Carrabba's Italian Grill

User Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

For a chain restaurant, Carrabba's is a cut above. The packed parking lot and the customers waiting everywhere, including outside in warmer weather, is a testiment to its popularity. When people are dissatisfied, they vote with their feet, and the restaurant soon finds itself among the long list of casualties. Not so with Carrabba's. They are here to stay.

So what makes this pseudo-authentic Italian place such a hot spot? There's no one answer. The food. The ambiance. The fun-loving crowds. The good service. They all enter into the equation of success. If there is a down-side, it's probably the speed of the waitstaff and the kitchen. This is not a place for a dine and dash experience. It takes time to prepare food, per order, so don't go if you are expecting a marathon. It isn't going to happen.

Start with the ambiance. The decor is a little bit "plastic," but it serves the purpose - warm and inviting. Even when the place is packed and the noise level is at its peak, it's still a place where friends gather and feel at home. The bar area accomodates both drinking patrons and diners - more the overflow of patrons who choose not to wait for a table. Best your extend yourself a little and wait for a table in the main dining room. Dining in the bar is ok if you don't mind people standing in front of your table while you're trying to eat. And while they don't accept reservations, they do have the now wildly popular (for whatever reason) "call-ahead seting," which is really akin to reservations. Even when you call ahead, you should expect a wait - but usually no longer than 10 to 20 minutes. If you DON'T call ahead, then you can anticipate anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes.

The open kitchen gives a sense of unity with the dining room. And while the kitchen is, by no means, obtrusive, it adds a certain charm and panache. According to their advertising, all the food is made per order, and that's probably true. Everything tastes wonderful. Now, to be candid, if you want AUTHENTIC Italian cuisine, you best head for Detroit and one of the real Italian places there. There's none left in Toledo, so settle for Carrabba's or Biaggi's. It's the closest you are going to come.

If you start with a salad, either the house or the Caesar is acceptable. Both are served ice cold, and you can rest assured they have not been sitting in a hot kitchen awaiting delivery to your table. Their bread is fantastic, and you will surely beg for more.

As to entrees, almost everything is delicious and worth sampling. A favorite is the Chicken Bryan - goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and a basil lemon butter sauce. Also, the Chicken Pollo Rosa - a boneless breast stuffed with fontina cheese, prosciutto, mushrooms, and lemon basil sauce. Both are excellent. The pork chop marsala is equally good. There are several pasta specials - all good choices. Simply, you really can't go wrong with any selection.

Yes, they do have brick-oven pizzas and dinner salads, but you really should try one of the house entree specialties or a pasta dish to get the real flavor of Carrabba's.

They have an exceptional wine selection, but frankly, their house wines are wonderful, and unless you are a true wine connoisseur, opt for the house wines. Desserts are also a specialty, but generally, people are too full to even attempt them.

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User Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

If this is authentic Italian food then I am very disappointed in the Italians!
Atmosphere was nice, service was so slow we all felt like just leaving. I had Pasta something and it was nothing special. Can't see the prices charged for some of the dishes. Not worth it in our view. Fancy names for spaghetti doesn't do it for me!
We won't be back.

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User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Carrabba's is the best resturant in Toledo! I take my family there all the time! The sirloin marsala is to die for! You have to try it!
The only complaint I have is sometimes they are a little slow, but that only happened a couple times! Will definately go back!!!

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