Carrabba's Italian Grill — Restaurant in Smyrna

I've eaten in Carrabba's Cumberland and Barrett Pkwy restaurant locations more times than I can remember. I'm not a lover of chicken, but the grilled chicken on every dish at Carrabba's is based or infused with something that makes it taste wonderful. It's on of the only places I order chicken on my pasta (Carrabba's Fettuccine -- Alfredo sauce w/mushrooms and green peas) and literally, the only place that I order a chicken breast entree (Rosa Maria). Although I enjoy dining out, I also appreciate having my favorites brought to my home by various delivery services and those wanting delivery is the crowd I want my review to reach. Carrabba's has to-go/delivery orders down to a science. When I place a Carrabba's delivery order, I usually order an additional pasta meal to have the following day. Carrabba's offers a "sauce on the side" option for most of their pastas which keeps the pasta from absorbing too much liquid from the sauce and making the pasta dish less flavorful the following day. I have not had any Carrabba's delivery send my order missing any components, including the bread w/the herbs and olive oil that you receive when dining inside. Because my home can be reached more quickly from the Barrett Pkwy location, that is where I placed my delivery orders for almost 2 years. Unfortunately, after placing the orders, more than half resulted in taking at least twice as long as stated to be delivered -- this was NOT the fault of the delivery services (UE and DD). It was the Barrett Carrabba's than wasn't preparing the food after receiving the order -- you can see on the delivery apps when the restaurant begins preparing your food. I finally decided to stop ordering from Carrabba's when my 55-70 minute estimated delivery time was l hit the 150 minute mark and STILL my food wasn't being prepared. This had happened numerous times w/my orders from Carrabba's and that day was when I hit my limit. So, I reluctantly called Carrabba's -- I worked in restaurants growing up because my folks had a couple of different franchises and I completely understand Karen and Kyle customers. I first asked if my order had been received (2 hours earlier). It had, but there was no information offered as to the reason for tbe delay. Then, I asked if there were extenuating circumstances like a severe staffing issue or a robbery. No. Then, the employee answering my call "confessed" that the restaurant manager had standing orders for the kitchen to prepare delivery service orders only if they were caught up on on-dining orders and in-person to-go orders. I was told my order could be prepared in 15 mins if I wanted to come in-person to pick it up. Okay.. . So not why I ordered delivery. I can get behind this idea to a certain extent -- say for 30 minutes, but definitely not to delay delivery orders by 2+ hours UNLESS the restaurant has updated the delivery times in the app -- something they regularly do. If it's going to take 2.5-3 hours, the managers should update the extended times into the app -- something they ARE responsible for doing.

Thank goodness this type of failure for Carrabba's seems to exist only at the Barrett location. I decided to place my delivery order at the Cumberland location and given that experience, I have continued to order delivery from Cumberland. Not once have my orders arrived past the time promised on the app, and the food still meets Carrabba's high quality and taste standards at the Cumberland location. Because the drive time is more for me ordering from Cumberland vs Barrett, I make sure to add an additional tip for the added time and gas of the delivery driver. That said, Carrabba's take-out and 3rd party delivery orders are always well-packaged in leak-resistant containers and the food is as tasty at home or office as it is when dining inside. It's obvious the corporate office implemented procedures, including containers and packaging, for take-out orders so they meet the same...

Bugs in drink, bland over cooked food, poor service, an absolute nightmare!

I wanted to treat my mother & family for dinner, but had the unfortunate experience of dining in at this Carrabba’s from start to finish. Piss poor performance from every staff member besides our sweet waiter constantly trying to make up for everyone’s severe lack of effort… It’s a slow empty Thursday night…, no excuses.

Upon arrival hostess attempted to seat my family near their prep tables littered with an assortment of clothing, bags, boxes, utensils and sauces. They just so happen to be fresh out of our preferred appetizers calamari for the night… Drinks from the bar were significantly delayed, and or forgotten…, they arrived around the same time as our entrees, and still they forgot the Pellegrino…,

My mother sat through her appetizers and first portion of entree without a drink, had to ask 3-5 times for Pellegrino, waiter personally grabbed a large bottle from back since we haven’t received a single drink besides water the whole night.

By the time I got my margarita, significant time had passed, and I was greeted with the lovely sight of large gnat/fruit fly swimming in my drink. I guess he got little hammered from tasting the drink before me as he’s knocked out chilling on the ice in pictures attached to this review…

Waiter brought the manager on duty over, whom really wasn’t much of any help towards the overall situation, and service experience. The manager offered to remake the lukewarm overcooked ribeye the kitchen butchered, I denied the offer, however, they still proceeded to remake the meal for some reason as if that would change the lackluster service, bland entrees, and sides.

Our fettuccine sides lacked any type of sauce, might as well have eaten wet noodles straight from the pot. My steak was overcooked & lukewarm, the ravioli we received was alright, however, my mother’s shrimp and scallop was severely lacking, overall unappealing.

Thin or no sauce…, again just like the fettuccine they very well should have just given us pasta fresh out of the pot, at the very least I would I’m eating without substance.

In the end I was still charged for a sub par steak & entrees, I honestly would prefer a refund for wasted time. It would be more understanding if they were slammed…, but they weren’t, the restaurant was practically empty and they still manage to mess everything up leaving the waiter to clean up behind everyone dropping the ball as we were not the only table to experience issues.

We were given a different table’s food at one point. Needless to say my family and I will never be visiting this location again, and I implore you not to as well! It’s a shame I know what standard a Carrabba’s can operate at, and this one falls far...

Sat at the bar solo with dozens of staff standing around with no acknowledgment. I was getting frustrated so I actually timed it. 12 minutes before a greet at the bar. Clearly someone who is a manager passed me several times, he didn’t seem to care or notice these things. I would’ve left but it was the only restaurant walking distance to the hotel I’m staying at. I was finally greeted and handed 5 different menus, all dirty and frankly overwhelming. Bartender was nice. But very slow. Reading the bar book on how to make one of their speciality cocktails. That’s embarrassing, especially from a corporately trained place. The salad was wilted and sad. The weird fried raviolis? Bland and mushy. I decided not to expect much so I ordered the simple Bolognese. The bartender didn’t seem to understand the concept and asked if I wanted spaghetti with meatballs. I responded meat sauce. Started with bread and a plate of “herbs” brought out, no olive oil was given so I had to get up and grab an olive oil from a seat down the bar. After this the salad and bizarre mushy raviolis were delivered. No silverware was infront of me so the food runner grabbed a roll up from a nearby table for me after I asked. The staff was standing around the bar discussing a host that has a brain tumor and died. While such a tragedy may be true, don’t bring it up within earshot of patrons. The “spaghetti and meatsauce” finally arrived and it was basically a large bowl full of noodles and oil and lots of water. It was not tasty or any flavor. It reminds me of a public grade school cafeteria attempt. The dirty plates were never cleared and entire bar was filthy. I had to brush away the crumbs when I sat down. No wonder this chain is failing. Wouldn’t dine there again and it wasn’t worth speaking to a manager.

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