The decor, from the chianti bottle door handles to the fake mosaic tabletops, was ridiculous. While the chicken was grilled nicely, and my boyfriend liked the fontina on top of his, the side dishes were not spectacular overall though I did like the garlic in the zucchini. Our desserts were tiny and oddly just given to us from the spread that our waiter was describing--that made us question whether we were getting food that had been sitting out a while. The menus, regular and the summer grill fixe, were somewhat difficult to understand. It didn't actually seem to matter to our waiter what menu we were using. My boyfriend and I ended up with three side dishes, two salads, and two desserts between us even though we thought we were ordering from the regular menu which had more side dish choices to go with our main entrees. In any case, while we enjoyed ourselves, the whole dinner was way more costly than what we expected to pay. We had been thinking more along the lines of Olive Garden or Applebee's pricing. Over $16 for most chicken dishes seemed steep. We'll probably stick with non-chain restaurants that are less expensive, too, in the future.
(3)
Tracy A.
Pretty darn decent for a chain. 3.5 stars. Ate here recently with some relatives -- we all stuck to the spaghetti-and-meatball traditional stuff. Good food all around. They were crazy busy, and couldn't get waited on (couldn't even get water) for quite awhile. Finally, things calmed down and our service was A-OK. The lentil soup was tasty, though since it contained quite a bit of Italian sausage, it was fairly salty. My spaghetti was sauced perfectly --- not at all drippy, just lightly tossed in tomato sauce.
(4)
Tatyana G.
I know it's a chain restaurant! Big deal! Took my parents there a day before Father's Day. All 6 of us (my parents, me, my husband and my kids) had different entrees but all of them were great. I know, 5 stars might be too much but we had the best waiter Mario and we were also treated to a "show". they had only one busboy but what a worker! It was a pleasure to see him work. It took him less than a minute to clean out the table, wash everything and set it up again. And he did an excellent job! He was so fast it was even entertaining. Yes, we left an extra tip for him sc\pecifically and told the manager that he is awesome. Hope the kid gets some kind of a raise or reward.
(5)
Cindy C.
First time eating at Carrabas...it was ok. I had the rigatoni al forno and it was not bad (not great either), DiCicco's is way better!!! We started with calamari and that was pretty good, although it came out so fast I question whether it was made to order. My salad was so-so....no tomatoes or onions, just lettuce, 2 nasty kalamata olives, carrots and celery (?)!!! My husband will be writing a review about his meal, so look for Rob's review. The server was Aaron and he was very good. When Rob questioned some ingredients Aaron was very quick to try to please. He gave us free mini desserts that were awesome!! The chocolate mousse with cookie crumbles and coconuts....YUMMMM!!!!! We will give them another try because of Aaron and get something else...I will update my review then.
(3)
John C.
This is one of my favorite places to eat. As many times as I've eaten here I've never been disappointed. The Chicken Marsala is fantastic!
(5)
Emilee D.
Came here for dinner and really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere. The menu options aren't as vast as other Italian places, but it makes ordering a bit easier. You also get a nice, hot bread basket with seasoned olive oil for dipping. I had the bruschetta for an appetizer. I love the flavor of the topping, but the bread was a little too toasted for me and tore up my mouth. I ended up just eating the topping. For my entree, I had the pasta weesie. It's basically fettuccine alfredo with shrimp and mushrooms. The shrimp was very succulent and the alfredo sauce smooth. Very tasty! The staff here are pretty attentive so you don't have to wait ten years to get your drink refilled. The prices are also very reasonable.
(4)
Derek N.
It was nothing special. The staff was a little slow, but the food was good.
(3)
Albie F.
Got into Denver pretty late on a business trip and we had to find a dinner spot, and had to decide between Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's. Didn't feel like steak so I was glad we went with the Italian choice even though Carrabba's is apparently a chain restaurant. Too bad Yelp doesn't have half stars because I'd say Carrabba's is a solid 3.5. I got the chicken Santa Maria (waiter's recommended chicken entree) and it was very well cooked with olive oil and some cheese in between the chicken breasts sliced in half width wise. It was quite oily but in a good way with a side of spinach. We also grabbed a calamari/fried mozzarella as the appetizer and after everything was said and done, we were looking at $30/person. Considering that we got there only 10 minutes before they officially closed and that we stayed for almost an hour after they officially closed, we were very happy they were servicing our needs.
(3)
Lucas M.
Pretty good food but our waitress/staff was much weaker than the sauce on the pasta! waitress completely forgot to bring us our drinks from the bar twice and got no support from the 5 other employess literally standing around waiting for the dinner rush.
(2)
Laurie W.
What keeps me coming back to Carrabba's is the Caesar salad. Everyone here knows that I have a thing for Caesar salad. Oh, I know, it's terrible for you. But I love it. Gosh do I love it! Carrabba's Caesar is just vinegary enough and has just a hint of anchovy. It also features good crutons and a nice amount of Parmesan cheese. Yum! Other than that, everything we have tried has been very good. The service is good and we always enjoy it when we go to dinner at Carrabba's. Oh, and the white wine sangria is very good, with bright citrus flavor.
(3)
Tim K.
This may be a franchise restaurant but it is quite good. Had some reservations about a "chain" restaurant and I was very surprised. First of all the staff could not have been more friendly, helpful and genuinely service oriented, from the hostess to the server to the bus person. The menu had a good variety of offerings with moderate prices. My son and I both ordered house salads and an entree. We also received all the warm bread we could eat and my Diet Coke got refilled as soon as I had downed half of what was in the glass. Portions were enough to fill you up nicely and the food was tasty, well seasoned and the pasta in both dishes was done correctly, not soggy at all. Check for two salads, two entrees, soft drinks came to $38.00, not bad. Not your true Italian dining experience but good enough that I will return. I can do without the fancy tables, dinner ware, singers and often times arrogant staff.
(4)
Jodi A.
I wasn't overly impressed with the fare. If I can cook it better than the restaurant, I am not real motivated to return. I LOVE Italian food, this just did not give you the homemade warm-fuzzies of a real Italian meal. I could have zapped a Stouffers lasagna and felt the same about this food. Meh. No thanks.
(3)
Art V.
Food was excellent / the server made a mistake on the appetizer / he also made a mistake on the main course. HE GOT THE BILL PERFECT
(4)
Sumay J.
Pretty good food.
(4)
Annie B.
We went back to Carrabba's again the other night. The service was fantastic, the food was wonderful and yet again I was far from disappointed! It may be a chain, but Carrabba's is so delicious! The pasta weezie, a house salad and the ricardo calamari are my recommendations. But everything I've tried on the menu has been wonderful. Just wanted to refresh my review and let everyone know that this chain rocks!
(4)
Josh T.
So it is a chain... that isn't always a bad thing. I have eaten at multiple Carrabba's across the US hundreds of times, in fact while my wife worked that the location in Woodbridge, VA in 2000, I ate there on average 4-5 times a week for about a year. Yes, this played hell on my waistline. We have always received outstanding service at the location in Aurora. This is a restaurant that always delivers fresh, top quality, and truly great food. I have yet to find better Mussels in the Denver area, their steaks are fantastic as are their pasta dishes. With that said, I am of the opinion that if you are one of those who actually go out to eat Spaghetti then you are wasting your time, money, and are taking up a seat I could be sitting in. The specials at Carrabba's are that... special. These are non-menu items that typically have a short run and have never disappointed. Whether it was braised Italian beef pot roast, lamb shank, or their Italian gnocchi. Their desserts, are all equally delicious. I would recommend any one of them.
(4)
Michael R.
My favorite chain restaurant. I usually get the filet marsala which is excellent if you've never had it. Cooked to a perfect rare with the usual bread, salad and sides. Bartender was very friendly and the service was good.
(4)
Kristen U.
This is my all time favorite restaurant. Everything is always delicious and the customer service is top notch! I try something new all the time and have never been dissapointed.
(5)
Erin J.
Have to admit I was a bit hesitant when we walked in, looked a little cheesier than I thought it'd be and a lot more casual. However, their summer menu is awesome, such a good deal and plenty of great food! Chicken Bryan was fantastic, as was the mouth watering pollo Rosa Maria. The tomato salad is phenominal, such great tomatoes that hold up to the dressing an a wonderful fresh but not overwhelming taste of basil. I'll go back again!
(4)
Scott G.
Had a pretty good meal here with my wife while in town. My bill seemed higher than I anticipated for the same kind of food at competitors. Anyway, the meal was good and the service was adequate. Sat around and talked after dinner for a bit and thouhgt about getting something else but the waiter never came back during the next 45 minutes to see if I might want another drink or desert. Overall though the expereince here is good.
(3)
Matt T.
Carrabba's has the BEST Italian food. This place has great service and great food. The smell inside is amazing. Everyone should try this place. My recommendation is the Italian Classics with cavatappi amatriciana and the Mediterranean salad. Someday I will try something different but I love this dish. Highly recommend Carrabb's no matter where it is.
(5)
Stefani T.
I created my Yelp account just to write this review. 5 stars might seem a bit extreme for a chain restaurant. I have worked at Carrabba's as a teenager and eaten at locations throughout Colorado, Virginia, Maryland. THIS location is by far the best I have ever dealt with. I do like Carrabba's food- I lived in Italy for 5 years and it is nice to eat americanized-italian food that isn't all cheese and red sauces. Made from scratch alfredo (not that horrible stuff the get in vats at O.G.- I know, I worked there as a teen too) brick-oven pizza, & great chicken dishes set Carrabba's apart from other italian joints. But what sets this location apart is the consistency and service. I have utilized the Aurora Carrabba's for many work functions- I am a school secretary and they always come through with a delicious meal, that is reasonably priced. Whether busy or slow, food is always great when dining in. And they go above and beyond. I had tickets to see a play downtown, and was meeting family first for dinner. Weather was kind of cruddy, and one of our party ran really late, cutting our time to dine to practically nothing. I called ahead and preordered our dinner to eat IN, we walked in and a hot plate of awesome Chicken Bryan with a caesar salad, bread and drink was waiting for me, my mom and my sister's Chicken Pizza came out as we were taking off our coats. Manager was completely accommodating, bartender who was waiting on our table was super quick, and we got out in no time. Kudos to a well run location!
(5)
Beth D.
I love Carrabba's. I used to work there as a server for about a year and a half so I have first hand experience. The most important thing you should know about the food is that it is all made from scratch, from fresh ingredients delivered daily. The soup, salad dressings, every pasta sauce, breadcrumbs, the herb mix you use for the bread....all from scratch. The calamari, fried zucchini and mozzarella are breaded to order. This is why their prices are higher than other chains. Nothing on your plate was frozen, pre-made or processed. In my opinion, fresh homemade food is about as good as it gets.
(5)
Matt G.
Great mussels and chicken parm
(4)
Celia M.
This is the best italian restaurant you can visit in Denver and it's surroundings. Great customer services and even better food. I tried almost everything in the menu. Veal Marsala and the Spedino di mare are my favorites my husband loves the chicken Bryan and Chicken Rosa Maria, each one of this dishes have a fabulous flavor each bite it's unique and unforgettable. The minestrone soup it's divine, the best i ever had. I also recommend their Bruschetta and for dessert a Rosa Maria cake, just like grandma's
(5)
Robert C.
Veal Picatta without Capers???? This was my first time in a Carrabba's Italian Grill and I wasn't too impressed. I realize that some things on an Italian restaurant's menu aren't always made the same way. Chicken Cacciatore for and example, I've always known it to have chicken, green peppers, mushrooms and onions sauteed in a Marinara and served over rice or maybe pasta . At Carrabba's the chicken is served with red peppers and onions over polenta. I'm not going to even try it. I think the green peppers and mushrooms make the dish myself. Aaron was understanding and offered to have mushrooms added to the Chicken Cacciatore when I mentioned the lack of mushrooms when we were ordering but I declined and ordered the Veal Picatta instead. My wife and I shared an order of Calamari and as my wife stated in her review, it came out fast. I think they could have cooked it a little longer, it wasn't quite golden yet. I liked my Italian salad, it was the best part of my meal. Then out came the Veal Picatta, now given what I said earlier about certain Italian dishes made differently at different restaurants I have to say I've never heard of any restaurant serving any thing called "Picatta" without capers. As far as I know Picatta is lemon, capers and butter. Aaron offered to send my veal back and have capers added to it and sauteed a bit longer but that idea just sounded wrong to me. He was nice and did bring us complimentary mini desserts which were excellent but as far as I'm concerned Carrabba's already has two strikes. We will go back and give them another try but I guarantee you I won't be ordering the Chicken Cacciatore or the Picatta!
(3)
Amanda S.
Carabbas has the customer experience bit down, their food is amazing (especially their seasonal stuff), they have a great wine selection, and their ambiance and service make you feel like you are spending a lot more than you actually are. The service at the Abilene location is always top notch and the standards and practices of this restaurant chain are a flawless recipe for success.
(5)
Melisa L.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here for the first time and it will not be our last. Food was great and our server Ana was wonderful, always made sure we had refills and checked on us regularly :)
(5)
Michael C.
Getting your main coarse is slooooow. The seafood manocati is good.
(3)
Chris Y.
d not eaten here for quite a while as the menu did not thrill us. We received a coupon, and decided to give it a chance. We were pleasantly surprised. Both entrees were awesome, tasty and a nice presentation. I was surprised it was not busier than it was. The food was great, so if you are like us, and have not tried it for a while, I recommend giving it another try. The service was also superior.
(5)
Barbara S.
Whole wheat pasta like glue and with very little bland sauce. Extremely disappointed. Minestrone was good but not worth a return trip.
(1)
James B.
Salad and dinner plates were within 2 min of each other, never got a refill on iced tea and was double charged. The food was excellent so I give three stars for that.
(3)
Tanya V.
Very delicious food! Super fast and friendly staff members. Perfect timing with everything and great prices. Tried it today for the first time and will definitely be back there again!
(5)
Michael P.
Solid food, great service...one warning to people who expect fast casual Italian food do not come here. This place is a relaxed sit down establishment that makes the food fresh to order. Very attentive staff who makes that my family has been to very comfortable. Special requests are handled without complaining, and the portion sizes are just right for a family meal. Would recommend to anyone....
(4)
Eliza B.
Without a doubt the best Italian food anywhere! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the calamari and the Mamas Chicken Soup! The atmosphere and ambiance are relaxing and the food and service are exemplary! Never a bad meal or bad service, always my first choice for a romantic dinner out with my hubby!
(5)
Kelcie S.
First time hitting up this little Italian joint and I was very impressed. Had Monkia as our waitress and I have never been so impressed with someone's service. She made it the perfect evening as served with such class. Calamari was to die for as it was not over cooked or over breaded. The bread was served warm with delicious spices in olive oil. Really brought me back to Italy. Pasta was full of flavor and not over sauced like it should be.
(5)
Anthony P.
Great new dish, the Rigatoni Martino! Very good but of course you can never go wrong with the Calamari and Italian Sausage Lentil Soup. Try something new you may be surprised. Service a bit slow tonight but as long as you have an open mind you will be fine.
(4)
Jen M.
Great meal and great service. Ordered the filet based on other yelper reviews. It was delicious. Also had the sangria which was great, and so was the bread and the salad.
(4)
Denise R.
It's been years since I've been to a Carrabba's restaurant why I haven't been there is crazy to me this place is Good!! I have to say I had the best waitress she was so helpful I told her that I was very very picky on spices and sauces she let me try the actual sauce with not even having to ask for it she even brought me extra sauce on the side I also had a very delicious salad and we also had the tiramisu which was so good it is one of my favorites so I have to say thank you to my wonderful waitress I will definitely be back
(5)
laurie z.
The meal that was mediocre at best. The veal was slightly tough. I was charged extra for sticky overcooked pasta and bland Alfredo sauce. The bread comes with oil and herbs to dip it in, which is good. The drink prices are higher than any other restaurant around!!!!!!!!!!!
(2)
Veronica S.
So I decided to celebrate Mother's Day at my favorite restaurant and I was very very disappointed. It started out ok with the calamari appetizer, but my chicken trio took forever to come out and when it did it was cold and my side of fettuccini didn't have enough sauce so it tasted like buttered noodles. The waitress asked if it was ok and I told her it was cold so she takes it back and all they did was try and warm it next to the oven. Came back slightly warm but the cheese on the pollo rosa maria was still cold and not melted, not to mention that this type of chicken is supposed to be stuffed with the cheese and prosciutto not just thrown on top. I give my husband kudos for trying to plan a nice evening for us, but definitely need to find a new favorite restaurant. Keep in mind we've been loyal customers for years. Hope this helps P.S. Prices have gone up again.
(2)
Marianne G.
We spent a lot of money for a meal that was mediocre at best.
(1)
Amy F.
I love pasta no matter what kind it is. Torn between and 3 and 4 star rating. I like Carrabba's- been here many times over the years and always get fast friendly service (sometimes too fast when they bring the main course out before the apps-but only happens once in a while) there is rarely a long wait to be seated. Good happy hour prices! The Filet Fiorentina is probably one of the best steaks I have ever had- melts like butter once it hits your mouth-great flavor as well. The wine selection is ok, but they do carry a great Pinot Grigio-Bisanzio! I think everything here is just A-OK, but the steak would get five stars alone!
(3)
Danny B.
Good. Decent. Used to go to the original in Houston so nostalgia more than anything for me.
(3)
Wellington J.
It must have been an off night. Normally, we love Carrabbas, but this was not a good night. The pasta was lacking in normal quantity and quality. The sauce was really bland, not the usual gusto that awakens the taste buds. Maybe a new chef?
(2)
Ruth F.
If you like nice spacious booths, and I know I do, then Carrabbas's is the restaurant for you.
(4)
Kelly S.
I love italian food but carrabba's was a disappointment. My minestrone soup tasted like it had been sitting out for a long time. It tasted like leftovers. Our salads were fresh but the onions were in MASSIVE slices. Our server was friendly, which warrants two stars because she was attentive, but our meals were plain too. Chicken Marsala was flavorless and my spicy seafood dish (I forgot the name) the shrimp were overcooked and it wasn't spicy. For what we paid, we get a lot more food and better quality at Maggiano's instead of carrabba's.
(2)
Lua F.
Whew! You could have a nice dinner here if it's not sports night or even a group of friends for something more casual! This place is great for any occasion :) Personally on this visit, we had a nice romantic dinner. Although we called ahead and asked for a more "private" table, when we arrived there was absolutely no record of our call. However, the Broncos game had just ended and the place was pretty empty save for a few families having dinner. I still would've liked to get a nicer table though. The happy hour special was nice as it extended to include mixed wine drinks and seasonal specials as well. I wish the prices had been explained better as I could've SWORN the server assured me that happy hour reduced the price of my wine glass from "7 to about 5 or 6." Surprise! When we got the bill, both of the drinks we had ordered were full price and even my "small" appetizer was up charged $2 because I ate an appetizer as my entree instead of an actual entree. I really hate when restaurants charge for every little thing. Especially without putting a disclaimer . Despite that, The food was delicious and the wine was wonderful. My secret recommended a drink that perfectly complemented my food and the bartender filled my martini to the brim!
(4)
Natasha A.
Being Italian makes me an Italian food "snob" according to my husband. In other words I refuse to eat at Olive Garden. Carrabba's is delish IF you order the right dish. I will be the first to admit I'm not the biggest fan of the pasta dishes I have tried here ( Maggiano's pasta is superior). That being said they have really good food otherwise. This is the only restaurant I order chicken dishes at because I figure I can make chicken better at home except for Carrabba's. Their Chicken Bryan & Chicken Marsala are hands down my favorites here. The Minestrone soup is fantastic. The Caesar salad is so good (you can tell they use real anchovy in the dressing) and the salad plates are always chilled which I love. I also am a fan of a few of their cocktails I have tried. The Peach Sangria and the Pomegranate Martini are very tasty. I came here during their Happy Hour one time and it was buy one, get one with their cocktails. Of course I can't recall the time Happy Hour is at. I've read other reviews on here of people not getting the greatest service but I've never had a problem with the service. All of the servers have been great (sometimes even a little over the top friendly). Give it a try.
(4)
Setsuko R.
I usually do not complain about a restaurant since I am in restaurant business but an experience I had last night at Carrabba's was terrible. Long story short, I had a order of Green mussles and found a piece of plastic from my dish. I let our server know and she also felt it and explained me that it must come from the bag green mussles were in. She told us that she was going to get her manager and the manager said that was a piece if white part of green onions. You got to be kidding me. I can tell the difference between food and plastic. I did not say anything because her explanation was so rediculus and they just lost us as customer. She even did not appologize. I used love this place but recentley, we were having bad experiences. I will never go back again.
(1)
J. Sara S.
I have been going here since it opened and I love everything I have ever ordered. Fresh Bread with the most amazing Herb Oil and Entrees that ROCK! Also The the Kaluah Brownie is amazing!!! Great service never had a bad experience, I'd say I go here at least once a month! I also take guests, here as well. The prices are very fair and the quantity and quality is excellent!
(5)
Mean Guy I.
Wow talk about a flip flop, nothing like coming in for an early Sunday lunch and having a waiter drooling over your wife..... Omg ! Pull your pants back up ! Do your job scum bag ! It's not Saturday night at the dive bar you hang out at.... Me, my wife and nine month old son walked out.... What a sicko .... Omg I'm pissed !!! That guy is costing you business... We went to red lobster and dropped $75.00 there... it will be a long time before I bring my family or my wallet back to this place...
(1)
Josh T.
We don't get to go out much so we really try and make the most with our time together. We had a wonderful experience at the carrabbas in Aurora. Josh our server was friendly and with knowledgeable suggestions helped us discover some real treats on the menu. The Johnny was my favorite. The General manager came by to check on us as well. It felt like service I would expect at Ruth Chris. Good job everyone. See you soon!
(5)
Steve H.
Such an excellent meal. The Johnny comes highly recommended. The filet was cooked to perfection and the flavor of everything was just bursting. Great service as well! I would dine here again. The next time I'm in Aurora.
(5)
Victor V.
I was planning a 60th birthday for my wife. We visited several Italian restaurants and chose Carraba's Italian Grill because they were all about what WE preferred and not their standard service format. Our party of 20 was placed very close to the front of the restaurant which made it very convenient for our arriving guests. The service started with great appetizers and quickly served cocktails. The two servers were very gracious and accommodating. After an ample time of snacking and visiting we were seated and dinner began. Soups and salads were brought out and the Caesar salad I had was fresh and tasty. Everyone loved the different soups as well. We all ordered a variety of entrees like chicken Marsala, meat kabobs and a variety of pasta dishes. All were perfectly prepared and delivered in perfect unison. We brought our own cake and they brought it out with candles lit and singing. The servers were so nice to fully engage with us including the dessert as well as offering coffees of all types. The bill was very reasonable for 20 people, the service spectacular and I will host another event at Carraba's Italian Grill again.
(5)
K K.
I wanted to try Carraba's as it has been in its location quite a while, I usually prefer family owned restaurants, but we don't have many close to where we live. We use Outback TO GO and it's right next door. It looked like we walked into Outback as they look the same, must be owned by same corporation. We were hungry so we ordered crab cakes for appetizer and they said they were out, tried some risotto meatballs and they were just OK, not as good as they could have been. The whole meal was just disappointing, didn't leave me with the desire to return.
(2)
Cat S.
We came here for my cousin's graduation dinner. It was decent - nothing too special or out of the ordinary, but nothing too terrible. I think the best part of dinner was the calamari and bread. The calamari was so lightly battered, and crispy. I loved that it had black pepper and the marinara sauce was also a little spiced up, so it didn't feel too greasy/heavy. The bread was served with olive oil, basil, sea salt and pepper. The bread was warm and I loved the olive oil mixture. Other than that, the entrees were only okay. We got the Chicken Trio - Chicken Bryan, Chicken Marsala and Rosa Maria. I thought the Chicken Bryan was TOO much. There was a huge chunk of goat cheese on it and all you tasted was the goat cheese. The Rosa Maria was too salty for me. But the Chicken Marsala was really good! So was the side of spinach.. it came with the garlic perfectly cooked - just the way I like it. We also got the chicken fettucine alfredo (one of the Founder's Pastas), which was also average. The service was really good and Russell took care of us really well. Chain restaurants are not really a favorite for me, so I didn't really have big hopes for this place.
(3)
Tatyana G.
I know it's a chain restaurant! Big deal! Took my parents there a day before Father's Day. All 6 of us (my parents, me, my husband and my kids) had different entrees but all of them were great. I know, 5 stars might be too much but we had the best waiter Mario and we were also treated to a "show". they had only one busboy but what a worker! It was a pleasure to see him work. It took him less than a minute to clean out the table, wash everything and set it up again. And he did an excellent job! He was so fast it was even entertaining. Yes, we left an extra tip for him sc\pecifically and told the manager that he is awesome. Hope the kid gets some kind of a raise or reward.
(5)
Nikki K.
Great service an great food! Our waitress was amazing! She knew my drink was empty before I knew!!!! She was helpful an helped me find something on the menu from what i described to her! But I do wish they would bring back manicotti!!!! But overall great experience!!!
(5)
Josh D.
Great food and great service. My wife and I went with our 2 year old and we had a great time. My son ate all of his ravioli and I am pretty sure wanted more, even tho what he had was plenty. My wife and I both loved what we got too. We will definetly be back!
(5)
Scott G.
Had a pretty good meal here with my wife while in town. My bill seemed higher than I anticipated for the same kind of food at competitors. Anyway, the meal was good and the service was adequate. Sat around and talked after dinner for a bit and thouhgt about getting something else but the waiter never came back during the next 45 minutes to see if I might want another drink or desert. Overall though the expereince here is good.
(3)
Lindy S.
Carraba's knows how to treat their customers. I have always been impressed with the staff at this location. Everyone is friendly and we have been recognized by waiters after a single visit with them. Their Creamy Italian salad dressing is really tasty, and every time I am there I order a dish that was once a special and they still make it for me even though it is not on the menu anymore. I love the Apple Crustini desert.
(5)
B B.
This was our third trip to this Carrabba's, with the same horrible results. The service here is some of the worst I've ever had. 3 parties were seated after us and were waited on before we were ever approached by a server, and that was after we waved him down. We've had similar experiences with our other visits here as well. My wife talked to the manager, she basically gave her lip service. The food. So so. Ordered veal picatta, no capers in the sauce ? My wife had to ask for a side of capers. My side of the house pasta, luke warm. We will never patronize this particular Carrabba's again. Looks like we will have to drive all the way to Colorado Springs to experience decent food and service.
(1)
Cookie L.
So nice to go out when you feel people care. Many of us live alone and like to have friendly people around us when we do go out. New manager Becci is excellent. When the waiter made a mistake, she was on it. I'm so glad I went there. The food is excellent and well priced.
(1)
R W.
March 1, 2014 Carrabba's Italian Grill 2088 S Abilene St. Aurora, CO 80014 On February 28th, after a long work week my husband and I decided to use a gift card we had received recently as a wedding gift. We were both exhausted and looking forward to a pleasant meal at your restaurant. Our son came with us to spend an enjoyable evening together. After placing our drink orders, our waiter, Brian, brought a full tray to our table which included our drinks and a full glass of beer for another customer. While he was placing our drinks on our table, he lost control of the tray and the glass of beer came tumbling down, and I was drenched with ice cold beer. We began to mop up the beer with napkins and waited for someone to come to help because the napkins weren't absorbing the liquid. Becky arrived at the table with more napkins and tried to mop up the spill. I suggested that they get a towel and she sent Brian to get one. In the meantime, I continued to help wipe up the beer which was on the table, the booth seat and all over my lap. We didn't raise a fuss and accepted Brian and Becky's apologies and even laughed when Becky said "At least we know our beer is cold". Needless to say, our evening was ruined and I sat eating my meal with cold, wet pants. When our bill arrived, we fully expected to see some kind of compensation in the way of a discount, free drinks or something! My son, who has been the manager of several Denver restaurants was appalled that not one courtesy was extended to us by your restaurant. Please know that it not money that is important to us. We fully expected to pay for our meals when we chose to come to your restaurant, however the lack of good public relations on the part of your establishment left us with extremely poor impressions of Carrabba's. My son urged me to write this letter because he feels you should know what took place. This information was sent to the General Manager of the restaurant about three weeks ago and we have not yet received a response.
(2)
Shay F.
4 for the food and an extra star because of Marie's GRAND service. She is the best waitress I've ever had. Seriously. Checked in to make sure we were doing well. Offered drink refills, made suggestions...the whole 9 yards. She is awesome. We had calamari for our antipasto which was really good. The small portion was more than enough for 2. We ended up taking some home. I had the Pasta Weesie (Shrimp sauteed in a garlic, lemon butter, white wine sauce with sauteed mushrooms and scallions, served over fettuccine alfredo) was good. The shrimp was FRESH!!! The waitress, Marie, suggested I have it with the Newman's Own white wine and it matched well. Then I had the panna cotta for dessert and that was awesome. I tasted my friend's minestrone and it wasn't red! It was the first minestrone soup I had that was REALLY good. This place serves warm bread with an olive oil with 9 different herbs.
(5)
Jonathan D.
I've been eating here for years and love the food! They have so many great items its hard to choose! Service is great 98% of the time. Good is been great 100% of the time! I wish we had a Carrabba's in the Seattle area.
(5)
Craig B.
Italian comfort food. Check out the specials as they never disappoint. Very fine dining for a very resonable price. Oh and shocker, they have much more than just Italian. Fish, chicken, pork chops and beef dishes. Something for everyone.
(4)
Emilee D.
Came here for dinner and really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere. The menu options aren't as vast as other Italian places, but it makes ordering a bit easier. You also get a nice, hot bread basket with seasoned olive oil for dipping. I had the bruschetta for an appetizer. I love the flavor of the topping, but the bread was a little too toasted for me and tore up my mouth. I ended up just eating the topping. For my entree, I had the pasta weesie. It's basically fettuccine alfredo with shrimp and mushrooms. The shrimp was very succulent and the alfredo sauce smooth. Very tasty! The staff here are pretty attentive so you don't have to wait ten years to get your drink refilled. The prices are also very reasonable.
(4)
Derek N.
It was nothing special. The staff was a little slow, but the food was good.
(3)
Albie F.
Got into Denver pretty late on a business trip and we had to find a dinner spot, and had to decide between Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's. Didn't feel like steak so I was glad we went with the Italian choice even though Carrabba's is apparently a chain restaurant. Too bad Yelp doesn't have half stars because I'd say Carrabba's is a solid 3.5. I got the chicken Santa Maria (waiter's recommended chicken entree) and it was very well cooked with olive oil and some cheese in between the chicken breasts sliced in half width wise. It was quite oily but in a good way with a side of spinach. We also grabbed a calamari/fried mozzarella as the appetizer and after everything was said and done, we were looking at $30/person. Considering that we got there only 10 minutes before they officially closed and that we stayed for almost an hour after they officially closed, we were very happy they were servicing our needs.
(3)
Lucas M.
Pretty good food but our waitress/staff was much weaker than the sauce on the pasta! waitress completely forgot to bring us our drinks from the bar twice and got no support from the 5 other employess literally standing around waiting for the dinner rush.
(2)
Laurie W.
What keeps me coming back to Carrabba's is the Caesar salad. Everyone here knows that I have a thing for Caesar salad. Oh, I know, it's terrible for you. But I love it. Gosh do I love it! Carrabba's Caesar is just vinegary enough and has just a hint of anchovy. It also features good crutons and a nice amount of Parmesan cheese. Yum! Other than that, everything we have tried has been very good. The service is good and we always enjoy it when we go to dinner at Carrabba's. Oh, and the white wine sangria is very good, with bright citrus flavor.
(3)
Kristen U.
This is my all time favorite restaurant. Everything is always delicious and the customer service is top notch! I try something new all the time and have never been dissapointed.
(5)
Erin J.
Have to admit I was a bit hesitant when we walked in, looked a little cheesier than I thought it'd be and a lot more casual. However, their summer menu is awesome, such a good deal and plenty of great food! Chicken Bryan was fantastic, as was the mouth watering pollo Rosa Maria. The tomato salad is phenominal, such great tomatoes that hold up to the dressing an a wonderful fresh but not overwhelming taste of basil. I'll go back again!
(4)
Tim K.
This may be a franchise restaurant but it is quite good. Had some reservations about a "chain" restaurant and I was very surprised. First of all the staff could not have been more friendly, helpful and genuinely service oriented, from the hostess to the server to the bus person. The menu had a good variety of offerings with moderate prices. My son and I both ordered house salads and an entree. We also received all the warm bread we could eat and my Diet Coke got refilled as soon as I had downed half of what was in the glass. Portions were enough to fill you up nicely and the food was tasty, well seasoned and the pasta in both dishes was done correctly, not soggy at all. Check for two salads, two entrees, soft drinks came to $38.00, not bad. Not your true Italian dining experience but good enough that I will return. I can do without the fancy tables, dinner ware, singers and often times arrogant staff.
(4)
Jodi A.
I wasn't overly impressed with the fare. If I can cook it better than the restaurant, I am not real motivated to return. I LOVE Italian food, this just did not give you the homemade warm-fuzzies of a real Italian meal. I could have zapped a Stouffers lasagna and felt the same about this food. Meh. No thanks.
(3)
Art V.
Food was excellent / the server made a mistake on the appetizer / he also made a mistake on the main course. HE GOT THE BILL PERFECT
(4)
Sumay J.
Pretty good food.
(4)
Annie B.
We went back to Carrabba's again the other night. The service was fantastic, the food was wonderful and yet again I was far from disappointed! It may be a chain, but Carrabba's is so delicious! The pasta weezie, a house salad and the ricardo calamari are my recommendations. But everything I've tried on the menu has been wonderful. Just wanted to refresh my review and let everyone know that this chain rocks!
(4)
Josh T.
So it is a chain... that isn't always a bad thing. I have eaten at multiple Carrabba's across the US hundreds of times, in fact while my wife worked that the location in Woodbridge, VA in 2000, I ate there on average 4-5 times a week for about a year. Yes, this played hell on my waistline. We have always received outstanding service at the location in Aurora. This is a restaurant that always delivers fresh, top quality, and truly great food. I have yet to find better Mussels in the Denver area, their steaks are fantastic as are their pasta dishes. With that said, I am of the opinion that if you are one of those who actually go out to eat Spaghetti then you are wasting your time, money, and are taking up a seat I could be sitting in. The specials at Carrabba's are that... special. These are non-menu items that typically have a short run and have never disappointed. Whether it was braised Italian beef pot roast, lamb shank, or their Italian gnocchi. Their desserts, are all equally delicious. I would recommend any one of them.
(4)
Michael R.
My favorite chain restaurant. I usually get the filet marsala which is excellent if you've never had it. Cooked to a perfect rare with the usual bread, salad and sides. Bartender was very friendly and the service was good.
(4)
Stefani T.
I created my Yelp account just to write this review. 5 stars might seem a bit extreme for a chain restaurant. I have worked at Carrabba's as a teenager and eaten at locations throughout Colorado, Virginia, Maryland. THIS location is by far the best I have ever dealt with. I do like Carrabba's food- I lived in Italy for 5 years and it is nice to eat americanized-italian food that isn't all cheese and red sauces. Made from scratch alfredo (not that horrible stuff the get in vats at O.G.- I know, I worked there as a teen too) brick-oven pizza, & great chicken dishes set Carrabba's apart from other italian joints. But what sets this location apart is the consistency and service. I have utilized the Aurora Carrabba's for many work functions- I am a school secretary and they always come through with a delicious meal, that is reasonably priced. Whether busy or slow, food is always great when dining in. And they go above and beyond. I had tickets to see a play downtown, and was meeting family first for dinner. Weather was kind of cruddy, and one of our party ran really late, cutting our time to dine to practically nothing. I called ahead and preordered our dinner to eat IN, we walked in and a hot plate of awesome Chicken Bryan with a caesar salad, bread and drink was waiting for me, my mom and my sister's Chicken Pizza came out as we were taking off our coats. Manager was completely accommodating, bartender who was waiting on our table was super quick, and we got out in no time. Kudos to a well run location!
(5)
Liz V.
The decor, from the chianti bottle door handles to the fake mosaic tabletops, was ridiculous. While the chicken was grilled nicely, and my boyfriend liked the fontina on top of his, the side dishes were not spectacular overall though I did like the garlic in the zucchini. Our desserts were tiny and oddly just given to us from the spread that our waiter was describing--that made us question whether we were getting food that had been sitting out a while. The menus, regular and the summer grill fixe, were somewhat difficult to understand. It didn't actually seem to matter to our waiter what menu we were using. My boyfriend and I ended up with three side dishes, two salads, and two desserts between us even though we thought we were ordering from the regular menu which had more side dish choices to go with our main entrees. In any case, while we enjoyed ourselves, the whole dinner was way more costly than what we expected to pay. We had been thinking more along the lines of Olive Garden or Applebee's pricing. Over $16 for most chicken dishes seemed steep. We'll probably stick with non-chain restaurants that are less expensive, too, in the future.
(3)
Tracy A.
Pretty darn decent for a chain. 3.5 stars. Ate here recently with some relatives -- we all stuck to the spaghetti-and-meatball traditional stuff. Good food all around. They were crazy busy, and couldn't get waited on (couldn't even get water) for quite awhile. Finally, things calmed down and our service was A-OK. The lentil soup was tasty, though since it contained quite a bit of Italian sausage, it was fairly salty. My spaghetti was sauced perfectly --- not at all drippy, just lightly tossed in tomato sauce.
(4)
Matt T.
Carrabba's has the BEST Italian food. This place has great service and great food. The smell inside is amazing. Everyone should try this place. My recommendation is the Italian Classics with cavatappi amatriciana and the Mediterranean salad. Someday I will try something different but I love this dish. Highly recommend Carrabb's no matter where it is.
(5)
Cindy C.
First time eating at Carrabas...it was ok. I had the rigatoni al forno and it was not bad (not great either), DiCicco's is way better!!! We started with calamari and that was pretty good, although it came out so fast I question whether it was made to order. My salad was so-so....no tomatoes or onions, just lettuce, 2 nasty kalamata olives, carrots and celery (?)!!! My husband will be writing a review about his meal, so look for Rob's review. The server was Aaron and he was very good. When Rob questioned some ingredients Aaron was very quick to try to please. He gave us free mini desserts that were awesome!! The chocolate mousse with cookie crumbles and coconuts....YUMMMM!!!!! We will give them another try because of Aaron and get something else...I will update my review then.
(3)
John C.
This is one of my favorite places to eat. As many times as I've eaten here I've never been disappointed. The Chicken Marsala is fantastic!
(5)
Beth D.
I love Carrabba's. I used to work there as a server for about a year and a half so I have first hand experience. The most important thing you should know about the food is that it is all made from scratch, from fresh ingredients delivered daily. The soup, salad dressings, every pasta sauce, breadcrumbs, the herb mix you use for the bread....all from scratch. The calamari, fried zucchini and mozzarella are breaded to order. This is why their prices are higher than other chains. Nothing on your plate was frozen, pre-made or processed. In my opinion, fresh homemade food is about as good as it gets.
(5)
Matt G.
Great mussels and chicken parm
(4)
Celia M.
This is the best italian restaurant you can visit in Denver and it's surroundings. Great customer services and even better food. I tried almost everything in the menu. Veal Marsala and the Spedino di mare are my favorites my husband loves the chicken Bryan and Chicken Rosa Maria, each one of this dishes have a fabulous flavor each bite it's unique and unforgettable. The minestrone soup it's divine, the best i ever had. I also recommend their Bruschetta and for dessert a Rosa Maria cake, just like grandma's
(5)
Robert C.
Veal Picatta without Capers???? This was my first time in a Carrabba's Italian Grill and I wasn't too impressed. I realize that some things on an Italian restaurant's menu aren't always made the same way. Chicken Cacciatore for and example, I've always known it to have chicken, green peppers, mushrooms and onions sauteed in a Marinara and served over rice or maybe pasta . At Carrabba's the chicken is served with red peppers and onions over polenta. I'm not going to even try it. I think the green peppers and mushrooms make the dish myself. Aaron was understanding and offered to have mushrooms added to the Chicken Cacciatore when I mentioned the lack of mushrooms when we were ordering but I declined and ordered the Veal Picatta instead. My wife and I shared an order of Calamari and as my wife stated in her review, it came out fast. I think they could have cooked it a little longer, it wasn't quite golden yet. I liked my Italian salad, it was the best part of my meal. Then out came the Veal Picatta, now given what I said earlier about certain Italian dishes made differently at different restaurants I have to say I've never heard of any restaurant serving any thing called "Picatta" without capers. As far as I know Picatta is lemon, capers and butter. Aaron offered to send my veal back and have capers added to it and sauteed a bit longer but that idea just sounded wrong to me. He was nice and did bring us complimentary mini desserts which were excellent but as far as I'm concerned Carrabba's already has two strikes. We will go back and give them another try but I guarantee you I won't be ordering the Chicken Cacciatore or the Picatta!
(3)
Denise R.
It's been years since I've been to a Carrabba's restaurant why I haven't been there is crazy to me this place is Good!! I have to say I had the best waitress she was so helpful I told her that I was very very picky on spices and sauces she let me try the actual sauce with not even having to ask for it she even brought me extra sauce on the side I also had a very delicious salad and we also had the tiramisu which was so good it is one of my favorites so I have to say thank you to my wonderful waitress I will definitely be back
(5)
Michael P.
Solid food, great service...one warning to people who expect fast casual Italian food do not come here. This place is a relaxed sit down establishment that makes the food fresh to order. Very attentive staff who makes that my family has been to very comfortable. Special requests are handled without complaining, and the portion sizes are just right for a family meal. Would recommend to anyone....
(4)
Eliza B.
Without a doubt the best Italian food anywhere! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the calamari and the Mamas Chicken Soup! The atmosphere and ambiance are relaxing and the food and service are exemplary! Never a bad meal or bad service, always my first choice for a romantic dinner out with my hubby!
(5)
Lindy S.
Carraba's knows how to treat their customers. I have always been impressed with the staff at this location. Everyone is friendly and we have been recognized by waiters after a single visit with them. Their Creamy Italian salad dressing is really tasty, and every time I am there I order a dish that was once a special and they still make it for me even though it is not on the menu anymore. I love the Apple Crustini desert.
(5)
Nikki K.
Great service an great food! Our waitress was amazing! She knew my drink was empty before I knew!!!! She was helpful an helped me find something on the menu from what i described to her! But I do wish they would bring back manicotti!!!! But overall great experience!!!
(5)
R W.
March 1, 2014 Carrabba's Italian Grill 2088 S Abilene St. Aurora, CO 80014 On February 28th, after a long work week my husband and I decided to use a gift card we had received recently as a wedding gift. We were both exhausted and looking forward to a pleasant meal at your restaurant. Our son came with us to spend an enjoyable evening together. After placing our drink orders, our waiter, Brian, brought a full tray to our table which included our drinks and a full glass of beer for another customer. While he was placing our drinks on our table, he lost control of the tray and the glass of beer came tumbling down, and I was drenched with ice cold beer. We began to mop up the beer with napkins and waited for someone to come to help because the napkins weren't absorbing the liquid. Becky arrived at the table with more napkins and tried to mop up the spill. I suggested that they get a towel and she sent Brian to get one. In the meantime, I continued to help wipe up the beer which was on the table, the booth seat and all over my lap. We didn't raise a fuss and accepted Brian and Becky's apologies and even laughed when Becky said "At least we know our beer is cold". Needless to say, our evening was ruined and I sat eating my meal with cold, wet pants. When our bill arrived, we fully expected to see some kind of compensation in the way of a discount, free drinks or something! My son, who has been the manager of several Denver restaurants was appalled that not one courtesy was extended to us by your restaurant. Please know that it not money that is important to us. We fully expected to pay for our meals when we chose to come to your restaurant, however the lack of good public relations on the part of your establishment left us with extremely poor impressions of Carrabba's. My son urged me to write this letter because he feels you should know what took place. This information was sent to the General Manager of the restaurant about three weeks ago and we have not yet received a response.
(2)
Josh T.
So it is a chain... that isn't always a bad thing. I have eaten at multiple Carrabba's across the US hundreds of times, in fact while my wife worked that the location in Woodbridge, VA in 2000, I ate there on average 4-5 times a week for about a year. Yes, this played hell on my waistline. We have always received outstanding service at the location in Aurora. This is a restaurant that always delivers fresh, top quality, and truly great food. I have yet to find better Mussels in the Denver area, their steaks are fantastic as are their pasta dishes. With that said, I am of the opinion that if you are one of those who actually go out to eat Spaghetti then you are wasting your time, money, and are taking up a seat I could be sitting in. The specials at Carrabba's are that... special. These are non-menu items that typically have a short run and have never disappointed. Whether it was braised Italian beef pot roast, lamb shank, or their Italian gnocchi. Their desserts, are all equally delicious. I would recommend any one of them.
(4)
Michael R.
My favorite chain restaurant. I usually get the filet marsala which is excellent if you've never had it. Cooked to a perfect rare with the usual bread, salad and sides. Bartender was very friendly and the service was good.
(4)
Tracy A.
Pretty darn decent for a chain. 3.5 stars. Ate here recently with some relatives -- we all stuck to the spaghetti-and-meatball traditional stuff. Good food all around. They were crazy busy, and couldn't get waited on (couldn't even get water) for quite awhile. Finally, things calmed down and our service was A-OK. The lentil soup was tasty, though since it contained quite a bit of Italian sausage, it was fairly salty. My spaghetti was sauced perfectly --- not at all drippy, just lightly tossed in tomato sauce.
(4)
Anthony P.
Great new dish, the Rigatoni Martino! Very good but of course you can never go wrong with the Calamari and Italian Sausage Lentil Soup. Try something new you may be surprised. Service a bit slow tonight but as long as you have an open mind you will be fine.
(4)
Jen M.
Great meal and great service. Ordered the filet based on other yelper reviews. It was delicious. Also had the sangria which was great, and so was the bread and the salad.
(4)
laurie z.
The meal that was mediocre at best. The veal was slightly tough. I was charged extra for sticky overcooked pasta and bland Alfredo sauce. The bread comes with oil and herbs to dip it in, which is good. The drink prices are higher than any other restaurant around!!!!!!!!!!!
(2)
Denise R.
It's been years since I've been to a Carrabba's restaurant why I haven't been there is crazy to me this place is Good!! I have to say I had the best waitress she was so helpful I told her that I was very very picky on spices and sauces she let me try the actual sauce with not even having to ask for it she even brought me extra sauce on the side I also had a very delicious salad and we also had the tiramisu which was so good it is one of my favorites so I have to say thank you to my wonderful waitress I will definitely be back
(5)
Michael P.
Solid food, great service...one warning to people who expect fast casual Italian food do not come here. This place is a relaxed sit down establishment that makes the food fresh to order. Very attentive staff who makes that my family has been to very comfortable. Special requests are handled without complaining, and the portion sizes are just right for a family meal. Would recommend to anyone....
(4)
Eliza B.
Without a doubt the best Italian food anywhere! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the calamari and the Mamas Chicken Soup! The atmosphere and ambiance are relaxing and the food and service are exemplary! Never a bad meal or bad service, always my first choice for a romantic dinner out with my hubby!
(5)
Kelcie S.
First time hitting up this little Italian joint and I was very impressed. Had Monkia as our waitress and I have never been so impressed with someone's service. She made it the perfect evening as served with such class. Calamari was to die for as it was not over cooked or over breaded. The bread was served warm with delicious spices in olive oil. Really brought me back to Italy. Pasta was full of flavor and not over sauced like it should be.
(5)
Veronica S.
So I decided to celebrate Mother's Day at my favorite restaurant and I was very very disappointed. It started out ok with the calamari appetizer, but my chicken trio took forever to come out and when it did it was cold and my side of fettuccini didn't have enough sauce so it tasted like buttered noodles. The waitress asked if it was ok and I told her it was cold so she takes it back and all they did was try and warm it next to the oven. Came back slightly warm but the cheese on the pollo rosa maria was still cold and not melted, not to mention that this type of chicken is supposed to be stuffed with the cheese and prosciutto not just thrown on top. I give my husband kudos for trying to plan a nice evening for us, but definitely need to find a new favorite restaurant. Keep in mind we've been loyal customers for years. Hope this helps P.S. Prices have gone up again.
(2)
Marianne G.
We spent a lot of money for a meal that was mediocre at best.
(1)
Amy F.
I love pasta no matter what kind it is. Torn between and 3 and 4 star rating. I like Carrabba's- been here many times over the years and always get fast friendly service (sometimes too fast when they bring the main course out before the apps-but only happens once in a while) there is rarely a long wait to be seated. Good happy hour prices! The Filet Fiorentina is probably one of the best steaks I have ever had- melts like butter once it hits your mouth-great flavor as well. The wine selection is ok, but they do carry a great Pinot Grigio-Bisanzio! I think everything here is just A-OK, but the steak would get five stars alone!
(3)
Danny B.
Good. Decent. Used to go to the original in Houston so nostalgia more than anything for me.
(3)
Wellington J.
It must have been an off night. Normally, we love Carrabbas, but this was not a good night. The pasta was lacking in normal quantity and quality. The sauce was really bland, not the usual gusto that awakens the taste buds. Maybe a new chef?
(2)
Ruth F.
If you like nice spacious booths, and I know I do, then Carrabbas's is the restaurant for you.
(4)
Kelly S.
I love italian food but carrabba's was a disappointment. My minestrone soup tasted like it had been sitting out for a long time. It tasted like leftovers. Our salads were fresh but the onions were in MASSIVE slices. Our server was friendly, which warrants two stars because she was attentive, but our meals were plain too. Chicken Marsala was flavorless and my spicy seafood dish (I forgot the name) the shrimp were overcooked and it wasn't spicy. For what we paid, we get a lot more food and better quality at Maggiano's instead of carrabba's.
(2)
Lua F.
Whew! You could have a nice dinner here if it's not sports night or even a group of friends for something more casual! This place is great for any occasion :) Personally on this visit, we had a nice romantic dinner. Although we called ahead and asked for a more "private" table, when we arrived there was absolutely no record of our call. However, the Broncos game had just ended and the place was pretty empty save for a few families having dinner. I still would've liked to get a nicer table though. The happy hour special was nice as it extended to include mixed wine drinks and seasonal specials as well. I wish the prices had been explained better as I could've SWORN the server assured me that happy hour reduced the price of my wine glass from "7 to about 5 or 6." Surprise! When we got the bill, both of the drinks we had ordered were full price and even my "small" appetizer was up charged $2 because I ate an appetizer as my entree instead of an actual entree. I really hate when restaurants charge for every little thing. Especially without putting a disclaimer . Despite that, The food was delicious and the wine was wonderful. My secret recommended a drink that perfectly complemented my food and the bartender filled my martini to the brim!
(4)
Natasha A.
Being Italian makes me an Italian food "snob" according to my husband. In other words I refuse to eat at Olive Garden. Carrabba's is delish IF you order the right dish. I will be the first to admit I'm not the biggest fan of the pasta dishes I have tried here ( Maggiano's pasta is superior). That being said they have really good food otherwise. This is the only restaurant I order chicken dishes at because I figure I can make chicken better at home except for Carrabba's. Their Chicken Bryan & Chicken Marsala are hands down my favorites here. The Minestrone soup is fantastic. The Caesar salad is so good (you can tell they use real anchovy in the dressing) and the salad plates are always chilled which I love. I also am a fan of a few of their cocktails I have tried. The Peach Sangria and the Pomegranate Martini are very tasty. I came here during their Happy Hour one time and it was buy one, get one with their cocktails. Of course I can't recall the time Happy Hour is at. I've read other reviews on here of people not getting the greatest service but I've never had a problem with the service. All of the servers have been great (sometimes even a little over the top friendly). Give it a try.
(4)
Setsuko R.
I usually do not complain about a restaurant since I am in restaurant business but an experience I had last night at Carrabba's was terrible. Long story short, I had a order of Green mussles and found a piece of plastic from my dish. I let our server know and she also felt it and explained me that it must come from the bag green mussles were in. She told us that she was going to get her manager and the manager said that was a piece if white part of green onions. You got to be kidding me. I can tell the difference between food and plastic. I did not say anything because her explanation was so rediculus and they just lost us as customer. She even did not appologize. I used love this place but recentley, we were having bad experiences. I will never go back again.
(1)
Mean Guy I.
Wow talk about a flip flop, nothing like coming in for an early Sunday lunch and having a waiter drooling over your wife..... Omg ! Pull your pants back up ! Do your job scum bag ! It's not Saturday night at the dive bar you hang out at.... Me, my wife and nine month old son walked out.... What a sicko .... Omg I'm pissed !!! That guy is costing you business... We went to red lobster and dropped $75.00 there... it will be a long time before I bring my family or my wallet back to this place...
(1)
Josh T.
We don't get to go out much so we really try and make the most with our time together. We had a wonderful experience at the carrabbas in Aurora. Josh our server was friendly and with knowledgeable suggestions helped us discover some real treats on the menu. The Johnny was my favorite. The General manager came by to check on us as well. It felt like service I would expect at Ruth Chris. Good job everyone. See you soon!
(5)
Amanda S.
Carabbas has the customer experience bit down, their food is amazing (especially their seasonal stuff), they have a great wine selection, and their ambiance and service make you feel like you are spending a lot more than you actually are. The service at the Abilene location is always top notch and the standards and practices of this restaurant chain are a flawless recipe for success.
(5)
Melisa L.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here for the first time and it will not be our last. Food was great and our server Ana was wonderful, always made sure we had refills and checked on us regularly :)
(5)
Michael C.
Getting your main coarse is slooooow. The seafood manocati is good.
(3)
Chris Y.
d not eaten here for quite a while as the menu did not thrill us. We received a coupon, and decided to give it a chance. We were pleasantly surprised. Both entrees were awesome, tasty and a nice presentation. I was surprised it was not busier than it was. The food was great, so if you are like us, and have not tried it for a while, I recommend giving it another try. The service was also superior.
(5)
Barbara S.
Whole wheat pasta like glue and with very little bland sauce. Extremely disappointed. Minestrone was good but not worth a return trip.
(1)
James B.
Salad and dinner plates were within 2 min of each other, never got a refill on iced tea and was double charged. The food was excellent so I give three stars for that.
(3)
Tanya V.
Very delicious food! Super fast and friendly staff members. Perfect timing with everything and great prices. Tried it today for the first time and will definitely be back there again!
(5)
J. Sara S.
I have been going here since it opened and I love everything I have ever ordered. Fresh Bread with the most amazing Herb Oil and Entrees that ROCK! Also The the Kaluah Brownie is amazing!!! Great service never had a bad experience, I'd say I go here at least once a month! I also take guests, here as well. The prices are very fair and the quantity and quality is excellent!
(5)
Steve H.
Such an excellent meal. The Johnny comes highly recommended. The filet was cooked to perfection and the flavor of everything was just bursting. Great service as well! I would dine here again. The next time I'm in Aurora.
(5)
Victor V.
I was planning a 60th birthday for my wife. We visited several Italian restaurants and chose Carraba's Italian Grill because they were all about what WE preferred and not their standard service format. Our party of 20 was placed very close to the front of the restaurant which made it very convenient for our arriving guests. The service started with great appetizers and quickly served cocktails. The two servers were very gracious and accommodating. After an ample time of snacking and visiting we were seated and dinner began. Soups and salads were brought out and the Caesar salad I had was fresh and tasty. Everyone loved the different soups as well. We all ordered a variety of entrees like chicken Marsala, meat kabobs and a variety of pasta dishes. All were perfectly prepared and delivered in perfect unison. We brought our own cake and they brought it out with candles lit and singing. The servers were so nice to fully engage with us including the dessert as well as offering coffees of all types. The bill was very reasonable for 20 people, the service spectacular and I will host another event at Carraba's Italian Grill again.
(5)
K K.
I wanted to try Carraba's as it has been in its location quite a while, I usually prefer family owned restaurants, but we don't have many close to where we live. We use Outback TO GO and it's right next door. It looked like we walked into Outback as they look the same, must be owned by same corporation. We were hungry so we ordered crab cakes for appetizer and they said they were out, tried some risotto meatballs and they were just OK, not as good as they could have been. The whole meal was just disappointing, didn't leave me with the desire to return.
(2)
Cat S.
We came here for my cousin's graduation dinner. It was decent - nothing too special or out of the ordinary, but nothing too terrible. I think the best part of dinner was the calamari and bread. The calamari was so lightly battered, and crispy. I loved that it had black pepper and the marinara sauce was also a little spiced up, so it didn't feel too greasy/heavy. The bread was served with olive oil, basil, sea salt and pepper. The bread was warm and I loved the olive oil mixture. Other than that, the entrees were only okay. We got the Chicken Trio - Chicken Bryan, Chicken Marsala and Rosa Maria. I thought the Chicken Bryan was TOO much. There was a huge chunk of goat cheese on it and all you tasted was the goat cheese. The Rosa Maria was too salty for me. But the Chicken Marsala was really good! So was the side of spinach.. it came with the garlic perfectly cooked - just the way I like it. We also got the chicken fettucine alfredo (one of the Founder's Pastas), which was also average. The service was really good and Russell took care of us really well. Chain restaurants are not really a favorite for me, so I didn't really have big hopes for this place.
(3)
Josh D.
Great food and great service. My wife and I went with our 2 year old and we had a great time. My son ate all of his ravioli and I am pretty sure wanted more, even tho what he had was plenty. My wife and I both loved what we got too. We will definetly be back!
(5)
Shay F.
4 for the food and an extra star because of Marie's GRAND service. She is the best waitress I've ever had. Seriously. Checked in to make sure we were doing well. Offered drink refills, made suggestions...the whole 9 yards. She is awesome. We had calamari for our antipasto which was really good. The small portion was more than enough for 2. We ended up taking some home. I had the Pasta Weesie (Shrimp sauteed in a garlic, lemon butter, white wine sauce with sauteed mushrooms and scallions, served over fettuccine alfredo) was good. The shrimp was FRESH!!! The waitress, Marie, suggested I have it with the Newman's Own white wine and it matched well. Then I had the panna cotta for dessert and that was awesome. I tasted my friend's minestrone and it wasn't red! It was the first minestrone soup I had that was REALLY good. This place serves warm bread with an olive oil with 9 different herbs.
(5)
Jonathan D.
I've been eating here for years and love the food! They have so many great items its hard to choose! Service is great 98% of the time. Good is been great 100% of the time! I wish we had a Carrabba's in the Seattle area.
(5)
Craig B.
Italian comfort food. Check out the specials as they never disappoint. Very fine dining for a very resonable price. Oh and shocker, they have much more than just Italian. Fish, chicken, pork chops and beef dishes. Something for everyone.
(4)
B B.
This was our third trip to this Carrabba's, with the same horrible results. The service here is some of the worst I've ever had. 3 parties were seated after us and were waited on before we were ever approached by a server, and that was after we waved him down. We've had similar experiences with our other visits here as well. My wife talked to the manager, she basically gave her lip service. The food. So so. Ordered veal picatta, no capers in the sauce ? My wife had to ask for a side of capers. My side of the house pasta, luke warm. We will never patronize this particular Carrabba's again. Looks like we will have to drive all the way to Colorado Springs to experience decent food and service.
(1)
Cookie L.
So nice to go out when you feel people care. Many of us live alone and like to have friendly people around us when we do go out. New manager Becci is excellent. When the waiter made a mistake, she was on it. I'm so glad I went there. The food is excellent and well priced.
(1)
Emilee D.
Came here for dinner and really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere. The menu options aren't as vast as other Italian places, but it makes ordering a bit easier. You also get a nice, hot bread basket with seasoned olive oil for dipping. I had the bruschetta for an appetizer. I love the flavor of the topping, but the bread was a little too toasted for me and tore up my mouth. I ended up just eating the topping. For my entree, I had the pasta weesie. It's basically fettuccine alfredo with shrimp and mushrooms. The shrimp was very succulent and the alfredo sauce smooth. Very tasty! The staff here are pretty attentive so you don't have to wait ten years to get your drink refilled. The prices are also very reasonable.
(4)
Derek N.
It was nothing special. The staff was a little slow, but the food was good.
(3)
Albie F.
Got into Denver pretty late on a business trip and we had to find a dinner spot, and had to decide between Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's. Didn't feel like steak so I was glad we went with the Italian choice even though Carrabba's is apparently a chain restaurant. Too bad Yelp doesn't have half stars because I'd say Carrabba's is a solid 3.5. I got the chicken Santa Maria (waiter's recommended chicken entree) and it was very well cooked with olive oil and some cheese in between the chicken breasts sliced in half width wise. It was quite oily but in a good way with a side of spinach. We also grabbed a calamari/fried mozzarella as the appetizer and after everything was said and done, we were looking at $30/person. Considering that we got there only 10 minutes before they officially closed and that we stayed for almost an hour after they officially closed, we were very happy they were servicing our needs.
(3)
Lucas M.
Pretty good food but our waitress/staff was much weaker than the sauce on the pasta! waitress completely forgot to bring us our drinks from the bar twice and got no support from the 5 other employess literally standing around waiting for the dinner rush.
(2)
Annie B.
We went back to Carrabba's again the other night. The service was fantastic, the food was wonderful and yet again I was far from disappointed! It may be a chain, but Carrabba's is so delicious! The pasta weezie, a house salad and the ricardo calamari are my recommendations. But everything I've tried on the menu has been wonderful. Just wanted to refresh my review and let everyone know that this chain rocks!
(4)
Art V.
Food was excellent / the server made a mistake on the appetizer / he also made a mistake on the main course. HE GOT THE BILL PERFECT
(4)
Kristen U.
This is my all time favorite restaurant. Everything is always delicious and the customer service is top notch! I try something new all the time and have never been dissapointed.
(5)
Laurie W.
What keeps me coming back to Carrabba's is the Caesar salad. Everyone here knows that I have a thing for Caesar salad. Oh, I know, it's terrible for you. But I love it. Gosh do I love it! Carrabba's Caesar is just vinegary enough and has just a hint of anchovy. It also features good crutons and a nice amount of Parmesan cheese. Yum! Other than that, everything we have tried has been very good. The service is good and we always enjoy it when we go to dinner at Carrabba's. Oh, and the white wine sangria is very good, with bright citrus flavor.
(3)
Tim K.
This may be a franchise restaurant but it is quite good. Had some reservations about a "chain" restaurant and I was very surprised. First of all the staff could not have been more friendly, helpful and genuinely service oriented, from the hostess to the server to the bus person. The menu had a good variety of offerings with moderate prices. My son and I both ordered house salads and an entree. We also received all the warm bread we could eat and my Diet Coke got refilled as soon as I had downed half of what was in the glass. Portions were enough to fill you up nicely and the food was tasty, well seasoned and the pasta in both dishes was done correctly, not soggy at all. Check for two salads, two entrees, soft drinks came to $38.00, not bad. Not your true Italian dining experience but good enough that I will return. I can do without the fancy tables, dinner ware, singers and often times arrogant staff.
(4)
Jodi A.
I wasn't overly impressed with the fare. If I can cook it better than the restaurant, I am not real motivated to return. I LOVE Italian food, this just did not give you the homemade warm-fuzzies of a real Italian meal. I could have zapped a Stouffers lasagna and felt the same about this food. Meh. No thanks.
(3)
Sumay J.
Pretty good food.
(4)
Kelcie S.
First time hitting up this little Italian joint and I was very impressed. Had Monkia as our waitress and I have never been so impressed with someone's service. She made it the perfect evening as served with such class. Calamari was to die for as it was not over cooked or over breaded. The bread was served warm with delicious spices in olive oil. Really brought me back to Italy. Pasta was full of flavor and not over sauced like it should be.
(5)
Anthony P.
Great new dish, the Rigatoni Martino! Very good but of course you can never go wrong with the Calamari and Italian Sausage Lentil Soup. Try something new you may be surprised. Service a bit slow tonight but as long as you have an open mind you will be fine.
(4)
Jen M.
Great meal and great service. Ordered the filet based on other yelper reviews. It was delicious. Also had the sangria which was great, and so was the bread and the salad.
(4)
laurie z.
The meal that was mediocre at best. The veal was slightly tough. I was charged extra for sticky overcooked pasta and bland Alfredo sauce. The bread comes with oil and herbs to dip it in, which is good. The drink prices are higher than any other restaurant around!!!!!!!!!!!
(2)
Veronica S.
So I decided to celebrate Mother's Day at my favorite restaurant and I was very very disappointed. It started out ok with the calamari appetizer, but my chicken trio took forever to come out and when it did it was cold and my side of fettuccini didn't have enough sauce so it tasted like buttered noodles. The waitress asked if it was ok and I told her it was cold so she takes it back and all they did was try and warm it next to the oven. Came back slightly warm but the cheese on the pollo rosa maria was still cold and not melted, not to mention that this type of chicken is supposed to be stuffed with the cheese and prosciutto not just thrown on top. I give my husband kudos for trying to plan a nice evening for us, but definitely need to find a new favorite restaurant. Keep in mind we've been loyal customers for years. Hope this helps P.S. Prices have gone up again.
(2)
Marianne G.
We spent a lot of money for a meal that was mediocre at best.
(1)
Amy F.
I love pasta no matter what kind it is. Torn between and 3 and 4 star rating. I like Carrabba's- been here many times over the years and always get fast friendly service (sometimes too fast when they bring the main course out before the apps-but only happens once in a while) there is rarely a long wait to be seated. Good happy hour prices! The Filet Fiorentina is probably one of the best steaks I have ever had- melts like butter once it hits your mouth-great flavor as well. The wine selection is ok, but they do carry a great Pinot Grigio-Bisanzio! I think everything here is just A-OK, but the steak would get five stars alone!
(3)
Danny B.
Good. Decent. Used to go to the original in Houston so nostalgia more than anything for me.
(3)
Lua F.
Whew! You could have a nice dinner here if it's not sports night or even a group of friends for something more casual! This place is great for any occasion :) Personally on this visit, we had a nice romantic dinner. Although we called ahead and asked for a more "private" table, when we arrived there was absolutely no record of our call. However, the Broncos game had just ended and the place was pretty empty save for a few families having dinner. I still would've liked to get a nicer table though. The happy hour special was nice as it extended to include mixed wine drinks and seasonal specials as well. I wish the prices had been explained better as I could've SWORN the server assured me that happy hour reduced the price of my wine glass from "7 to about 5 or 6." Surprise! When we got the bill, both of the drinks we had ordered were full price and even my "small" appetizer was up charged $2 because I ate an appetizer as my entree instead of an actual entree. I really hate when restaurants charge for every little thing. Especially without putting a disclaimer . Despite that, The food was delicious and the wine was wonderful. My secret recommended a drink that perfectly complemented my food and the bartender filled my martini to the brim!
(4)
Chris Y.
d not eaten here for quite a while as the menu did not thrill us. We received a coupon, and decided to give it a chance. We were pleasantly surprised. Both entrees were awesome, tasty and a nice presentation. I was surprised it was not busier than it was. The food was great, so if you are like us, and have not tried it for a while, I recommend giving it another try. The service was also superior.
(5)
Barbara S.
Whole wheat pasta like glue and with very little bland sauce. Extremely disappointed. Minestrone was good but not worth a return trip.
(1)
James B.
Salad and dinner plates were within 2 min of each other, never got a refill on iced tea and was double charged. The food was excellent so I give three stars for that.
(3)
Tanya V.
Very delicious food! Super fast and friendly staff members. Perfect timing with everything and great prices. Tried it today for the first time and will definitely be back there again!
(5)
J. Sara S.
I have been going here since it opened and I love everything I have ever ordered. Fresh Bread with the most amazing Herb Oil and Entrees that ROCK! Also The the Kaluah Brownie is amazing!!! Great service never had a bad experience, I'd say I go here at least once a month! I also take guests, here as well. The prices are very fair and the quantity and quality is excellent!
(5)
Steve H.
Such an excellent meal. The Johnny comes highly recommended. The filet was cooked to perfection and the flavor of everything was just bursting. Great service as well! I would dine here again. The next time I'm in Aurora.
(5)
Victor V.
I was planning a 60th birthday for my wife. We visited several Italian restaurants and chose Carraba's Italian Grill because they were all about what WE preferred and not their standard service format. Our party of 20 was placed very close to the front of the restaurant which made it very convenient for our arriving guests. The service started with great appetizers and quickly served cocktails. The two servers were very gracious and accommodating. After an ample time of snacking and visiting we were seated and dinner began. Soups and salads were brought out and the Caesar salad I had was fresh and tasty. Everyone loved the different soups as well. We all ordered a variety of entrees like chicken Marsala, meat kabobs and a variety of pasta dishes. All were perfectly prepared and delivered in perfect unison. We brought our own cake and they brought it out with candles lit and singing. The servers were so nice to fully engage with us including the dessert as well as offering coffees of all types. The bill was very reasonable for 20 people, the service spectacular and I will host another event at Carraba's Italian Grill again.
(5)
Erin J.
Have to admit I was a bit hesitant when we walked in, looked a little cheesier than I thought it'd be and a lot more casual. However, their summer menu is awesome, such a good deal and plenty of great food! Chicken Bryan was fantastic, as was the mouth watering pollo Rosa Maria. The tomato salad is phenominal, such great tomatoes that hold up to the dressing an a wonderful fresh but not overwhelming taste of basil. I'll go back again!
(4)
Stefani T.
I created my Yelp account just to write this review. 5 stars might seem a bit extreme for a chain restaurant. I have worked at Carrabba's as a teenager and eaten at locations throughout Colorado, Virginia, Maryland. THIS location is by far the best I have ever dealt with. I do like Carrabba's food- I lived in Italy for 5 years and it is nice to eat americanized-italian food that isn't all cheese and red sauces. Made from scratch alfredo (not that horrible stuff the get in vats at O.G.- I know, I worked there as a teen too) brick-oven pizza, & great chicken dishes set Carrabba's apart from other italian joints. But what sets this location apart is the consistency and service. I have utilized the Aurora Carrabba's for many work functions- I am a school secretary and they always come through with a delicious meal, that is reasonably priced. Whether busy or slow, food is always great when dining in. And they go above and beyond. I had tickets to see a play downtown, and was meeting family first for dinner. Weather was kind of cruddy, and one of our party ran really late, cutting our time to dine to practically nothing. I called ahead and preordered our dinner to eat IN, we walked in and a hot plate of awesome Chicken Bryan with a caesar salad, bread and drink was waiting for me, my mom and my sister's Chicken Pizza came out as we were taking off our coats. Manager was completely accommodating, bartender who was waiting on our table was super quick, and we got out in no time. Kudos to a well run location!
(5)
Liz V.
The decor, from the chianti bottle door handles to the fake mosaic tabletops, was ridiculous. While the chicken was grilled nicely, and my boyfriend liked the fontina on top of his, the side dishes were not spectacular overall though I did like the garlic in the zucchini. Our desserts were tiny and oddly just given to us from the spread that our waiter was describing--that made us question whether we were getting food that had been sitting out a while. The menus, regular and the summer grill fixe, were somewhat difficult to understand. It didn't actually seem to matter to our waiter what menu we were using. My boyfriend and I ended up with three side dishes, two salads, and two desserts between us even though we thought we were ordering from the regular menu which had more side dish choices to go with our main entrees. In any case, while we enjoyed ourselves, the whole dinner was way more costly than what we expected to pay. We had been thinking more along the lines of Olive Garden or Applebee's pricing. Over $16 for most chicken dishes seemed steep. We'll probably stick with non-chain restaurants that are less expensive, too, in the future.
(3)
Scott G.
Had a pretty good meal here with my wife while in town. My bill seemed higher than I anticipated for the same kind of food at competitors. Anyway, the meal was good and the service was adequate. Sat around and talked after dinner for a bit and thouhgt about getting something else but the waiter never came back during the next 45 minutes to see if I might want another drink or desert. Overall though the expereince here is good.
(3)
Matt T.
Carrabba's has the BEST Italian food. This place has great service and great food. The smell inside is amazing. Everyone should try this place. My recommendation is the Italian Classics with cavatappi amatriciana and the Mediterranean salad. Someday I will try something different but I love this dish. Highly recommend Carrabb's no matter where it is.
(5)
Tatyana G.
I know it's a chain restaurant! Big deal! Took my parents there a day before Father's Day. All 6 of us (my parents, me, my husband and my kids) had different entrees but all of them were great. I know, 5 stars might be too much but we had the best waiter Mario and we were also treated to a "show". they had only one busboy but what a worker! It was a pleasure to see him work. It took him less than a minute to clean out the table, wash everything and set it up again. And he did an excellent job! He was so fast it was even entertaining. Yes, we left an extra tip for him sc\pecifically and told the manager that he is awesome. Hope the kid gets some kind of a raise or reward.
(5)
Cindy C.
First time eating at Carrabas...it was ok. I had the rigatoni al forno and it was not bad (not great either), DiCicco's is way better!!! We started with calamari and that was pretty good, although it came out so fast I question whether it was made to order. My salad was so-so....no tomatoes or onions, just lettuce, 2 nasty kalamata olives, carrots and celery (?)!!! My husband will be writing a review about his meal, so look for Rob's review. The server was Aaron and he was very good. When Rob questioned some ingredients Aaron was very quick to try to please. He gave us free mini desserts that were awesome!! The chocolate mousse with cookie crumbles and coconuts....YUMMMM!!!!! We will give them another try because of Aaron and get something else...I will update my review then.
(3)
John C.
This is one of my favorite places to eat. As many times as I've eaten here I've never been disappointed. The Chicken Marsala is fantastic!
(5)
Beth D.
I love Carrabba's. I used to work there as a server for about a year and a half so I have first hand experience. The most important thing you should know about the food is that it is all made from scratch, from fresh ingredients delivered daily. The soup, salad dressings, every pasta sauce, breadcrumbs, the herb mix you use for the bread....all from scratch. The calamari, fried zucchini and mozzarella are breaded to order. This is why their prices are higher than other chains. Nothing on your plate was frozen, pre-made or processed. In my opinion, fresh homemade food is about as good as it gets.
(5)
Matt G.
Great mussels and chicken parm
(4)
Celia M.
This is the best italian restaurant you can visit in Denver and it's surroundings. Great customer services and even better food. I tried almost everything in the menu. Veal Marsala and the Spedino di mare are my favorites my husband loves the chicken Bryan and Chicken Rosa Maria, each one of this dishes have a fabulous flavor each bite it's unique and unforgettable. The minestrone soup it's divine, the best i ever had. I also recommend their Bruschetta and for dessert a Rosa Maria cake, just like grandma's
(5)
Robert C.
Veal Picatta without Capers???? This was my first time in a Carrabba's Italian Grill and I wasn't too impressed. I realize that some things on an Italian restaurant's menu aren't always made the same way. Chicken Cacciatore for and example, I've always known it to have chicken, green peppers, mushrooms and onions sauteed in a Marinara and served over rice or maybe pasta . At Carrabba's the chicken is served with red peppers and onions over polenta. I'm not going to even try it. I think the green peppers and mushrooms make the dish myself. Aaron was understanding and offered to have mushrooms added to the Chicken Cacciatore when I mentioned the lack of mushrooms when we were ordering but I declined and ordered the Veal Picatta instead. My wife and I shared an order of Calamari and as my wife stated in her review, it came out fast. I think they could have cooked it a little longer, it wasn't quite golden yet. I liked my Italian salad, it was the best part of my meal. Then out came the Veal Picatta, now given what I said earlier about certain Italian dishes made differently at different restaurants I have to say I've never heard of any restaurant serving any thing called "Picatta" without capers. As far as I know Picatta is lemon, capers and butter. Aaron offered to send my veal back and have capers added to it and sauteed a bit longer but that idea just sounded wrong to me. He was nice and did bring us complimentary mini desserts which were excellent but as far as I'm concerned Carrabba's already has two strikes. We will go back and give them another try but I guarantee you I won't be ordering the Chicken Cacciatore or the Picatta!
(3)
Wellington J.
It must have been an off night. Normally, we love Carrabbas, but this was not a good night. The pasta was lacking in normal quantity and quality. The sauce was really bland, not the usual gusto that awakens the taste buds. Maybe a new chef?
(2)
Ruth F.
If you like nice spacious booths, and I know I do, then Carrabbas's is the restaurant for you.
(4)
Kelly S.
I love italian food but carrabba's was a disappointment. My minestrone soup tasted like it had been sitting out for a long time. It tasted like leftovers. Our salads were fresh but the onions were in MASSIVE slices. Our server was friendly, which warrants two stars because she was attentive, but our meals were plain too. Chicken Marsala was flavorless and my spicy seafood dish (I forgot the name) the shrimp were overcooked and it wasn't spicy. For what we paid, we get a lot more food and better quality at Maggiano's instead of carrabba's.
(2)
Mean Guy I.
Wow talk about a flip flop, nothing like coming in for an early Sunday lunch and having a waiter drooling over your wife..... Omg ! Pull your pants back up ! Do your job scum bag ! It's not Saturday night at the dive bar you hang out at.... Me, my wife and nine month old son walked out.... What a sicko .... Omg I'm pissed !!! That guy is costing you business... We went to red lobster and dropped $75.00 there... it will be a long time before I bring my family or my wallet back to this place...
(1)
Natasha A.
Being Italian makes me an Italian food "snob" according to my husband. In other words I refuse to eat at Olive Garden. Carrabba's is delish IF you order the right dish. I will be the first to admit I'm not the biggest fan of the pasta dishes I have tried here ( Maggiano's pasta is superior). That being said they have really good food otherwise. This is the only restaurant I order chicken dishes at because I figure I can make chicken better at home except for Carrabba's. Their Chicken Bryan & Chicken Marsala are hands down my favorites here. The Minestrone soup is fantastic. The Caesar salad is so good (you can tell they use real anchovy in the dressing) and the salad plates are always chilled which I love. I also am a fan of a few of their cocktails I have tried. The Peach Sangria and the Pomegranate Martini are very tasty. I came here during their Happy Hour one time and it was buy one, get one with their cocktails. Of course I can't recall the time Happy Hour is at. I've read other reviews on here of people not getting the greatest service but I've never had a problem with the service. All of the servers have been great (sometimes even a little over the top friendly). Give it a try.
(4)
Setsuko R.
I usually do not complain about a restaurant since I am in restaurant business but an experience I had last night at Carrabba's was terrible. Long story short, I had a order of Green mussles and found a piece of plastic from my dish. I let our server know and she also felt it and explained me that it must come from the bag green mussles were in. She told us that she was going to get her manager and the manager said that was a piece if white part of green onions. You got to be kidding me. I can tell the difference between food and plastic. I did not say anything because her explanation was so rediculus and they just lost us as customer. She even did not appologize. I used love this place but recentley, we were having bad experiences. I will never go back again.
(1)
Josh T.
We don't get to go out much so we really try and make the most with our time together. We had a wonderful experience at the carrabbas in Aurora. Josh our server was friendly and with knowledgeable suggestions helped us discover some real treats on the menu. The Johnny was my favorite. The General manager came by to check on us as well. It felt like service I would expect at Ruth Chris. Good job everyone. See you soon!
(5)
Amanda S.
Carabbas has the customer experience bit down, their food is amazing (especially their seasonal stuff), they have a great wine selection, and their ambiance and service make you feel like you are spending a lot more than you actually are. The service at the Abilene location is always top notch and the standards and practices of this restaurant chain are a flawless recipe for success.
(5)
Melisa L.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here for the first time and it will not be our last. Food was great and our server Ana was wonderful, always made sure we had refills and checked on us regularly :)
(5)
Michael C.
Getting your main coarse is slooooow. The seafood manocati is good.
(3)
R W.
March 1, 2014 Carrabba's Italian Grill 2088 S Abilene St. Aurora, CO 80014 On February 28th, after a long work week my husband and I decided to use a gift card we had received recently as a wedding gift. We were both exhausted and looking forward to a pleasant meal at your restaurant. Our son came with us to spend an enjoyable evening together. After placing our drink orders, our waiter, Brian, brought a full tray to our table which included our drinks and a full glass of beer for another customer. While he was placing our drinks on our table, he lost control of the tray and the glass of beer came tumbling down, and I was drenched with ice cold beer. We began to mop up the beer with napkins and waited for someone to come to help because the napkins weren't absorbing the liquid. Becky arrived at the table with more napkins and tried to mop up the spill. I suggested that they get a towel and she sent Brian to get one. In the meantime, I continued to help wipe up the beer which was on the table, the booth seat and all over my lap. We didn't raise a fuss and accepted Brian and Becky's apologies and even laughed when Becky said "At least we know our beer is cold". Needless to say, our evening was ruined and I sat eating my meal with cold, wet pants. When our bill arrived, we fully expected to see some kind of compensation in the way of a discount, free drinks or something! My son, who has been the manager of several Denver restaurants was appalled that not one courtesy was extended to us by your restaurant. Please know that it not money that is important to us. We fully expected to pay for our meals when we chose to come to your restaurant, however the lack of good public relations on the part of your establishment left us with extremely poor impressions of Carrabba's. My son urged me to write this letter because he feels you should know what took place. This information was sent to the General Manager of the restaurant about three weeks ago and we have not yet received a response.
(2)
Shay F.
4 for the food and an extra star because of Marie's GRAND service. She is the best waitress I've ever had. Seriously. Checked in to make sure we were doing well. Offered drink refills, made suggestions...the whole 9 yards. She is awesome. We had calamari for our antipasto which was really good. The small portion was more than enough for 2. We ended up taking some home. I had the Pasta Weesie (Shrimp sauteed in a garlic, lemon butter, white wine sauce with sauteed mushrooms and scallions, served over fettuccine alfredo) was good. The shrimp was FRESH!!! The waitress, Marie, suggested I have it with the Newman's Own white wine and it matched well. Then I had the panna cotta for dessert and that was awesome. I tasted my friend's minestrone and it wasn't red! It was the first minestrone soup I had that was REALLY good. This place serves warm bread with an olive oil with 9 different herbs.
(5)
Jonathan D.
I've been eating here for years and love the food! They have so many great items its hard to choose! Service is great 98% of the time. Good is been great 100% of the time! I wish we had a Carrabba's in the Seattle area.
(5)
Nikki K.
Great service an great food! Our waitress was amazing! She knew my drink was empty before I knew!!!! She was helpful an helped me find something on the menu from what i described to her! But I do wish they would bring back manicotti!!!! But overall great experience!!!
(5)
Josh D.
Great food and great service. My wife and I went with our 2 year old and we had a great time. My son ate all of his ravioli and I am pretty sure wanted more, even tho what he had was plenty. My wife and I both loved what we got too. We will definetly be back!
(5)
Craig B.
Italian comfort food. Check out the specials as they never disappoint. Very fine dining for a very resonable price. Oh and shocker, they have much more than just Italian. Fish, chicken, pork chops and beef dishes. Something for everyone.
(4)
B B.
This was our third trip to this Carrabba's, with the same horrible results. The service here is some of the worst I've ever had. 3 parties were seated after us and were waited on before we were ever approached by a server, and that was after we waved him down. We've had similar experiences with our other visits here as well. My wife talked to the manager, she basically gave her lip service. The food. So so. Ordered veal picatta, no capers in the sauce ? My wife had to ask for a side of capers. My side of the house pasta, luke warm. We will never patronize this particular Carrabba's again. Looks like we will have to drive all the way to Colorado Springs to experience decent food and service.
(1)
Cookie L.
So nice to go out when you feel people care. Many of us live alone and like to have friendly people around us when we do go out. New manager Becci is excellent. When the waiter made a mistake, she was on it. I'm so glad I went there. The food is excellent and well priced.
(1)
K K.
I wanted to try Carraba's as it has been in its location quite a while, I usually prefer family owned restaurants, but we don't have many close to where we live. We use Outback TO GO and it's right next door. It looked like we walked into Outback as they look the same, must be owned by same corporation. We were hungry so we ordered crab cakes for appetizer and they said they were out, tried some risotto meatballs and they were just OK, not as good as they could have been. The whole meal was just disappointing, didn't leave me with the desire to return.
(2)
Cat S.
We came here for my cousin's graduation dinner. It was decent - nothing too special or out of the ordinary, but nothing too terrible. I think the best part of dinner was the calamari and bread. The calamari was so lightly battered, and crispy. I loved that it had black pepper and the marinara sauce was also a little spiced up, so it didn't feel too greasy/heavy. The bread was served with olive oil, basil, sea salt and pepper. The bread was warm and I loved the olive oil mixture. Other than that, the entrees were only okay. We got the Chicken Trio - Chicken Bryan, Chicken Marsala and Rosa Maria. I thought the Chicken Bryan was TOO much. There was a huge chunk of goat cheese on it and all you tasted was the goat cheese. The Rosa Maria was too salty for me. But the Chicken Marsala was really good! So was the side of spinach.. it came with the garlic perfectly cooked - just the way I like it. We also got the chicken fettucine alfredo (one of the Founder's Pastas), which was also average. The service was really good and Russell took care of us really well. Chain restaurants are not really a favorite for me, so I didn't really have big hopes for this place.
(3)
Lindy S.
Carraba's knows how to treat their customers. I have always been impressed with the staff at this location. Everyone is friendly and we have been recognized by waiters after a single visit with them. Their Creamy Italian salad dressing is really tasty, and every time I am there I order a dish that was once a special and they still make it for me even though it is not on the menu anymore. I love the Apple Crustini desert.
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 : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : 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.
Liz V.
The decor, from the chianti bottle door handles to the fake mosaic tabletops, was ridiculous. While the chicken was grilled nicely, and my boyfriend liked the fontina on top of his, the side dishes were not spectacular overall though I did like the garlic in the zucchini. Our desserts were tiny and oddly just given to us from the spread that our waiter was describing--that made us question whether we were getting food that had been sitting out a while. The menus, regular and the summer grill fixe, were somewhat difficult to understand. It didn't actually seem to matter to our waiter what menu we were using. My boyfriend and I ended up with three side dishes, two salads, and two desserts between us even though we thought we were ordering from the regular menu which had more side dish choices to go with our main entrees. In any case, while we enjoyed ourselves, the whole dinner was way more costly than what we expected to pay. We had been thinking more along the lines of Olive Garden or Applebee's pricing. Over $16 for most chicken dishes seemed steep. We'll probably stick with non-chain restaurants that are less expensive, too, in the future.
(3)Tracy A.
Pretty darn decent for a chain. 3.5 stars. Ate here recently with some relatives -- we all stuck to the spaghetti-and-meatball traditional stuff. Good food all around. They were crazy busy, and couldn't get waited on (couldn't even get water) for quite awhile. Finally, things calmed down and our service was A-OK. The lentil soup was tasty, though since it contained quite a bit of Italian sausage, it was fairly salty. My spaghetti was sauced perfectly --- not at all drippy, just lightly tossed in tomato sauce.
(4)Tatyana G.
I know it's a chain restaurant! Big deal! Took my parents there a day before Father's Day. All 6 of us (my parents, me, my husband and my kids) had different entrees but all of them were great. I know, 5 stars might be too much but we had the best waiter Mario and we were also treated to a "show". they had only one busboy but what a worker! It was a pleasure to see him work. It took him less than a minute to clean out the table, wash everything and set it up again. And he did an excellent job! He was so fast it was even entertaining. Yes, we left an extra tip for him sc\pecifically and told the manager that he is awesome. Hope the kid gets some kind of a raise or reward.
(5)Cindy C.
First time eating at Carrabas...it was ok. I had the rigatoni al forno and it was not bad (not great either), DiCicco's is way better!!! We started with calamari and that was pretty good, although it came out so fast I question whether it was made to order. My salad was so-so....no tomatoes or onions, just lettuce, 2 nasty kalamata olives, carrots and celery (?)!!! My husband will be writing a review about his meal, so look for Rob's review. The server was Aaron and he was very good. When Rob questioned some ingredients Aaron was very quick to try to please. He gave us free mini desserts that were awesome!! The chocolate mousse with cookie crumbles and coconuts....YUMMMM!!!!! We will give them another try because of Aaron and get something else...I will update my review then.
(3)John C.
This is one of my favorite places to eat. As many times as I've eaten here I've never been disappointed. The Chicken Marsala is fantastic!
(5)Emilee D.
Came here for dinner and really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere. The menu options aren't as vast as other Italian places, but it makes ordering a bit easier. You also get a nice, hot bread basket with seasoned olive oil for dipping. I had the bruschetta for an appetizer. I love the flavor of the topping, but the bread was a little too toasted for me and tore up my mouth. I ended up just eating the topping. For my entree, I had the pasta weesie. It's basically fettuccine alfredo with shrimp and mushrooms. The shrimp was very succulent and the alfredo sauce smooth. Very tasty! The staff here are pretty attentive so you don't have to wait ten years to get your drink refilled. The prices are also very reasonable.
(4)Derek N.
It was nothing special. The staff was a little slow, but the food was good.
(3)Albie F.
Got into Denver pretty late on a business trip and we had to find a dinner spot, and had to decide between Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's. Didn't feel like steak so I was glad we went with the Italian choice even though Carrabba's is apparently a chain restaurant. Too bad Yelp doesn't have half stars because I'd say Carrabba's is a solid 3.5. I got the chicken Santa Maria (waiter's recommended chicken entree) and it was very well cooked with olive oil and some cheese in between the chicken breasts sliced in half width wise. It was quite oily but in a good way with a side of spinach. We also grabbed a calamari/fried mozzarella as the appetizer and after everything was said and done, we were looking at $30/person. Considering that we got there only 10 minutes before they officially closed and that we stayed for almost an hour after they officially closed, we were very happy they were servicing our needs.
(3)Lucas M.
Pretty good food but our waitress/staff was much weaker than the sauce on the pasta! waitress completely forgot to bring us our drinks from the bar twice and got no support from the 5 other employess literally standing around waiting for the dinner rush.
(2)Laurie W.
What keeps me coming back to Carrabba's is the Caesar salad. Everyone here knows that I have a thing for Caesar salad. Oh, I know, it's terrible for you. But I love it. Gosh do I love it! Carrabba's Caesar is just vinegary enough and has just a hint of anchovy. It also features good crutons and a nice amount of Parmesan cheese. Yum! Other than that, everything we have tried has been very good. The service is good and we always enjoy it when we go to dinner at Carrabba's. Oh, and the white wine sangria is very good, with bright citrus flavor.
(3)Tim K.
This may be a franchise restaurant but it is quite good. Had some reservations about a "chain" restaurant and I was very surprised. First of all the staff could not have been more friendly, helpful and genuinely service oriented, from the hostess to the server to the bus person. The menu had a good variety of offerings with moderate prices. My son and I both ordered house salads and an entree. We also received all the warm bread we could eat and my Diet Coke got refilled as soon as I had downed half of what was in the glass. Portions were enough to fill you up nicely and the food was tasty, well seasoned and the pasta in both dishes was done correctly, not soggy at all. Check for two salads, two entrees, soft drinks came to $38.00, not bad. Not your true Italian dining experience but good enough that I will return. I can do without the fancy tables, dinner ware, singers and often times arrogant staff.
(4)Jodi A.
I wasn't overly impressed with the fare. If I can cook it better than the restaurant, I am not real motivated to return. I LOVE Italian food, this just did not give you the homemade warm-fuzzies of a real Italian meal. I could have zapped a Stouffers lasagna and felt the same about this food. Meh. No thanks.
(3)Art V.
Food was excellent / the server made a mistake on the appetizer / he also made a mistake on the main course. HE GOT THE BILL PERFECT
(4)Sumay J.
Pretty good food.
(4)Annie B.
We went back to Carrabba's again the other night. The service was fantastic, the food was wonderful and yet again I was far from disappointed! It may be a chain, but Carrabba's is so delicious! The pasta weezie, a house salad and the ricardo calamari are my recommendations. But everything I've tried on the menu has been wonderful. Just wanted to refresh my review and let everyone know that this chain rocks!
(4)Josh T.
So it is a chain... that isn't always a bad thing. I have eaten at multiple Carrabba's across the US hundreds of times, in fact while my wife worked that the location in Woodbridge, VA in 2000, I ate there on average 4-5 times a week for about a year. Yes, this played hell on my waistline. We have always received outstanding service at the location in Aurora. This is a restaurant that always delivers fresh, top quality, and truly great food. I have yet to find better Mussels in the Denver area, their steaks are fantastic as are their pasta dishes. With that said, I am of the opinion that if you are one of those who actually go out to eat Spaghetti then you are wasting your time, money, and are taking up a seat I could be sitting in. The specials at Carrabba's are that... special. These are non-menu items that typically have a short run and have never disappointed. Whether it was braised Italian beef pot roast, lamb shank, or their Italian gnocchi. Their desserts, are all equally delicious. I would recommend any one of them.
(4)Michael R.
My favorite chain restaurant. I usually get the filet marsala which is excellent if you've never had it. Cooked to a perfect rare with the usual bread, salad and sides. Bartender was very friendly and the service was good.
(4)Kristen U.
This is my all time favorite restaurant. Everything is always delicious and the customer service is top notch! I try something new all the time and have never been dissapointed.
(5)Erin J.
Have to admit I was a bit hesitant when we walked in, looked a little cheesier than I thought it'd be and a lot more casual. However, their summer menu is awesome, such a good deal and plenty of great food! Chicken Bryan was fantastic, as was the mouth watering pollo Rosa Maria. The tomato salad is phenominal, such great tomatoes that hold up to the dressing an a wonderful fresh but not overwhelming taste of basil. I'll go back again!
(4)Scott G.
Had a pretty good meal here with my wife while in town. My bill seemed higher than I anticipated for the same kind of food at competitors. Anyway, the meal was good and the service was adequate. Sat around and talked after dinner for a bit and thouhgt about getting something else but the waiter never came back during the next 45 minutes to see if I might want another drink or desert. Overall though the expereince here is good.
(3)Matt T.
Carrabba's has the BEST Italian food. This place has great service and great food. The smell inside is amazing. Everyone should try this place. My recommendation is the Italian Classics with cavatappi amatriciana and the Mediterranean salad. Someday I will try something different but I love this dish. Highly recommend Carrabb's no matter where it is.
(5)Stefani T.
I created my Yelp account just to write this review. 5 stars might seem a bit extreme for a chain restaurant. I have worked at Carrabba's as a teenager and eaten at locations throughout Colorado, Virginia, Maryland. THIS location is by far the best I have ever dealt with. I do like Carrabba's food- I lived in Italy for 5 years and it is nice to eat americanized-italian food that isn't all cheese and red sauces. Made from scratch alfredo (not that horrible stuff the get in vats at O.G.- I know, I worked there as a teen too) brick-oven pizza, & great chicken dishes set Carrabba's apart from other italian joints. But what sets this location apart is the consistency and service. I have utilized the Aurora Carrabba's for many work functions- I am a school secretary and they always come through with a delicious meal, that is reasonably priced. Whether busy or slow, food is always great when dining in. And they go above and beyond. I had tickets to see a play downtown, and was meeting family first for dinner. Weather was kind of cruddy, and one of our party ran really late, cutting our time to dine to practically nothing. I called ahead and preordered our dinner to eat IN, we walked in and a hot plate of awesome Chicken Bryan with a caesar salad, bread and drink was waiting for me, my mom and my sister's Chicken Pizza came out as we were taking off our coats. Manager was completely accommodating, bartender who was waiting on our table was super quick, and we got out in no time. Kudos to a well run location!
(5)Beth D.
I love Carrabba's. I used to work there as a server for about a year and a half so I have first hand experience. The most important thing you should know about the food is that it is all made from scratch, from fresh ingredients delivered daily. The soup, salad dressings, every pasta sauce, breadcrumbs, the herb mix you use for the bread....all from scratch. The calamari, fried zucchini and mozzarella are breaded to order. This is why their prices are higher than other chains. Nothing on your plate was frozen, pre-made or processed. In my opinion, fresh homemade food is about as good as it gets.
(5)Matt G.
Great mussels and chicken parm
(4)Celia M.
This is the best italian restaurant you can visit in Denver and it's surroundings. Great customer services and even better food. I tried almost everything in the menu. Veal Marsala and the Spedino di mare are my favorites my husband loves the chicken Bryan and Chicken Rosa Maria, each one of this dishes have a fabulous flavor each bite it's unique and unforgettable. The minestrone soup it's divine, the best i ever had. I also recommend their Bruschetta and for dessert a Rosa Maria cake, just like grandma's
(5)Robert C.
Veal Picatta without Capers???? This was my first time in a Carrabba's Italian Grill and I wasn't too impressed. I realize that some things on an Italian restaurant's menu aren't always made the same way. Chicken Cacciatore for and example, I've always known it to have chicken, green peppers, mushrooms and onions sauteed in a Marinara and served over rice or maybe pasta . At Carrabba's the chicken is served with red peppers and onions over polenta. I'm not going to even try it. I think the green peppers and mushrooms make the dish myself. Aaron was understanding and offered to have mushrooms added to the Chicken Cacciatore when I mentioned the lack of mushrooms when we were ordering but I declined and ordered the Veal Picatta instead. My wife and I shared an order of Calamari and as my wife stated in her review, it came out fast. I think they could have cooked it a little longer, it wasn't quite golden yet. I liked my Italian salad, it was the best part of my meal. Then out came the Veal Picatta, now given what I said earlier about certain Italian dishes made differently at different restaurants I have to say I've never heard of any restaurant serving any thing called "Picatta" without capers. As far as I know Picatta is lemon, capers and butter. Aaron offered to send my veal back and have capers added to it and sauteed a bit longer but that idea just sounded wrong to me. He was nice and did bring us complimentary mini desserts which were excellent but as far as I'm concerned Carrabba's already has two strikes. We will go back and give them another try but I guarantee you I won't be ordering the Chicken Cacciatore or the Picatta!
(3)Amanda S.
Carabbas has the customer experience bit down, their food is amazing (especially their seasonal stuff), they have a great wine selection, and their ambiance and service make you feel like you are spending a lot more than you actually are. The service at the Abilene location is always top notch and the standards and practices of this restaurant chain are a flawless recipe for success.
(5)Melisa L.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here for the first time and it will not be our last. Food was great and our server Ana was wonderful, always made sure we had refills and checked on us regularly :)
(5)Michael C.
Getting your main coarse is slooooow. The seafood manocati is good.
(3)Chris Y.
d not eaten here for quite a while as the menu did not thrill us. We received a coupon, and decided to give it a chance. We were pleasantly surprised. Both entrees were awesome, tasty and a nice presentation. I was surprised it was not busier than it was. The food was great, so if you are like us, and have not tried it for a while, I recommend giving it another try. The service was also superior.
(5)Barbara S.
Whole wheat pasta like glue and with very little bland sauce. Extremely disappointed. Minestrone was good but not worth a return trip.
(1)James B.
Salad and dinner plates were within 2 min of each other, never got a refill on iced tea and was double charged. The food was excellent so I give three stars for that.
(3)Tanya V.
Very delicious food! Super fast and friendly staff members. Perfect timing with everything and great prices. Tried it today for the first time and will definitely be back there again!
(5)Michael P.
Solid food, great service...one warning to people who expect fast casual Italian food do not come here. This place is a relaxed sit down establishment that makes the food fresh to order. Very attentive staff who makes that my family has been to very comfortable. Special requests are handled without complaining, and the portion sizes are just right for a family meal. Would recommend to anyone....
(4)Eliza B.
Without a doubt the best Italian food anywhere! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the calamari and the Mamas Chicken Soup! The atmosphere and ambiance are relaxing and the food and service are exemplary! Never a bad meal or bad service, always my first choice for a romantic dinner out with my hubby!
(5)Kelcie S.
First time hitting up this little Italian joint and I was very impressed. Had Monkia as our waitress and I have never been so impressed with someone's service. She made it the perfect evening as served with such class. Calamari was to die for as it was not over cooked or over breaded. The bread was served warm with delicious spices in olive oil. Really brought me back to Italy. Pasta was full of flavor and not over sauced like it should be.
(5)Anthony P.
Great new dish, the Rigatoni Martino! Very good but of course you can never go wrong with the Calamari and Italian Sausage Lentil Soup. Try something new you may be surprised. Service a bit slow tonight but as long as you have an open mind you will be fine.
(4)Jen M.
Great meal and great service. Ordered the filet based on other yelper reviews. It was delicious. Also had the sangria which was great, and so was the bread and the salad.
(4)Denise R.
It's been years since I've been to a Carrabba's restaurant why I haven't been there is crazy to me this place is Good!! I have to say I had the best waitress she was so helpful I told her that I was very very picky on spices and sauces she let me try the actual sauce with not even having to ask for it she even brought me extra sauce on the side I also had a very delicious salad and we also had the tiramisu which was so good it is one of my favorites so I have to say thank you to my wonderful waitress I will definitely be back
(5)laurie z.
The meal that was mediocre at best. The veal was slightly tough. I was charged extra for sticky overcooked pasta and bland Alfredo sauce. The bread comes with oil and herbs to dip it in, which is good. The drink prices are higher than any other restaurant around!!!!!!!!!!!
(2)Veronica S.
So I decided to celebrate Mother's Day at my favorite restaurant and I was very very disappointed. It started out ok with the calamari appetizer, but my chicken trio took forever to come out and when it did it was cold and my side of fettuccini didn't have enough sauce so it tasted like buttered noodles. The waitress asked if it was ok and I told her it was cold so she takes it back and all they did was try and warm it next to the oven. Came back slightly warm but the cheese on the pollo rosa maria was still cold and not melted, not to mention that this type of chicken is supposed to be stuffed with the cheese and prosciutto not just thrown on top. I give my husband kudos for trying to plan a nice evening for us, but definitely need to find a new favorite restaurant. Keep in mind we've been loyal customers for years. Hope this helps P.S. Prices have gone up again.
(2)Marianne G.
We spent a lot of money for a meal that was mediocre at best.
(1)Amy F.
I love pasta no matter what kind it is. Torn between and 3 and 4 star rating. I like Carrabba's- been here many times over the years and always get fast friendly service (sometimes too fast when they bring the main course out before the apps-but only happens once in a while) there is rarely a long wait to be seated. Good happy hour prices! The Filet Fiorentina is probably one of the best steaks I have ever had- melts like butter once it hits your mouth-great flavor as well. The wine selection is ok, but they do carry a great Pinot Grigio-Bisanzio! I think everything here is just A-OK, but the steak would get five stars alone!
(3)Danny B.
Good. Decent. Used to go to the original in Houston so nostalgia more than anything for me.
(3)Wellington J.
It must have been an off night. Normally, we love Carrabbas, but this was not a good night. The pasta was lacking in normal quantity and quality. The sauce was really bland, not the usual gusto that awakens the taste buds. Maybe a new chef?
(2)Ruth F.
If you like nice spacious booths, and I know I do, then Carrabbas's is the restaurant for you.
(4)Kelly S.
I love italian food but carrabba's was a disappointment. My minestrone soup tasted like it had been sitting out for a long time. It tasted like leftovers. Our salads were fresh but the onions were in MASSIVE slices. Our server was friendly, which warrants two stars because she was attentive, but our meals were plain too. Chicken Marsala was flavorless and my spicy seafood dish (I forgot the name) the shrimp were overcooked and it wasn't spicy. For what we paid, we get a lot more food and better quality at Maggiano's instead of carrabba's.
(2)Lua F.
Whew! You could have a nice dinner here if it's not sports night or even a group of friends for something more casual! This place is great for any occasion :) Personally on this visit, we had a nice romantic dinner. Although we called ahead and asked for a more "private" table, when we arrived there was absolutely no record of our call. However, the Broncos game had just ended and the place was pretty empty save for a few families having dinner. I still would've liked to get a nicer table though. The happy hour special was nice as it extended to include mixed wine drinks and seasonal specials as well. I wish the prices had been explained better as I could've SWORN the server assured me that happy hour reduced the price of my wine glass from "7 to about 5 or 6." Surprise! When we got the bill, both of the drinks we had ordered were full price and even my "small" appetizer was up charged $2 because I ate an appetizer as my entree instead of an actual entree. I really hate when restaurants charge for every little thing. Especially without putting a disclaimer . Despite that, The food was delicious and the wine was wonderful. My secret recommended a drink that perfectly complemented my food and the bartender filled my martini to the brim!
(4)Natasha A.
Being Italian makes me an Italian food "snob" according to my husband. In other words I refuse to eat at Olive Garden. Carrabba's is delish IF you order the right dish. I will be the first to admit I'm not the biggest fan of the pasta dishes I have tried here ( Maggiano's pasta is superior). That being said they have really good food otherwise. This is the only restaurant I order chicken dishes at because I figure I can make chicken better at home except for Carrabba's. Their Chicken Bryan & Chicken Marsala are hands down my favorites here. The Minestrone soup is fantastic. The Caesar salad is so good (you can tell they use real anchovy in the dressing) and the salad plates are always chilled which I love. I also am a fan of a few of their cocktails I have tried. The Peach Sangria and the Pomegranate Martini are very tasty. I came here during their Happy Hour one time and it was buy one, get one with their cocktails. Of course I can't recall the time Happy Hour is at. I've read other reviews on here of people not getting the greatest service but I've never had a problem with the service. All of the servers have been great (sometimes even a little over the top friendly). Give it a try.
(4)Setsuko R.
I usually do not complain about a restaurant since I am in restaurant business but an experience I had last night at Carrabba's was terrible. Long story short, I had a order of Green mussles and found a piece of plastic from my dish. I let our server know and she also felt it and explained me that it must come from the bag green mussles were in. She told us that she was going to get her manager and the manager said that was a piece if white part of green onions. You got to be kidding me. I can tell the difference between food and plastic. I did not say anything because her explanation was so rediculus and they just lost us as customer. She even did not appologize. I used love this place but recentley, we were having bad experiences. I will never go back again.
(1)J. Sara S.
I have been going here since it opened and I love everything I have ever ordered. Fresh Bread with the most amazing Herb Oil and Entrees that ROCK! Also The the Kaluah Brownie is amazing!!! Great service never had a bad experience, I'd say I go here at least once a month! I also take guests, here as well. The prices are very fair and the quantity and quality is excellent!
(5)Mean Guy I.
Wow talk about a flip flop, nothing like coming in for an early Sunday lunch and having a waiter drooling over your wife..... Omg ! Pull your pants back up ! Do your job scum bag ! It's not Saturday night at the dive bar you hang out at.... Me, my wife and nine month old son walked out.... What a sicko .... Omg I'm pissed !!! That guy is costing you business... We went to red lobster and dropped $75.00 there... it will be a long time before I bring my family or my wallet back to this place...
(1)Josh T.
We don't get to go out much so we really try and make the most with our time together. We had a wonderful experience at the carrabbas in Aurora. Josh our server was friendly and with knowledgeable suggestions helped us discover some real treats on the menu. The Johnny was my favorite. The General manager came by to check on us as well. It felt like service I would expect at Ruth Chris. Good job everyone. See you soon!
(5)Steve H.
Such an excellent meal. The Johnny comes highly recommended. The filet was cooked to perfection and the flavor of everything was just bursting. Great service as well! I would dine here again. The next time I'm in Aurora.
(5)Victor V.
I was planning a 60th birthday for my wife. We visited several Italian restaurants and chose Carraba's Italian Grill because they were all about what WE preferred and not their standard service format. Our party of 20 was placed very close to the front of the restaurant which made it very convenient for our arriving guests. The service started with great appetizers and quickly served cocktails. The two servers were very gracious and accommodating. After an ample time of snacking and visiting we were seated and dinner began. Soups and salads were brought out and the Caesar salad I had was fresh and tasty. Everyone loved the different soups as well. We all ordered a variety of entrees like chicken Marsala, meat kabobs and a variety of pasta dishes. All were perfectly prepared and delivered in perfect unison. We brought our own cake and they brought it out with candles lit and singing. The servers were so nice to fully engage with us including the dessert as well as offering coffees of all types. The bill was very reasonable for 20 people, the service spectacular and I will host another event at Carraba's Italian Grill again.
(5)K K.
I wanted to try Carraba's as it has been in its location quite a while, I usually prefer family owned restaurants, but we don't have many close to where we live. We use Outback TO GO and it's right next door. It looked like we walked into Outback as they look the same, must be owned by same corporation. We were hungry so we ordered crab cakes for appetizer and they said they were out, tried some risotto meatballs and they were just OK, not as good as they could have been. The whole meal was just disappointing, didn't leave me with the desire to return.
(2)Cat S.
We came here for my cousin's graduation dinner. It was decent - nothing too special or out of the ordinary, but nothing too terrible. I think the best part of dinner was the calamari and bread. The calamari was so lightly battered, and crispy. I loved that it had black pepper and the marinara sauce was also a little spiced up, so it didn't feel too greasy/heavy. The bread was served with olive oil, basil, sea salt and pepper. The bread was warm and I loved the olive oil mixture. Other than that, the entrees were only okay. We got the Chicken Trio - Chicken Bryan, Chicken Marsala and Rosa Maria. I thought the Chicken Bryan was TOO much. There was a huge chunk of goat cheese on it and all you tasted was the goat cheese. The Rosa Maria was too salty for me. But the Chicken Marsala was really good! So was the side of spinach.. it came with the garlic perfectly cooked - just the way I like it. We also got the chicken fettucine alfredo (one of the Founder's Pastas), which was also average. The service was really good and Russell took care of us really well. Chain restaurants are not really a favorite for me, so I didn't really have big hopes for this place.
(3)Tatyana G.
I know it's a chain restaurant! Big deal! Took my parents there a day before Father's Day. All 6 of us (my parents, me, my husband and my kids) had different entrees but all of them were great. I know, 5 stars might be too much but we had the best waiter Mario and we were also treated to a "show". they had only one busboy but what a worker! It was a pleasure to see him work. It took him less than a minute to clean out the table, wash everything and set it up again. And he did an excellent job! He was so fast it was even entertaining. Yes, we left an extra tip for him sc\pecifically and told the manager that he is awesome. Hope the kid gets some kind of a raise or reward.
(5)Nikki K.
Great service an great food! Our waitress was amazing! She knew my drink was empty before I knew!!!! She was helpful an helped me find something on the menu from what i described to her! But I do wish they would bring back manicotti!!!! But overall great experience!!!
(5)Josh D.
Great food and great service. My wife and I went with our 2 year old and we had a great time. My son ate all of his ravioli and I am pretty sure wanted more, even tho what he had was plenty. My wife and I both loved what we got too. We will definetly be back!
(5)Scott G.
Had a pretty good meal here with my wife while in town. My bill seemed higher than I anticipated for the same kind of food at competitors. Anyway, the meal was good and the service was adequate. Sat around and talked after dinner for a bit and thouhgt about getting something else but the waiter never came back during the next 45 minutes to see if I might want another drink or desert. Overall though the expereince here is good.
(3)Lindy S.
Carraba's knows how to treat their customers. I have always been impressed with the staff at this location. Everyone is friendly and we have been recognized by waiters after a single visit with them. Their Creamy Italian salad dressing is really tasty, and every time I am there I order a dish that was once a special and they still make it for me even though it is not on the menu anymore. I love the Apple Crustini desert.
(5)B B.
This was our third trip to this Carrabba's, with the same horrible results. The service here is some of the worst I've ever had. 3 parties were seated after us and were waited on before we were ever approached by a server, and that was after we waved him down. We've had similar experiences with our other visits here as well. My wife talked to the manager, she basically gave her lip service. The food. So so. Ordered veal picatta, no capers in the sauce ? My wife had to ask for a side of capers. My side of the house pasta, luke warm. We will never patronize this particular Carrabba's again. Looks like we will have to drive all the way to Colorado Springs to experience decent food and service.
(1)Cookie L.
So nice to go out when you feel people care. Many of us live alone and like to have friendly people around us when we do go out. New manager Becci is excellent. When the waiter made a mistake, she was on it. I'm so glad I went there. The food is excellent and well priced.
(1)R W.
March 1, 2014 Carrabba's Italian Grill 2088 S Abilene St. Aurora, CO 80014 On February 28th, after a long work week my husband and I decided to use a gift card we had received recently as a wedding gift. We were both exhausted and looking forward to a pleasant meal at your restaurant. Our son came with us to spend an enjoyable evening together. After placing our drink orders, our waiter, Brian, brought a full tray to our table which included our drinks and a full glass of beer for another customer. While he was placing our drinks on our table, he lost control of the tray and the glass of beer came tumbling down, and I was drenched with ice cold beer. We began to mop up the beer with napkins and waited for someone to come to help because the napkins weren't absorbing the liquid. Becky arrived at the table with more napkins and tried to mop up the spill. I suggested that they get a towel and she sent Brian to get one. In the meantime, I continued to help wipe up the beer which was on the table, the booth seat and all over my lap. We didn't raise a fuss and accepted Brian and Becky's apologies and even laughed when Becky said "At least we know our beer is cold". Needless to say, our evening was ruined and I sat eating my meal with cold, wet pants. When our bill arrived, we fully expected to see some kind of compensation in the way of a discount, free drinks or something! My son, who has been the manager of several Denver restaurants was appalled that not one courtesy was extended to us by your restaurant. Please know that it not money that is important to us. We fully expected to pay for our meals when we chose to come to your restaurant, however the lack of good public relations on the part of your establishment left us with extremely poor impressions of Carrabba's. My son urged me to write this letter because he feels you should know what took place. This information was sent to the General Manager of the restaurant about three weeks ago and we have not yet received a response.
(2)Shay F.
4 for the food and an extra star because of Marie's GRAND service. She is the best waitress I've ever had. Seriously. Checked in to make sure we were doing well. Offered drink refills, made suggestions...the whole 9 yards. She is awesome. We had calamari for our antipasto which was really good. The small portion was more than enough for 2. We ended up taking some home. I had the Pasta Weesie (Shrimp sauteed in a garlic, lemon butter, white wine sauce with sauteed mushrooms and scallions, served over fettuccine alfredo) was good. The shrimp was FRESH!!! The waitress, Marie, suggested I have it with the Newman's Own white wine and it matched well. Then I had the panna cotta for dessert and that was awesome. I tasted my friend's minestrone and it wasn't red! It was the first minestrone soup I had that was REALLY good. This place serves warm bread with an olive oil with 9 different herbs.
(5)Jonathan D.
I've been eating here for years and love the food! They have so many great items its hard to choose! Service is great 98% of the time. Good is been great 100% of the time! I wish we had a Carrabba's in the Seattle area.
(5)Craig B.
Italian comfort food. Check out the specials as they never disappoint. Very fine dining for a very resonable price. Oh and shocker, they have much more than just Italian. Fish, chicken, pork chops and beef dishes. Something for everyone.
(4)Emilee D.
Came here for dinner and really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere. The menu options aren't as vast as other Italian places, but it makes ordering a bit easier. You also get a nice, hot bread basket with seasoned olive oil for dipping. I had the bruschetta for an appetizer. I love the flavor of the topping, but the bread was a little too toasted for me and tore up my mouth. I ended up just eating the topping. For my entree, I had the pasta weesie. It's basically fettuccine alfredo with shrimp and mushrooms. The shrimp was very succulent and the alfredo sauce smooth. Very tasty! The staff here are pretty attentive so you don't have to wait ten years to get your drink refilled. The prices are also very reasonable.
(4)Derek N.
It was nothing special. The staff was a little slow, but the food was good.
(3)Albie F.
Got into Denver pretty late on a business trip and we had to find a dinner spot, and had to decide between Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's. Didn't feel like steak so I was glad we went with the Italian choice even though Carrabba's is apparently a chain restaurant. Too bad Yelp doesn't have half stars because I'd say Carrabba's is a solid 3.5. I got the chicken Santa Maria (waiter's recommended chicken entree) and it was very well cooked with olive oil and some cheese in between the chicken breasts sliced in half width wise. It was quite oily but in a good way with a side of spinach. We also grabbed a calamari/fried mozzarella as the appetizer and after everything was said and done, we were looking at $30/person. Considering that we got there only 10 minutes before they officially closed and that we stayed for almost an hour after they officially closed, we were very happy they were servicing our needs.
(3)Lucas M.
Pretty good food but our waitress/staff was much weaker than the sauce on the pasta! waitress completely forgot to bring us our drinks from the bar twice and got no support from the 5 other employess literally standing around waiting for the dinner rush.
(2)Laurie W.
What keeps me coming back to Carrabba's is the Caesar salad. Everyone here knows that I have a thing for Caesar salad. Oh, I know, it's terrible for you. But I love it. Gosh do I love it! Carrabba's Caesar is just vinegary enough and has just a hint of anchovy. It also features good crutons and a nice amount of Parmesan cheese. Yum! Other than that, everything we have tried has been very good. The service is good and we always enjoy it when we go to dinner at Carrabba's. Oh, and the white wine sangria is very good, with bright citrus flavor.
(3)Kristen U.
This is my all time favorite restaurant. Everything is always delicious and the customer service is top notch! I try something new all the time and have never been dissapointed.
(5)Erin J.
Have to admit I was a bit hesitant when we walked in, looked a little cheesier than I thought it'd be and a lot more casual. However, their summer menu is awesome, such a good deal and plenty of great food! Chicken Bryan was fantastic, as was the mouth watering pollo Rosa Maria. The tomato salad is phenominal, such great tomatoes that hold up to the dressing an a wonderful fresh but not overwhelming taste of basil. I'll go back again!
(4)Tim K.
This may be a franchise restaurant but it is quite good. Had some reservations about a "chain" restaurant and I was very surprised. First of all the staff could not have been more friendly, helpful and genuinely service oriented, from the hostess to the server to the bus person. The menu had a good variety of offerings with moderate prices. My son and I both ordered house salads and an entree. We also received all the warm bread we could eat and my Diet Coke got refilled as soon as I had downed half of what was in the glass. Portions were enough to fill you up nicely and the food was tasty, well seasoned and the pasta in both dishes was done correctly, not soggy at all. Check for two salads, two entrees, soft drinks came to $38.00, not bad. Not your true Italian dining experience but good enough that I will return. I can do without the fancy tables, dinner ware, singers and often times arrogant staff.
(4)Jodi A.
I wasn't overly impressed with the fare. If I can cook it better than the restaurant, I am not real motivated to return. I LOVE Italian food, this just did not give you the homemade warm-fuzzies of a real Italian meal. I could have zapped a Stouffers lasagna and felt the same about this food. Meh. No thanks.
(3)Art V.
Food was excellent / the server made a mistake on the appetizer / he also made a mistake on the main course. HE GOT THE BILL PERFECT
(4)Sumay J.
Pretty good food.
(4)Annie B.
We went back to Carrabba's again the other night. The service was fantastic, the food was wonderful and yet again I was far from disappointed! It may be a chain, but Carrabba's is so delicious! The pasta weezie, a house salad and the ricardo calamari are my recommendations. But everything I've tried on the menu has been wonderful. Just wanted to refresh my review and let everyone know that this chain rocks!
(4)Josh T.
So it is a chain... that isn't always a bad thing. I have eaten at multiple Carrabba's across the US hundreds of times, in fact while my wife worked that the location in Woodbridge, VA in 2000, I ate there on average 4-5 times a week for about a year. Yes, this played hell on my waistline. We have always received outstanding service at the location in Aurora. This is a restaurant that always delivers fresh, top quality, and truly great food. I have yet to find better Mussels in the Denver area, their steaks are fantastic as are their pasta dishes. With that said, I am of the opinion that if you are one of those who actually go out to eat Spaghetti then you are wasting your time, money, and are taking up a seat I could be sitting in. The specials at Carrabba's are that... special. These are non-menu items that typically have a short run and have never disappointed. Whether it was braised Italian beef pot roast, lamb shank, or their Italian gnocchi. Their desserts, are all equally delicious. I would recommend any one of them.
(4)Michael R.
My favorite chain restaurant. I usually get the filet marsala which is excellent if you've never had it. Cooked to a perfect rare with the usual bread, salad and sides. Bartender was very friendly and the service was good.
(4)Stefani T.
I created my Yelp account just to write this review. 5 stars might seem a bit extreme for a chain restaurant. I have worked at Carrabba's as a teenager and eaten at locations throughout Colorado, Virginia, Maryland. THIS location is by far the best I have ever dealt with. I do like Carrabba's food- I lived in Italy for 5 years and it is nice to eat americanized-italian food that isn't all cheese and red sauces. Made from scratch alfredo (not that horrible stuff the get in vats at O.G.- I know, I worked there as a teen too) brick-oven pizza, & great chicken dishes set Carrabba's apart from other italian joints. But what sets this location apart is the consistency and service. I have utilized the Aurora Carrabba's for many work functions- I am a school secretary and they always come through with a delicious meal, that is reasonably priced. Whether busy or slow, food is always great when dining in. And they go above and beyond. I had tickets to see a play downtown, and was meeting family first for dinner. Weather was kind of cruddy, and one of our party ran really late, cutting our time to dine to practically nothing. I called ahead and preordered our dinner to eat IN, we walked in and a hot plate of awesome Chicken Bryan with a caesar salad, bread and drink was waiting for me, my mom and my sister's Chicken Pizza came out as we were taking off our coats. Manager was completely accommodating, bartender who was waiting on our table was super quick, and we got out in no time. Kudos to a well run location!
(5)Liz V.
The decor, from the chianti bottle door handles to the fake mosaic tabletops, was ridiculous. While the chicken was grilled nicely, and my boyfriend liked the fontina on top of his, the side dishes were not spectacular overall though I did like the garlic in the zucchini. Our desserts were tiny and oddly just given to us from the spread that our waiter was describing--that made us question whether we were getting food that had been sitting out a while. The menus, regular and the summer grill fixe, were somewhat difficult to understand. It didn't actually seem to matter to our waiter what menu we were using. My boyfriend and I ended up with three side dishes, two salads, and two desserts between us even though we thought we were ordering from the regular menu which had more side dish choices to go with our main entrees. In any case, while we enjoyed ourselves, the whole dinner was way more costly than what we expected to pay. We had been thinking more along the lines of Olive Garden or Applebee's pricing. Over $16 for most chicken dishes seemed steep. We'll probably stick with non-chain restaurants that are less expensive, too, in the future.
(3)Tracy A.
Pretty darn decent for a chain. 3.5 stars. Ate here recently with some relatives -- we all stuck to the spaghetti-and-meatball traditional stuff. Good food all around. They were crazy busy, and couldn't get waited on (couldn't even get water) for quite awhile. Finally, things calmed down and our service was A-OK. The lentil soup was tasty, though since it contained quite a bit of Italian sausage, it was fairly salty. My spaghetti was sauced perfectly --- not at all drippy, just lightly tossed in tomato sauce.
(4)Matt T.
Carrabba's has the BEST Italian food. This place has great service and great food. The smell inside is amazing. Everyone should try this place. My recommendation is the Italian Classics with cavatappi amatriciana and the Mediterranean salad. Someday I will try something different but I love this dish. Highly recommend Carrabb's no matter where it is.
(5)Cindy C.
First time eating at Carrabas...it was ok. I had the rigatoni al forno and it was not bad (not great either), DiCicco's is way better!!! We started with calamari and that was pretty good, although it came out so fast I question whether it was made to order. My salad was so-so....no tomatoes or onions, just lettuce, 2 nasty kalamata olives, carrots and celery (?)!!! My husband will be writing a review about his meal, so look for Rob's review. The server was Aaron and he was very good. When Rob questioned some ingredients Aaron was very quick to try to please. He gave us free mini desserts that were awesome!! The chocolate mousse with cookie crumbles and coconuts....YUMMMM!!!!! We will give them another try because of Aaron and get something else...I will update my review then.
(3)John C.
This is one of my favorite places to eat. As many times as I've eaten here I've never been disappointed. The Chicken Marsala is fantastic!
(5)Beth D.
I love Carrabba's. I used to work there as a server for about a year and a half so I have first hand experience. The most important thing you should know about the food is that it is all made from scratch, from fresh ingredients delivered daily. The soup, salad dressings, every pasta sauce, breadcrumbs, the herb mix you use for the bread....all from scratch. The calamari, fried zucchini and mozzarella are breaded to order. This is why their prices are higher than other chains. Nothing on your plate was frozen, pre-made or processed. In my opinion, fresh homemade food is about as good as it gets.
(5)Matt G.
Great mussels and chicken parm
(4)Celia M.
This is the best italian restaurant you can visit in Denver and it's surroundings. Great customer services and even better food. I tried almost everything in the menu. Veal Marsala and the Spedino di mare are my favorites my husband loves the chicken Bryan and Chicken Rosa Maria, each one of this dishes have a fabulous flavor each bite it's unique and unforgettable. The minestrone soup it's divine, the best i ever had. I also recommend their Bruschetta and for dessert a Rosa Maria cake, just like grandma's
(5)Robert C.
Veal Picatta without Capers???? This was my first time in a Carrabba's Italian Grill and I wasn't too impressed. I realize that some things on an Italian restaurant's menu aren't always made the same way. Chicken Cacciatore for and example, I've always known it to have chicken, green peppers, mushrooms and onions sauteed in a Marinara and served over rice or maybe pasta . At Carrabba's the chicken is served with red peppers and onions over polenta. I'm not going to even try it. I think the green peppers and mushrooms make the dish myself. Aaron was understanding and offered to have mushrooms added to the Chicken Cacciatore when I mentioned the lack of mushrooms when we were ordering but I declined and ordered the Veal Picatta instead. My wife and I shared an order of Calamari and as my wife stated in her review, it came out fast. I think they could have cooked it a little longer, it wasn't quite golden yet. I liked my Italian salad, it was the best part of my meal. Then out came the Veal Picatta, now given what I said earlier about certain Italian dishes made differently at different restaurants I have to say I've never heard of any restaurant serving any thing called "Picatta" without capers. As far as I know Picatta is lemon, capers and butter. Aaron offered to send my veal back and have capers added to it and sauteed a bit longer but that idea just sounded wrong to me. He was nice and did bring us complimentary mini desserts which were excellent but as far as I'm concerned Carrabba's already has two strikes. We will go back and give them another try but I guarantee you I won't be ordering the Chicken Cacciatore or the Picatta!
(3)Denise R.
It's been years since I've been to a Carrabba's restaurant why I haven't been there is crazy to me this place is Good!! I have to say I had the best waitress she was so helpful I told her that I was very very picky on spices and sauces she let me try the actual sauce with not even having to ask for it she even brought me extra sauce on the side I also had a very delicious salad and we also had the tiramisu which was so good it is one of my favorites so I have to say thank you to my wonderful waitress I will definitely be back
(5)Michael P.
Solid food, great service...one warning to people who expect fast casual Italian food do not come here. This place is a relaxed sit down establishment that makes the food fresh to order. Very attentive staff who makes that my family has been to very comfortable. Special requests are handled without complaining, and the portion sizes are just right for a family meal. Would recommend to anyone....
(4)Eliza B.
Without a doubt the best Italian food anywhere! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the calamari and the Mamas Chicken Soup! The atmosphere and ambiance are relaxing and the food and service are exemplary! Never a bad meal or bad service, always my first choice for a romantic dinner out with my hubby!
(5)Lindy S.
Carraba's knows how to treat their customers. I have always been impressed with the staff at this location. Everyone is friendly and we have been recognized by waiters after a single visit with them. Their Creamy Italian salad dressing is really tasty, and every time I am there I order a dish that was once a special and they still make it for me even though it is not on the menu anymore. I love the Apple Crustini desert.
(5)Nikki K.
Great service an great food! Our waitress was amazing! She knew my drink was empty before I knew!!!! She was helpful an helped me find something on the menu from what i described to her! But I do wish they would bring back manicotti!!!! But overall great experience!!!
(5)R W.
March 1, 2014 Carrabba's Italian Grill 2088 S Abilene St. Aurora, CO 80014 On February 28th, after a long work week my husband and I decided to use a gift card we had received recently as a wedding gift. We were both exhausted and looking forward to a pleasant meal at your restaurant. Our son came with us to spend an enjoyable evening together. After placing our drink orders, our waiter, Brian, brought a full tray to our table which included our drinks and a full glass of beer for another customer. While he was placing our drinks on our table, he lost control of the tray and the glass of beer came tumbling down, and I was drenched with ice cold beer. We began to mop up the beer with napkins and waited for someone to come to help because the napkins weren't absorbing the liquid. Becky arrived at the table with more napkins and tried to mop up the spill. I suggested that they get a towel and she sent Brian to get one. In the meantime, I continued to help wipe up the beer which was on the table, the booth seat and all over my lap. We didn't raise a fuss and accepted Brian and Becky's apologies and even laughed when Becky said "At least we know our beer is cold". Needless to say, our evening was ruined and I sat eating my meal with cold, wet pants. When our bill arrived, we fully expected to see some kind of compensation in the way of a discount, free drinks or something! My son, who has been the manager of several Denver restaurants was appalled that not one courtesy was extended to us by your restaurant. Please know that it not money that is important to us. We fully expected to pay for our meals when we chose to come to your restaurant, however the lack of good public relations on the part of your establishment left us with extremely poor impressions of Carrabba's. My son urged me to write this letter because he feels you should know what took place. This information was sent to the General Manager of the restaurant about three weeks ago and we have not yet received a response.
(2)Josh T.
So it is a chain... that isn't always a bad thing. I have eaten at multiple Carrabba's across the US hundreds of times, in fact while my wife worked that the location in Woodbridge, VA in 2000, I ate there on average 4-5 times a week for about a year. Yes, this played hell on my waistline. We have always received outstanding service at the location in Aurora. This is a restaurant that always delivers fresh, top quality, and truly great food. I have yet to find better Mussels in the Denver area, their steaks are fantastic as are their pasta dishes. With that said, I am of the opinion that if you are one of those who actually go out to eat Spaghetti then you are wasting your time, money, and are taking up a seat I could be sitting in. The specials at Carrabba's are that... special. These are non-menu items that typically have a short run and have never disappointed. Whether it was braised Italian beef pot roast, lamb shank, or their Italian gnocchi. Their desserts, are all equally delicious. I would recommend any one of them.
(4)Michael R.
My favorite chain restaurant. I usually get the filet marsala which is excellent if you've never had it. Cooked to a perfect rare with the usual bread, salad and sides. Bartender was very friendly and the service was good.
(4)Tracy A.
Pretty darn decent for a chain. 3.5 stars. Ate here recently with some relatives -- we all stuck to the spaghetti-and-meatball traditional stuff. Good food all around. They were crazy busy, and couldn't get waited on (couldn't even get water) for quite awhile. Finally, things calmed down and our service was A-OK. The lentil soup was tasty, though since it contained quite a bit of Italian sausage, it was fairly salty. My spaghetti was sauced perfectly --- not at all drippy, just lightly tossed in tomato sauce.
(4)Anthony P.
Great new dish, the Rigatoni Martino! Very good but of course you can never go wrong with the Calamari and Italian Sausage Lentil Soup. Try something new you may be surprised. Service a bit slow tonight but as long as you have an open mind you will be fine.
(4)Jen M.
Great meal and great service. Ordered the filet based on other yelper reviews. It was delicious. Also had the sangria which was great, and so was the bread and the salad.
(4)laurie z.
The meal that was mediocre at best. The veal was slightly tough. I was charged extra for sticky overcooked pasta and bland Alfredo sauce. The bread comes with oil and herbs to dip it in, which is good. The drink prices are higher than any other restaurant around!!!!!!!!!!!
(2)Denise R.
It's been years since I've been to a Carrabba's restaurant why I haven't been there is crazy to me this place is Good!! I have to say I had the best waitress she was so helpful I told her that I was very very picky on spices and sauces she let me try the actual sauce with not even having to ask for it she even brought me extra sauce on the side I also had a very delicious salad and we also had the tiramisu which was so good it is one of my favorites so I have to say thank you to my wonderful waitress I will definitely be back
(5)Michael P.
Solid food, great service...one warning to people who expect fast casual Italian food do not come here. This place is a relaxed sit down establishment that makes the food fresh to order. Very attentive staff who makes that my family has been to very comfortable. Special requests are handled without complaining, and the portion sizes are just right for a family meal. Would recommend to anyone....
(4)Eliza B.
Without a doubt the best Italian food anywhere! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the calamari and the Mamas Chicken Soup! The atmosphere and ambiance are relaxing and the food and service are exemplary! Never a bad meal or bad service, always my first choice for a romantic dinner out with my hubby!
(5)Kelcie S.
First time hitting up this little Italian joint and I was very impressed. Had Monkia as our waitress and I have never been so impressed with someone's service. She made it the perfect evening as served with such class. Calamari was to die for as it was not over cooked or over breaded. The bread was served warm with delicious spices in olive oil. Really brought me back to Italy. Pasta was full of flavor and not over sauced like it should be.
(5)Veronica S.
So I decided to celebrate Mother's Day at my favorite restaurant and I was very very disappointed. It started out ok with the calamari appetizer, but my chicken trio took forever to come out and when it did it was cold and my side of fettuccini didn't have enough sauce so it tasted like buttered noodles. The waitress asked if it was ok and I told her it was cold so she takes it back and all they did was try and warm it next to the oven. Came back slightly warm but the cheese on the pollo rosa maria was still cold and not melted, not to mention that this type of chicken is supposed to be stuffed with the cheese and prosciutto not just thrown on top. I give my husband kudos for trying to plan a nice evening for us, but definitely need to find a new favorite restaurant. Keep in mind we've been loyal customers for years. Hope this helps P.S. Prices have gone up again.
(2)Marianne G.
We spent a lot of money for a meal that was mediocre at best.
(1)Amy F.
I love pasta no matter what kind it is. Torn between and 3 and 4 star rating. I like Carrabba's- been here many times over the years and always get fast friendly service (sometimes too fast when they bring the main course out before the apps-but only happens once in a while) there is rarely a long wait to be seated. Good happy hour prices! The Filet Fiorentina is probably one of the best steaks I have ever had- melts like butter once it hits your mouth-great flavor as well. The wine selection is ok, but they do carry a great Pinot Grigio-Bisanzio! I think everything here is just A-OK, but the steak would get five stars alone!
(3)Danny B.
Good. Decent. Used to go to the original in Houston so nostalgia more than anything for me.
(3)Wellington J.
It must have been an off night. Normally, we love Carrabbas, but this was not a good night. The pasta was lacking in normal quantity and quality. The sauce was really bland, not the usual gusto that awakens the taste buds. Maybe a new chef?
(2)Ruth F.
If you like nice spacious booths, and I know I do, then Carrabbas's is the restaurant for you.
(4)Kelly S.
I love italian food but carrabba's was a disappointment. My minestrone soup tasted like it had been sitting out for a long time. It tasted like leftovers. Our salads were fresh but the onions were in MASSIVE slices. Our server was friendly, which warrants two stars because she was attentive, but our meals were plain too. Chicken Marsala was flavorless and my spicy seafood dish (I forgot the name) the shrimp were overcooked and it wasn't spicy. For what we paid, we get a lot more food and better quality at Maggiano's instead of carrabba's.
(2)Lua F.
Whew! You could have a nice dinner here if it's not sports night or even a group of friends for something more casual! This place is great for any occasion :) Personally on this visit, we had a nice romantic dinner. Although we called ahead and asked for a more "private" table, when we arrived there was absolutely no record of our call. However, the Broncos game had just ended and the place was pretty empty save for a few families having dinner. I still would've liked to get a nicer table though. The happy hour special was nice as it extended to include mixed wine drinks and seasonal specials as well. I wish the prices had been explained better as I could've SWORN the server assured me that happy hour reduced the price of my wine glass from "7 to about 5 or 6." Surprise! When we got the bill, both of the drinks we had ordered were full price and even my "small" appetizer was up charged $2 because I ate an appetizer as my entree instead of an actual entree. I really hate when restaurants charge for every little thing. Especially without putting a disclaimer . Despite that, The food was delicious and the wine was wonderful. My secret recommended a drink that perfectly complemented my food and the bartender filled my martini to the brim!
(4)Natasha A.
Being Italian makes me an Italian food "snob" according to my husband. In other words I refuse to eat at Olive Garden. Carrabba's is delish IF you order the right dish. I will be the first to admit I'm not the biggest fan of the pasta dishes I have tried here ( Maggiano's pasta is superior). That being said they have really good food otherwise. This is the only restaurant I order chicken dishes at because I figure I can make chicken better at home except for Carrabba's. Their Chicken Bryan & Chicken Marsala are hands down my favorites here. The Minestrone soup is fantastic. The Caesar salad is so good (you can tell they use real anchovy in the dressing) and the salad plates are always chilled which I love. I also am a fan of a few of their cocktails I have tried. The Peach Sangria and the Pomegranate Martini are very tasty. I came here during their Happy Hour one time and it was buy one, get one with their cocktails. Of course I can't recall the time Happy Hour is at. I've read other reviews on here of people not getting the greatest service but I've never had a problem with the service. All of the servers have been great (sometimes even a little over the top friendly). Give it a try.
(4)Setsuko R.
I usually do not complain about a restaurant since I am in restaurant business but an experience I had last night at Carrabba's was terrible. Long story short, I had a order of Green mussles and found a piece of plastic from my dish. I let our server know and she also felt it and explained me that it must come from the bag green mussles were in. She told us that she was going to get her manager and the manager said that was a piece if white part of green onions. You got to be kidding me. I can tell the difference between food and plastic. I did not say anything because her explanation was so rediculus and they just lost us as customer. She even did not appologize. I used love this place but recentley, we were having bad experiences. I will never go back again.
(1)Mean Guy I.
Wow talk about a flip flop, nothing like coming in for an early Sunday lunch and having a waiter drooling over your wife..... Omg ! Pull your pants back up ! Do your job scum bag ! It's not Saturday night at the dive bar you hang out at.... Me, my wife and nine month old son walked out.... What a sicko .... Omg I'm pissed !!! That guy is costing you business... We went to red lobster and dropped $75.00 there... it will be a long time before I bring my family or my wallet back to this place...
(1)Josh T.
We don't get to go out much so we really try and make the most with our time together. We had a wonderful experience at the carrabbas in Aurora. Josh our server was friendly and with knowledgeable suggestions helped us discover some real treats on the menu. The Johnny was my favorite. The General manager came by to check on us as well. It felt like service I would expect at Ruth Chris. Good job everyone. See you soon!
(5)Amanda S.
Carabbas has the customer experience bit down, their food is amazing (especially their seasonal stuff), they have a great wine selection, and their ambiance and service make you feel like you are spending a lot more than you actually are. The service at the Abilene location is always top notch and the standards and practices of this restaurant chain are a flawless recipe for success.
(5)Melisa L.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here for the first time and it will not be our last. Food was great and our server Ana was wonderful, always made sure we had refills and checked on us regularly :)
(5)Michael C.
Getting your main coarse is slooooow. The seafood manocati is good.
(3)Chris Y.
d not eaten here for quite a while as the menu did not thrill us. We received a coupon, and decided to give it a chance. We were pleasantly surprised. Both entrees were awesome, tasty and a nice presentation. I was surprised it was not busier than it was. The food was great, so if you are like us, and have not tried it for a while, I recommend giving it another try. The service was also superior.
(5)Barbara S.
Whole wheat pasta like glue and with very little bland sauce. Extremely disappointed. Minestrone was good but not worth a return trip.
(1)James B.
Salad and dinner plates were within 2 min of each other, never got a refill on iced tea and was double charged. The food was excellent so I give three stars for that.
(3)Tanya V.
Very delicious food! Super fast and friendly staff members. Perfect timing with everything and great prices. Tried it today for the first time and will definitely be back there again!
(5)J. Sara S.
I have been going here since it opened and I love everything I have ever ordered. Fresh Bread with the most amazing Herb Oil and Entrees that ROCK! Also The the Kaluah Brownie is amazing!!! Great service never had a bad experience, I'd say I go here at least once a month! I also take guests, here as well. The prices are very fair and the quantity and quality is excellent!
(5)Steve H.
Such an excellent meal. The Johnny comes highly recommended. The filet was cooked to perfection and the flavor of everything was just bursting. Great service as well! I would dine here again. The next time I'm in Aurora.
(5)Victor V.
I was planning a 60th birthday for my wife. We visited several Italian restaurants and chose Carraba's Italian Grill because they were all about what WE preferred and not their standard service format. Our party of 20 was placed very close to the front of the restaurant which made it very convenient for our arriving guests. The service started with great appetizers and quickly served cocktails. The two servers were very gracious and accommodating. After an ample time of snacking and visiting we were seated and dinner began. Soups and salads were brought out and the Caesar salad I had was fresh and tasty. Everyone loved the different soups as well. We all ordered a variety of entrees like chicken Marsala, meat kabobs and a variety of pasta dishes. All were perfectly prepared and delivered in perfect unison. We brought our own cake and they brought it out with candles lit and singing. The servers were so nice to fully engage with us including the dessert as well as offering coffees of all types. The bill was very reasonable for 20 people, the service spectacular and I will host another event at Carraba's Italian Grill again.
(5)K K.
I wanted to try Carraba's as it has been in its location quite a while, I usually prefer family owned restaurants, but we don't have many close to where we live. We use Outback TO GO and it's right next door. It looked like we walked into Outback as they look the same, must be owned by same corporation. We were hungry so we ordered crab cakes for appetizer and they said they were out, tried some risotto meatballs and they were just OK, not as good as they could have been. The whole meal was just disappointing, didn't leave me with the desire to return.
(2)Cat S.
We came here for my cousin's graduation dinner. It was decent - nothing too special or out of the ordinary, but nothing too terrible. I think the best part of dinner was the calamari and bread. The calamari was so lightly battered, and crispy. I loved that it had black pepper and the marinara sauce was also a little spiced up, so it didn't feel too greasy/heavy. The bread was served with olive oil, basil, sea salt and pepper. The bread was warm and I loved the olive oil mixture. Other than that, the entrees were only okay. We got the Chicken Trio - Chicken Bryan, Chicken Marsala and Rosa Maria. I thought the Chicken Bryan was TOO much. There was a huge chunk of goat cheese on it and all you tasted was the goat cheese. The Rosa Maria was too salty for me. But the Chicken Marsala was really good! So was the side of spinach.. it came with the garlic perfectly cooked - just the way I like it. We also got the chicken fettucine alfredo (one of the Founder's Pastas), which was also average. The service was really good and Russell took care of us really well. Chain restaurants are not really a favorite for me, so I didn't really have big hopes for this place.
(3)Josh D.
Great food and great service. My wife and I went with our 2 year old and we had a great time. My son ate all of his ravioli and I am pretty sure wanted more, even tho what he had was plenty. My wife and I both loved what we got too. We will definetly be back!
(5)Shay F.
4 for the food and an extra star because of Marie's GRAND service. She is the best waitress I've ever had. Seriously. Checked in to make sure we were doing well. Offered drink refills, made suggestions...the whole 9 yards. She is awesome. We had calamari for our antipasto which was really good. The small portion was more than enough for 2. We ended up taking some home. I had the Pasta Weesie (Shrimp sauteed in a garlic, lemon butter, white wine sauce with sauteed mushrooms and scallions, served over fettuccine alfredo) was good. The shrimp was FRESH!!! The waitress, Marie, suggested I have it with the Newman's Own white wine and it matched well. Then I had the panna cotta for dessert and that was awesome. I tasted my friend's minestrone and it wasn't red! It was the first minestrone soup I had that was REALLY good. This place serves warm bread with an olive oil with 9 different herbs.
(5)Jonathan D.
I've been eating here for years and love the food! They have so many great items its hard to choose! Service is great 98% of the time. Good is been great 100% of the time! I wish we had a Carrabba's in the Seattle area.
(5)Craig B.
Italian comfort food. Check out the specials as they never disappoint. Very fine dining for a very resonable price. Oh and shocker, they have much more than just Italian. Fish, chicken, pork chops and beef dishes. Something for everyone.
(4)B B.
This was our third trip to this Carrabba's, with the same horrible results. The service here is some of the worst I've ever had. 3 parties were seated after us and were waited on before we were ever approached by a server, and that was after we waved him down. We've had similar experiences with our other visits here as well. My wife talked to the manager, she basically gave her lip service. The food. So so. Ordered veal picatta, no capers in the sauce ? My wife had to ask for a side of capers. My side of the house pasta, luke warm. We will never patronize this particular Carrabba's again. Looks like we will have to drive all the way to Colorado Springs to experience decent food and service.
(1)Cookie L.
So nice to go out when you feel people care. Many of us live alone and like to have friendly people around us when we do go out. New manager Becci is excellent. When the waiter made a mistake, she was on it. I'm so glad I went there. The food is excellent and well priced.
(1)Emilee D.
Came here for dinner and really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere. The menu options aren't as vast as other Italian places, but it makes ordering a bit easier. You also get a nice, hot bread basket with seasoned olive oil for dipping. I had the bruschetta for an appetizer. I love the flavor of the topping, but the bread was a little too toasted for me and tore up my mouth. I ended up just eating the topping. For my entree, I had the pasta weesie. It's basically fettuccine alfredo with shrimp and mushrooms. The shrimp was very succulent and the alfredo sauce smooth. Very tasty! The staff here are pretty attentive so you don't have to wait ten years to get your drink refilled. The prices are also very reasonable.
(4)Derek N.
It was nothing special. The staff was a little slow, but the food was good.
(3)Albie F.
Got into Denver pretty late on a business trip and we had to find a dinner spot, and had to decide between Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's. Didn't feel like steak so I was glad we went with the Italian choice even though Carrabba's is apparently a chain restaurant. Too bad Yelp doesn't have half stars because I'd say Carrabba's is a solid 3.5. I got the chicken Santa Maria (waiter's recommended chicken entree) and it was very well cooked with olive oil and some cheese in between the chicken breasts sliced in half width wise. It was quite oily but in a good way with a side of spinach. We also grabbed a calamari/fried mozzarella as the appetizer and after everything was said and done, we were looking at $30/person. Considering that we got there only 10 minutes before they officially closed and that we stayed for almost an hour after they officially closed, we were very happy they were servicing our needs.
(3)Lucas M.
Pretty good food but our waitress/staff was much weaker than the sauce on the pasta! waitress completely forgot to bring us our drinks from the bar twice and got no support from the 5 other employess literally standing around waiting for the dinner rush.
(2)Annie B.
We went back to Carrabba's again the other night. The service was fantastic, the food was wonderful and yet again I was far from disappointed! It may be a chain, but Carrabba's is so delicious! The pasta weezie, a house salad and the ricardo calamari are my recommendations. But everything I've tried on the menu has been wonderful. Just wanted to refresh my review and let everyone know that this chain rocks!
(4)Art V.
Food was excellent / the server made a mistake on the appetizer / he also made a mistake on the main course. HE GOT THE BILL PERFECT
(4)Kristen U.
This is my all time favorite restaurant. Everything is always delicious and the customer service is top notch! I try something new all the time and have never been dissapointed.
(5)Laurie W.
What keeps me coming back to Carrabba's is the Caesar salad. Everyone here knows that I have a thing for Caesar salad. Oh, I know, it's terrible for you. But I love it. Gosh do I love it! Carrabba's Caesar is just vinegary enough and has just a hint of anchovy. It also features good crutons and a nice amount of Parmesan cheese. Yum! Other than that, everything we have tried has been very good. The service is good and we always enjoy it when we go to dinner at Carrabba's. Oh, and the white wine sangria is very good, with bright citrus flavor.
(3)Tim K.
This may be a franchise restaurant but it is quite good. Had some reservations about a "chain" restaurant and I was very surprised. First of all the staff could not have been more friendly, helpful and genuinely service oriented, from the hostess to the server to the bus person. The menu had a good variety of offerings with moderate prices. My son and I both ordered house salads and an entree. We also received all the warm bread we could eat and my Diet Coke got refilled as soon as I had downed half of what was in the glass. Portions were enough to fill you up nicely and the food was tasty, well seasoned and the pasta in both dishes was done correctly, not soggy at all. Check for two salads, two entrees, soft drinks came to $38.00, not bad. Not your true Italian dining experience but good enough that I will return. I can do without the fancy tables, dinner ware, singers and often times arrogant staff.
(4)Jodi A.
I wasn't overly impressed with the fare. If I can cook it better than the restaurant, I am not real motivated to return. I LOVE Italian food, this just did not give you the homemade warm-fuzzies of a real Italian meal. I could have zapped a Stouffers lasagna and felt the same about this food. Meh. No thanks.
(3)Sumay J.
Pretty good food.
(4)Kelcie S.
First time hitting up this little Italian joint and I was very impressed. Had Monkia as our waitress and I have never been so impressed with someone's service. She made it the perfect evening as served with such class. Calamari was to die for as it was not over cooked or over breaded. The bread was served warm with delicious spices in olive oil. Really brought me back to Italy. Pasta was full of flavor and not over sauced like it should be.
(5)Anthony P.
Great new dish, the Rigatoni Martino! Very good but of course you can never go wrong with the Calamari and Italian Sausage Lentil Soup. Try something new you may be surprised. Service a bit slow tonight but as long as you have an open mind you will be fine.
(4)Jen M.
Great meal and great service. Ordered the filet based on other yelper reviews. It was delicious. Also had the sangria which was great, and so was the bread and the salad.
(4)laurie z.
The meal that was mediocre at best. The veal was slightly tough. I was charged extra for sticky overcooked pasta and bland Alfredo sauce. The bread comes with oil and herbs to dip it in, which is good. The drink prices are higher than any other restaurant around!!!!!!!!!!!
(2)Veronica S.
So I decided to celebrate Mother's Day at my favorite restaurant and I was very very disappointed. It started out ok with the calamari appetizer, but my chicken trio took forever to come out and when it did it was cold and my side of fettuccini didn't have enough sauce so it tasted like buttered noodles. The waitress asked if it was ok and I told her it was cold so she takes it back and all they did was try and warm it next to the oven. Came back slightly warm but the cheese on the pollo rosa maria was still cold and not melted, not to mention that this type of chicken is supposed to be stuffed with the cheese and prosciutto not just thrown on top. I give my husband kudos for trying to plan a nice evening for us, but definitely need to find a new favorite restaurant. Keep in mind we've been loyal customers for years. Hope this helps P.S. Prices have gone up again.
(2)Marianne G.
We spent a lot of money for a meal that was mediocre at best.
(1)Amy F.
I love pasta no matter what kind it is. Torn between and 3 and 4 star rating. I like Carrabba's- been here many times over the years and always get fast friendly service (sometimes too fast when they bring the main course out before the apps-but only happens once in a while) there is rarely a long wait to be seated. Good happy hour prices! The Filet Fiorentina is probably one of the best steaks I have ever had- melts like butter once it hits your mouth-great flavor as well. The wine selection is ok, but they do carry a great Pinot Grigio-Bisanzio! I think everything here is just A-OK, but the steak would get five stars alone!
(3)Danny B.
Good. Decent. Used to go to the original in Houston so nostalgia more than anything for me.
(3)Lua F.
Whew! You could have a nice dinner here if it's not sports night or even a group of friends for something more casual! This place is great for any occasion :) Personally on this visit, we had a nice romantic dinner. Although we called ahead and asked for a more "private" table, when we arrived there was absolutely no record of our call. However, the Broncos game had just ended and the place was pretty empty save for a few families having dinner. I still would've liked to get a nicer table though. The happy hour special was nice as it extended to include mixed wine drinks and seasonal specials as well. I wish the prices had been explained better as I could've SWORN the server assured me that happy hour reduced the price of my wine glass from "7 to about 5 or 6." Surprise! When we got the bill, both of the drinks we had ordered were full price and even my "small" appetizer was up charged $2 because I ate an appetizer as my entree instead of an actual entree. I really hate when restaurants charge for every little thing. Especially without putting a disclaimer . Despite that, The food was delicious and the wine was wonderful. My secret recommended a drink that perfectly complemented my food and the bartender filled my martini to the brim!
(4)Chris Y.
d not eaten here for quite a while as the menu did not thrill us. We received a coupon, and decided to give it a chance. We were pleasantly surprised. Both entrees were awesome, tasty and a nice presentation. I was surprised it was not busier than it was. The food was great, so if you are like us, and have not tried it for a while, I recommend giving it another try. The service was also superior.
(5)Barbara S.
Whole wheat pasta like glue and with very little bland sauce. Extremely disappointed. Minestrone was good but not worth a return trip.
(1)James B.
Salad and dinner plates were within 2 min of each other, never got a refill on iced tea and was double charged. The food was excellent so I give three stars for that.
(3)Tanya V.
Very delicious food! Super fast and friendly staff members. Perfect timing with everything and great prices. Tried it today for the first time and will definitely be back there again!
(5)J. Sara S.
I have been going here since it opened and I love everything I have ever ordered. Fresh Bread with the most amazing Herb Oil and Entrees that ROCK! Also The the Kaluah Brownie is amazing!!! Great service never had a bad experience, I'd say I go here at least once a month! I also take guests, here as well. The prices are very fair and the quantity and quality is excellent!
(5)Steve H.
Such an excellent meal. The Johnny comes highly recommended. The filet was cooked to perfection and the flavor of everything was just bursting. Great service as well! I would dine here again. The next time I'm in Aurora.
(5)Victor V.
I was planning a 60th birthday for my wife. We visited several Italian restaurants and chose Carraba's Italian Grill because they were all about what WE preferred and not their standard service format. Our party of 20 was placed very close to the front of the restaurant which made it very convenient for our arriving guests. The service started with great appetizers and quickly served cocktails. The two servers were very gracious and accommodating. After an ample time of snacking and visiting we were seated and dinner began. Soups and salads were brought out and the Caesar salad I had was fresh and tasty. Everyone loved the different soups as well. We all ordered a variety of entrees like chicken Marsala, meat kabobs and a variety of pasta dishes. All were perfectly prepared and delivered in perfect unison. We brought our own cake and they brought it out with candles lit and singing. The servers were so nice to fully engage with us including the dessert as well as offering coffees of all types. The bill was very reasonable for 20 people, the service spectacular and I will host another event at Carraba's Italian Grill again.
(5)Erin J.
Have to admit I was a bit hesitant when we walked in, looked a little cheesier than I thought it'd be and a lot more casual. However, their summer menu is awesome, such a good deal and plenty of great food! Chicken Bryan was fantastic, as was the mouth watering pollo Rosa Maria. The tomato salad is phenominal, such great tomatoes that hold up to the dressing an a wonderful fresh but not overwhelming taste of basil. I'll go back again!
(4)Stefani T.
I created my Yelp account just to write this review. 5 stars might seem a bit extreme for a chain restaurant. I have worked at Carrabba's as a teenager and eaten at locations throughout Colorado, Virginia, Maryland. THIS location is by far the best I have ever dealt with. I do like Carrabba's food- I lived in Italy for 5 years and it is nice to eat americanized-italian food that isn't all cheese and red sauces. Made from scratch alfredo (not that horrible stuff the get in vats at O.G.- I know, I worked there as a teen too) brick-oven pizza, & great chicken dishes set Carrabba's apart from other italian joints. But what sets this location apart is the consistency and service. I have utilized the Aurora Carrabba's for many work functions- I am a school secretary and they always come through with a delicious meal, that is reasonably priced. Whether busy or slow, food is always great when dining in. And they go above and beyond. I had tickets to see a play downtown, and was meeting family first for dinner. Weather was kind of cruddy, and one of our party ran really late, cutting our time to dine to practically nothing. I called ahead and preordered our dinner to eat IN, we walked in and a hot plate of awesome Chicken Bryan with a caesar salad, bread and drink was waiting for me, my mom and my sister's Chicken Pizza came out as we were taking off our coats. Manager was completely accommodating, bartender who was waiting on our table was super quick, and we got out in no time. Kudos to a well run location!
(5)Liz V.
The decor, from the chianti bottle door handles to the fake mosaic tabletops, was ridiculous. While the chicken was grilled nicely, and my boyfriend liked the fontina on top of his, the side dishes were not spectacular overall though I did like the garlic in the zucchini. Our desserts were tiny and oddly just given to us from the spread that our waiter was describing--that made us question whether we were getting food that had been sitting out a while. The menus, regular and the summer grill fixe, were somewhat difficult to understand. It didn't actually seem to matter to our waiter what menu we were using. My boyfriend and I ended up with three side dishes, two salads, and two desserts between us even though we thought we were ordering from the regular menu which had more side dish choices to go with our main entrees. In any case, while we enjoyed ourselves, the whole dinner was way more costly than what we expected to pay. We had been thinking more along the lines of Olive Garden or Applebee's pricing. Over $16 for most chicken dishes seemed steep. We'll probably stick with non-chain restaurants that are less expensive, too, in the future.
(3)Scott G.
Had a pretty good meal here with my wife while in town. My bill seemed higher than I anticipated for the same kind of food at competitors. Anyway, the meal was good and the service was adequate. Sat around and talked after dinner for a bit and thouhgt about getting something else but the waiter never came back during the next 45 minutes to see if I might want another drink or desert. Overall though the expereince here is good.
(3)Matt T.
Carrabba's has the BEST Italian food. This place has great service and great food. The smell inside is amazing. Everyone should try this place. My recommendation is the Italian Classics with cavatappi amatriciana and the Mediterranean salad. Someday I will try something different but I love this dish. Highly recommend Carrabb's no matter where it is.
(5)Tatyana G.
I know it's a chain restaurant! Big deal! Took my parents there a day before Father's Day. All 6 of us (my parents, me, my husband and my kids) had different entrees but all of them were great. I know, 5 stars might be too much but we had the best waiter Mario and we were also treated to a "show". they had only one busboy but what a worker! It was a pleasure to see him work. It took him less than a minute to clean out the table, wash everything and set it up again. And he did an excellent job! He was so fast it was even entertaining. Yes, we left an extra tip for him sc\pecifically and told the manager that he is awesome. Hope the kid gets some kind of a raise or reward.
(5)Cindy C.
First time eating at Carrabas...it was ok. I had the rigatoni al forno and it was not bad (not great either), DiCicco's is way better!!! We started with calamari and that was pretty good, although it came out so fast I question whether it was made to order. My salad was so-so....no tomatoes or onions, just lettuce, 2 nasty kalamata olives, carrots and celery (?)!!! My husband will be writing a review about his meal, so look for Rob's review. The server was Aaron and he was very good. When Rob questioned some ingredients Aaron was very quick to try to please. He gave us free mini desserts that were awesome!! The chocolate mousse with cookie crumbles and coconuts....YUMMMM!!!!! We will give them another try because of Aaron and get something else...I will update my review then.
(3)John C.
This is one of my favorite places to eat. As many times as I've eaten here I've never been disappointed. The Chicken Marsala is fantastic!
(5)Beth D.
I love Carrabba's. I used to work there as a server for about a year and a half so I have first hand experience. The most important thing you should know about the food is that it is all made from scratch, from fresh ingredients delivered daily. The soup, salad dressings, every pasta sauce, breadcrumbs, the herb mix you use for the bread....all from scratch. The calamari, fried zucchini and mozzarella are breaded to order. This is why their prices are higher than other chains. Nothing on your plate was frozen, pre-made or processed. In my opinion, fresh homemade food is about as good as it gets.
(5)Matt G.
Great mussels and chicken parm
(4)Celia M.
This is the best italian restaurant you can visit in Denver and it's surroundings. Great customer services and even better food. I tried almost everything in the menu. Veal Marsala and the Spedino di mare are my favorites my husband loves the chicken Bryan and Chicken Rosa Maria, each one of this dishes have a fabulous flavor each bite it's unique and unforgettable. The minestrone soup it's divine, the best i ever had. I also recommend their Bruschetta and for dessert a Rosa Maria cake, just like grandma's
(5)Robert C.
Veal Picatta without Capers???? This was my first time in a Carrabba's Italian Grill and I wasn't too impressed. I realize that some things on an Italian restaurant's menu aren't always made the same way. Chicken Cacciatore for and example, I've always known it to have chicken, green peppers, mushrooms and onions sauteed in a Marinara and served over rice or maybe pasta . At Carrabba's the chicken is served with red peppers and onions over polenta. I'm not going to even try it. I think the green peppers and mushrooms make the dish myself. Aaron was understanding and offered to have mushrooms added to the Chicken Cacciatore when I mentioned the lack of mushrooms when we were ordering but I declined and ordered the Veal Picatta instead. My wife and I shared an order of Calamari and as my wife stated in her review, it came out fast. I think they could have cooked it a little longer, it wasn't quite golden yet. I liked my Italian salad, it was the best part of my meal. Then out came the Veal Picatta, now given what I said earlier about certain Italian dishes made differently at different restaurants I have to say I've never heard of any restaurant serving any thing called "Picatta" without capers. As far as I know Picatta is lemon, capers and butter. Aaron offered to send my veal back and have capers added to it and sauteed a bit longer but that idea just sounded wrong to me. He was nice and did bring us complimentary mini desserts which were excellent but as far as I'm concerned Carrabba's already has two strikes. We will go back and give them another try but I guarantee you I won't be ordering the Chicken Cacciatore or the Picatta!
(3)Wellington J.
It must have been an off night. Normally, we love Carrabbas, but this was not a good night. The pasta was lacking in normal quantity and quality. The sauce was really bland, not the usual gusto that awakens the taste buds. Maybe a new chef?
(2)Ruth F.
If you like nice spacious booths, and I know I do, then Carrabbas's is the restaurant for you.
(4)Kelly S.
I love italian food but carrabba's was a disappointment. My minestrone soup tasted like it had been sitting out for a long time. It tasted like leftovers. Our salads were fresh but the onions were in MASSIVE slices. Our server was friendly, which warrants two stars because she was attentive, but our meals were plain too. Chicken Marsala was flavorless and my spicy seafood dish (I forgot the name) the shrimp were overcooked and it wasn't spicy. For what we paid, we get a lot more food and better quality at Maggiano's instead of carrabba's.
(2)Mean Guy I.
Wow talk about a flip flop, nothing like coming in for an early Sunday lunch and having a waiter drooling over your wife..... Omg ! Pull your pants back up ! Do your job scum bag ! It's not Saturday night at the dive bar you hang out at.... Me, my wife and nine month old son walked out.... What a sicko .... Omg I'm pissed !!! That guy is costing you business... We went to red lobster and dropped $75.00 there... it will be a long time before I bring my family or my wallet back to this place...
(1)Natasha A.
Being Italian makes me an Italian food "snob" according to my husband. In other words I refuse to eat at Olive Garden. Carrabba's is delish IF you order the right dish. I will be the first to admit I'm not the biggest fan of the pasta dishes I have tried here ( Maggiano's pasta is superior). That being said they have really good food otherwise. This is the only restaurant I order chicken dishes at because I figure I can make chicken better at home except for Carrabba's. Their Chicken Bryan & Chicken Marsala are hands down my favorites here. The Minestrone soup is fantastic. The Caesar salad is so good (you can tell they use real anchovy in the dressing) and the salad plates are always chilled which I love. I also am a fan of a few of their cocktails I have tried. The Peach Sangria and the Pomegranate Martini are very tasty. I came here during their Happy Hour one time and it was buy one, get one with their cocktails. Of course I can't recall the time Happy Hour is at. I've read other reviews on here of people not getting the greatest service but I've never had a problem with the service. All of the servers have been great (sometimes even a little over the top friendly). Give it a try.
(4)Setsuko R.
I usually do not complain about a restaurant since I am in restaurant business but an experience I had last night at Carrabba's was terrible. Long story short, I had a order of Green mussles and found a piece of plastic from my dish. I let our server know and she also felt it and explained me that it must come from the bag green mussles were in. She told us that she was going to get her manager and the manager said that was a piece if white part of green onions. You got to be kidding me. I can tell the difference between food and plastic. I did not say anything because her explanation was so rediculus and they just lost us as customer. She even did not appologize. I used love this place but recentley, we were having bad experiences. I will never go back again.
(1)Josh T.
We don't get to go out much so we really try and make the most with our time together. We had a wonderful experience at the carrabbas in Aurora. Josh our server was friendly and with knowledgeable suggestions helped us discover some real treats on the menu. The Johnny was my favorite. The General manager came by to check on us as well. It felt like service I would expect at Ruth Chris. Good job everyone. See you soon!
(5)Amanda S.
Carabbas has the customer experience bit down, their food is amazing (especially their seasonal stuff), they have a great wine selection, and their ambiance and service make you feel like you are spending a lot more than you actually are. The service at the Abilene location is always top notch and the standards and practices of this restaurant chain are a flawless recipe for success.
(5)Melisa L.
My boyfriend and I had dinner here for the first time and it will not be our last. Food was great and our server Ana was wonderful, always made sure we had refills and checked on us regularly :)
(5)Michael C.
Getting your main coarse is slooooow. The seafood manocati is good.
(3)R W.
March 1, 2014 Carrabba's Italian Grill 2088 S Abilene St. Aurora, CO 80014 On February 28th, after a long work week my husband and I decided to use a gift card we had received recently as a wedding gift. We were both exhausted and looking forward to a pleasant meal at your restaurant. Our son came with us to spend an enjoyable evening together. After placing our drink orders, our waiter, Brian, brought a full tray to our table which included our drinks and a full glass of beer for another customer. While he was placing our drinks on our table, he lost control of the tray and the glass of beer came tumbling down, and I was drenched with ice cold beer. We began to mop up the beer with napkins and waited for someone to come to help because the napkins weren't absorbing the liquid. Becky arrived at the table with more napkins and tried to mop up the spill. I suggested that they get a towel and she sent Brian to get one. In the meantime, I continued to help wipe up the beer which was on the table, the booth seat and all over my lap. We didn't raise a fuss and accepted Brian and Becky's apologies and even laughed when Becky said "At least we know our beer is cold". Needless to say, our evening was ruined and I sat eating my meal with cold, wet pants. When our bill arrived, we fully expected to see some kind of compensation in the way of a discount, free drinks or something! My son, who has been the manager of several Denver restaurants was appalled that not one courtesy was extended to us by your restaurant. Please know that it not money that is important to us. We fully expected to pay for our meals when we chose to come to your restaurant, however the lack of good public relations on the part of your establishment left us with extremely poor impressions of Carrabba's. My son urged me to write this letter because he feels you should know what took place. This information was sent to the General Manager of the restaurant about three weeks ago and we have not yet received a response.
(2)Shay F.
4 for the food and an extra star because of Marie's GRAND service. She is the best waitress I've ever had. Seriously. Checked in to make sure we were doing well. Offered drink refills, made suggestions...the whole 9 yards. She is awesome. We had calamari for our antipasto which was really good. The small portion was more than enough for 2. We ended up taking some home. I had the Pasta Weesie (Shrimp sauteed in a garlic, lemon butter, white wine sauce with sauteed mushrooms and scallions, served over fettuccine alfredo) was good. The shrimp was FRESH!!! The waitress, Marie, suggested I have it with the Newman's Own white wine and it matched well. Then I had the panna cotta for dessert and that was awesome. I tasted my friend's minestrone and it wasn't red! It was the first minestrone soup I had that was REALLY good. This place serves warm bread with an olive oil with 9 different herbs.
(5)Jonathan D.
I've been eating here for years and love the food! They have so many great items its hard to choose! Service is great 98% of the time. Good is been great 100% of the time! I wish we had a Carrabba's in the Seattle area.
(5)Nikki K.
Great service an great food! Our waitress was amazing! She knew my drink was empty before I knew!!!! She was helpful an helped me find something on the menu from what i described to her! But I do wish they would bring back manicotti!!!! But overall great experience!!!
(5)Josh D.
Great food and great service. My wife and I went with our 2 year old and we had a great time. My son ate all of his ravioli and I am pretty sure wanted more, even tho what he had was plenty. My wife and I both loved what we got too. We will definetly be back!
(5)Craig B.
Italian comfort food. Check out the specials as they never disappoint. Very fine dining for a very resonable price. Oh and shocker, they have much more than just Italian. Fish, chicken, pork chops and beef dishes. Something for everyone.
(4)B B.
This was our third trip to this Carrabba's, with the same horrible results. The service here is some of the worst I've ever had. 3 parties were seated after us and were waited on before we were ever approached by a server, and that was after we waved him down. We've had similar experiences with our other visits here as well. My wife talked to the manager, she basically gave her lip service. The food. So so. Ordered veal picatta, no capers in the sauce ? My wife had to ask for a side of capers. My side of the house pasta, luke warm. We will never patronize this particular Carrabba's again. Looks like we will have to drive all the way to Colorado Springs to experience decent food and service.
(1)Cookie L.
So nice to go out when you feel people care. Many of us live alone and like to have friendly people around us when we do go out. New manager Becci is excellent. When the waiter made a mistake, she was on it. I'm so glad I went there. The food is excellent and well priced.
(1)K K.
I wanted to try Carraba's as it has been in its location quite a while, I usually prefer family owned restaurants, but we don't have many close to where we live. We use Outback TO GO and it's right next door. It looked like we walked into Outback as they look the same, must be owned by same corporation. We were hungry so we ordered crab cakes for appetizer and they said they were out, tried some risotto meatballs and they were just OK, not as good as they could have been. The whole meal was just disappointing, didn't leave me with the desire to return.
(2)Cat S.
We came here for my cousin's graduation dinner. It was decent - nothing too special or out of the ordinary, but nothing too terrible. I think the best part of dinner was the calamari and bread. The calamari was so lightly battered, and crispy. I loved that it had black pepper and the marinara sauce was also a little spiced up, so it didn't feel too greasy/heavy. The bread was served with olive oil, basil, sea salt and pepper. The bread was warm and I loved the olive oil mixture. Other than that, the entrees were only okay. We got the Chicken Trio - Chicken Bryan, Chicken Marsala and Rosa Maria. I thought the Chicken Bryan was TOO much. There was a huge chunk of goat cheese on it and all you tasted was the goat cheese. The Rosa Maria was too salty for me. But the Chicken Marsala was really good! So was the side of spinach.. it came with the garlic perfectly cooked - just the way I like it. We also got the chicken fettucine alfredo (one of the Founder's Pastas), which was also average. The service was really good and Russell took care of us really well. Chain restaurants are not really a favorite for me, so I didn't really have big hopes for this place.
(3)Lindy S.
Carraba's knows how to treat their customers. I have always been impressed with the staff at this location. Everyone is friendly and we have been recognized by waiters after a single visit with them. Their Creamy Italian salad dressing is really tasty, and every time I am there I order a dish that was once a special and they still make it for me even though it is not on the menu anymore. I love the Apple Crustini desert.
(5)