Carrabba's Italian Grill

On November 17, a couple of friends and myself went out to dinner at Carrabba's Italian Grill. The only other time I've ate Carrabba's was at a banquet for our swim team my junior year of high school, so needless to say I was pretty excited about having dinner there finally. The moment we pulled up I could taste the melt-in-your-mouth Italian bread from its scent lingering heavily in the air. As we entered there were two hostesses, both with cheerful, smiling faces, ready to seat us. Unlike most hostesses that I have run into, the one who seated us was chatty the entire way to our booth. Personally it made me feel more relaxed and able to enjoy what was about to come. After a few minutes our server, Randy, walked over to grab our drink order. He was very nice and knowledgeable of the menu (although he could never get any of us a refilled drink before the previous one was completely empty). My friend was going to order the Mezzaluna, a ravioli with chicken, ricotta, and spinach in a delicious tomato sauce; however, Randy suggested a rigatoni that was similar to the one she had chose. The rigatoni was loaded with chicken, unlike the Mezzaluna, which had a quarter of the chicken this dish had. I, on the other hand, couldn't be talked out of my manicotti. Although the crisp, freshly baked Italian bread and Caesar salad were to die for, I, unfortunately, couldn't say the same for their manicotti. The noodles were undercooked, making them hard to cut and there was not an adequate amount of mozzarella cheese melted over them. Their pomodoro sauce was bland and added very little, if any, flavor to the dish. Also, it was a lot smaller than I had hoped for. There were two measly manicotti shells in an oval shaped bowl the size of a kids macaroni and cheese dish. Overall, the experience was fairly a good one. The waiter could have been more attentive to our needs, such as bringing over fresh drinks before the old ones were almost three quarters gone. There could have also been larger portion sizes for the price of the meal. Up to that point I might have gone back and given it one more chance. As we were leaving though, the head chef was walking through the restaurant and asking everyone how they were enjoying their visit and the food. It was something I have never seen a chef do in all the years I have been going out to eat. I admired how the chef was walking through the restaurant interacting with his customers when the place wasn't exactly slow. He walked by everyone's table asking how the food and service had been. I will definitely go back at least one more time. more

Recently, this Veterans Day we went to Carrabbas Italian Grill Mesa, AZ right by Harkins 25 for dinner because my family and I eat there all the time. As soon as we got there we found a parking spot right in front, but it’s not to say that no one was there cause there was a number of people there but we were just lucky enough to find a spot so close. We walked in and we were seated right away. The staff was friendly and very personable. The room was dimmed and had a hint of Italian music playing in the background to kind of ease and make customers feel comfortable and relaxed. Already knowing what I wanted I ordered right away waiting for my favorite meal, Cavatappi Amatriciana. It’s a spiral noodle pasta with their homemade sauce encompassed with basil, onion, and chunks of tomato, pancetta (Italian Bacon), and then you have the choice of adding mozzarella cheese to the top. I was expecting my meal to be wonderful, spicy, hearty, steaming hot and that’s exactly what I got. It was brought out within a reasonable time that let you finish your bread and your salad with out leaving you starving or feeling like you haven‘t had time to eat your bread or salad. The Cavatappi Amatriciana was steaming hot and tasted fantastic. Everything was cooked to perfection and tasted just as it should of tasted. This is the type of meal that some would call comfort food. The type of meal you need to eat when you have a bad day or don‘t feel like cooking but want that home kind of feeling food. The service was excellent and made sure our drinks never got low enough to ask for refills. I felt very relaxed there and I would highly recommend anyone of all ages to go here and try the Cavatappi Amatriciana especially. more

On the 8th of November at around 7:30, I took my girlfriend to dinner at Carabba’s Italian Restaurant. Upon our arrival, I immediately gave the hostess my last name and she sat us right away to a small booth, comfortably seating the two of us. As we took our seats, our server automatically walked up to our table and asked us for our drink orders. Within just a minute or two after we had ordered two pink lemonades, our drinks were placed down in front of us. The pink lemonade was nearly perfect, except for the pure fact that it was entirely too tangy with a sour kick to it. We searched for a while on the menus to find fettuccine alfredo; however, we failed in our attempt and were forced to ask for some assistance. Turns out it was under the “Build Your Own Pasta” dish, in which case my girlfriend and I both ordered the fettuccine alfredo, one with chicken and the other with shrimp. As a teaser to our main course, we were served freshly baked bread with an Italian herb dip that appealed to our pallets right away. The crust was mildly dry yet the middle was moist and warm, and with the herb dip it added to the sweetness of Italian flavoring. Finally, our fettuccine pasta dishes arrived, noodles undercooked and alfredo sauce tart and potent. The shrimp to top it off, however, was sautéed to perfection, crispy on the outside and juicy on the in. All in all, dining at Carabba’s was rather enjoyable; the food was acceptable, the atmosphere was charming, and the service was superb. I would definitely recommend ordering two helpings of the house bread and herb dip as a great way to start off any night. more

I was telling a friend of mine about these good Italian restaurants, and she said, ?Have you had Carrabba's?? ?No,? I replied she turned to her husband and then looked at me aghast have you been living under a rock? \r \r So maybe my hopes where high when we went for dinner that Friday night but I must tell you I was sorely disappointed. The staff was nice, but it took forever to get our drinks. The food was decent, although nothing to write home to mom about. So for value and taste when I think of good Italian food in mesa I think of Oreganos or Vito?s, and I am very disappointed in Carraba's.\r Pros: location??? just trying to be nice Cons: food, time more

The very best of everything. Highly recommended always. One is always treated special and never forgotten. Pros: Food, service, employees more

This is good food at a fair price. The only drawback is the wait......It's Great for the restuarant but not so fun for the patrons. more

referred by friends and being new to the area have been there twice already - inside ambience is nice - reasonable wine selections and menu items are tasty and filling - I enjoy the chicken marsala (but noted the unique sirloin marsala for next time) and servers are very professional yet friendly - they offer a ""quartino"" - like a glass and a halfin a carafe which is great since one seems to go fast yet two can often be too much before driving home - pizza and pasta also great and carry-out available too - love it and am already a regular Pros: Reasonable, classy, romantic, relaxed Cons: Romantic ambience sometimes diminished by kids, but it is a family restauarnt more

The food was really disappointing, the place smells way too much of parmigiano, the waiters were not attentive and almost rude. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone - unless you're there to break up with someone, or simply just want to ruin a perfect day... Cons: Bad Service more

The food here is the best. It is all prepared fresh daily. The portion are large and the service excellent. Highly recommended for any occasion. Pros: Delicious food, Resonable prices, Fresh Ingredients more

Best chicken marsala in town. I have never had better chicken in my life. Pros: warm service, good parking, nice atmosphere more

We would reccomend this place to any of our friends. The managers make it a point to make everyone their friends, we know because they remember us every time we go in. The food is piping hot, and the service excellent. Pros: ambiance, delightful food, warm service more

This is my favorite place to eat, drink and be with friends. Always friendly and adds that personal touch that is so hard to find these days. Pros: friendly, nice atmosphere more

every time I go to the one in mesa and the one in chandler I have a great experience Pros: good parking, nice ambiance, good bartender more