My wife and I shared a quick dinner while shopping at the Gulf Coast Town Center. Our waitress, Allie C., was very knowledgeable about the menu. She suggested one of the new Signature Combinations, the Damian. This was grilled salmon and Spiedino di Mare (with shrimp and scallops). A great choice and we appreciated Allie C's familiarity with the menu.
(5)
Brianna S.
The atmosphere is great. Our server Katherine was very attentive, helpful and knowledgeable. I had the baked chicken Parmesan and it was delicious. The chicken was tender and juicy. Oh, we also had mozzarella sticks. The best around. I'm very happy to give them such a great review. Would definitely return.
(4)
Bob J.
The service was excellent. The ambience, good. The food? Well, we must have caught them on an off night. My Chicken Marsala was a tough, over cooked breast with a mystery brown sauce that had no flavor of Marsala wine. The side of Fettuccine Alfredo tasted like something out of a box. My wife's mussels were tiny little creatures with no taste. Oh, the bread and dipping sauce were good. I've eaten at other locations and was satisfied. Not here.
(2)
Gordon G.
Mid afteroon, small crowd. I like that they have seating to watch the chefs cook. A little awkward being just us two scrutinizing like judges on Copped! Amore Moday a bargain. Three course meals Starting at $12 bucks. Thank you Jillian and Jason for excellent service.
(3)
Lindsay S.
I used to work at a Carrabba's in Naples for a year, and have been eating at the Naples location once or twice a year since probably 2000, typically for special occasions since they are always so busy. I like Carrabba's because it is good food, in plenty portions, for a decent price. I've been to the one in GCTC twice, once for my birthday,and the second time was my first date with my boyfriend. Obviously being our first date I have such high regards for this specific Carrabba's, but it was nothing to rave about. The staff was nice, but nothing special. Definitely will be returning, I just love the food so much. (Been ordering the Mezzaluna since I was 5!)
(4)
Zach H.
Food was superb like it should be! Service could have been turned up a notch but our overall visit was pleasant. Would recommend and come back.
(4)
DrGrace G.
Went there for a business meeting today. Got the Arancini 6 small hush puppies?? Hm From the way they describe it -"Crispy bites of risotto, Italian fennel sausage, red bell peppers, romano cheese and pomodoro sauce breaded and served with our housemade marinara sauce for dipping" | 6.00" - I thought I would actually have nice chunks of italian sausage in there, but it was like looking for a needle in a hay stack, lol... almost not there it was mostly risotto with specks of red pepper and an occasional tiny piece of sausage. They are generous with the tea, my guy got calamari and it was OK -he said. Our associates had some kind of a steak dish with tomato and cucumber salad (which I would like to try next time) and the fresh bread (still warm from the oven) and seasoned olive oil for dipping, kind of made me happy. I only got an appetizer because I wasn't very hungry, just enough, but I would have prefered to see more sausage in the arancini maybe even find a fennel seed ;) The atmosphere is nice and the waiter was extremely cute and very friendly, very accommodating and attentive. I love good service.
(4)
Phil M.
Great service and great meal. Half price appetizers til 7 was a bonus as was half price drinks.
(5)
Shawn L.
We have eaten at the Carrabba's on Cleveland Ave. many, many times and after trying out this location, we will never stray again. You would assume that as a successful chain all of the locations would be consistent...not so much. The portions were smaller and nothing seemed to be correctly seasoned. My hubby's side of fettuccini was seriously lacking in alfredo sauce and I sent back my house salad because of the rotted lettuce leaves I kept finding...yuk! My Salmon was overdone but not quite as dry as our guest's Pork Chop and mashed potatoes. It was like we landed on a different planet where they were trying to copy the real Carrabba's...but I have to say they didn't even come close. To end this review on a positive note I can give props to our server, Jordan, who was very attentive and gracious...thank you.
(3)
John D.
ANOTHER CORPORATE ITALIAN JOINT This place is okay, but not great. We started with the calamari, which was fine but completely lacking in spice, resulting in fine but boring and flavorless calamari. Perhaps it is dumbed down for the oldies & midwesterners. For our main meal, we had Linguine with Clams which was quite good and prepared al dente. My Tilapia Nicciola was mealy as though it had been frozen. Our server was pleasant enough, but she forgot our order and had to return to ask what we had ordered. She brought the wrong drink and she brought the wrong salad. She clearly was not paying attention or focused on her job. A so-so experience in a so-so place...
(3)
Yoanna J.
So many choices for everyone from adults to children. Full service bar with an outside seating area. The pasta bar where you can sit without waiting on table an watch the food be cooked. All ingredients are fresh and the staff extremely nice it it real Italian. And will be back as much as I can. I had the fried calamari crunchy an good with the fresh marinara. They also give you bread with oil an herbs. Entrees are large being your appetite happy eating
(5)
Mary J.
My husband and I have dined here twice. First time mid-Dec 2013 and wonderful. Last night, just the opposite and we will never go back. I had the chix parm and good. Husband, shirt ribs and so-so. Wait staff was leaving kitchen and serving meals while chewing food. One waiter serving table behind us was swallowing what was in his mouth as he served that table. We had mix-up with wine order and the head of kitchen(?) came out. My husband asked to speak to GM, Matt Fields, who was in restaurant but he avoided us. Come on.... No professionalism and no control of restaurant.
(2)
Randolph R.
You wanna have your socks blown off your feet try the Sirloin Marsala it will blow your mind. Don't Forget Deseret You Can't Go Home without Some Italian custard. Oh! By the way ask for Gene and tell him Tony DiFazio sent you.
(5)
Michaeline A.
Wonderful...got right in. Food was wonderful. There house red was delicious. Our waitress was a doll! Service was fantastic....can't say enough good and they were packed!try it out !the bread and oil with herbs well forget it...you can't stop eating it!!!
(5)
Michael C.
My wife and I ate here with another couple on a Thursday evening. We arrived around 5:30 and sat at the bar for a few cocktails before dinner. This is a very nice classy space with indoor and outdoor seating in a newer mall near the airport, Miramar Lakes and FGCU. Happy Hour was in progress and prices were very reasonable. Sauza Gold frozen margaritas were $3.35, Korbel Brandy & Cokes were $2.75 and Bud Light 16 oz tappers were $1.98. Dinner service was prompt and knowledgeable. All four of us had one of their selections off their $15.99-$18.99 multi-course specials list. I had their version of a steak kabob, another had a seafood Mac n cheese, and two others had a seafood pasta dish. All were very tasty. Included with the specials was your choice of soup or salad and either an appetizer or desert. Bread with olive oil for dipping was also included. We all enjoyed the meal and agreed it's a great place - we'll definitely be back often.
(5)
Craig W.
We had a wonderful birthday dinner for my son. Angie was excellent and was able to provide outstanding service and was able accommodate my Grandmother who was in a wheelchair all the way to my 10 month old who was with us for the evening. The whole family was taken care of and we couldn't have been happier. Was a great ending to our vacation. We had about a 40 minute wait, even with using the new online check in service, but that was probably typically of a Saturday night. Food and drinks were great, no problems there. Only complaint is the small one door entrance and exit, lot of traffic for such a small front door.
(5)
Renee W.
Definitely not into chain Italian food but we wanted pizza so we stopped here. It was crazy busy on a Friday at 5:15 pm. But that aside, I managed to hit happy hour, 2 for 1 beers and we ordered caeser salads to start and a margherita pizza to split, adding pepperoni and mushrooms. Good service as well...and Coconut Point is a favorite when I visit my parents!
(3)
Laurence J.
Yes it's a chain but this location hits the mark, know what to order and you go home happy. Mussels are a great starter. If the salad is small ask them to add some more . Spaghetti and meatballs are great, any chicken dish is super and the filet is a great value for that quality. Clearly some of the previous reviewers have no idea what to order here. Happy hour until 7 pm, tasty flat breads cheap in bar during apply hour. We are too full for dessert so I can't comment. Been here 20 times. Never disappointed.
(5)
Tyler H.
Yeah, it's a chain. And a darn good one. I've eaten here a multitude of times, everything from a quick bite for lunch, to multi-course meals with family, it's generally quite good. The service tends to be prompt, although some inconsistencies can sneak in, depending on your server. However, the food keeps me coming back. The meats are flavorful, the pasta is rich and the sauces show nice herb and spice notes; the one downside is that the marinara-based sauces are a little sweet, but there's a significant number of people who like that. Favorite entrees include the spedino di mare, the penne franco, and the grilled sirloin. For dessert, the sogno di cioccolata is great; rich, chocolatey, and perfect for sharing. Entrees run from about $10 to $20, with reasonable wine prices (glasses run from $6.50 to $11, bottles from $25-$50. Prices are generally better on the upper end of the wine list). Expect a bit of a wait during tourist season, but when that happens, I've had the experience of the manager walking around outside handing out free pizza mini-slices as a "sorry, we're in the weeds" gesture.
(4)
Luis Z.
Come on its carrabba's. Tasty and fairly priced. Service is almost always ahead of you. Love this place!
(5)
Steve S.
i like Carabbas... this one is at Coconut Point mall... wasnt horribly busy on black friday... and we had great service...(have had mediocre service at others) altho they ran out of one of the specials....
(4)
Dean M.
This is the best Carrabbas around. I have eaten at others but none are as good as this one. The food is fresher and more flavorsome.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Jim D.
My wife and I shared a quick dinner while shopping at the Gulf Coast Town Center. Our waitress, Allie C., was very knowledgeable about the menu. She suggested one of the new Signature Combinations, the Damian. This was grilled salmon and Spiedino di Mare (with shrimp and scallops). A great choice and we appreciated Allie C's familiarity with the menu.
(5)Brianna S.
The atmosphere is great. Our server Katherine was very attentive, helpful and knowledgeable. I had the baked chicken Parmesan and it was delicious. The chicken was tender and juicy. Oh, we also had mozzarella sticks. The best around. I'm very happy to give them such a great review. Would definitely return.
(4)Bob J.
The service was excellent. The ambience, good. The food? Well, we must have caught them on an off night. My Chicken Marsala was a tough, over cooked breast with a mystery brown sauce that had no flavor of Marsala wine. The side of Fettuccine Alfredo tasted like something out of a box. My wife's mussels were tiny little creatures with no taste. Oh, the bread and dipping sauce were good. I've eaten at other locations and was satisfied. Not here.
(2)Gordon G.
Mid afteroon, small crowd. I like that they have seating to watch the chefs cook. A little awkward being just us two scrutinizing like judges on Copped! Amore Moday a bargain. Three course meals Starting at $12 bucks. Thank you Jillian and Jason for excellent service.
(3)Lindsay S.
I used to work at a Carrabba's in Naples for a year, and have been eating at the Naples location once or twice a year since probably 2000, typically for special occasions since they are always so busy. I like Carrabba's because it is good food, in plenty portions, for a decent price. I've been to the one in GCTC twice, once for my birthday,and the second time was my first date with my boyfriend. Obviously being our first date I have such high regards for this specific Carrabba's, but it was nothing to rave about. The staff was nice, but nothing special. Definitely will be returning, I just love the food so much. (Been ordering the Mezzaluna since I was 5!)
(4)Zach H.
Food was superb like it should be! Service could have been turned up a notch but our overall visit was pleasant. Would recommend and come back.
(4)DrGrace G.
Went there for a business meeting today. Got the Arancini 6 small hush puppies?? Hm From the way they describe it -"Crispy bites of risotto, Italian fennel sausage, red bell peppers, romano cheese and pomodoro sauce breaded and served with our housemade marinara sauce for dipping" | 6.00" - I thought I would actually have nice chunks of italian sausage in there, but it was like looking for a needle in a hay stack, lol... almost not there it was mostly risotto with specks of red pepper and an occasional tiny piece of sausage. They are generous with the tea, my guy got calamari and it was OK -he said. Our associates had some kind of a steak dish with tomato and cucumber salad (which I would like to try next time) and the fresh bread (still warm from the oven) and seasoned olive oil for dipping, kind of made me happy. I only got an appetizer because I wasn't very hungry, just enough, but I would have prefered to see more sausage in the arancini maybe even find a fennel seed ;) The atmosphere is nice and the waiter was extremely cute and very friendly, very accommodating and attentive. I love good service.
(4)Phil M.
Great service and great meal. Half price appetizers til 7 was a bonus as was half price drinks.
(5)Shawn L.
We have eaten at the Carrabba's on Cleveland Ave. many, many times and after trying out this location, we will never stray again. You would assume that as a successful chain all of the locations would be consistent...not so much. The portions were smaller and nothing seemed to be correctly seasoned. My hubby's side of fettuccini was seriously lacking in alfredo sauce and I sent back my house salad because of the rotted lettuce leaves I kept finding...yuk! My Salmon was overdone but not quite as dry as our guest's Pork Chop and mashed potatoes. It was like we landed on a different planet where they were trying to copy the real Carrabba's...but I have to say they didn't even come close. To end this review on a positive note I can give props to our server, Jordan, who was very attentive and gracious...thank you.
(3)John D.
ANOTHER CORPORATE ITALIAN JOINT This place is okay, but not great. We started with the calamari, which was fine but completely lacking in spice, resulting in fine but boring and flavorless calamari. Perhaps it is dumbed down for the oldies & midwesterners. For our main meal, we had Linguine with Clams which was quite good and prepared al dente. My Tilapia Nicciola was mealy as though it had been frozen. Our server was pleasant enough, but she forgot our order and had to return to ask what we had ordered. She brought the wrong drink and she brought the wrong salad. She clearly was not paying attention or focused on her job. A so-so experience in a so-so place...
(3)Yoanna J.
So many choices for everyone from adults to children. Full service bar with an outside seating area. The pasta bar where you can sit without waiting on table an watch the food be cooked. All ingredients are fresh and the staff extremely nice it it real Italian. And will be back as much as I can. I had the fried calamari crunchy an good with the fresh marinara. They also give you bread with oil an herbs. Entrees are large being your appetite happy eating
(5)Mary J.
My husband and I have dined here twice. First time mid-Dec 2013 and wonderful. Last night, just the opposite and we will never go back. I had the chix parm and good. Husband, shirt ribs and so-so. Wait staff was leaving kitchen and serving meals while chewing food. One waiter serving table behind us was swallowing what was in his mouth as he served that table. We had mix-up with wine order and the head of kitchen(?) came out. My husband asked to speak to GM, Matt Fields, who was in restaurant but he avoided us. Come on.... No professionalism and no control of restaurant.
(2)Randolph R.
You wanna have your socks blown off your feet try the Sirloin Marsala it will blow your mind. Don't Forget Deseret You Can't Go Home without Some Italian custard. Oh! By the way ask for Gene and tell him Tony DiFazio sent you.
(5)Michaeline A.
Wonderful...got right in. Food was wonderful. There house red was delicious. Our waitress was a doll! Service was fantastic....can't say enough good and they were packed!try it out !the bread and oil with herbs well forget it...you can't stop eating it!!!
(5)Michael C.
My wife and I ate here with another couple on a Thursday evening. We arrived around 5:30 and sat at the bar for a few cocktails before dinner. This is a very nice classy space with indoor and outdoor seating in a newer mall near the airport, Miramar Lakes and FGCU. Happy Hour was in progress and prices were very reasonable. Sauza Gold frozen margaritas were $3.35, Korbel Brandy & Cokes were $2.75 and Bud Light 16 oz tappers were $1.98. Dinner service was prompt and knowledgeable. All four of us had one of their selections off their $15.99-$18.99 multi-course specials list. I had their version of a steak kabob, another had a seafood Mac n cheese, and two others had a seafood pasta dish. All were very tasty. Included with the specials was your choice of soup or salad and either an appetizer or desert. Bread with olive oil for dipping was also included. We all enjoyed the meal and agreed it's a great place - we'll definitely be back often.
(5)Craig W.
We had a wonderful birthday dinner for my son. Angie was excellent and was able to provide outstanding service and was able accommodate my Grandmother who was in a wheelchair all the way to my 10 month old who was with us for the evening. The whole family was taken care of and we couldn't have been happier. Was a great ending to our vacation. We had about a 40 minute wait, even with using the new online check in service, but that was probably typically of a Saturday night. Food and drinks were great, no problems there. Only complaint is the small one door entrance and exit, lot of traffic for such a small front door.
(5)Renee W.
Definitely not into chain Italian food but we wanted pizza so we stopped here. It was crazy busy on a Friday at 5:15 pm. But that aside, I managed to hit happy hour, 2 for 1 beers and we ordered caeser salads to start and a margherita pizza to split, adding pepperoni and mushrooms. Good service as well...and Coconut Point is a favorite when I visit my parents!
(3)Laurence J.
Yes it's a chain but this location hits the mark, know what to order and you go home happy. Mussels are a great starter. If the salad is small ask them to add some more . Spaghetti and meatballs are great, any chicken dish is super and the filet is a great value for that quality. Clearly some of the previous reviewers have no idea what to order here. Happy hour until 7 pm, tasty flat breads cheap in bar during apply hour. We are too full for dessert so I can't comment. Been here 20 times. Never disappointed.
(5)Tyler H.
Yeah, it's a chain. And a darn good one. I've eaten here a multitude of times, everything from a quick bite for lunch, to multi-course meals with family, it's generally quite good. The service tends to be prompt, although some inconsistencies can sneak in, depending on your server. However, the food keeps me coming back. The meats are flavorful, the pasta is rich and the sauces show nice herb and spice notes; the one downside is that the marinara-based sauces are a little sweet, but there's a significant number of people who like that. Favorite entrees include the spedino di mare, the penne franco, and the grilled sirloin. For dessert, the sogno di cioccolata is great; rich, chocolatey, and perfect for sharing. Entrees run from about $10 to $20, with reasonable wine prices (glasses run from $6.50 to $11, bottles from $25-$50. Prices are generally better on the upper end of the wine list). Expect a bit of a wait during tourist season, but when that happens, I've had the experience of the manager walking around outside handing out free pizza mini-slices as a "sorry, we're in the weeds" gesture.
(4)Luis Z.
Come on its carrabba's. Tasty and fairly priced. Service is almost always ahead of you. Love this place!
(5)Steve S.
i like Carabbas... this one is at Coconut Point mall... wasnt horribly busy on black friday... and we had great service...(have had mediocre service at others) altho they ran out of one of the specials....
(4)Dean M.
This is the best Carrabbas around. I have eaten at others but none are as good as this one. The food is fresher and more flavorsome.
(5)Neenah F.
If I could give them negative stars I would. The food is ok - nothing exciting on the menu. What really bothered me about them is that the waiter stole my fiancés iPhone. We were having a nice late dinner. We were last customers to leave the restaurant. At that time we lived about 2 miles away, we got home and realized his cell phone was missing turned right back around and noticed our table was in the process of being cleaned. We were 100% certain we left the phone on the table. We asked for the phone and the buss boy denied seeing it. We asked for the waiter and he was gone the mgr called him on the phone to ask for the phone and he denied seeing it. The mgr took the waiters side and accused my boyfriend of misplacing the phone else where. Long story short the next day the waiter was busted trying to sell the stolen phone to a cop informant. We got the phone back and the waiter was fired after we made a big stink. He would not have gotten fired otherwise. We will never go back there after the way management handled the situation.
(1)