I used to watch and enjoy the PBS series featuring Carrabba and Mandola, but since moving back to FL, I have a hard time finding it on a regular basis. Somehow, never tried the restaurant, but had my first experience with an example of chain on Saturday night here in Jax.

The Logistics: Every month,a group of my high school graduating class get together for dinner/drinks/socializing at a different restaurant in the area (yes- it is a bunch of old farts with no lives to speak of, generally). There were approximately 30-35 people attending this dinner. Reservations had been coordinated for 7 PM by whoever it is that spearheads these things for the group.

Issue: The restaurant had no meeting facilities or separate rooms to accommodate a gathering of this size. Note that I do NOT fault the restaurant for this. Whoever made the reservation should have asked the right questions, and perhaps moved along to the next choice.

As it was, it was nearly 8 PM before the staff could clear out enough tables to push together in 2 lines of tables to start seating us. I was at the longest line of tables, about 16-18 people, with the other table seating 12-14. 5 people had to be put in a booth segregated from the rest of the group.

The Service: Only one waitress attended our table of 16-18 people. I DO fault the restaurant for that. She did her best, but seriously...I was on the verge of starvation by the time even a basket of bread was put on the table. The 5 folks put in the booth had their food 45 minutes before I finally got mine.

The Food: Italian food is something I rarely go out for, since I generally feel I can do most of it at least as good, and usually better, at home (and even when I do go out for it, I tend to shy away from pasta dishes, particularly ones with red sauces), but, hey, I was part of the herd on this venture, soooo....

I started with a cup of the soup of the day, advertised as spicy lentil with sausage. I love soups, and it's pretty difficult to disappoint me, as long as it doesn't come out of a can. It was good, although the fennel in the Italian sausage was a bit over-powering to my tastes.

Next was a Caesar salad, also pretty hard to screw up. It was pretty nondescript, but certainly inoffensive.

For my entree, I ordered Spiedino di Mare, described as "Shrimp and sea scallops coated with Italian breadcrumbs, grilled over a wood fire (so they say, at least) and topped with lemon butter sauce", with a side dish of garlic mashed potatoes. Side bar: Does every freaking restaurant chain in America serve garlic mashed potatoes?

The mashed potatoes were made with redskin tubers, which I've NEVER thought suitable for mashing- they are too starchy and generally turn into a pasty mess, no matter how much care is taken in preparation- which is exactly how mine arrived. Not very edible.

The shrimp and scallops showed VERY little evidence of being "coated with breadcrumbs", had no lingering aroma of anything remotely resembling woodsmoke about them, and were overcooked, dry, and relatively tasteless.

The 2 Peroni draft beers were good, as always.

Bottom Line: For the $32 tab, I could have bought a case of Foster's, and cooked enough lasagna to feed my entire block, with dessert.

I agree on the making pasta dishes at home versus eating out. I have had good experiences the couple of times I dined at the local Carrabba's. Dunno if you have one near you but Magiano's is much better. Being form a predominantly Italian area of New York State I have a difficult time finding Italian food prepared correctly/authenticlly in this area of the South.

I agree on the making pasta dishes at home versus eating out. I have had good experiences the couple of times I dined at the local Carrabba's. Dunno if you have one near you but Magiano's is much better. Being form a predominantly Italian area of New York State I have a difficult time finding Italian food prepared correctly/authenticlly in this area of the South.

If I'm going to a chain Italian restaurant, I'd pick Olive Garden. At least it's cheap.

I don't really care for Carraba's or Maggiano's/Romano's. However, they're better than Buca di Barfo. :)

I'm lucky in that my area has a lot of good locally-owned Italian restaurants.

Bottom Line: For the $32 tab, I could have bought a case of Foster's, and cooked enough lasagna to feed my entire block, with dessert.

Much better way to spend your $$$ than at Carrabba's. I've never gotten a good meal or good service there, and stopped trying long ago.

g form a predominantly Italian area of New York State I have a difficult time finding Italian food prepared correctly/authenticlly in this area of the South.

I ate at Casalinga and it was quite good.

http://www.carlocasalinga.net/

I like Carraba's Italian Grill. Of course, I haven't been with a party of 17, and I don't eat mashed potatoes in an Italian restaurant. Now, it wasn't up to restaurants in Sicily I've been to, but American Italian is seldom Italian.

Well, this explains a lot. I just looked on Wikipedia and found that Carrabba's is owned by OSI, which is the same company that owns Outback and Bonefish.

So that's 3 real stinkers. They're on a roll.

(They also own Flemings, which is kind of mediocre, and expensive for what it is.)

A brand new one opened up in Naperville a year or two ago. My wife and I eat Italian every week.

Tried it once, never went back. Olive Garden food at higher prices.

The times I've been to Carrabba's were quite good, except for the time I didn't finish my soup and asked the waitress to bag the remainder. I'm pretty sure that my doggie bag should have held three cups of soup, not just one. Next time, I'll insist on doing it myself as I normally do everywhere else. I've always liked the food; the prices for what you get, not so much.

I wouldn't mind trying an Olive Garden for yuks, but the closest one is 22 miles. :thumbsdn:

Tom

Should'a ordered the pizza.

There are a couple of Carrabba's in Memphis that we won't be trying. It's hard to beat Pete & Sam's or Grisanti's, both family owned.

I only ate at a Carraba's once when we were visiting my daughter near Orlando. All that I remember is that it was decent - and expensive. We are supposed to be getting one here in central PA sometime next year. I much prefer a locally owned quality restaurant but I do like the Olive Garden. We eat there at least once per month on average. Like most chains, some are better than others. I have only had a bad experience at an Olive Garden once and I mark that up to simply an off night for them. Their Minestrone soup is excellent as is their Chicken Marsala with oven roasted potatoes.

chains, some are better than others. I have only had a bad experience at an Olive Garden once and I mark that up to simply an off night for them. Their Minestrone soup is excellent as is their Chicken Marsala with oven roasted potatoes.

I like their Zuppa Toscana.

I much prefer a locally owned quality restaurant...
I am fortunate to have an Italian Restaurant barely over a mile from home that was founded and run for many years by a WWII "war bride". She served food prepared in the traditional styles of her home in Italy, and the restaurant uses her recipes and techniques to this day. (She retired about 2 years ago, and her long-time Hostess purchased the business. Most of the kitchen staff is still currently folks she trained.) No chain I've tried has ever come close.

We had a nice little restaurant just 2 miles up the road, great food and good sized martinis. They sold out and it is now allegedly an Italian restaurant, we ate there once, owner asked how the food was, we told him - awful, we have never been back. Macaroni Grill here is good as is Olive Garden, but the best Italian food is right here at Casa Merrylander, we eat out just to give the cook a break.

Lasagna here is done in the northern Italian style, after all the cook's name IS Florence.

as is Olive Garden, but the best Italian food is right here at Casa Merrylander, we eat out just to give the cook a break.

Lasagna here is done in the northern Italian style, after all the cook's name IS Florence.

Cucina Florentia

:)

Bummer... feeding a big group definitely needs to be organized. I've been starved and disappointed to many times.

This past weekend about a dozen of us, got together at a friend's and fired up a couple of BBQs/Hibachis. It was shish kabob or essentially everything on a stick. Cook your own or starve. Simple... kinda. Which leaves everyone to the more important things like finishing 4 good bottles of tequilla, lots of beer and bullshiting.

The only downside that night was, we had to move our friend's heavy furniture to her new garage office (before alcohol) and I had to rewire her computers network connections (after alcohol/midnight).

I've eaten at several Carrabba's restaurants over the last 10 years or so, and I can honestly say I've never had poor service, but the food has been pretty hit or miss. I have noticed that if you eat there on a Friday or Saturday night the food tends to be poorer than mid-week, so I rarely if ever go there on weekends.

I am fortunate to have an Italian Restaurant barely over a mile from home that was founded and run for many years by a WWII "war bride". She served food prepared in the traditional styles of her home in Italy, and the restaurant uses her recipes and techniques to this day. (She retired about 2 years ago, and her long-time Hostess purchased the business. Most of the kitchen staff is still currently folks she trained.) No chain I've tried has ever come close.

The restaurant that Oz speaks of, is my favorite place to eat. Not only in our own town, but just about anywhere. The food is consistently good, and only your own Mother takes better care of you. Not to mention that I'm not a big fan of "chain" anything, and supporting local folks and their businesses is a point of pride with me.

BTW: If you ever get out this way 'Toze, dinner is on me my friend...

I don't eat out much as I am usually diappointed by some thing,whether bad food or chatty help.

The only downside that night was, we had to move our friend's heavy furniture to her new garage office (before alcohol) and I had to rewire her computers network connections (after alcohol/midnight).

I can barely make up UTP cables sober, let alone after having a few. :)

The restaurant that Oz speaks of, is my favorite place to eat. Not only in our own town, but just about anywhere....

I've come out of the woods up your way after camping trips (backpacking with beer) and been hungry enough to chew off my arm. So I'm going to have to check this place out when I get back up there to Wilson Creek/Brown Mountain Beach. And at that time, you will be my guest.

Meanwhile, the local Carrabba's is certainly OK for our family of four---we can all find something we like on the menu, but I do prefer the local, unique dining places.

Thanks for the review, Toze. We finally gave it a try back in May and found the service OK but the food was pretty much as you described. Not awful but nothing special.

There's several local restaurants we frequent and Carrabba's didn't make that list.

Terry

There's a decent locally-owned joint up the road a piece (24mi) called Bello Cucina.

So I'm going to have to check this place out when I get back up there to Wilson Creek/Brown Mountain Beach. And at that time, you will be my guest.

Byron, you will be most Welcome! :music: