Carrabba's Italian Grill

My husband and I ate here tonight with our 2 girls, age 5 and 2. We called ahead at 5:30 and said we'd be there at 6 and were told when we got there it would be 15-20 minutes. That's ok, it was crowded. Well, 45 minutes later we were finally seated, and only because I loitered around the hostess stand. There is no seating for the waiting area, and if I had known the truth about our wait I obviously wouldn't have stayed, holding a 30 pound 2 year old (because there is ZERO seating for people waiting). Oh wait, that's the idea isn't it. EVERYONE waiting was complaining that they had basically been lied to about their wait time. Another issue: the front manager was putting on a real show, being Mr. Big Fun Guy to all the folks waiting, but when I confronted him about our long wait and how uncomfortable it had been he dropped the nice-guy act in a hurry. He just shrugged and said ""whatever"" and walked off. With the crayons for my girls' kids menus. Amazing. We finally got the waiter's attention and bolted down our food to try to get out at a reasonable hour. Ironically the food was really good, but not worth the wait. There will be a snowball fight in Bermuda before I eat at that h*llhole again. And I mean that. more

We have been enjoying the food at Carraba's for years, both dine in and carry out. However, tonight we ordered carry out and one entree was not included in the food we received (although we were charged for it). It took 3 phone calls to the restaurant and far too much time (disconnected twice and then on hold) to have the bill corrected. In addition, I wanted to pay over the phone with a credit card (friends obligingly agreed to pick up the food but it was our treat). While every pizza place in town can manage taking a credit card over the phone, Carraba's staff refused, even when the manager was consulted. They admitted over the phone that they accept credit card payment over the phone for larger orders but would not accomodate this request. Why? I'm disappointed that their formerly good customer service has declined to this extent. more

Recently dined at the Cool Springs Carrabba's, ended up having a bad experience & plan on not going back! Had a waiter with an attitude and when I decided on the lasagna, he made it an issue about me ordering the lasagna (thought then something might be wrong w/the lasagna). Due to how he acted, I changed my order to angel hair spaghetti but then he never asked what sauce I wanted. He brought marinara sauce when I would have picked meat. There was very little sauce on the spaghetti when it came. Due to time I didn't feel like waiting any longer so I kept the order. By the end of the night I spent $36 for the bill (before the tip) and my meal was really unsatisfactory, just wish I had picked another place. Upon mentioning this to the manager he just apologized and cared less to do anything more about my bad experience. Can say this much, I'm not going back... staying with Olive Garden which has always been a pleasant experience! more

After eating a meal the waitress brought check, then never came back to get money which I could have not left. She would have rather talk to her friends about who she was with the night before and what they did instead of taking my money along with her tip which I should not have left. I have a restaurant in Murfreesboro, Tn. and if o0ne of my waitresses would have done this she would be looking for another job . Pros: Good wine Cons: high prices- bad waitresses more

I cook Italian food really well...and am from a city of Italians. I have also eaten Italian food from New York to California, Florida to every part of Ohio. So you can imagine how surprised I was to get a fantastic dinner at a national chain restaurant. Tonight was our first visit to Carrabba's (Cool Springs). Pros: Fresh fresh fresh ingredients. Authentic Italian flavors. Generous portions. Yummy! Cons: Tiny speakers made Italian music sound silly. Could use more ambiance..singing waiter? Violin? more

I from a small town 40 miles outside of Nashville but I have lived in NY for almost 7 years as a flight attendant. My husband and I love to travel and try new restaurants and my husband ( Italian-American) ,of course loves Italian foods. When we found Carrabba's in Franklin we were excited. We thought maybe it would be a great new place to eat while in TN visiting family. We appreciate just plain ol' good food but unfortunately we did not find it here. I ordered a pasta dish which had a sweet yet bland flavor. My husband had Chicken Parm which was almost nonexisting. The chicken was small, thin, dry and had the same bland sauce that came with my entree. We kind of laughed it off and said "" maybe it was just a bad night for the restaurant"". Although our food was not good our experience with the waiter a staff was pleasant and beleive it or not would give them another try. Most likely at different location. Pros: service, parking, near shopping Cons: food not very good more

I have never had a bad meal or service at Carrabba's Italian Grill. Weve tried other Italian food in the area, and it just cant compete with Carrabbas. The Mezzaluna, moon-shaped, tomato based chicken pasta is one of the best dishes Ive ever had. (And trust me, I love to eatand Im a picky eater.) Also, I would recommend the Manicotti with a side order of meatballs. And of course the Rigatoni Martino is wonderful! For desert, you can have the Tiramisu, or splurge (taste-bud wise) on the Dessert Rosa. Carrabbas is the perfect combination of rich and delicious food. The portions are very large, but inexpensively priced. My boyfriend and I usually split an order of something, and we still take leftovers home. Between the wine, appetizer salad, main course, and yummy desert, we are stuffed. But if youre hungrygo for it. No matter what the night and how much you spend, the service is always outstanding. Its also very kid friendly, catering to bambinis interests. I highly recommend Carrabba's Italian Grill. Pros: Great Selection with Big Portions, Wonderful & Friendly Service and Overall the best Italian food value in Cool Springs! Cons: Long wait around peak times, but use Call ahead seating!!! It's worth the wait for yummy food. more

THIS IS NOT MACARONI GRILL, AND THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A CHEAP BOWL OF PASTA AND SOME CIANTI ARE IN FOR A SURPRISE. CARRABBAS HAS WONDERFUL PASTA, INCLUDING THE PASTA CARRABBA. THE SERVICE IS FRIENDLY, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A WAIT WHEN I WENT, AND THERE IS A WIDE VARIETY OF DECENT WINES TO CHOOSE FROM. THE ONE STICKLER IS THE PRICE, WHICH FOR 2 PEOPLE EATING PASTA, AN APPETIZER, AND A DRINK WILL DROP AROUND $50-70. Pros: FOOD, SERVICE, AMBIANCE Cons: COST, WAIT TIME more

I don't know what the other raters got but I've been to Carabba's twice and both times had excellent service and food. I personally prefer to get a smaller portion of better tasting and quality prepared food than a ton of food for the money and I still find that the portions at Carabbas are fine. I put my name on the call ahead seating list and was seated as soon as I arrived. Our server, Kyle, was attentive and funny. The bread was delicious, drinks brought on time, and the special fish of the day, which was a pecan crusted trout, was out of this world. I am going back again for New Year's Eve. The place is very crowded and can be noisy but to me it's more of a family kitchen atmosphere than a romantic date atmosphere. Pros: daily fish specials, great service, call ahead seating Cons: crowded atmosphere more

Carrabbas has some very wonderful people working for them. It is unfortunate that there are a few employees that have to ruin the reputations of the servers and cooks. I think that the management is doing a poor job of making the restaurant a worthwhile place to work, and the quality of food and service is diminishing. I used to go there all the time, but I haven't been since they got rid of the cute pizza guy about 9 months ago. Pros: servers Cons: management, wait time more

My husband and I have been there numerous times and we have always enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. I would highly recommend Carrabba's to anyone who wants to enjoy real Italian food. more

My boyfriend and I went to Carrabba's expecting great food and nice waiters. What we got was exactly the opposite. Our waiter was the rudest I've ever encountered. When he left the check, he just sort of walked by, and threw it on the table. Our food was nothing extraordinary, and the portions are entirely too small. The give you a sliver of chicken and 3 green beans and charge you $20. The place is just entirely over-priced and the staff is rude. Pros: good appetizers, nice hostess, call-ahead seating Cons: waiters, food in general, over-all experience more

If you have 2 hours to waste waiting on a seat in way over-crowded conditions that are too noise, only to get food that is cold. This is the place for you. Pros: Waiters Cons: Long Wait, Won't Take Reservatio, Noise more

the food is great. however, when the waiter attempts to make your look stupid that changes the complex of the overall dining experience. i consumed 4 or 5 beers over the course of approx. 3 hrs (my wife was driving) and the waiter asked if i was driving. then instead of giving me my bill, he left all of his receipts for the evening...i then asked him if HE WAS DRIVING HOME?? i will return because i like the food and will remind the waitstaff that i am the customer! Pros: pasta carrabba, mussels Cons: "cocky" waiter, location, crowded more