Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Nice but after another bad restaurant experience we came here and hoped for the best. I’m allergic to black pepper and they added it to my veggies, not cooked all the way meat too. 2 mess ups. Didn’t eat the meat beside
Because I still tasted pepper. When we got the bill they computed my meal but my food was actually more money than on the menu. :-(thanks but no thanks

We went to Carrabba’s for lunch with some friends. To start out, I will say that I am not a fan of chain restaurants so I do not go to these places expecting much. Rochester has so much to offer with locally owned restaurants — why feed a chain?
That being said — I was not expecting much and not much is what I got. We ordered drinks — they came once and unless you asked for refills (suppose to be free) they would not come out. Then I ordered my meal — the food portion was tiny and the food was cold. I had the chicken cutlet and that was clearly a frozen chicken piece that was deep fried. I also ordered the side pasta with spicy sauce– no spice and the food was luke warm at best.
Given there was one other table in the restaurant when we were there — i cannot imagine why we wouldn’t have received the best service and the best food. If you cannot be attentive to guests and serve warm food when only two tables of customers are there — what happens when you are busy?
Clearly a chain restaurant with no one able to think for themselves and a policy for everything. If you are looking for a good meal — skip Carrabba’s and go somewhere that the owners need great service to ensure their success. For Italian, I recommend Baccos on Park Ave, Roccos on Monroe Ave, Tony Ds in Cornhill Landing, or Panzari’s across from Tony Ds on State St.

I was unaware this was a chained restaurant until a after a few times I went to it (Wannnaabbeee Olive Garden?). Service, was what is expected. Food was great, portions are applicable. Lighting was more than dimmed, would make for a great date, or to watch a movie. Pretty pricey, I would say worth it for the food though. Unique items that are fun to eat. Nice sociable place to go out with friends, if you have friends. I would go again, not obsessed with the place though.

Great dinner last night! I ordered Shrimp & Scallop Linguine
(all a Vodk a Sautéed shrimp and bay scallops tossed with basil
in our tomato vodka cream sauce)
It was so good! Never had Bay scallop and they were pretty good! Love the sauce!

So not too impressed with this place at all. Nice clean place with good service but $ 40 for ckn parm and a bowl of spaghetti with 3 meatballs. Kinda left feeling underwhelmed and won’t be going back any time soon.

ONly my 2^nd time eating at a Carraba’s, and I’m a fan. The prices were a bit higher here than the one I went to in Ft. Lauderdale, FL a couple yrs ago, but the food and service were well above average. My steak was done perfectly, everyone enjoyed their meals, the waitress was friendly and attentive etc. Highly recommended.

Excellent meal here last night! Our server Becky, was extremely friendly and helpful, even with the added task of training a new hire. We were seated promptly. Our drinks came out quickly and soft bread with olive oil and herbs followed as a starter
Dinner were chicken marsala with garlic mashed potatoes, a small personal pizza and I had the special Fettuccine Wizzie with shrimp — all served hot and we’ll prepared. Forgot to mention the salad, also very tastty. Will definitely return

Met some friends after work last night, place was practically empty but filled up by the time we left. They have Monday night specials for $ 12.99 or $ 15.99 which is a main dish (choice of 6), salad or soup, and a small appetizer or dessert. Everything I had was delicious and my friends stated the same of their meal selection, with coffee’s, our bill was $ 84.00 for four of us. Excellent service as well, so for a chain it was pretty good. Definitely will go back.

Carrabba’s (sounds like you’re talking with your mouth full when you say that) is a chain that hasn’t done quite as well as Olive Garden, since this is the only one in Rochester.
I came here this past weekend because we got a gift card for Christmas. It was not fantastic.
We ordered the arancini, and the sauce was awful. It didn’t stick to the fried risotto balls at all. It was chunky, and peppery. Shoulda been a marinara methinks.
The asparagus small plate wrapped in prosciutto was delicious. It came with 5 – 6 stalks, with a balsamic reduction. They have «small plates» and «appetizers». This was considered a small plate.
The complimentary bread came out warm and doughy. The bread was actually the best part of the entire meal.
We got a pizza too, and it was very flimsy, with lots of olive oil. I had a piece of it, and was done. Skip the pizza for an overpriced pasta or steak dish.
The service was also sub-​par. I had to ask for a water refill a few times, and the waitress didn’t seem particularly thrilled to be there.
If you want to go to a chain Italian restaurant, skip Carrabba’s.

Met after work with some ladies, about 4pm-​ish. No a single sole at the bar and about 3 tables in the restaurant total. I was surprised about the amount of tables as last I knew they only open at 4pm. I inquired with the bartender if the hours changed. he informed me that they did, they just did not update the signage on the door. They are now open for lunch too!
So, happy hour was upon us at the empty bar. Draft beers for $ 2−3+/-. Sangria was half priced. I recommend the BLACKBERRY SANGRIA. Quite tasty!
Appetizers were half off for happy hour too. Also we had coupons for free «small plates». We split Italian Lettuce Wraps, Mozzarella Rustica (basically cheese stick balls), and the Three Cheese Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms. The wraps were pretty good. I recommend adding the Spicy oil that came on the side.
The reason they did not get a 4-​star rating from me is because I kept getting whiffs of sewage. I’m not sure if it was coming from the bartenders floor drain, or maybe the bathrooms near by, but these waves of stench at times were not pleasant.

Came here for happy hour with a few friends on a weeknight, had the whole bar to ourselves for awhile. Draft beers were on special for 2 – 3 $. One friend got the BLACKBERRY SANGRIA and loved it.
Appetizers were half off for happy hour, we shared the Italian lettuce wraps, mozzarella rustica and the three cheese sausage stuffed mushrooms. I was surprised and how good the lettuce wraps were, they don’t skimp on the grilled chicken or veggies. The mozzarella rustica were exactly like eating mozz sticks… just in crispy ball form. Stuffed mushrooms looked good but didn’t get any… maybe next time.
Jared the barterer was great with our group, very helpful with recommendations. Also allowed us to use a great coupon we found online! Definitely we be back to try other items on the menu.

My first experience of Carrabba’s was underwhelming. Now, my expectations weren’t exactly high — this is a casual Italian-​American chain restaurant. I used to work with a girl whose boyfriend LOVED this place, and I’d never sought it out until a friend wanted to meet up here last night for dinner.
The Good: The service was wonderful. Our server was engaging, polite, friendly and efficient. He was definitely the stand out of the experience.
They are set up for efficiency. Your server takes your order and checks in on you; a food runner brings your courses and clears (sometimes in tandem with your server). We chatted, ordered, ate and had dessert and our check within an hour. I almost had whiplash at how quickly things moved. I actually see this as both a positive and a negative. A good thing for families with small children or if you’re on a time crunch, the speedy service is definitely a good thing. However…
The Not So Good: The pacing/​timing of your meal is all kinds of off. We ordered, received the warm (hot, in a reheated kind of way, but still soft and tasty) bread and dipping oil (salty and herby, I really liked it), less than five minutes later received our salads. Whoa. I should have listened to James B.‘s suggestion of the dressing on the side. I like my dressing on the lighter side, and my salad was positively swimming in Italian vinaigrette. I ate it, but next time, I’ll know.
I took advantage of their Monday evening special: three courses for $ 12 (with limited apps, soup or salad and choice of entrees). I asked our server if I could do the soup AND salad in lieu of an appetizer and he accommodated with no questions, which was great. He brought out my soup and salad together which was kind of annoying, and then our entrees arrived while we were not even halfway through our salads (and me with my soup). It was annoying, and made the eating experience kind of rushed. My main was tasty — the linguine with crushed tomatoes, grilled chicken and garlic. The garlic flavor was very pronounced, with fresh, whole cloves throughout the pasta. I liked everything in it except the pasta itself, which was under cooked.
We stayed for dessert — she with the brownie sundae (massive and looked yummy) and I decided on a cappuccino with the Godiva chocolate liqueur and whipped cream. YUM. It like a spiked, not too sweet hot chocolate. I was a fan.
If you’re in the area and craving Italian-​American food, I wouldn’t rule out coming here, but I wouldn’t necessarily suggest it either. The 3 course deal on Mondays is a budget friendly option, and our service was great.

The restaurant looks nice outside, but the inside is too dim for my liking (just my opinion, I know most restaurants are dimly lit). Our waiter was very courteous. The person who served our food however was not. He did not properly look at anyone in the eye and just asked questions so we did not know who he was addressing. I had to hand him my finished soup bowl or it would have been left on the already cluttered table. Also the bathroom smelled awful.
The food was ok. I had the cioppino, a seafood stew of some sort. I’d have liked it to be warmer… and more flavorful. The minestrone soup was also lackluster. The stew definitely did not fill me up either, and I had bread and the minestrone soup for apps… but this may be my appetite and not the restaurant’s fault.
Overall, I had a pretty medicore experience.

The best experience I had at a carabbas thus far. The waiter was very polite and helpful and offered wonderful suggestions. The food was Devine and drink specials were good. If I’m in the area again, I’ll definitely visit this location again.

Carrabba’s is a casual Italian-​American restaurant akin to their nearby competitors, Macaroni Grill and the Olive Garden. They offer the standard Italian dishes such as pasta, seafood, salads, and chicken. Carrabba’s also crafts wood-​fired pizzas; a nice, nonthreatening menu option for picky eaters like myself.
I haven’t stopped inside the restaurant yet, as my only experience has been through their car-​side pickup. The woman who brings the order out to my car is always extremely pleasant. The wood-​fired pizza that I tried wasn’t particularly exciting and tasted a little dry (needed more sauce), though not flavorless. The pasta, on the other hand, was much better. I ordered cavatappi with meatballs (it came with 3, not the standard 2!) and pomodoro sauce. Tasted great. The takeout orders also include the complimentary bread and olive oil that you’d receive if you ate inside the restaurant.
My experiences so far have been good. I’d like to try a Carrabba’s pasta dish again. The food is pricey, so be sure to sign up for their e-​club and wait for the occasional 15−20% off coupons in your inbox before you make your visit.

One of my favorite restaurants — and its a chain! The wait usually isn’t bad and they have great happy hour drink specials. If the wait is long, the waitstaff will bring out calamari to nibble on while waiting (super nice touch!) Their appletini is totally delicious. The waitstaff is always pleasant and knowledgeable and are always willing to accommodate substitutions. The bread and olive oil is always hot fresh and their entrees never disappoint. Their tiramisu is to die for. This is my go to restaurant — great prices, food, ambiance and drinks.

I’ve been coming here for years and finally decided to review. For a chain the food is above average. Service is always good.
For you business travelers like me the main attraction is the bar. Specifically the bartender Dave. You’ll never forget his voice. Better still you’ll never forget his generous pours. People literally come for miles to sit at this bar.
To the owners lucky enough to employ this stellar bartender, never ever lose him. He’s a real attraction. I’ll definitely be back.

Surprised at the bad reviews here.
My best friend and I went out for dinner to catch up and decided on Carrabba’s. She got the vodka sauce pasta with scallops and shrimp, and I got the Chicken Alfredo. I also got the Tomatoes Caprese for an appetizer, and we split the chocolate brownie dessert together. The bread was warm and soft, and came with oil to dip. Super delicious!
Everything was SO GOOD! It all tasted fresh, and my chicken was incredibly tender and full of flavor. My friend loved her seafood, said it was amazingly good and couldn’t wait to come back, and our waiter Jordan was very helpful and nice.
We both really enjoyed our time and I would like to come back again! It’s just about as good as it gets for chain Italian food, and we had a great experience.

So I have been hearing a lot about this place and I wanted to check it out for myself. Well the opportunity came for me to go there. My mother wanted to visit them and have her birthday dinner there. Ok, so let’s go!
The dining area is nice however my aunt wanted to sit next to the bar, so not a fan! If I am eating with friends to chat and catch up sure I will sit at the bar, but dinner? NO. So we sat at the giant tables with the giant chairs… ugh I felt like Lilly Tomlinson in one of those oversized baby skit seats! Only people of a certain age will get that.
I had the calamari, you can’t go wrong with an appetizer right? Wrong. Over fried with way too much batter on them. Chewy to say the least. The bright spot was the desert, the fruit topped cake and the ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce and candied pecans. WOW! So it had its good tones but overall an average night. I would go again… Wait… No I wouldn’t. Will they deliver dessert?

I like Carrabbas, service is very good, ambiance is warm and food is fresh. I have had very good meals in the past and always leave with a satisfied just full enough feeling.
Always a favorite of the family is the warm soft on the inside, crunch on the outside, Italian bread. To go along with this is the herb an olive oil dipping plate.
My youngest ordered the cheese pizza (he always does). He usually likes it but this time he commented that it was spicy. I concur, the wife and I discussed if it was red pepper or black but no matter because he ate the whole thing anyway. Just be aware.
I ordered the signature Italian combination of lasagna and chicken parm. I also could taste the spiciness of the sauce in my dish. Again it wasn’t over spicy just be aware if you prefer a sweeter sauce (I don’t prefer sweet). The chicken was tasty and the lasagna was meaty and cheesy. This was accompanied by a side of pasta but potato or veggie could also have been chosen. The meal was not as «robust» as my grandmother would make but it was satisfying.
I think the positive aspect of Carrabbas is the freshness of the food. The salad was cold and crisp, the bread was warm and the meal arrived hot and well prepared. They also have a decent array of wines, which I enjoyed. Overall I will give this place a good not great rating, probably my fault for ordering chicken Parmesan, as the salmon I had years ago I remember as more enjoyable. Everyone ate their meal but no one raved.

Okay, so dining in Henrietta can be a bit, uh, predictable. It’s a chain restaurant kinda town, and the masses jam the tables at the latest joint in town. It’s good (in a sense) to see Carraba’s holding it’s own in this arena. After all, the Texas Roadhouse just opened less than a mile down the road.
It took us a while to try Carraba’s out… and have found it to be a nice departure from the other chains in the area. Inside is very nice, not too «Italianate» like Biaggi’s or Macaroni Grill. In fact, I’d say it’s more like the layout of Outback steakhouse. Very efficient, designed to accommodate a large amount of customers. Which they seem to have… went there on a lovely Tuesday evening and was surprised to find out that there was a 45 – 55 minute wait ahead of us. Which is sad… I was hoping to get my favorite there, the Chicken Bryan.
So, protip: call ahead & see what the wait time is before venturing out. Because if they’re busy & you can’t wait 45 – 55 minutes… well, let’s just say you’re in Henrietta.