Carrabba's Italian Grill — Restaurant in Woodridge

We drove past this place a few times. Tonight we were in the mood for Italian and decided to give it a try. I understand Carrabba's is owned by Blooming Brands. Our waiter introduced himself and took our drink order. When he returned with the drinks, we ordered the "Classic Combination Appetizer" it had Calamari, fried Mozzarella sticks, and Bruschetta. I found the calamari salty but perfectly cooked. The Mozzarella was definitely a step above the normal food service fried mozzarella. The bruschetta was tasty with tomato, real mozzarella and basil. My favorite Italian meal is Eggplant Parmesan, I get it often and have had it many restaurants; Carrabba's Eggplant Parmesan was excellent. My husband had two Tuscan Grilled Pork Chops and they were also excellent. Our third diner had the Italian Classic Trio, including Chicken Parmesan, Fettuccine Alfredo, and Lasagna. I have never been an Alfredo fan but he said it was good and pleased with the dish. We all got soup or salad with our meal. I have to praise the waitstaff, we had three servers working our table. Our main waiter, the food server who brought our appetizer and entrées and another that made sure our drinks were always full. I like a lime in my diet Coke and she brought a fresh coke with a lime three times. We finished with a Tiramisu for the table; everyone thought it tasted excellent even if it did not look quite like what is pictured on the website. Here is the home run: anyone ordering an entree can order a to go entree for $10 (the to go entree does have to be equal or lesser value then the entree you had for dinner and the steaks are not available as a $10 to go option). My hubby had the two Tuscan Grilled Pork Chops for $29; he got another two pork chops cooked to order and a side for an additional $10. It is easily another three meals with the leftovers. We definitely will be back to try the...

09-09-2025

My family and I went to the only Carrabba's in Illinois. It was an undiscovered gem one year driving around Florida as one does on a vacation. This transferred when a Carrabba's came up north. 3 years after opening and discovering it came to our state of Illinois we have been going to this location.

From our yearly birthday visits in September and October to graduations.

There is a staunch difference in food quality. Carrabba's food has been the draw everytime. Not the spirits, wine or atmosphere but the food.

The complimentary cold compressed/processed olive oil. Gone

The complimentary fresh herbs and spices accompanied with cold compressed olive oil. Gone.

The signature Carrabba's chicken Marsala is a thick cut of breast butterflied and grilled with mushroom and onion Marsala wine reduction gravy. What was presented as Chicken Marsala was flat breast of chicken grilled to a char with an attempt at the mushroom wine reduction, runny and watery. Inedible and a disappointment, too.

Asparagus woody and undercooked and an oversized portion of mashed potatoes that weren't edible as their taste was off putting.

The food was respectfully and kindly returned to the kitchen with same complaints mentioned above. Food ordered by others in the party were shared was good, tasty and filling.

Management did come by and speak with the table but stated that they stand by the food. It was comped but that is a signature dish and that was not what was presented in 2024.

At.

All.

I am so sorry to say that what brought us to you is no longer provided. Along with our patronage.

With love...

We did not enjoy the outside dining like we thought we would. First of all, the hostess/ seater did VERY poor planning in seating rather large party Not at the end but towards the middle/end. Then small parties were worked around them with very little room to spare. Our waitress initially came out with her mask under her nose!! As our area filled up, I felt we, the customers were on top of each other with no room to spare or breathe. Dishes weren't removed as fast as they could have been and that large party were placing their dirty ones on the empty next to ours when a special needs guest and his friend arrived and needed this table. Our dirty dishes needed to be removed as well before but that wasn't before our dinner arrived and our dirty ones had no where to go. I was collecting them around our table stacking them. The big BANG came when one of the waiters was collecting empty beer bottles from the back tables. With no tray to place them on, he was carrying WAY too may for his arms to carry and he dropped one near our table. My family was in deep conversation and jumped angrily thinking the glass could have splattered and hit us. He didn't apologize. Instead... .he laughed!!!! Our waitress just Mosied back to us to see if there was anything else we needed.

Our lesson: we would never celebrate our wedding anniversary outside again!!! Last year you had a large tent. We truly enjoyed that. Could something like that be done again- even on a smaller scale. These quarters are too tight and your staff look less than enthusiastic. Never again- not for the...