurant is very spacious and clean. When we arrived on this Saturday night (around 8pm) it was very crowded and the waitstaff seemed overwhelmed. However they were pleasant and welcoming.
The food was delicious. I had the parmesan crusted chicken arugula with fettucine alfredo. My dinner date had the lobster ravioli (which is why we came here in the first place). Very fresh and good portions. I enjoyed a Chianti Kiss cocktail which was tasty AF. The dirty martini was made perfect as well. Bread with oil/​herbs is served before the meal. Meals also came with caesar salad which were nicely sized and very tasty.
Overall a great experience for a chain Italian restaurant. The place was clean, staff was friendly and the food was as expected. Will return :)

ASK FOR JESSICA! Service is always fine here, but she was exceptional! Had a great experience tonight. I had the clam linguini and my boyfriend had his usual Chicken Bryan. I could only eat half of my pasta — everything was so filling. I had the blackberry sangria, it was very good. We always enjoy our dinners here and will definitely be back!

I had the shrimp and scallops in vodka sauce eh tiny shrimp even smaller scallops sauce was good place looked great lots of pasta friendly staff everything was great my drink was good my alcoholic drink was great but those little shrimp and scallops left and was like now where can I grab something to eat on the way home. I had other9 people with me and it seems I was the only seafood tryer. At least everyone else’s food was good non seafood items ! So I paid for everyone and tipped big not easy serving 10 people in total.

One can never go wrong with this place! Just wanted a basic Chicken Marsala for dinner. this place!

Worst service. It’s a Saturday evening, and as soon as we went in, we were told there were not that many servers. What??? On the weekend. We were hungry and decided to wait. We were seated and waited 15+ without getting offered something to drink. Or even knowing who the waiter was. The table next to us, who came after, got their drinks before us. Worst experience. Not only that but when we got up to leave, the hostess did not even try to change our minds, and simply said «thanks for coming.» Lol thanks for wasting my time!
I will keep going to the Carrollwood Carrabas which always has great service.

We’ve been coming to Carrabba’s for years. It may be a chain restaurant, but it is one of my favorite Italian Restaurants in South Tampa. On Monday, they had a special menu deal which included a free appetizer or desert and a salad or soup with the entrée. For the appetizer, I had the Calamari and Caprese salad. Both were incredibly tasty. For the soup, I had the Italian Sausage and Lentil Soup and it was delicious. Then for the entrée, I had the Shrimp & Scallop Alfredo Fetuccinni served Dangerously Cheesy and it was delicious as well. In the past, I’ve had the Shrimp Pasta Weesie and Chicken Bryan and those are great as well. Their lasagne is pretty good too. The décor is elegant with a view of the kitchen, and a glass enclosed wine holder, and plenty of booths for cozy seating and noise isolation to prevent the place from getting too noisy. Service was quick and attentive. There is plenty of parking on-​site in a private lot behind the building. Located off Dale Mabry south of I275, North of Kennedy & Swann. They have a large selections of wines that pair well with any dish. I prefer this place over other more expensive Italian Restaurants in South Tampa: Bella’s off Howard, That’s Amore in Harbour Island, Timpano’s off Swann, and Ava off Howard.
For dessert or dolci, as the Italians calls it, I highly recommend Carrabba’s Sogno Di Cioccolata chocolate Dream which is a rich fudge brownie brushed with kahlua, with chocolate mousse, fresh whipped cream and homemade chocolate sauce. I also recommend their Tiramisu lady fingers dipped in liqueur laced espresso, layered with sweetened mascarpone, myerss rum and chocolate shavings. Carraba’s also serves Bacino which are delicious, guilt-​free mini-​desserts, made fresh daily. dessert rosa, chocolate coconut mousse, seasonal bacino but I’ve never tried those before.

Had a great lunch. Chicken Bryan sandwich. My wife wanted chicken Alfredo without the chicken or a side. Waiter said he could do that as a special. ???
You can probably guess that my ears should have perked up. They were leaving things off the order, but now she paid a special price.
Food was good. Waiter was personable and great, but I think he should have warned us there would be an up charge for leaving things off the reg. order. Our bad.

It’s Carrabba’s. Their food is good — better than most mass-​produced chain restaurants. Their oil/​Italian seasoning jump-​starts my appetite, their soups are delicious, and entrees are always on point.
I went to the Dale Mabry location on a Friday night. It was quite busy (good sign). Server was working extremely hard serving four tables. As I was leaving none of the four hostesses acknowledged me, however.

My go to place for Italian food cravings. You can never go wrong with the Caesar salad and Chicken Bryan with mashed potatoes. My husband got the Baked Ravioli which was a little difficult to eat as the ravioli was crispy.
This trip we also got the Antipasti Plate which came with Calamari, Bruscetta and Fried Mozzeralla. It was delicious. I loved the black pepper in the calamari batter.

Whenever I’m in Tampa it’s hard not to stuff my face with some sort of Latin food. Rice, beans, platanos is my usual deal but sometimes I want to sample something else. My coworker took me here because she said it’s her favorite place.
When I walked in I felt like this place is a stepped up Olive Garden, and I don’t do Olive Garden. We sat in the bar area (not at the bar) and I can concur with the other reviewers and say the service was terrible. I ordered a beer and it took about 20 minutes to get. I forgot I even ordered it and when the server showed up I looked at her like, «What’s this?» I’m not sure if someone called out and they were short staffed but at some point I started to feel badly for the girl. Then, when she brought my dish out it was something completely different than what I ordered so she had to run back to the kitchen and put my order in. So everyone at the table was eating and «enjoying» their food and I was sitting there eating courtesy bread and my 20 minute Yeungling.
When my dish finally came out it wasn’t anything fantastic. It was grilled chicken with mashed potatoes. There wasn’t any garnish. It literally was just grilled chicken and mashed potatoes. it didn’t taste bad. It just didn’t taste like something I’d pay for at a restaurant. It didn’t taste like anything I couldn’t whip up at home given the time, patience, and ingredients. That’s saying a lot because I don’t even like to cook.
If this place ever comes up as a suggestion I’ll have to pass. It just wasn’t for me.

I am a huge fan of Carrabba’s. If it could go everyday, I would. I recently went with a friend for dinner. We sat on the patio on a Wednesday evening. It wasn’t very crowded and there were 2 TVs outside.
Our service was good and everything was delivered promptly.
The sangria is amazing! Probably my favorite and the best I have ever had! Sometimes I want to go there just for that!
I also love love the Sicilian chicken noodle soup. It is amazing. Mine also had 4 large pieces of chicken in it. More than you might get in a piece at KFC or Boston market.
I love the lobster ravioli and mezzaluna however I tried something different this time — the linguine with shrimp and scallops and tomato cream sauce. By the time my food came I was pretty full from soup and bread. The pasta was amazing but mostly had it for leftovers.
I look forward to visiting Carrabba’s in the future.

Para comer una my rica pasta