Went here for dinner the week we were here to drop son at nas Pensacola. The staff greeted us was warm and friendly. We did not have to wait to be seated. The restaurant was clean and inviting. Our server arrived at table within a minute. Took our drink order received our drinks quickly. We ordered an appetizer it was bruschetta with a seafood dip. It was delicious. All of our meals was delicious. I would rate this way above Olive Garden. There are more pasta choices and the food is authentic Italian.
(5)
Tracy H.
Very surprised. Not a fan of Olive Garden so I was expecting this to be similar. The food was great and service quick and friendly. Would come back again.
(4)
Debbie M.
Service was great, food was tasty, place is a little tired. The booth we sat in and no cush in the cushions, which made it a bit uncomfortable. Three of us for dinner, one had the salmon which was cooked to perfection, and tasty. I had the mahi mahi which was cooked well but lacking flavor, The third person in our party had the chicken masala which was very good. We had dessert, an ice cream with caramel sauce. It was also yummy...so why not 4 stars? Well a few hours after eating here all 3 of us...were complaining about not feeling well & then we were fighting for the bathroom- which is not fun when you are staying in a hotel on vacation. We had not eaten together all days so I am guessing this was the common denominator....we did feel better in the morning....but....I think we will try something else next time
(3)
Ryan B.
Growing up in the mecca of Italian food this place makes McDonalds look like a 5 star restaurant. Something about a chain Italian place just seems wrong... wrong, wrong, wrong.
(2)
Jessica B.
I absolutely love this place. I normally get the pasta carabba, but I just recently had their grilled salmon and it was delicious.
(5)
Kris W.
It's the same here there and everywhere, but it's walking distance from several of the hotels, and you can hit the famous-y Irish bar for a drink on the way back of you are so inclined. Salad are sub par, but their pastas are alright and portions are not ridiculous. The manager was checking on tables when we were there, which was a nice touch, though the waiter struggled a little with basic tasks (bringing drinks and bread in a timely manner). If you're feeling lazy as my colleague was and don't want to drive to one of the more local choices, it's not a terrible place for dinner.
(3)
Aaron H.
One of our favorite places for a special occasion. Our favorite is anything + Marsala. The wait staff is always nice and helpful.
(4)
Gabrielle P.
GROSS! The staff is completely incompetent and they really screwed up my order of sushi-grade salmon... is it really that difficult? This place was just too processed and chain-y for me. Never returning.
(1)
Julie C.
this is better than the Olive Garden. its a little more upscale but not by much and the food is authentic. the sausage and minestrone soup is excellent if they have it. eveyrthing on the menu is good, you really cant go wrong whether you order the lasgna, lobster ravioli or the pasta weesie ( which is alfredo with mushrooms and shrimps). the service is great and prices are reasonable.
(4)
Tina C.
My son and I went to Carrabba's tonight to celebrate his latest accomplishment. To be honest, service started out on the iffy side due to my request to change tables after having been seated. There was a lack of communication between the hostess seating us and the server assigned to the table where we ended up sitting; however once the oversight was realized the service was impeccable. I have been to Carrabba's before but this was a first visit for my son. As always, the food was as delicious. I highly reccommend the chicken parm and the limoncello bread pudding dessert is AMAZING! A special thank you goes out to the shift manager, Chase, and our server, Caitlin, for making my son's first visit to Carrabba's so special. Sometimes it can be difficult to find really good food and excellent service in the fast paced instant gratitude society in which we live, but if that is what you are looking for, then look no further than Carrabba's.
(5)
Kalaida H.
Just like any other Carraba's.... decent food, great service. I ordered the berry panna cotta for dessert, but I didn't care for it all that much. It was covered with too much of the berry liquid. Our server was great, but the manager kept coming over interrupting our conversation to "check on us" and then he would linger and make awkward conversation.
(4)
Roger D.
Service is ok here but the food is definitely not. I reccommend that you don't get the tag pic pac.
(1)
Cliff H.
Some of the best service I have ever had. Food was fast and delicious. Glass of wine was great. Prices are med but we'll worth it.
(5)
Laura L.
Always pretty decent Italian food. I was with my parents and both grandmothers on a recent visit....Carrabba's was completely accommodating to their food allergies and portion needs. No complaints here!
(4)
Kate H.
Color me impressed, chain Italian is usually fairly standard, but the excellent service, atmosphere, and fantastic suggestions elevated our experience substantially. As a vegan, I was concerned about options, but our server, Kurt, was knowledgable & even offered guidance. The zucchini frite was a terrific start, accompanied with a bottle of Robert Strong's merlot, and followed by a generous portion of the minestrone. The hubs & I will definitely be back.
(5)
Susan P.
So.... Food and appetizer was decent but not memorable. Service was awesome However, come to find out the house wine is made by copper ridge. 4.99 for a bottle of Cabernet at a liquor store... They charge 3.99 a glass...... Not cool.
(3)
Summer M.
Went in an hour before closing thinking they would frown at our party if five including three tired kids. But the waitress was really amazing and understanding if the kids. So the restaurants is going through a much needed remodel but that did not take away from the food and considering our group a good atmosphere was not a priority. Our waitress explained their new menu well even making sure the kids knew that the Mac and cheese was white cheese not orange. She gave a great recommendation for the chicken, I had the Chicken Bryan and she was quick with the drinks and bread. My husband had the sausage and bean soup along with rigatoni. Although the soup had some kick to it, it was still very good and he nearly licked the pasta bowl clean. The kids had the typical Italian fair of spaghetti and meat balls, chicken strips and Mac and cheese. All and all a good dinner. The only downers, I chose the salad with my meal and it was warm and wilted with a tasteless creamy Italian dressing. Also they were out of panna cotta so I chose the cannoli and it was bland. So a no bueno on the desserts, but everything else was great.
(4)
Bill Y.
First mention should be of their best server, Kurt. He keeps us coming back and always remembers each family member's name and what they like- goes above and beyond. We patronize a lot of locally owned restaurants but whenever we have family in town or just need a quick bite this is a solid go to for Italian.
(5)
Thela C.
This place is good for a chain Italian restaraunt. We went on a Saturday night when it was quite busy, waited about 10-15 min which wasn't bad. After we were seated our waitress took our drink orders and appetizers promptly. I got a Bloody Mary that was decent and the tomato caprese as an appetizer . My main dish was the ravioli al forno which was AMAZING . Overall food was good and served in a timely manner. It's a good place to stop and have some dinner and not spend a lot of money .
(3)
Michelle S.
We ordered some catering from Carrabbas for our wedding and it was a great decision. They were on time, set everything up, brought us extra sterno and really made the whole process easy for me. I will say that they strongly underestimate how much their catering will feed -- they said one tray of pasta was 10 servings but it EASILY fed 20. We ordered eight trays for 80 people and only ended up using four! They also brought bread, but hadn't told me they were going to so I had already bought a lot of French bread from Publix :-/ Overall, still an excellent experience and would definitely order here again!
(5)
Paul P.
Waiter was great from over hearing the people complain behind me (about their food) that the waiter was a "trainee" well I had to comment because if he was a Trainee he should be running that floor he was amazing. After Para-sailing yesterday i was so thirsty i went through 4 drinks like less then 10 min and he kept that drink filled! Food was reasonably priced. Food was so flavorful the red sauce left taste in my mouth of just pure yummyness for hours after. Not 5 star because it was a copy cat Olive Garden / Bertucci's
(4)
Pat C.
Had a really great experience last night. The food was delicious and the customer service was outstanding. Will return. Ask for Robert, great waiter!
(5)
Brian A.
Let me be candid and admit I had a HORRIBLE experience. In fact, the only reason I'm not giving this location a 1-star is based on past visits to this location. I was visiting Pensacola (my "hometown") and was out to dinner with some of my immediate family. What had previously been a staple for us, turned into a true disaster! In general, the food was solid. Typical Carrabba's quality upscale chain menu. Nothing better or worse than you would expect. Where this location of Carrabba's falls flat is in its management/staffing. I've never seen a more poorly run restaurant. The night I was there we had a table of 12. We called and let them know we were coming (call ahead) to avoid any challenges getting a table. Additionally, we showed up at 530! While the restaurant was busy, we were quoted 15 min, which came and went, then 10 more min -- fail....still nothing. Then...they admitted they were short staffed and that it would be another 20 minutes. I'm starting to get pretty pissed off! With all 4 of the kids with us, this was quickly becoming a nightmare. Ok...so 20 minutes later were we seated!? No...not even close. It was another 15 + minutes before we FINALLY scored a table. The manager was rude and completely unapologetic at the continued mistakes at the hostess stand. I would let the hostess off of the hook, but she was also quite rude. You would think they would do anything they could to atone for the disaster trying to get us and other parties seated. No...not even close. It took a little over 20 minutes for waters to hit our table! No server showed up - we apparently were in a no man's land where the servers chose not to stop by and help us! This was almost comical if I didn't have my 3 year old niece, 4 year old daughter, and other young children with us! Finally, a very nice server comes by, realizes the evil frowns on all of our faces, and stepped in to help. While her name escapes me, she was literally the only exceptional experience of the night. Big shout out to the mystery server who single-handedly did all she could do to fix what had become a disaster of epic proportions! Hostess/Seating - Epic Fail Bar Staff - Since we waited so long, we did frequent the bar. Kudos to Jasmine at the bar! Food - Solid, what you would expect Server - Excellent (although I think we truly lucked out here). Was I upset? Yes. But...this is unfortunately a completely accurate representation of my experience. I don't believe I'll be visiting this location again.
(2)
Keith G.
My wife and I love this place! Don't pass it up just because it is a chain restaurant. The staff is always friendly and the food is AMAZING! Despite the fact that they're always busy, they provide prompt and friendly service. Try their desserts and coffee after dinner, you won't be sorry. Easily one of our favorite "date night" places to go. We moved to California in June 2013 but this place is so awesome I wanted to leave a review anyway.
(4)
Jason Y.
Stopped on by for a quick lunch and ordered an italian Cobb salad. Very disappointed with the portion size (see pic) Normally have good experiences but this one was a bust. In the pic I mixed it but didn't eat any of it yet.
(2)
Rachael B.
My husband and I had a horrible first time experience here in December of 2014. We were seated right away but did not even see our waiter for about 15 min. Our food was good but the service was HORRIBLE! We had to ask for WATER! Also, my husband ordered wine and me a water, I did not feel like drinking any that night. The waiter came to our table and gave me a sample of their Sangria. I didn't want it but I tasted it- I really do not like sweet wine and once again was not interested in drinking. The waiter noticed that I didn't want the sample and said "Oh are you not 21?" I said "No I am, I just don't care for sweet wines." He insisted on bringing me another sample of a different kind of there sweet sangria. I said no but he did anyway. When he brought it to the table I said nicely "No thank you". He seemed so confused and gave it to another guest. The guy just didn't seem to get the picture! It totally ruined our night. The waiter was just odd- trying to push samples on me, waiting for quite a while for our food and drink, and disappearing for long periods of time. Probably won't ever go back.
(1)
Melissa A.
Always loved Carrabas, a neighborhood restaurant we frequented. But just a few minutes ago , my husband & I walked in & sat at the bar. We were 2 of 4 people in there. The bartender was way too busy breaking down her bar , to even acknowledge us. We promptly left after asking for water. Rule of thumb when dealing with public....acknowledge your patron in the first 3 to 10 seconds. Or they may go somewhere else. Like we did.
My bf and I decided to stop here for dinner after a day at the beach. We were seated promptly at a booth, and the server was pretty attentive throughout the whole meal (although I would say she talked a bit much). We tried the homemade Italian sodas, and they were very good. We started off with chicken noodle soup, and that was delicious. I ordered the sirloin marsala with pasta, and it was absolutely delicious. The sirloin was cooked just as I wanted, and I loved the sauce. My bf enjoyed his lobster ravioli. We ordered the tiramisu for dessert, and I can honestly say it was the best I've had. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Kimberly G.
I kind of giggled at the attire being listed as dressy. It's Pensacola so it's a mixed bag inside. The food is consistent neither wonderful or horrible. I prefer to sit at the bar to eat. The dining room is usually packed, full of crying babies and the wait staff is iffy. Being a vegan I can add and remove things from their dishes without any problem. They have a decent wine list and happy hour specials. Try to avoid going here during peak dining hours because it's a zoo.
(3)
Fwb G.
Came here for New Years Eve. Had to wait for 40 min, but that's expected. Good food. Good Service, BUT all the plates and glasses in our party had some sticky film on them. Gross! Thought this place was a bit more upscale. I'll be back, but hopefully that location steps it up.
(3)
Tiff C.
It aint Olive Garden.
(2)
Joshua P.
I've heard a lot of good about Carrabba's but my first time here I was a little disappointed. It was very busy and we had a high table right near the door. The staff was not as attentive as they should have been. The food was good, but rather typical and unimpressive. There are many other Italian places to dine in Pensacola that have better service and more impressive food. While it was not a bad experience, it was not all that I had heard about.
(3)
Jennifer E.
Jimmy Buffett at the coliseum across the street. My friend had chicken parmesan, i had the tagliarini pic pac...fast seating, fast service by waitress who offered fast rundown of current specials...get there before 5pm to get a good seat and avoid a long wait, place fills up fast after that time...seating is so crowded it's hard to understand how anyone gets their food. The pulled chicken soup sounded good, but was too salty. I make tagliarini at home, and what they serve at Carraba's Italian Grill isn't tagliarini. It's linguini pasta with the pic-pac sauce, which is okay, but not worth the cost...better to get another dish if you were curious about that one. We were in Pensacola for the concert, but my friend talked about this place all the way down from Biloxi and I expected more. We have better places to eat at home. Don't break your face trying to get here, it's just another shade of Olive [Garden] only more crowded.
(3)
Ben S.
Consistent high quality Italian. Have never had a bad meal here....Yes it is a chain, but I haven't been to a restaurant in Pensacola that does Italian better. Chicken Bryan w/ tag pic pac... Def crowd pleaser.
(4)
Jack B.
Good Service. Solid food.
(4)
Shane F.
Love the pizza, the pasta carraba. Very good place to eat.
(4)
Jason P.
All Carrabba's are basically the same in my eyes. The location is convenient to downtown and there is plenty of parking. The food is a little overpriced but the service is always good.
(3)
Andrew S.
Very good restaurant. Very nice staff. Good location. I got the meal, I forget what it is called, but it had goat cheese on it. It was very good.
(4)
Skeet L.
Carrabas is probably the local restaurant we visit the most. We are members of their Amichi Club and they have these 5 course dinners with wine pairings every month or 2. They serve 5 different wines with the 5 courses. When we go outside of the wine tastings, I usually get the grilled salmon or one of their signature chicken dishes, like Chicken Bryan or Rosa Marie.
(5)
Wendi S.
Yes, it's a chain restaurant, but I the food here and I'm not going to apologize for it! Favorites are the Grilled Chicken Marsala, Pasta Weesie, Pasta Sostanza and Filet Fiorentina! All amazing!
(4)
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Address :311 North 9th Avenue
Pensacola, FL, 32501
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Paul C.
Went here for dinner the week we were here to drop son at nas Pensacola. The staff greeted us was warm and friendly. We did not have to wait to be seated. The restaurant was clean and inviting. Our server arrived at table within a minute. Took our drink order received our drinks quickly. We ordered an appetizer it was bruschetta with a seafood dip. It was delicious. All of our meals was delicious. I would rate this way above Olive Garden. There are more pasta choices and the food is authentic Italian.
(5)Tracy H.
Very surprised. Not a fan of Olive Garden so I was expecting this to be similar. The food was great and service quick and friendly. Would come back again.
(4)Debbie M.
Service was great, food was tasty, place is a little tired. The booth we sat in and no cush in the cushions, which made it a bit uncomfortable. Three of us for dinner, one had the salmon which was cooked to perfection, and tasty. I had the mahi mahi which was cooked well but lacking flavor, The third person in our party had the chicken masala which was very good. We had dessert, an ice cream with caramel sauce. It was also yummy...so why not 4 stars? Well a few hours after eating here all 3 of us...were complaining about not feeling well & then we were fighting for the bathroom- which is not fun when you are staying in a hotel on vacation. We had not eaten together all days so I am guessing this was the common denominator....we did feel better in the morning....but....I think we will try something else next time
(3)Ryan B.
Growing up in the mecca of Italian food this place makes McDonalds look like a 5 star restaurant. Something about a chain Italian place just seems wrong... wrong, wrong, wrong.
(2)Jessica B.
I absolutely love this place. I normally get the pasta carabba, but I just recently had their grilled salmon and it was delicious.
(5)Kris W.
It's the same here there and everywhere, but it's walking distance from several of the hotels, and you can hit the famous-y Irish bar for a drink on the way back of you are so inclined. Salad are sub par, but their pastas are alright and portions are not ridiculous. The manager was checking on tables when we were there, which was a nice touch, though the waiter struggled a little with basic tasks (bringing drinks and bread in a timely manner). If you're feeling lazy as my colleague was and don't want to drive to one of the more local choices, it's not a terrible place for dinner.
(3)Aaron H.
One of our favorite places for a special occasion. Our favorite is anything + Marsala. The wait staff is always nice and helpful.
(4)Gabrielle P.
GROSS! The staff is completely incompetent and they really screwed up my order of sushi-grade salmon... is it really that difficult? This place was just too processed and chain-y for me. Never returning.
(1)Julie C.
this is better than the Olive Garden. its a little more upscale but not by much and the food is authentic. the sausage and minestrone soup is excellent if they have it. eveyrthing on the menu is good, you really cant go wrong whether you order the lasgna, lobster ravioli or the pasta weesie ( which is alfredo with mushrooms and shrimps). the service is great and prices are reasonable.
(4)Tina C.
My son and I went to Carrabba's tonight to celebrate his latest accomplishment. To be honest, service started out on the iffy side due to my request to change tables after having been seated. There was a lack of communication between the hostess seating us and the server assigned to the table where we ended up sitting; however once the oversight was realized the service was impeccable. I have been to Carrabba's before but this was a first visit for my son. As always, the food was as delicious. I highly reccommend the chicken parm and the limoncello bread pudding dessert is AMAZING! A special thank you goes out to the shift manager, Chase, and our server, Caitlin, for making my son's first visit to Carrabba's so special. Sometimes it can be difficult to find really good food and excellent service in the fast paced instant gratitude society in which we live, but if that is what you are looking for, then look no further than Carrabba's.
(5)Kalaida H.
Just like any other Carraba's.... decent food, great service. I ordered the berry panna cotta for dessert, but I didn't care for it all that much. It was covered with too much of the berry liquid. Our server was great, but the manager kept coming over interrupting our conversation to "check on us" and then he would linger and make awkward conversation.
(4)Roger D.
Service is ok here but the food is definitely not. I reccommend that you don't get the tag pic pac.
(1)Cliff H.
Some of the best service I have ever had. Food was fast and delicious. Glass of wine was great. Prices are med but we'll worth it.
(5)Laura L.
Always pretty decent Italian food. I was with my parents and both grandmothers on a recent visit....Carrabba's was completely accommodating to their food allergies and portion needs. No complaints here!
(4)Kate H.
Color me impressed, chain Italian is usually fairly standard, but the excellent service, atmosphere, and fantastic suggestions elevated our experience substantially. As a vegan, I was concerned about options, but our server, Kurt, was knowledgable & even offered guidance. The zucchini frite was a terrific start, accompanied with a bottle of Robert Strong's merlot, and followed by a generous portion of the minestrone. The hubs & I will definitely be back.
(5)Susan P.
So.... Food and appetizer was decent but not memorable. Service was awesome However, come to find out the house wine is made by copper ridge. 4.99 for a bottle of Cabernet at a liquor store... They charge 3.99 a glass...... Not cool.
(3)Summer M.
Went in an hour before closing thinking they would frown at our party if five including three tired kids. But the waitress was really amazing and understanding if the kids. So the restaurants is going through a much needed remodel but that did not take away from the food and considering our group a good atmosphere was not a priority. Our waitress explained their new menu well even making sure the kids knew that the Mac and cheese was white cheese not orange. She gave a great recommendation for the chicken, I had the Chicken Bryan and she was quick with the drinks and bread. My husband had the sausage and bean soup along with rigatoni. Although the soup had some kick to it, it was still very good and he nearly licked the pasta bowl clean. The kids had the typical Italian fair of spaghetti and meat balls, chicken strips and Mac and cheese. All and all a good dinner. The only downers, I chose the salad with my meal and it was warm and wilted with a tasteless creamy Italian dressing. Also they were out of panna cotta so I chose the cannoli and it was bland. So a no bueno on the desserts, but everything else was great.
(4)Bill Y.
First mention should be of their best server, Kurt. He keeps us coming back and always remembers each family member's name and what they like- goes above and beyond. We patronize a lot of locally owned restaurants but whenever we have family in town or just need a quick bite this is a solid go to for Italian.
(5)Thela C.
This place is good for a chain Italian restaraunt. We went on a Saturday night when it was quite busy, waited about 10-15 min which wasn't bad. After we were seated our waitress took our drink orders and appetizers promptly. I got a Bloody Mary that was decent and the tomato caprese as an appetizer . My main dish was the ravioli al forno which was AMAZING . Overall food was good and served in a timely manner. It's a good place to stop and have some dinner and not spend a lot of money .
(3)Michelle S.
We ordered some catering from Carrabbas for our wedding and it was a great decision. They were on time, set everything up, brought us extra sterno and really made the whole process easy for me. I will say that they strongly underestimate how much their catering will feed -- they said one tray of pasta was 10 servings but it EASILY fed 20. We ordered eight trays for 80 people and only ended up using four! They also brought bread, but hadn't told me they were going to so I had already bought a lot of French bread from Publix :-/ Overall, still an excellent experience and would definitely order here again!
(5)Paul P.
Waiter was great from over hearing the people complain behind me (about their food) that the waiter was a "trainee" well I had to comment because if he was a Trainee he should be running that floor he was amazing. After Para-sailing yesterday i was so thirsty i went through 4 drinks like less then 10 min and he kept that drink filled! Food was reasonably priced. Food was so flavorful the red sauce left taste in my mouth of just pure yummyness for hours after. Not 5 star because it was a copy cat Olive Garden / Bertucci's
(4)Pat C.
Had a really great experience last night. The food was delicious and the customer service was outstanding. Will return. Ask for Robert, great waiter!
(5)Brian A.
Let me be candid and admit I had a HORRIBLE experience. In fact, the only reason I'm not giving this location a 1-star is based on past visits to this location. I was visiting Pensacola (my "hometown") and was out to dinner with some of my immediate family. What had previously been a staple for us, turned into a true disaster! In general, the food was solid. Typical Carrabba's quality upscale chain menu. Nothing better or worse than you would expect. Where this location of Carrabba's falls flat is in its management/staffing. I've never seen a more poorly run restaurant. The night I was there we had a table of 12. We called and let them know we were coming (call ahead) to avoid any challenges getting a table. Additionally, we showed up at 530! While the restaurant was busy, we were quoted 15 min, which came and went, then 10 more min -- fail....still nothing. Then...they admitted they were short staffed and that it would be another 20 minutes. I'm starting to get pretty pissed off! With all 4 of the kids with us, this was quickly becoming a nightmare. Ok...so 20 minutes later were we seated!? No...not even close. It was another 15 + minutes before we FINALLY scored a table. The manager was rude and completely unapologetic at the continued mistakes at the hostess stand. I would let the hostess off of the hook, but she was also quite rude. You would think they would do anything they could to atone for the disaster trying to get us and other parties seated. No...not even close. It took a little over 20 minutes for waters to hit our table! No server showed up - we apparently were in a no man's land where the servers chose not to stop by and help us! This was almost comical if I didn't have my 3 year old niece, 4 year old daughter, and other young children with us! Finally, a very nice server comes by, realizes the evil frowns on all of our faces, and stepped in to help. While her name escapes me, she was literally the only exceptional experience of the night. Big shout out to the mystery server who single-handedly did all she could do to fix what had become a disaster of epic proportions! Hostess/Seating - Epic Fail Bar Staff - Since we waited so long, we did frequent the bar. Kudos to Jasmine at the bar! Food - Solid, what you would expect Server - Excellent (although I think we truly lucked out here). Was I upset? Yes. But...this is unfortunately a completely accurate representation of my experience. I don't believe I'll be visiting this location again.
(2)Keith G.
My wife and I love this place! Don't pass it up just because it is a chain restaurant. The staff is always friendly and the food is AMAZING! Despite the fact that they're always busy, they provide prompt and friendly service. Try their desserts and coffee after dinner, you won't be sorry. Easily one of our favorite "date night" places to go. We moved to California in June 2013 but this place is so awesome I wanted to leave a review anyway.
(4)Jason Y.
Stopped on by for a quick lunch and ordered an italian Cobb salad. Very disappointed with the portion size (see pic) Normally have good experiences but this one was a bust. In the pic I mixed it but didn't eat any of it yet.
(2)Rachael B.
My husband and I had a horrible first time experience here in December of 2014. We were seated right away but did not even see our waiter for about 15 min. Our food was good but the service was HORRIBLE! We had to ask for WATER! Also, my husband ordered wine and me a water, I did not feel like drinking any that night. The waiter came to our table and gave me a sample of their Sangria. I didn't want it but I tasted it- I really do not like sweet wine and once again was not interested in drinking. The waiter noticed that I didn't want the sample and said "Oh are you not 21?" I said "No I am, I just don't care for sweet wines." He insisted on bringing me another sample of a different kind of there sweet sangria. I said no but he did anyway. When he brought it to the table I said nicely "No thank you". He seemed so confused and gave it to another guest. The guy just didn't seem to get the picture! It totally ruined our night. The waiter was just odd- trying to push samples on me, waiting for quite a while for our food and drink, and disappearing for long periods of time. Probably won't ever go back.
(1)Melissa A.
Always loved Carrabas, a neighborhood restaurant we frequented. But just a few minutes ago , my husband & I walked in & sat at the bar. We were 2 of 4 people in there. The bartender was way too busy breaking down her bar , to even acknowledge us. We promptly left after asking for water. Rule of thumb when dealing with public....acknowledge your patron in the first 3 to 10 seconds. Or they may go somewhere else. Like we did.
(1)Benjamin S.
Carrabba's is very similar to Olive Garden, but the only difference between the two IMO is the décor and prices. I came with a group of co-workers who all insisted to dine here, and who insisted that Carrabba's was the "best??" Italian restaurant in Pensacola. Carrabba's serves Americanized Italian food, which is characterized by heavy cheeses and a lot of grease. After traveling to Italy and tasting the food there, my desire to have Americanized Italian food has diminished. When arriving with my group on a Thursday evening, the restaurant is super calm and quiet. Our appetizers came out pretty quick, but then we noticed that we never received any silverware! No problem, we notified the manager and that problem was solved. Then, we all finished our drinks after the appetizers, and our waitress never even showed up to refill our glasses. We had to wait until the entrees were brought over to have our drinks were refilled, which was a LONG time. The entrees were actually on par to American standards. Even though we received mediocre service, I decided to give a decent tip since I somehow felt bad for our waitress. Besides the terrible service, Carrabba's is still a satisfactory restaurant for company gatherings and casual dining.
(3)Song N.
My bf and I decided to stop here for dinner after a day at the beach. We were seated promptly at a booth, and the server was pretty attentive throughout the whole meal (although I would say she talked a bit much). We tried the homemade Italian sodas, and they were very good. We started off with chicken noodle soup, and that was delicious. I ordered the sirloin marsala with pasta, and it was absolutely delicious. The sirloin was cooked just as I wanted, and I loved the sauce. My bf enjoyed his lobster ravioli. We ordered the tiramisu for dessert, and I can honestly say it was the best I've had. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)Kimberly G.
I kind of giggled at the attire being listed as dressy. It's Pensacola so it's a mixed bag inside. The food is consistent neither wonderful or horrible. I prefer to sit at the bar to eat. The dining room is usually packed, full of crying babies and the wait staff is iffy. Being a vegan I can add and remove things from their dishes without any problem. They have a decent wine list and happy hour specials. Try to avoid going here during peak dining hours because it's a zoo.
(3)Fwb G.
Came here for New Years Eve. Had to wait for 40 min, but that's expected. Good food. Good Service, BUT all the plates and glasses in our party had some sticky film on them. Gross! Thought this place was a bit more upscale. I'll be back, but hopefully that location steps it up.
(3)Tiff C.
It aint Olive Garden.
(2)Joshua P.
I've heard a lot of good about Carrabba's but my first time here I was a little disappointed. It was very busy and we had a high table right near the door. The staff was not as attentive as they should have been. The food was good, but rather typical and unimpressive. There are many other Italian places to dine in Pensacola that have better service and more impressive food. While it was not a bad experience, it was not all that I had heard about.
(3)Jennifer E.
Jimmy Buffett at the coliseum across the street. My friend had chicken parmesan, i had the tagliarini pic pac...fast seating, fast service by waitress who offered fast rundown of current specials...get there before 5pm to get a good seat and avoid a long wait, place fills up fast after that time...seating is so crowded it's hard to understand how anyone gets their food. The pulled chicken soup sounded good, but was too salty. I make tagliarini at home, and what they serve at Carraba's Italian Grill isn't tagliarini. It's linguini pasta with the pic-pac sauce, which is okay, but not worth the cost...better to get another dish if you were curious about that one. We were in Pensacola for the concert, but my friend talked about this place all the way down from Biloxi and I expected more. We have better places to eat at home. Don't break your face trying to get here, it's just another shade of Olive [Garden] only more crowded.
(3)Ben S.
Consistent high quality Italian. Have never had a bad meal here....Yes it is a chain, but I haven't been to a restaurant in Pensacola that does Italian better. Chicken Bryan w/ tag pic pac... Def crowd pleaser.
(4)Jack B.
Good Service. Solid food.
(4)Shane F.
Love the pizza, the pasta carraba. Very good place to eat.
(4)Jason P.
All Carrabba's are basically the same in my eyes. The location is convenient to downtown and there is plenty of parking. The food is a little overpriced but the service is always good.
(3)Andrew S.
Very good restaurant. Very nice staff. Good location. I got the meal, I forget what it is called, but it had goat cheese on it. It was very good.
(4)Skeet L.
Carrabas is probably the local restaurant we visit the most. We are members of their Amichi Club and they have these 5 course dinners with wine pairings every month or 2. They serve 5 different wines with the 5 courses. When we go outside of the wine tastings, I usually get the grilled salmon or one of their signature chicken dishes, like Chicken Bryan or Rosa Marie.
(5)Wendi S.
Yes, it's a chain restaurant, but I the food here and I'm not going to apologize for it! Favorites are the Grilled Chicken Marsala, Pasta Weesie, Pasta Sostanza and Filet Fiorentina! All amazing!
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