Carrabba's Italian Grill — Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale

I would like to start off by saying this is my 2nd time at Carrabba's. My first experience went very well. which is why I opted to try again. However this is experience was very devastating to say the least. After being seated for about 5 min the waitress walked by our table to the table behind without any acknowledgment. Based on the conversation I could clearly overhear, the other guest had already closed out their check however they proceeded to have this lengthy conversation about cars. Once the conversation finally came to an end, we still were not acknowledged and the waitress went to another table. The person I was with had to get up from the table to ask the Host if the wait staff was aware we were even there. We still waited about another 5 min. At this point I am ready to leave however I'm hungry and had my heart set on eating good pasta. So I decided to stay and at least give the food a shot. I placed my complete order, being that I'm almost about 25 min into being there and have not even received water or bread. I ordered the meatball appetizer, and received half of a meatball. It was taken back to correct. About 10 min later My food comes out, before I receive the redone meatballs and my salad. The waitress tries to take it back, however again I am very hungry at this time. Unfortunately though my food came out cold not warm but cold. So now that gets taken back, and then my salad and appetizer finally come out. At this point I begin to loose my hunger and I am now upset. Then they finally bring my food out that they re-heated (which I know because it was missing a piece that I previously tried). The funniest part is they re-heated the exact same food I sent back, but took some of my pasta off. I politely asked for my check and a box, I was completely over it. I had intentions on ordering food to-go, however they completely ruined that for me. The waitress did a very poor job, never came to check in between the discrepancies or ask how was everything after they were "corrected".  The cherry on top was the restaurant was not busy maybe 5 tables seated, and the manager never came by to see what the issue was being that more than 2 items were sent back.

I have not completely given up on Carrabba's. I just will NEVER go to the Fort Lauderdale location off...

So I have mixed emotions about our visit to the restaurant. First I have to say our server was excellent he was one of the best servers I've had in a very long time. Our appetizer came out pretty quickly and was great. Then.. cue the ominous music.. the long wait began. We receded where we could see the food coming out of the kitchen then cooking they didn't seem to be much urgency in the way they were preparing food. It showed in the wait time we waited an extremely long time for our dinners two of us. Coincidentally we both got the same thing so it should have been easy and I think what we had was pretty simple to prepare. From our table we could hear the manager who was running the pass yelling hot food hot food. Sadly he wasn't talking about our food... Our food was very cold and after we waited so long we were just over it. I was going to pay and just go home our server came over and asked how everything was and I said it would be okay except it was cold. I wasn't looking to file a complaint to do anything I could see they were busy so I was just going to go home. He went and told the manager the manager came over he was extremely nice very nice guy and he took one of the meals completely off the bill so basically reducing each by half. So the service was great in the sense that the people there treat you well however our food was really really cold and it kind of ruined the meal after the long wait. I think I would give them another shot it's just we were really looking forward to this meal and it really fell short. If you happen to go there ask for the server Rob...

My daughter’s 25th birthday dinner at Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Ft Lauderdale was more than a meal, it became a cherish memory thanks to the exceptional customer service and genuine care from the manager, Matthew. While the waitress, Christine, deserves credit for her professionalism, despite being short-staffed, and navigating a busy night with grace, Matthew, dedication to customer satisfaction truly elevated the evening.

From the moment we arrived, Matthew was welcoming. His warm smile and personalized greeting instantly put us at ease and set the tone for a joyous celebration. Matthew’s service transcended mere efficiency, he seamlessly addressed our requests and took time to genuinely connect with us, engaging and warm conversation. He even surprised my daughter with the complementary dessert and other complementary items making her feel truly special.

Matthew’s genuine care and dedication to create a memorable experience for our family went beyond his professional duties. He transformed a simple birthday dinner into a joyful and unforgettable evening, filled with laughter, good food, and heartwarming moments.

We are incredibly grateful to Matthew and the entire Carrabba’s team for turning my daughter’s birthday celebration to a night filled with beautiful memories. We will certainly be returning to this Carrabba's location in the future, confident that we can expect the same level of exceptional customer service and warm...