Here in the Daytona Beach area, it is the best Italian restaurant we have. People who visit from other big cities are very surprised that the food is as good as it is. Normally, there are very few chains that can give you a very good meal..Houston’s, JP Alexander’s, Cheesecake Factory and a few others come to mind.

I’ve only had one bad meal in 6 years at the Carrabbas here in Daytona Beach. Their meat sauce is terrific.

I asked a question on this thread back in 2006;
Does the family still have a say in what’s going on???

From the quote Don made it sounds like they do. Anyone know for sure?
JoeJoe

quote:

Originally posted by the ancient mariner

Manga ! Manga ! The lovely MaryAnn and I give it two thumbs up.
The ones in Naples and Tampa and Clearwater are 1st rate. A lot
better than neighborhood joints in most cases.

I have had increasingly bad luck with my nearest neighborhood Italian eateries – the closest three have been x’d off my list, which then brings me almost to the closest Carrabba’s (in South Miami).

Thanks! [:)]

I only have 1 ?
are you related to Phil ?

They took their Italian Wedding Cake Martini off the menu–and every time I tried to order it before that, they would steer me into another drink. Whatevs. I found a copycat recipe, hahaha! Love it!

I adore their picchu pacchu. Love. The manager is always very nice every time we go there.

Again, I say.. Carrabas, for a chain is very good. I get the same thing all the time..
Picchi Paccu Tagilarini (or something like that).. Pasta dish with fresh marinara, fresh basil and fresh garlic.. I always add a side of meatballs to it.. Their meatballs are extremely good… And always add basalmic vinegar to their fresh herb and oil dish for their bread…
Oh..yum…. (ouch.. did I sound like RR?)

Manga ! Manga ! The lovely MaryAnn and I give it two thumbs up.
The ones in Naples and Tampa and Clearwater are 1st rate. A lot
better than neighborhood joints in most cases.

Our mussels are rope-grown in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The rope-growing method prevents the mussels from ever touching the ground, producing a clean and meatier mussel.

The BelGioioso family produces our Italian-style Parmesan and Romano cheese which are made to our specifications. The cheese is delivered to Carrabba’s in wheels and is freshly grated at each of our restaurants every day. We use 300 lbs. of fresh Parmesan and 860 lbs. of fresh Romano a month in each of our restaurants.

If the above is true, I think I’d not mind eating there, as the better Italian restaurants in town are on the other end of the county from my home. When I hear "chain", I always think of centrally-produced, frozen food, but maybe not in this case. They don’t actually state that the scallops and squid are not frozen, though.

Hello All,
Months ago, I had the pleasure to eat at one with my daughter and her boyfriend
in Williamsburg, Va.
We loved it!!!
It didn’t have any feeling of being a chain, and I don’t care if it was a chain.
It was just good in my opinion.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

I ate at the one in Allentown several times, and I didn’t know it was part of a chain until I looked for it on the internet.

Just ate at the one in Kissimmee Florida. It was very good. I had the Italian salad ( I think it is better than the house salad). I love the bread with the olive oil and herbs. I had the veal marsala. I really enjoyed the food and service. I like the open kitchen. they have some bar stool seating overlooking the kitchen. I think I may ask for those seats next time I go.

I sincerely enjoy Carrabba’s. I have had several events there and the service/food/ambience was always very good.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:

Originally posted by aprils0909

The mezzaluna is out of this world! Oh baby! The bread and oil/spices is delish. Can’t go wrong, even if it’s a chain!!!!!

You liked their chopping knives? Which did you prefer, the single-blae or the double-blade.

From their menu – Mezzaluna – Delicate half moon ravioli stuffed with chicken, ricotta and spinach in a tomato cream sauce $10.49

Sheesh. btw, what’s a blae?

quote:

Originally posted by stricken_detective

Never heard of them.

Is their food salty? As much sodium as the Olive Garden? [xx(]

And do they have any choices for those who can’t eat meat anymore?

I find the Olive Garden inedible because of the salt content.

And because the food is kind of, ummmm, overblown and nasty.

I’ve heard a lot about Carrabba’s. The guy who owns the company I work for used to be a Macaroni Grill customer until he tried Carrabba’s. He loves the place. I’ll have to check them out.

[:D]