Yes it's a chain but the food here is pretty great. We've eaten here a few times now. Servers are always nice as well as quick. I love their salad. Mr. Z always talks me into the mozzarella marinara (appetizer) which is so good. As for entrees , anything containing chicken makes me happy and I've tried almost every chicken dish they offer. All of them have been good. Try it out. There's a reason they're always packed.
(4)
Mickey F.
For a chain restaurant, I was pretty impressed. It has a nice atmosphere, homey & comfy seating. The food was very good (again usually not a fan of chain food) but this was good. I had the pasta bolognese and my girlfriend had the penne romano with grilled chicken - both delicious. I will say the service wasn't great, but I have a hard time judging a place based on one person's service on one particular night. I will definitely return!
(4)
Nancy N.
This is the only Carrabba's location that I've tried and I loved it! The first time, we had my friend/co-worker's surprise baby shower here. The manager who helped me plan it and set up a reservation was awesome and very accommodating since we had it during work hours. They were awesome and was able to do an appetizer sampler for us so we could try a few dishes in one. The second time I was here was a Monday night with my cousin's family. They have Amore Mondays where you can get a 3 course meal for $15.99-$18.99. Such a good deal and so filling! I barely finished my meal. Both times the service was awesome. This location definitely has their staff well trained.
(4)
Ancy T.
Great service, good food!! So if you've read some of my other reviews, you'd know that I frequently place large orders for myself and coworkers when we are working long hours, and most often places mess something up with our orders. I can HAPPILY SAY that Carrabbas does an amazing job, every time. 1. They label everything by person's name - entree, sides - you name it, it's labeled. 2. They attach a label to the outside of the bags so you know which orders are in which bag without having to put in too much effort 3. They've never forgotten an order, and sometimes our orders are for as many as 15 people 4. They have car - side to go! THANK YOU. This has become a go-to place for my coworkers and I because we know that on stressful days, we won't have to worry about dinner because carrabbas gets it right everytime. I wish all of the restaurants in Bensalem would put in this same effort, because many places have lost our interest due to these little details that are SO IMPORTANT. In addition to this awesome service, the food is pretty good! I appreciate the fact that they neatly package the bread and oil and other condiments for us so that we don't miss out on the entire dining - in experience. I recommend this place because I feel the food and service has always been consistent!
(4)
Jeanne P.
I may be judging the place too harshly, but this is coming from someone who really doesn't like chain restaurants. The only reason why I came here was because the person I was with had a gift card, and asked me to go. I almost felt like I was betraying every small and local Italian restaurant, as well as my family. We came here around 3:00. There were two or three other tables with people at them, the rest of the place was empty. We were quickly seated. Our waiter took a long time to come over to us, though I pretty much heard his life story before he even came to the table. You would think on a slow afternoon, you'd be trying to get the most out of each table as they came in. I ordered the Pollo Rosa Maria with a side of broccoli, my opposition ordered chicken parm with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. We started with salads and bread, both were great. Bread was warm, and I enjoyed the oil/herb addition to the table. We waited about 30-40 minutes for our meals, which I thought was pretty wild. Finally got our food. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't go. Charging almost $17 for a plate with a piece of chicken and broccoli on it is absurd to me. I think they tried to cook the broccoli in Italian dressing, but I'm not sure... it didn't taste too good, and I actually added salt (which is something I never do). My chicken was kind of dry. The best part about it was the sauteed mushrooms on top. They came out pretty decent. For the price and the portion size, absolutely does not do it for me. The chicken parmigiana was kind of weird...I've never seen it made that may. It was an overcooked piece of chicken with a little bit of sauce under the piece of cheese that was on it. It didn't taste good and the mashed potatoes had a funky taste to them as well. I couldn't put my finger on the taste that they add, but it definitely wasn't garlic. We ate pretty quick and waited about 15 minutes for our waiter to come by. I heard him chatting with the other servers for quite some time, so I knew he wasn't running around taking care of other people. We were his only table. It was just kind of annoying. We still tipped him 20%. As a previous server, it's just in me to do that unless someone is completely mean to me or something. If you like chain restaurants, you might like this place. If you're Italian, like...your Grandmom might punch you in the face because she heard you ate here Italian...pass it by. There's better options and more bang for your buck. I personally wouldn't spend my own money here, it's a rip off.
(2)
Amanda N.
My family loves Carrabba's, so more often than not we end up eating there for dinner. I feel like I am missing something. Like my family is ordering from some sort of secret menu I haven't been let in on, and they are all experiencing delicious food that they want to eat over and over again....yet I end up with an okay salad and a sub-par pizza. The other night I ordered the Quattro Formaggi pizza and a house salad. The house salad is usually pretty good, but this time the dressing seemed a little bit different. A little less cheesey maybe? Their bread and olive oil concoction makes up for the lack luster salad - so I gave it a pass. The pizza, though, was just not good. It lacked flavor and almost tasted like I was eating something from the microwave. I love and eat a lot of pizza and if I don't finish my pizza - you know something is wrong! I ended up giving the rest of it to my family. I think next time I am sitting out for Carrabba's...sorry fam!
(2)
Stephen B.
I've been going hear to eat for along time. Yes there prices are alittle high. But let me tell you your not going to get a nice dinner any more fresher then hear. Everything most definitely homemade hear. I like how they cook all the food out in the open. Waiting for a seat is never a issue. The staff is nice, waitress always come back to your table to see if you need anything. Few of my most favorites has to be. The bread they bring out is like it just came out of the oven and bring the good oil out to dip the bread in. That's definitely a winner. And there muscles in red sauce are really good to for a appetizer. And one of my favorite dinners are the chicken marsala with a Caesar salad that's so fresh when they bring it out. And can't have dinner without a cold bottle of Miller Lite and a unsweetened ice tea to go along with everything esle.
(5)
Agnes A.
Enjoyed our meal as always at Carabbas. The mussels my husband had were delicious. I had the Fra Diavolo shrimp and there were too many of them for me to finish. This is a good restaurant
(4)
Denise D.
Ate here for the first time. The food was great and the waitress was very friendly. If I'm in the area again I'll return.
(5)
Lisa M.
So far so good we had the $12 3 course meal fried calamari were good, the service is great and speedy salads were fresh
(4)
Ashley P.
I usually love this Carrabba's but this time my experience was so disappointing. I ordered chicken fettuccini alfredo, which I always order because it's consistently good. Well not this time! The dish was very salty and the mushrooms and peas which normally come in the dish were completely missing. To top it off, my friend got to the restaurant before me and when I arrived the bread was already on the table and cold... so no warm bread for me. There were only two of us, so why would the waitress bring bread before the second person arrived??? The waitress never offered to refill my soda and when I requested extra napkins she forgot. It's a shame, but based on this last experience I don't think I'll be back to Carrabba's for a long time.
(1)
j j.
Expect to wait. Expect to be rushed. Expect mediocre food. We made reservations - it cut our wait time considerably. The waitstaff was attentive. Within a few minutes of being served the salads the entrees were delivered. The table is too small to hold the glasses and plates. I was astonished at the lack of time management of the courses. The waitstaff apologized. he manager apologized. After clearing away our dinners the waitstaff said that the manager wanted to provide us with a free dessert. Now we waited and then waited and waited. A dessert was delivered to our table. We did not eat it. If we were offered to choose our dessert we would have chosen a different item. A poor experience.
(2)
Tom A.
excellent service, nice and clean atmosphere. prices are ok. $15 gets you a great pasta meal with soup or salad. soup was great. my girlfriend didn't like the salad but then again... its just a salad. our waitress was the best part. only downfall to the meal was some of the pasta was sticking together but I'm nit-picking at that point. A+
(4)
Daniel S.
Great food, if you get one of the signature meals. Servers are good and bad :)
Amazing caprese salad omg the sweet balsamic is to die for. Lobster mac & cheese omg nona where are you.
(5)
Bruce B.
Went here with a friend for lunch last weekend not knowing what to expect because it was my first time eating at Carrabba's It is a nicely decorated comfy spot with lots of plush booths to sit in. Our waitress, Catherine came out the starters box with an attitude, coming across way too surly for my dollar. We ordered coffee and it came out too lukewarm for my friend and she asked if she could warm it up in the microwave for her. Not a difficult request you'd think huh? Wrong! She responded with a snooty attitude "We don't have a microwave and I will have to make a fresh pot" and she made no effort to do that, she just took the coffee away and never replaced it. We asked her what the specials were and she said there were no specials during lunch, later I overheard another server cheerfully running down the specials to his table. SMH! My lunch was fine, Pork Chop Marsala, Salad and Fettuccine Alfredo, but my friend's lunch was bland, tasteless and uninspiring. Certainly not worth the money or our time.
(2)
Madeen A.
We didn't get to eat. we waited there for more than half an hour and just gave up, and left.
(1)
Mini P.
I've been to Carrabba's numerous times and each time has been hit or miss with food and service. Typical chain restaurant I guess. Sometimes the food is great and sometimes it's like, "Why did I come here again?" I guess I keep coming back with hopes of reliving the sumptuous meals I have actually had there. The place itself is warm, cozy and dimly lit. If you are going on a weekend, prepare to wait a bit. During my last visit, the meal was actually decent. What I didn't like was the service. The server seemed to rush through his script and was not so attentive to our needs. He didn't go the extra mile and not once did he smile! Almost felt like he was bothered that we where there. Maybe that was my last time at Carrabba's and maybe not!
(2)
Timothy A.
Service has diminished over the past year... So much so, I just was here for almost 3 hours. Lost a lifelong customer after this experience of being neglected. Carrabbas = Poor service.
(1)
Holly C.
Love love love the food!.....they will make you something that use to be on the menu with no problem. Their service is great and everyone is always friendly!!
(5)
Tom W.
Went here for dinner and the service was excellent. The server was friendly and knowledgeable. The food came out super fast and was delicious. I had the lobster ravioli and sicillian chicken soup with apple crustada for dessert. My daughter had a kid's pizza and it was all good. If you are in the area and read this EAT HERE!!
(5)
Reece L.
Food was great service was terrible. I sat the same time as a couple that frequents the place often. I actually order my food before the couple did. But they received their food first paid and was gone before my soup arrived. My appetizer was delicious. It was the shrimp diablo (spell chk) and it came out fast. Then It took 25 minutes to get my soup, Then another 15 fifteen for my entree I had chic parm, but my noodles were cold. Meanwhile every time I finished a dish they would just pile up in front of me and not being removed. I had a glass of water that was empty from the time I finished by app and until my soup came. The couple had primarily a guy bartender and I had a female. The female bartender was terrible. She gave me the "oops I forgot to ring in your food look" When I asked if my food was coming soon.
(2)
Ravi J.
Good Things first ;) The place was completely full and we had to wait little while but it's fine looking at the location of restaurant .. Service was fast and Servers were great and she even asked us if this is our first time at this restaurant [which was affirmative] and helped us to run our the Menu .. Make sure you request their Private booths, it's totally worth it if you wanna spent some good time with your date. We ordered thier Stuffed Pasta and 1 of thier Signature Pasta [ I guess it was something called Tag Pic Pac] which was great and liked it alot but the other one was Disaster [Manicotti] .. " Dessert Rosa " was the one that took the rating from *** [3] to **** [4], made me fan of the one .. I usually don't like strawberries but it was already in the cake so couldn't avoid it so we went ahead as my wife loves them and they never tasted that good before this .. I loved this one :) Try this one and I am sure you will love it !!
(4)
John G.
When the owner learned our children had food allergies, he personally came over to talk to us and then also personally ensured they were kept safe from cross-contamination or other accident. Really wonderful evening. Great food and peace of mind (so difficult for those with children with severe food allergies).
(5)
Chris G.
We sat right away. Waitress was nice and gave good suggestions since I had never been here. Food was good. Service was attentive. Price was cheap. Food was delivered quickly. Decor and ambiance was semi romantic. Sangria needed some work but now I'm just being picky. I had no complaints. 5 stars unless Im going to rate the pictures on the wall or faded lines in the parking lot.
(5)
Chiller G.
The best.soup,mussels,and Tracy our waitress.
(3)
Kisente F.
I brought a family of 7 here. We had to wait for 30 minutes which wasn't a problem since it was a busy day and they don't take reservations. Once, we were seated the waittress was friendly and knowledgeable. We ordered lasagne, grilled salmon, linguine pecastore and chicken parm for our main entree. Every thing was delicious (the quality of food here surpasses Olive Garden). However, we still prefer the bread and salad in Olive Garden (the only reason we would go there) over here. I was the only one who had enough room for dessert. I was glad they brought back the cannoli for a limited of time, so I ordered it. It was a wonderful dessert.
(4)
Sarah F.
Early this year, I ordered the Chicken Bryan (my once favorite dish from Carrabbas). I hadn't eaten yet that day and was really looking forward to it. I then ended up in the hospital with food poisoning and severe dehydration. I haven't been back since and nothing anyone could offer me would get me through that door again.
(1)
Sophie K.
I am not a fan of most chain restaurants, but after one trip this may be one of my favorites. The calamari was FANTASTIC. My main course, a pasta dish, was good as well. The service was good regardless of the busy night. I will definitely be coming back soon.
(4)
RONALD R.
WOW man was this good the wife and i were stuffed and took some home . we had antipasti lobster mac and cheese and i had the Sirloin* and Crab Stuffed Shrimp USDA Choice 7 oz. sirloin paired with three shrimp stuffed with tender jumbo lump crabmeat and peppers and topped with our lemon butter sauce, served with the your choice of side. Substitute grilled shrimp for stuffed shrimp, if you prefer. wife had scampi with lobster and loved it we will be going back again so go try some stuff and have fun yumm yummm fast server food was hot and the salad with their house dressing was real good also .
(5)
j h.
Went down hill. Portions are smaller and taste not a fresh as before. Definitely not the best Italian but not the worst I have had. They rely on garlic to flavor/overpower every dish. When I leave for the rest of the night I'm soo thirsty and I can't get the garlic taste out of my mouth. I'm a fan of garlic but everything tastes like it comes from the same base ingredients.
(2)
Andrew S.
Went last night. Good food. Had the chicken parm and broccoli. Excellent. I plan on returning to this chain! Thumbs up.
(4)
stephen M.
For the Scampi app alone I will be a fan until I die!
(5)
Tess G.
Love this place! Great food & drinks. Prices aren't too high. Have gone here for several special occasions.
(5)
Debra L.
Love this place. Pasta dishes are great. Some good tips. Show your Parx casino card and get a free dessert. If they are crowded and there's a wait, ask the hostess if you can sit at the counter. Counter is usually empty and you can watch them cook. Sometimes you'll get a free appetizer too. Reasonably priced.
(4)
DJ M.
Yes Virginia, it is a chain restaurant! And I am NOT a fan of the Olive Garden, nor the Red Lobster or many of the other chain restaurants including Carrabba's sister store, the Outback Steakhouse. Carrabba's Italian Grill was founded in Houston by Johnny Carrabba and Damian Mandola in December of 1986. Both Johnny and Damian have extensive restaurant experience and belong to one of Houston's most successful restaurant families. Many of the recipes on their menu are those of Damian's mother Grace and sister Rose. Damian has preserved the Italian authenticity of Carrabba's food by traveling the world in search of unique Italian dishes and by taking numerous trips to his grandparents' native Italy. After many travels to the Houston area, Carrabba's caught the attention of Aussie-themed Outback Steakhouse, Inc. owners. A joint venture partnership was formed in January of 1993. Under the joint partnership, 10 locations were opened in Houston and in Florida. In January, 1995, Outback Steakhouse, Inc. acquired the rights to develop Carrabba's nationwide. There are currently over 200 Carrabba's Italian Grill locations. Okay, since they say it so much better than I can, that of course was copied from their web page, but I personally can attest to THE BREAD is the very best around! You know all the sauces are homemade. The marsala sauce is as good as Vin & Eddies or any great Italian restaurant. I personally love the Pasta Weesie, except I have them serve it over linguini instead of fettuccine. I really do get a good filet mignon here. The lobster ravioli is a good choice and one of hubby's favorites. The Calamari Ricardo is wonderful with a spicy red pepper and lemon butter sauce. They also have hand tossed and made to order personal pizzas. Check them out @ carrabbas.com/menu/pdf/M… Don't boo them until you have tried them!
(4)
Sophia L.
Loved my first trip! Hated the waiting time, which was ridiculous. Service is average. but the food was surprisingly good! Loved all the apps and main courses~ Will definitely come back when it's not too busy
(3)
Christopher P.
Food is always yummy when prepared properly at any Carrabba's. Always had a good experience with this one so far. Only gripe is the hours. 4pm-9pm. So no early dinner or late dinner. If you do come here, make sure you call ahead to get on the waiting list. They let you do this. Weekdays are best to go here because it is a zoo on the weekends and you will be waiting a long time for dinner. If you like mussels, they are awesome here. Spicy chicken soup is awesome as well as the salads. The steaks are very good as well as the pork chops.
(4)
Dawn Maria D.
I ate at this Carabba's three times since mid May. Yesterday was the worst experience I have ever had here, and probably one of my worst restaurant experiences ever. I was at Carabba's with my parents for Father's Day. We walked in and were seated right away. We told the waittress we knew what we wanted and she took our order. A few minutes she came back with drinks. Maybe 10 minutes later, she came back with the two orders of mussels we ordered. She cleared the table, and a little while later, brought salads. After she cleared the salads, she stopped by once and asked if we were "ok with drinks and bread" and said our dinners would be ready "soon". So we waited, and waited, and waited, and then we all noticed that it was after 5, and still didn't get food. So we called the waittress back, and she said that it was almost ready, but they were waiting to get all the orders finished so that all three meals would come out together. I told the waittress that if one order was finished, that meant it was sitting getting cold and that I didn't want cold food. She said "Oh no, it won't be cold". About 5:20, the food came out, and it was ice cold. All three meals were sent back. I told the server that we waited almost an hour and a half and did not want cold food. She said it would be reheated. I told her I didn't want it reheated, I expected fresh food and had a right to expect that, and I refused to eat anythng microwaved. She said they don't have a microwave, they put it in a pan and toss it. Now, I had ordered Pasta Weezie, and anyone with half a brain knows that eating shrimp that was held at the wrong temperature is almost a sure trip to the ER, and I had no idea how long it layed before it was sent out. I said again that I don't want it reheated. She was getting very annoyed and you could see that it bothered her that I challenged her regarding my notion that I should expect the hot, fresh food that I ordered. Another plate came out maybe 5 minutes later. Ice cold. Even colder than the first one. I was furious now and told the server to send the manager because I refused to eat it. My parents' food was warmer, but all they did was reheat theirs. The manager came and he apologized. He stasrted saying that he " would take care of the bill" and assured me that he would get me a hot, fresh order. So he brought out another order. This time, it was obvious that it was put in the oven, because it was sizzling and the plate was hot. Plus, some of the shrimp were darker than others only on the top, where the oven heat would have baked them. They just took plate and all and put it in the oven. It absolutely infuriated me that he would think I was that stupid to not know that he put the dish in the oven. How was the bill "taken care of"? I didn't have to pay for the lousy shrimp, and the manager gave me a card for a lousy bruschetta on a return trip I have no plans on making. My family used to go to Carabba's a few times a month, but stopped a few years ago when the Bensalem Health Dept. cited them for violationns. We only just started going back. It's a shame, because I generally don't eat chain restaurant food, and I am fussy with Italian food, being Italian myself, and I always thought Carabba's gave you a good, reliable meal. I don't have any plans to go back. I feel like they thought that I should just accept bad service and cold food, as well as lousy atitudes. If you enjoy being treated like crap, this is the place for you.
(1)
John C.
I've been a repeat customer at carrabba's and generally I leave without too many complaints. Their food is generally consistent across the chain, I.E. the food will taste the same at your local Carrabba's as it will at a remote destination. I would rate the food about 3.5 to 4 stars, within it's categroy. That being said, my recent visit was awful. I was waiting for about 20 minutes after I was seated to be greeted. When I pointed this out to our server, she just rolled her eyes and said it was busy. Appetizer took an about 25 minutes to come out, with out entree's following 5 minutes later. There are better options in the area, and while I may go back to a Carrabba's, it sure won't be this one.
(3)
Ma-e M.
i finally can say that i appreciate the food here. after repeat visits, i can truly say that carrabba beats olive garden in bread, some soup (except they are salty and spicy- too much pepper), food variety (pizza, grill, pasta & seafood), and specials. i changed my ranking. in my opinion, carrabba now leads the best italian food franchise, followed by 2. olive garden, 3. romano macaroni grill, and 4. maggiano's.
(4)
Robert E.
Why do people give 1 star just because it's a chain? The whole world knows it's a chain, and anyone coming here knows it won't be "authentic". But nonetheless, as far as chain restaurants go, it's the best out there. I highly recommend the lobster raviolis, the chicken or veal Marsala, and the spicy chicken soup rocks.
(5)
Christiana P.
I think a 4/5 is awesome for a chain restaurant! I went with my fiance' for date night this past weekend and it was delicious! You are served bread with olive oil when you sit down and it is awesome! We also ordered the Bruchetta (ingredients change weekly?)...but that night it was cheese covered in marinara, delicious! I ordered the Pasta Martino, it is pasta, chicken and mushrooms in garlic and olive oil. I highly recommend! I could taste the garlic and the mushrooms were cooked just right. The chicken was fresh and pasta wasn't too mushy. My fiance had the lobster ravioli which he wasn't too excited about. I don't like lobster so I can't comment... Our server was friendly and attentive. She brought me a new water with a fresh lemon multiple times without letting my glass empty. It really is a great deal for the price...our appetizer, two entrees (all entrees come with a soup or salad), soda and sangria came to $50. The quality is worth the price!
(4)
Stephanie D.
I ordered the pizza, and got food poisening!
(1)
Michael W.
go here, order anything, and be amazed as you forget your in a chain restaurant and not a 5 star establishment in center city. the filet fiorentina is simply astounding, unbelievable value. for an extra special experience, sit at the pasta bar (along the open kitchen), where the drama of the kitchen and flaming grills provide great entertainment.
(5)
Jon L.
Great Italian chain, leagues above Macaroni Grille or Olive Garden. I used to go every weekend with my dad, and our favorite thing was to get counter service in front of the open kitchen. It was tons of fun (as a child, at least) to watch the cooks do their thing, and they'd even kick out free samples every once in a while. Nothing bad about the place, really. The calamari were always excellent, and the salads were big enough to order as a meal.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
L.M. Z.
Yes it's a chain but the food here is pretty great. We've eaten here a few times now. Servers are always nice as well as quick. I love their salad. Mr. Z always talks me into the mozzarella marinara (appetizer) which is so good. As for entrees , anything containing chicken makes me happy and I've tried almost every chicken dish they offer. All of them have been good. Try it out. There's a reason they're always packed.
(4)Mickey F.
For a chain restaurant, I was pretty impressed. It has a nice atmosphere, homey & comfy seating. The food was very good (again usually not a fan of chain food) but this was good. I had the pasta bolognese and my girlfriend had the penne romano with grilled chicken - both delicious. I will say the service wasn't great, but I have a hard time judging a place based on one person's service on one particular night. I will definitely return!
(4)Nancy N.
This is the only Carrabba's location that I've tried and I loved it! The first time, we had my friend/co-worker's surprise baby shower here. The manager who helped me plan it and set up a reservation was awesome and very accommodating since we had it during work hours. They were awesome and was able to do an appetizer sampler for us so we could try a few dishes in one. The second time I was here was a Monday night with my cousin's family. They have Amore Mondays where you can get a 3 course meal for $15.99-$18.99. Such a good deal and so filling! I barely finished my meal. Both times the service was awesome. This location definitely has their staff well trained.
(4)Ancy T.
Great service, good food!! So if you've read some of my other reviews, you'd know that I frequently place large orders for myself and coworkers when we are working long hours, and most often places mess something up with our orders. I can HAPPILY SAY that Carrabbas does an amazing job, every time. 1. They label everything by person's name - entree, sides - you name it, it's labeled. 2. They attach a label to the outside of the bags so you know which orders are in which bag without having to put in too much effort 3. They've never forgotten an order, and sometimes our orders are for as many as 15 people 4. They have car - side to go! THANK YOU. This has become a go-to place for my coworkers and I because we know that on stressful days, we won't have to worry about dinner because carrabbas gets it right everytime. I wish all of the restaurants in Bensalem would put in this same effort, because many places have lost our interest due to these little details that are SO IMPORTANT. In addition to this awesome service, the food is pretty good! I appreciate the fact that they neatly package the bread and oil and other condiments for us so that we don't miss out on the entire dining - in experience. I recommend this place because I feel the food and service has always been consistent!
(4)Jeanne P.
I may be judging the place too harshly, but this is coming from someone who really doesn't like chain restaurants. The only reason why I came here was because the person I was with had a gift card, and asked me to go. I almost felt like I was betraying every small and local Italian restaurant, as well as my family. We came here around 3:00. There were two or three other tables with people at them, the rest of the place was empty. We were quickly seated. Our waiter took a long time to come over to us, though I pretty much heard his life story before he even came to the table. You would think on a slow afternoon, you'd be trying to get the most out of each table as they came in. I ordered the Pollo Rosa Maria with a side of broccoli, my opposition ordered chicken parm with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. We started with salads and bread, both were great. Bread was warm, and I enjoyed the oil/herb addition to the table. We waited about 30-40 minutes for our meals, which I thought was pretty wild. Finally got our food. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't go. Charging almost $17 for a plate with a piece of chicken and broccoli on it is absurd to me. I think they tried to cook the broccoli in Italian dressing, but I'm not sure... it didn't taste too good, and I actually added salt (which is something I never do). My chicken was kind of dry. The best part about it was the sauteed mushrooms on top. They came out pretty decent. For the price and the portion size, absolutely does not do it for me. The chicken parmigiana was kind of weird...I've never seen it made that may. It was an overcooked piece of chicken with a little bit of sauce under the piece of cheese that was on it. It didn't taste good and the mashed potatoes had a funky taste to them as well. I couldn't put my finger on the taste that they add, but it definitely wasn't garlic. We ate pretty quick and waited about 15 minutes for our waiter to come by. I heard him chatting with the other servers for quite some time, so I knew he wasn't running around taking care of other people. We were his only table. It was just kind of annoying. We still tipped him 20%. As a previous server, it's just in me to do that unless someone is completely mean to me or something. If you like chain restaurants, you might like this place. If you're Italian, like...your Grandmom might punch you in the face because she heard you ate here Italian...pass it by. There's better options and more bang for your buck. I personally wouldn't spend my own money here, it's a rip off.
(2)Amanda N.
My family loves Carrabba's, so more often than not we end up eating there for dinner. I feel like I am missing something. Like my family is ordering from some sort of secret menu I haven't been let in on, and they are all experiencing delicious food that they want to eat over and over again....yet I end up with an okay salad and a sub-par pizza. The other night I ordered the Quattro Formaggi pizza and a house salad. The house salad is usually pretty good, but this time the dressing seemed a little bit different. A little less cheesey maybe? Their bread and olive oil concoction makes up for the lack luster salad - so I gave it a pass. The pizza, though, was just not good. It lacked flavor and almost tasted like I was eating something from the microwave. I love and eat a lot of pizza and if I don't finish my pizza - you know something is wrong! I ended up giving the rest of it to my family. I think next time I am sitting out for Carrabba's...sorry fam!
(2)Stephen B.
I've been going hear to eat for along time. Yes there prices are alittle high. But let me tell you your not going to get a nice dinner any more fresher then hear. Everything most definitely homemade hear. I like how they cook all the food out in the open. Waiting for a seat is never a issue. The staff is nice, waitress always come back to your table to see if you need anything. Few of my most favorites has to be. The bread they bring out is like it just came out of the oven and bring the good oil out to dip the bread in. That's definitely a winner. And there muscles in red sauce are really good to for a appetizer. And one of my favorite dinners are the chicken marsala with a Caesar salad that's so fresh when they bring it out. And can't have dinner without a cold bottle of Miller Lite and a unsweetened ice tea to go along with everything esle.
(5)Agnes A.
Enjoyed our meal as always at Carabbas. The mussels my husband had were delicious. I had the Fra Diavolo shrimp and there were too many of them for me to finish. This is a good restaurant
(4)Denise D.
Ate here for the first time. The food was great and the waitress was very friendly. If I'm in the area again I'll return.
(5)Lisa M.
So far so good we had the $12 3 course meal fried calamari were good, the service is great and speedy salads were fresh
(4)Ashley P.
I usually love this Carrabba's but this time my experience was so disappointing. I ordered chicken fettuccini alfredo, which I always order because it's consistently good. Well not this time! The dish was very salty and the mushrooms and peas which normally come in the dish were completely missing. To top it off, my friend got to the restaurant before me and when I arrived the bread was already on the table and cold... so no warm bread for me. There were only two of us, so why would the waitress bring bread before the second person arrived??? The waitress never offered to refill my soda and when I requested extra napkins she forgot. It's a shame, but based on this last experience I don't think I'll be back to Carrabba's for a long time.
(1)j j.
Expect to wait. Expect to be rushed. Expect mediocre food. We made reservations - it cut our wait time considerably. The waitstaff was attentive. Within a few minutes of being served the salads the entrees were delivered. The table is too small to hold the glasses and plates. I was astonished at the lack of time management of the courses. The waitstaff apologized. he manager apologized. After clearing away our dinners the waitstaff said that the manager wanted to provide us with a free dessert. Now we waited and then waited and waited. A dessert was delivered to our table. We did not eat it. If we were offered to choose our dessert we would have chosen a different item. A poor experience.
(2)Tom A.
excellent service, nice and clean atmosphere. prices are ok. $15 gets you a great pasta meal with soup or salad. soup was great. my girlfriend didn't like the salad but then again... its just a salad. our waitress was the best part. only downfall to the meal was some of the pasta was sticking together but I'm nit-picking at that point. A+
(4)Daniel S.
Great food, if you get one of the signature meals. Servers are good and bad :)
(5)Judy V.
Carrabba's were advertising about the Second Helping in which they change the selection seasonally, so my friend and I decided to go for it. I ordered the Rigatoni Martino. It consisted of wood-grilled chicken, sautéed mushrooms and sundried tomatoes tossed in tomato cream sauce and topped with scallions and ricotta cheese. The pasta was just.. OK. As well as the chicken. It's the cream sauce that really saved this dish. When they said they really took their time with their homemade sauces, they weren't kidding. You could definitely tell the quality difference between Carrabba's and other chain Italian restaurants. My girlfriend ordered the Linguine with Clams. She gave me a portion and it honestly tasted quite bland. The clams were a tad rubbery as well. Overall, the food was mediocre (aside from the sauce) and the menu has a very small selection to choose from but we had a fantastic waitress who was very accommodating and well educated about all of their dishes. She made our experience very enjoyable (thus the 4 stars). I probably won't frequent as much but will return in the future for the great ambience.
(4)Tanya P.
Amazing caprese salad omg the sweet balsamic is to die for. Lobster mac & cheese omg nona where are you.
(5)Bruce B.
Went here with a friend for lunch last weekend not knowing what to expect because it was my first time eating at Carrabba's It is a nicely decorated comfy spot with lots of plush booths to sit in. Our waitress, Catherine came out the starters box with an attitude, coming across way too surly for my dollar. We ordered coffee and it came out too lukewarm for my friend and she asked if she could warm it up in the microwave for her. Not a difficult request you'd think huh? Wrong! She responded with a snooty attitude "We don't have a microwave and I will have to make a fresh pot" and she made no effort to do that, she just took the coffee away and never replaced it. We asked her what the specials were and she said there were no specials during lunch, later I overheard another server cheerfully running down the specials to his table. SMH! My lunch was fine, Pork Chop Marsala, Salad and Fettuccine Alfredo, but my friend's lunch was bland, tasteless and uninspiring. Certainly not worth the money or our time.
(2)Madeen A.
We didn't get to eat. we waited there for more than half an hour and just gave up, and left.
(1)Mini P.
I've been to Carrabba's numerous times and each time has been hit or miss with food and service. Typical chain restaurant I guess. Sometimes the food is great and sometimes it's like, "Why did I come here again?" I guess I keep coming back with hopes of reliving the sumptuous meals I have actually had there. The place itself is warm, cozy and dimly lit. If you are going on a weekend, prepare to wait a bit. During my last visit, the meal was actually decent. What I didn't like was the service. The server seemed to rush through his script and was not so attentive to our needs. He didn't go the extra mile and not once did he smile! Almost felt like he was bothered that we where there. Maybe that was my last time at Carrabba's and maybe not!
(2)Timothy A.
Service has diminished over the past year... So much so, I just was here for almost 3 hours. Lost a lifelong customer after this experience of being neglected. Carrabbas = Poor service.
(1)Holly C.
Love love love the food!.....they will make you something that use to be on the menu with no problem. Their service is great and everyone is always friendly!!
(5)Tom W.
Went here for dinner and the service was excellent. The server was friendly and knowledgeable. The food came out super fast and was delicious. I had the lobster ravioli and sicillian chicken soup with apple crustada for dessert. My daughter had a kid's pizza and it was all good. If you are in the area and read this EAT HERE!!
(5)Reece L.
Food was great service was terrible. I sat the same time as a couple that frequents the place often. I actually order my food before the couple did. But they received their food first paid and was gone before my soup arrived. My appetizer was delicious. It was the shrimp diablo (spell chk) and it came out fast. Then It took 25 minutes to get my soup, Then another 15 fifteen for my entree I had chic parm, but my noodles were cold. Meanwhile every time I finished a dish they would just pile up in front of me and not being removed. I had a glass of water that was empty from the time I finished by app and until my soup came. The couple had primarily a guy bartender and I had a female. The female bartender was terrible. She gave me the "oops I forgot to ring in your food look" When I asked if my food was coming soon.
(2)Ravi J.
Good Things first ;) The place was completely full and we had to wait little while but it's fine looking at the location of restaurant .. Service was fast and Servers were great and she even asked us if this is our first time at this restaurant [which was affirmative] and helped us to run our the Menu .. Make sure you request their Private booths, it's totally worth it if you wanna spent some good time with your date. We ordered thier Stuffed Pasta and 1 of thier Signature Pasta [ I guess it was something called Tag Pic Pac] which was great and liked it alot but the other one was Disaster [Manicotti] .. " Dessert Rosa " was the one that took the rating from *** [3] to **** [4], made me fan of the one .. I usually don't like strawberries but it was already in the cake so couldn't avoid it so we went ahead as my wife loves them and they never tasted that good before this .. I loved this one :) Try this one and I am sure you will love it !!
(4)John G.
When the owner learned our children had food allergies, he personally came over to talk to us and then also personally ensured they were kept safe from cross-contamination or other accident. Really wonderful evening. Great food and peace of mind (so difficult for those with children with severe food allergies).
(5)Chris G.
We sat right away. Waitress was nice and gave good suggestions since I had never been here. Food was good. Service was attentive. Price was cheap. Food was delivered quickly. Decor and ambiance was semi romantic. Sangria needed some work but now I'm just being picky. I had no complaints. 5 stars unless Im going to rate the pictures on the wall or faded lines in the parking lot.
(5)Chiller G.
The best.soup,mussels,and Tracy our waitress.
(3)Kisente F.
I brought a family of 7 here. We had to wait for 30 minutes which wasn't a problem since it was a busy day and they don't take reservations. Once, we were seated the waittress was friendly and knowledgeable. We ordered lasagne, grilled salmon, linguine pecastore and chicken parm for our main entree. Every thing was delicious (the quality of food here surpasses Olive Garden). However, we still prefer the bread and salad in Olive Garden (the only reason we would go there) over here. I was the only one who had enough room for dessert. I was glad they brought back the cannoli for a limited of time, so I ordered it. It was a wonderful dessert.
(4)Sarah F.
Early this year, I ordered the Chicken Bryan (my once favorite dish from Carrabbas). I hadn't eaten yet that day and was really looking forward to it. I then ended up in the hospital with food poisoning and severe dehydration. I haven't been back since and nothing anyone could offer me would get me through that door again.
(1)Sophie K.
I am not a fan of most chain restaurants, but after one trip this may be one of my favorites. The calamari was FANTASTIC. My main course, a pasta dish, was good as well. The service was good regardless of the busy night. I will definitely be coming back soon.
(4)RONALD R.
WOW man was this good the wife and i were stuffed and took some home . we had antipasti lobster mac and cheese and i had the Sirloin* and Crab Stuffed Shrimp USDA Choice 7 oz. sirloin paired with three shrimp stuffed with tender jumbo lump crabmeat and peppers and topped with our lemon butter sauce, served with the your choice of side. Substitute grilled shrimp for stuffed shrimp, if you prefer. wife had scampi with lobster and loved it we will be going back again so go try some stuff and have fun yumm yummm fast server food was hot and the salad with their house dressing was real good also .
(5)j h.
Went down hill. Portions are smaller and taste not a fresh as before. Definitely not the best Italian but not the worst I have had. They rely on garlic to flavor/overpower every dish. When I leave for the rest of the night I'm soo thirsty and I can't get the garlic taste out of my mouth. I'm a fan of garlic but everything tastes like it comes from the same base ingredients.
(2)Andrew S.
Went last night. Good food. Had the chicken parm and broccoli. Excellent. I plan on returning to this chain! Thumbs up.
(4)stephen M.
For the Scampi app alone I will be a fan until I die!
(5)Tess G.
Love this place! Great food & drinks. Prices aren't too high. Have gone here for several special occasions.
(5)Debra L.
Love this place. Pasta dishes are great. Some good tips. Show your Parx casino card and get a free dessert. If they are crowded and there's a wait, ask the hostess if you can sit at the counter. Counter is usually empty and you can watch them cook. Sometimes you'll get a free appetizer too. Reasonably priced.
(4)DJ M.
Yes Virginia, it is a chain restaurant! And I am NOT a fan of the Olive Garden, nor the Red Lobster or many of the other chain restaurants including Carrabba's sister store, the Outback Steakhouse. Carrabba's Italian Grill was founded in Houston by Johnny Carrabba and Damian Mandola in December of 1986. Both Johnny and Damian have extensive restaurant experience and belong to one of Houston's most successful restaurant families. Many of the recipes on their menu are those of Damian's mother Grace and sister Rose. Damian has preserved the Italian authenticity of Carrabba's food by traveling the world in search of unique Italian dishes and by taking numerous trips to his grandparents' native Italy. After many travels to the Houston area, Carrabba's caught the attention of Aussie-themed Outback Steakhouse, Inc. owners. A joint venture partnership was formed in January of 1993. Under the joint partnership, 10 locations were opened in Houston and in Florida. In January, 1995, Outback Steakhouse, Inc. acquired the rights to develop Carrabba's nationwide. There are currently over 200 Carrabba's Italian Grill locations. Okay, since they say it so much better than I can, that of course was copied from their web page, but I personally can attest to THE BREAD is the very best around! You know all the sauces are homemade. The marsala sauce is as good as Vin & Eddies or any great Italian restaurant. I personally love the Pasta Weesie, except I have them serve it over linguini instead of fettuccine. I really do get a good filet mignon here. The lobster ravioli is a good choice and one of hubby's favorites. The Calamari Ricardo is wonderful with a spicy red pepper and lemon butter sauce. They also have hand tossed and made to order personal pizzas. Check them out @ carrabbas.com/menu/pdf/M… Don't boo them until you have tried them!
(4)Sophia L.
Loved my first trip! Hated the waiting time, which was ridiculous. Service is average. but the food was surprisingly good! Loved all the apps and main courses~ Will definitely come back when it's not too busy
(3)Christopher P.
Food is always yummy when prepared properly at any Carrabba's. Always had a good experience with this one so far. Only gripe is the hours. 4pm-9pm. So no early dinner or late dinner. If you do come here, make sure you call ahead to get on the waiting list. They let you do this. Weekdays are best to go here because it is a zoo on the weekends and you will be waiting a long time for dinner. If you like mussels, they are awesome here. Spicy chicken soup is awesome as well as the salads. The steaks are very good as well as the pork chops.
(4)Dawn Maria D.
I ate at this Carabba's three times since mid May. Yesterday was the worst experience I have ever had here, and probably one of my worst restaurant experiences ever. I was at Carabba's with my parents for Father's Day. We walked in and were seated right away. We told the waittress we knew what we wanted and she took our order. A few minutes she came back with drinks. Maybe 10 minutes later, she came back with the two orders of mussels we ordered. She cleared the table, and a little while later, brought salads. After she cleared the salads, she stopped by once and asked if we were "ok with drinks and bread" and said our dinners would be ready "soon". So we waited, and waited, and waited, and then we all noticed that it was after 5, and still didn't get food. So we called the waittress back, and she said that it was almost ready, but they were waiting to get all the orders finished so that all three meals would come out together. I told the waittress that if one order was finished, that meant it was sitting getting cold and that I didn't want cold food. She said "Oh no, it won't be cold". About 5:20, the food came out, and it was ice cold. All three meals were sent back. I told the server that we waited almost an hour and a half and did not want cold food. She said it would be reheated. I told her I didn't want it reheated, I expected fresh food and had a right to expect that, and I refused to eat anythng microwaved. She said they don't have a microwave, they put it in a pan and toss it. Now, I had ordered Pasta Weezie, and anyone with half a brain knows that eating shrimp that was held at the wrong temperature is almost a sure trip to the ER, and I had no idea how long it layed before it was sent out. I said again that I don't want it reheated. She was getting very annoyed and you could see that it bothered her that I challenged her regarding my notion that I should expect the hot, fresh food that I ordered. Another plate came out maybe 5 minutes later. Ice cold. Even colder than the first one. I was furious now and told the server to send the manager because I refused to eat it. My parents' food was warmer, but all they did was reheat theirs. The manager came and he apologized. He stasrted saying that he " would take care of the bill" and assured me that he would get me a hot, fresh order. So he brought out another order. This time, it was obvious that it was put in the oven, because it was sizzling and the plate was hot. Plus, some of the shrimp were darker than others only on the top, where the oven heat would have baked them. They just took plate and all and put it in the oven. It absolutely infuriated me that he would think I was that stupid to not know that he put the dish in the oven. How was the bill "taken care of"? I didn't have to pay for the lousy shrimp, and the manager gave me a card for a lousy bruschetta on a return trip I have no plans on making. My family used to go to Carabba's a few times a month, but stopped a few years ago when the Bensalem Health Dept. cited them for violationns. We only just started going back. It's a shame, because I generally don't eat chain restaurant food, and I am fussy with Italian food, being Italian myself, and I always thought Carabba's gave you a good, reliable meal. I don't have any plans to go back. I feel like they thought that I should just accept bad service and cold food, as well as lousy atitudes. If you enjoy being treated like crap, this is the place for you.
(1)John C.
I've been a repeat customer at carrabba's and generally I leave without too many complaints. Their food is generally consistent across the chain, I.E. the food will taste the same at your local Carrabba's as it will at a remote destination. I would rate the food about 3.5 to 4 stars, within it's categroy. That being said, my recent visit was awful. I was waiting for about 20 minutes after I was seated to be greeted. When I pointed this out to our server, she just rolled her eyes and said it was busy. Appetizer took an about 25 minutes to come out, with out entree's following 5 minutes later. There are better options in the area, and while I may go back to a Carrabba's, it sure won't be this one.
(3)Ma-e M.
i finally can say that i appreciate the food here. after repeat visits, i can truly say that carrabba beats olive garden in bread, some soup (except they are salty and spicy- too much pepper), food variety (pizza, grill, pasta & seafood), and specials. i changed my ranking. in my opinion, carrabba now leads the best italian food franchise, followed by 2. olive garden, 3. romano macaroni grill, and 4. maggiano's.
(4)Robert E.
Why do people give 1 star just because it's a chain? The whole world knows it's a chain, and anyone coming here knows it won't be "authentic". But nonetheless, as far as chain restaurants go, it's the best out there. I highly recommend the lobster raviolis, the chicken or veal Marsala, and the spicy chicken soup rocks.
(5)Christiana P.
I think a 4/5 is awesome for a chain restaurant! I went with my fiance' for date night this past weekend and it was delicious! You are served bread with olive oil when you sit down and it is awesome! We also ordered the Bruchetta (ingredients change weekly?)...but that night it was cheese covered in marinara, delicious! I ordered the Pasta Martino, it is pasta, chicken and mushrooms in garlic and olive oil. I highly recommend! I could taste the garlic and the mushrooms were cooked just right. The chicken was fresh and pasta wasn't too mushy. My fiance had the lobster ravioli which he wasn't too excited about. I don't like lobster so I can't comment... Our server was friendly and attentive. She brought me a new water with a fresh lemon multiple times without letting my glass empty. It really is a great deal for the price...our appetizer, two entrees (all entrees come with a soup or salad), soda and sangria came to $50. The quality is worth the price!
(4)Stephanie D.
I ordered the pizza, and got food poisening!
(1)Michael W.
go here, order anything, and be amazed as you forget your in a chain restaurant and not a 5 star establishment in center city. the filet fiorentina is simply astounding, unbelievable value. for an extra special experience, sit at the pasta bar (along the open kitchen), where the drama of the kitchen and flaming grills provide great entertainment.
(5)Jon L.
Great Italian chain, leagues above Macaroni Grille or Olive Garden. I used to go every weekend with my dad, and our favorite thing was to get counter service in front of the open kitchen. It was tons of fun (as a child, at least) to watch the cooks do their thing, and they'd even kick out free samples every once in a while. Nothing bad about the place, really. The calamari were always excellent, and the salads were big enough to order as a meal.
(4)Megan T.
not bad.. but not very excited either.
(4)