Carrabba's Italian Grill — Restaurant in Austin

I travel a lot, so I review a descent amount of restaurants. Please read for an honest review of the Carrabba’s in Austin:

Upon arrival I was greeted by host, and Informed her I would just be sitting at the bar, I travel normally alone so I normally just eat at the bar. Restaurant was probably 40% filled with tables, and only a couple who appeared to be finishing up their dinning experience.

I was greeted by the bartender, I ordered a water with lemon and was given a menu for which I quickly entered an appetizer of the Meatballs and Ricotta. The bartender happily took my initial order and went to the POS to ring it in. After which he continued to train the shadow he had. No water was brought. After about 3 to 4 minutes went by he came back over and stated that “the water should be brought out shortly”. I’ve never been to a restaurant where the bartender cant serve water.

Eventually my water with a lemon was brought out, I noticed while waiting for the water that the bartender was training a new girl, running the bar, the service bar (drinks for the tables) and it appeared he had his own section as well. So I do cut him some slack as he had his hands full but only had two tables and now me, plus the trainer so was no where near being in the weeds in my opinion.

A complimentary basket of bread with an olive oil dip was brought out, it was average bread. A nice crisp crust with a soft inner crumb. I had a few pieces and realized no setup, or cutlery and napkin, was given to me after I ordered the appetizer. At this point I had been ready to order my main entree the bartender had not stopped in to check, even though he was all over the bar multiple times. My appetizer came out, it was delicious. Perfect little start to the meal.

The Bartender finally stopped by and I was able to enter by entree of the Tuscan Chicken with a side of Asparagus, and a house salad to start. Still no silverware set up provided. I was also not given an option on the type of dressing I would like. Once my salad was brought out, it was not the traditional house salad i’m use to. It was honestly a ceasar salad without croutons and topped with olives and peperoncino slices. Still no silverware, and no bartender in sight.

I just kinda sat looking around for a while trying to make eye contact with any worker in the vicinity but really there was nobody around, even the host was out of sight. I finally was able to get a hold of the trainee and get a setup brought to me. She also refilled my water.

The salad was nothing to write home about, and honestly just didn’t want a caesar, so I only had a few bites. My main dish was brought out, it was an average looking piece of chicken breast with some seasonings and a good amount of asparagus. The chicken was cooked pretty well, a little more dry than I prefer but overall tasty. The asparagus was great, no complaints and had a nice balsamic drizzle on it, which I always think pairs well. Over all the main entree was good and did the job.

For the restaurant as a whole, I think the visit was an incredibly underwhelming and average experience for the level of service and food you get at these chain type places. Obvious room for improvements, mainly focused on service details, but the food did the job and if you don’t have better option this will be perfectly okay for a quick and easy sit down meal. Total cost was 33 dollars, with a 20% (because I believe no matter the service tip 20%) ended around 44 bucks with water an appetizer and an entree.

Attached is my...

We had not been to Carrabba‘s in quite some time so when we saw it was open late we decided to try it again after all these years. When we first walked in about 8:15 PM, there were hardly any patrons in the restaurant. It did actually get a little busy shortly after we got there though. We chose the tomato and mozzarella appetizer… Delicious, fresh, a very large portion, but could have used some extra oil and balsamic glaze. The bread service was complementary… definitely not baked in house and was nothing special. I chose the chicken marsala that was fabulous… tender, juicy, deliciously prepared with a side of mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were not hot, but tasted good. I added on a side of roasted vegetables… They tasted fine, but we’re actually cold. My husband chose the Fettuccine Carrabba and really enjoyed it. He mentioned the sauce was perfectly seasoned, the chicken was tender and served very hot. His pasta was somewhat sticky like store bought but nonetheless he really enjoyed his meal. He ordered a side of grilled veggies as well and was disappointed… he did not eat but one bite of them. The restaurant was relatively empty but the hostess sat an extremely loud family right next to us which was both odd and uncomfortable. I understand work sections but customer experience is also a priority, right? Not being able to talk between ourselves without having to raise our voices to hear each other is uncomfortable in an otherwise empty restaurant. We are drinkers - like 5 or 6 glasses of water or tea throughout a meal. I asked for a refill every time I needed one…it was never noticed by the server which was disappointing. He was pleasant but we felt perhaps busy elsewhere during our meal. We will certainly go back though. During lunch when it’s busier? Or right at 7 pm before servers and kitchen staff start going home? We are hopeful the few things that were disappointing are uncommon and look forward to...

Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Austin, TX has always been our go-to spot whenever we want a cozy, romantic date night—or when we’re celebrating our anniversary or my wife’s birthday ... I can't believe I haven't written a review for it yet. On our most recent visit, they really outdid themselves with a special wine-and-charcuterie promotion. The glass of red wine came with the cutest mini charcuterie board—perfectly portioned to whet the appetite. It was a delightful little bonus to start the meal.

We also can’t say enough about their shrimp scampi—it’s hands down the best we’ve ever had. It’s so good, in fact, that we order it every single time we visit. The warm bread and flavorful garlic sauce surrounding the plump shrimp just can’t be beat.

One of the highlights of dining at Carrabba’s is the staff. The service is consistently top-notch, and whenever he’s there, we always request Jay as our server. He goes above and beyond to make us feel welcome and well taken care of. The restaurant itself is always clean, and the ambience is warm and inviting—just what you want for a special night out.

They also seem to run great happy hour specials that help draw in business—though I can’t say for certain if the happy hour is seasonal. Whatever the timing, it’s definitely worth asking about. And for added value, they offer a $10 to-go entrée that’s perfect for lunch the next day, so you can enjoy their delicious food even after your night out has ended.

All in all, if you’re looking for a fantastic Italian meal, a relaxing atmosphere, and top-tier service in Austin, Carrabba’s is the place to go. And don’t forget to ask for Jay—his friendly and attentive service will make your evening even more...