Carrabba's is Fantastico!
Written: Nov 03 '01
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Pros: Marvelous food, superb service, great ambiance, good value
Cons: it's 20 miles away! no bleu cheese dressing:(
The Bottom Line: The best Italian restaurant in America!
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| bud41's Full Review: Carrabba's Italian Grill |
I first heard about Carrabba's by listening to a catchy and witty commercial on local radio. After driving by their new restaurant in the trendy Southend section of town, I decided it needed to be the location for our weekend dine-out.
Reviews of the restaurant on Epinions were very favorable so I thought we'd give it a try. The location of the restaurant on the town side of South Blvd. is very convenient. It is in a new building with a large parking deck in the rear. Parking is free, and the building's architecture reflects the old style of the Dilworth area - I was happy about that.
The first thing we noticed on arrival was a sign on the door that said they would be particpating in the "Dine Out America" day on October 11. Restaurants across the country will be donating proceeds that day to the Red Cross. Their credibility just went up a knotch with me! We passed the outdoor sidewalk dining area but it was not open since it was a rainy day in Charlotte. As we approached the door, a friendly hostess opened it for us and welcomed us to Carrabba's. What a nice touch!
It was early for dinner so there was no wait. We requested a non-smoking booth and were cheerfully accommodated. The booths looked like Outback Steakhouse booths, but no wonder - the same parent company owns both chains.
No sooner had we been seated than Steve came over and introduced himself as our server. He was the epitome of friendliness and knowledge. We ordered our drinks and then began to scan the menu. I still had not had time to ogle the decor. Here are some highlights from the menu. The complete menu and other information can be found on their website www.carrabbas.com
Appetizers
Calamari
Lightly battered and fried to a tender, crisp, golden brown, served with marinara sauce
Calamari Ricardo
Our Calamari with a spicy Italian pepper sauce
Bruschette Carrabba
Garlic toast mounded with two different toppings: fontina cheese and sauteed mushrooms; mozzarella, tomato and pesto
Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp sauteed with garlic, white wine, herbs and lemon butter, served with garlic toast for dipping
Mozzarella Marinara
Fresh mozzarella coated with Italian breadcrumbs, lightly fried, served with marinara sauce
Sausage & Peppers
Handmade Italian fennel sausage with sauteed peppers and onions
Cozze in Bianco
Fresh mussels steamed in white wine, olive oil, garlic, lemon and basil
Antipasti Platter
A delicious combination of house favorites: Calamari, Bruschette Carrabba, and Mozzarella Marinara
Main Courses
These are too numerous to include, but a good sampling would be:
wood fired pizzas
Fish of the day (trout and salmon were served when we went)
Several steaks
Various chicken dishes
Numerous pastas ( stand-bys such as lasagne, spaghetti, fettuccini, rigatoni - all made fresh)
Eggplant
There are also wonderful salads, soups, and desserts - as well as an extensive beverage list.
Our Meal
Your meal begins with a basket of warm bread - a round Italian loaf. It is soft in the middle and crusty outside. Superb! Your server will bring a plate of fresh herbs and pour olive oil in the dish. Give it a few minutes to infuse, and then dip the bread. Heavenly! A bottle of olive oil is on the table if you need more.
My wife started with sausage and lentil soup. Thick and well spiced (even a little hot). Delightful. And great with that bread. She ordered a house salad with a vinegarette dressing and I selected a Caesar. Both were fresh and cold with a mixture of Romaine and Iceberg (never have seen iceberg in a Caesar but it was ok). Fresh grated parmesan cheese was on top of both salads. I was little disappointed there was no bleu cheese dressing available, but what I had was fine and I was happy there was no anchovie paste in the Caesar. :)
Our entrees were Rigatoni Campagnolo (Italian sausage, peppers and caprino cheese in pomodoro sauce). The dish is served in a huge bowl and the rigatoni noodles are bigger around than your thumb! It was heavy, rich , and wonderful. The sausage was meatball sized. I ordered veal marsala with a side of fetuccini alfredo. The fetuccini was good - nothing special, but very tasty. The pasta was cooked just right and the alfredo sauce was mild. Now, the veal! Mama Mia! It was the best I have ever tasted! I was served four portions. It was pounded very thin and was so tender. The sauce was a light brown, rich mushroom based covering that was almost buttery in taste. The best veal dishes are in Europe, but this rivals anything I ever had there. I highly recommend it.
After the meal I really did not have room for dessert, but I had to try the tiramisu. My wife ordered a decaf coffee (very strong but flavorful)and we split the dessert. The presentation was lovely. A large square of the rich cake drizzled with chocolate sauce. The layers of the tiramisu melted into one another delightfully. The lady fingers were moist with the liqueur laced expresso and the mascarpone. The chocolate shavings heightened the richness. It was a nice cap off for a fine meal at $4.49.
The Atmosphere
I am keenly sensitive to distractions. If the atmosphere is poor, I don't enjoy the meal no matter how good the food is. I can honestly say the atmosphere during our visit was as nice as I have experienced in a long time. The restaurant lighting is subdued and well-planned. The booth offered us an intimate setting to converse. The music was not harsh or abrasively loud. They even played some vintage music which always wins me over! The wait staff were prompt, frequent and helpful but not over-bearing or intrusive. Our server - Steve - could not have been more helpful. He answered all of our questions without hesitation and made good suggestions when we asked for them. I listened to interaction around me by several of the staff and it was very positive.
The decor is lovely and not overstated like some Italian restaurants ( no checkered table cloths here). Some of the areas have the appearance of being in grape arbors. Our booth was in such a location. The walls were stucco with interesting photos of family and friends on them. It was really a relaxing atmosphere. And, the restrooms were a pleasant. Very clean, Yardly soap, sparkling fixtures. An Italian language tape was playing so you could learn a few phrases while "washing up".
Our entire bill for beverages, soup, entrees, dessert and coffee came to around $43.00. A great buy for Saturday dining in town.
Carrabba's has become a new favorite of mine for sure!
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Enjoy!
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
bud41
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: Between the Waxhaws and Oklawaha
Reviews written: 198
Trusted by: 39 members
About Me:
Just me - a middle-aged teacher who works to travel.
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