Mitch was a great server and made the wine dinner a much better experience! Love the wine dinners each time!

We had a Graduation Luncheon for our Granddaughters High School graduation 18 people. Service was fantastic- we had made reservations, they were prepared for us ! Food got mixed reactions - Andrew's pistachio crusted trout was fantastic, per him, no sharing his lunch! My Chicken piccata was very salty. Most of the feed back was positive! We had some very interesting characters; one order: sautéed spinach & tiramisu Serviced together, ( our waiter actually had them served on separate plates My only issue was the bill was partially unreadable ! So if that's the only negative I will still say 5 stars ! One of the food runners said next time specifically say no salt or whatever your request is. We had a gluten free person and they had really decent GF pasta !!! read more

Carrabba's Italian Grill - Receipt partially unreadable - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I was really excited about trying this place out. Everything but the crab cakes we had for an appetizer was so bad! The bread they brought out tasted old and had a really bad aftertaste. Mine and my husbands food was so salty that I had to send mine back and my husband would have sent his back but he was just really hungry because he hadn't eaten since breakfast. My one son said he didn't even like his ravioli (he loves ravioli) and my other son said his spaghetti didn't really have any taste to it. Was hoping to find a new spot but even both the kids said Olive Garden is so much better! The waitress was very nice though! read more

Decidedbto switch upband try Carrabbas over one ofbour favorites. Gotbthere when they opened, sat down right away.Ordered drinks and appetizers. Had a very friendly server , she came by the table several times, but forgot one key service. Didnt refill my water glass once all meal. Food was average, my meatballs were smaller than other places, and pasta could of used more sauce. Wife said lobster ravioli were ok. Foods not bad just wasn't like some of my favorites. I did like their free bread with the oil. It was an ok change of pace, music playing in the restaurant was a nice touch. Kind of loud when in the bathroom though. read more

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4 shrimps, 3 scallops, almost $30. Entree. Pasta and sauce good. Small side of spinach $8. Bread stale. read more

Carrabba's Italian Grill - A side of sautéed spinach, $8., the bread was stale, only 3 scallops, 4 shrimps for a 30,00 entree. Sad $50. delivery . - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I haven't been to Carrabba's in a good minute so I was expecting it to be just like when I had it the last time. I got the linguini Alfredo with peas and chicken and it was a heaping mountain of pasta so I had nothing to complain about. My parents ordered calamari as an appetizer and it was delicious. Crunchy and tender inside just perfect. It can with a red sauce and a white/yellow type sauce which was pretty good. I got the sausage and lentil soup and it was spicy but had good flavor . I wish it had more lentils though than tomatoes and a little more sausage too. It looked just tomato based with little bit of the star ingredients. To finish off we got the caramel cheesecake and that was surely the star of the meal. It was creamy, decadent and it sure beats cheesecake factory's without a doubt. The caramel and apples on it gave it a sweet touch without it being to overbearing. Our server wasn't as attentive and we had to track him down for cheese , bread and things and the restaurant wasn't busy so not sure what that was about but he was kind so overall it was ok but not superb serving. Not sure if I'll come back , I've realized alot of chain restaurants in Gainesville have gone down in quality and aren't the same as when you do to Tampa or Orlando. read more

Carrabba's Italian Grill - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Located off Archer in the Enson plaza, this Carrabba's was a pleasant surprise for happy hour. Happy hour is daily from 4-7 and it says at the bar only but we were able to sit where we wanted. The happy hour drinks were tasty and strong and at $8 each that's a bargain. The fennel sausage arancini was fried crispy perfection. The Mezzaluna fritte was fried nicely but could use some more filling. Meatball sliders were tender and savory. Last the caprese with fresh burrata was so fresh and refreshing. Our server was friendly and attentive. Restaurant is large but can still seem intimate. Also side note, the music is such a vibe there!! Will definitely be back when in the area looking for Italian. read more

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We go there for birthdays. The food is always good and we like the family atmosphere. They always sing "Happy Birthday " we have fun there!

After our visit Sunday night, I'm disgusted. My husband and I went in at 5:30. They sat us in the center section which you know the ambience is really not that great. I don't care about an open kitchen and there's no music or anything. We sat there, and sat there, and sat there, and people were getting sat around us and they were getting waited on and we were not. So we went up to the front and said can we please move to a different section where we can get service? She said I'll let her know. So we very reluctantly went back to that table and sat there. And we're watching and we see the hosts talk to the girl that waited on the table right next to us and didn't acknowledge us and she went to another table. My husband who is always the calm one just got up and said let's go. The hostess looked at us like you're leaving? He said yeah we're gonna go somewhere else. He then called the manager which he never does and he said oh you know we have strong morals here. This is not a moral issue. This is a horrible service issue. By the waitress, the hostess for sure. She should've just moved us to a different section. Who wants to be faced with the waitress who isn't waiting on you after sitting there for 15 minutes!? We went to outback. I was very disappointed, but it turned out to be wonderful. I told my husband I'm glad we left. It is not cheap to eat at Carrabba's. My husband always gets the pork chop. I always get the lamb. We usually get appetizers and wine and everything else and I don't think I will ever go back there. Not that one. read more

I got the sandwich with fries and a drink plus a cookie. It was a lot of food. I love sandwiches on Ciabatta bread. I ate most of my sandwich but I gave my fries to my dog since we always eat together. I order the chicken soup on the side. It looked delicious but I'm saving it for tomorrow. My cookie looks great too but I'll eat that later when my dog isn't around. Overall it was a lot of good for a very good price read more

Carrabba's Italian Grill - This is the dog I mentioned - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

They have the most amazing chicken soup. Delicious! We almost order that every time. Their Caesar salad is good too but a little heavy on the dressing. The bread is yummy as well! read more

I love Carrabba's. I always get the past wheezy and shrimp scampi. Although a little on the pricey side, the service and food are worth the price. Everyone there is always professional. The ambiance is like any other "fancy" restaurant. Quiet, dimmed lights, the aromas from the kitchen is great and a very relaxed atmosphere. read more

Went to the wine dinner and was impressed by all of the options! Definitely will be back next month read more

Carrabba's Italian Grill - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I came here on a weeknight with about nine coworkers to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant was busy but we had a reservation so we were seated immediately. Carrabba's is a national chain so I know they have had parties larger than nine people before, but for some reason our service was extremely slow. We sat down at 7 PM and did not get our food until 8:30 PM. Nothing against our waitresses (plural because we had one for one end of the table and one for the other), as they were attentive to drink orders, but our food took forever. Even when it did come out, it was poorly timed so that some members of the party got their food a full 30 minutes before other members did. Again, as a national chain, Carrabba's should have the food timing worked out so that everyone can get their meal at the same time. That's what eating together is about. I ordered one of the seasonal specials, the rigatoni al forno with sausage, which, for the price, wasn't bad. The flavor was good but it could've stood for a few more pieces of sausage mixed in. By the time we all finished our meals it was well past 9:30 PM and we were exhausted and ready to just go home. Everyone has an off day, so I'm not blaming the kitchen or wait staff here. It happens sometimes. This was my first time at Carrabba's and I just hope future experiences are better. read more

Carrabba's Italian Grill - Rigatoni al forno with sausage - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Terrible! Although we were seated rather quickly, our food and service lacked. We ordered two lasagna, eggplant parm, and chicken with mashed potatoes. ALL came out BARELY WARM! Asked to heat up the lasagna, and it took about 10 minutes to bring back and STILL MEDIUM warm not hot, so we gave up and ate it anyway. Mistakes on entrees and just an all around slow. We won't return! read more

I love Carrabbas. The cooks did their job. Great food. But as a server, if you want a good tip, do your job. Bus the table. Don't leave glasses stacked up and plates stacked up just to get me to leave. That's how you get no tip. So sad, to bad. You take the order and others bring it to me. What do you do. Keep the water glass full, make sure I don't go without a drink and BUS the table. read more

The best restaurant in Gainesville I always attend their wine pairing dinners and they are always amazing

Returning for the Wine Dinner. Always a good time! The menu was delicious. Wonderful!

Great restaurant and service! We love coming to the wine dinners. The bread is amazing as is everything on the menu!

Yes I agree with the Food, Service and Ambiance which is Excellent. Thank you. I only have 1 other Italian restaurant I go to which is GG's in North Lauderdale, FL. In Gainesville, FL Carrabba's Italian Grill is my best choice for Italian lasagna. read more

Busted... got carry out a meatballs and RISOTTO isn't ... just meatballs... and no plastic ware ... how do I enjoy the Caesar salad without a fork!!!! read more

Have a gift certificate, so decided to try it on a Saturday night. It was not that crowded so sit at the bar. It was happy hour and the bartender/waitress was great. Significant other had the with espresso cocktail and I had the beer on tap. The cocktail was great. We had the lobster ravioli and salmon both were good. read more

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Love spending time with my friends there!!!! Delicious food and wine dinner experience!

Meh, mediocre at best. With today's prices there are MUCH better places to go spend your money at. Wine nights are probably the only best time to come eat here. Two dishes came with broccoli as a side and both were soggy, cold, and tasted like fish. Bartender was pretty cool to watch though. read more

Carrabba's Italian Grill - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

We did curbside pickup, great food and service tonight. Prices are average and worth food we received.

Recently went for the Wine Dinner. It was an excellent experience from the beginning. The serving staff was welcoming and the food and wine pairing were great! Can't wait to come back and try another one! read more

This place is one of my faves! Their service is awesome and the portions are very large.

The wine dinners are amazing!! Keep them coming! We have been to several and bring lots of friends.

The glasses and silverware was dirty. The food wasn't good at all. Got the Jonny's trio the chicken was undercooked. Steak was bland. I must say the fried calamari was good, the only thing that was good other than that this experience was a total waste of money and time. read more

No wait, very tasty dishes and excellent service! Will definitely come back when I am in town.

It's our first wine pairing event and we really enjoyed the Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc paired with spinach arancini that was outstanding!

I love the novelty dinners! We are at the cask and Harrell bourbon dinner. Menu is amazing and for a great deal! The service is always great and the environment is always so nicely decorated read more

Last time I went it was very small portions and very pricey not worth the money. Ambience was OK. Service was there...

Was excited the lobster ravioli was on the menu and the food was great. The service was a bit odd. The salads came first. A few minutes later came the bread and then a few minutes later our water. The waiter was quick to take our order but pretty much ignored us after bread. More bread was supposed to come, but never did. Our water glasses were empty a long time. A little disappointed since the service is usually better. read more

My wife and I went to dinner last night with another couple to Carrabba's in Ocala (on 200/College Road). If you haven't been there in a while, it may be time to give them another look. I found out afterward that the location has a brand new owner (since June, I think) and they are really focusing on food quality and customer service/experience. We arrived earlier than our friends, so we polished off an appetizer of calamari before they arrived. Excellent. The basket(s) of bread with the spices and olive oil and fried cheese sticks were perfectly flavored and wonderfully complimented to the Pinot Grigio, Pomegranate Martini, Blue Moon and Stella Artois we had before the entrees arrived. Our friends ordered the penne pasta and the Fettuccine Alfredo while my wife and I each ordered the Brian's chicken, hers with garlic mashed potatoes and mine with the steamed broccoli. The chicken was perfect, the goat cheese was nicely tangy, combined with the sun-dried tomatoes. We had take home boxes for the two ladies because the appetizers and bread filled us up so much. For dessert, because we had more room? There was an order of vanilla ice cream with extra chocolate sauce and what had to be the largest piece of cheesecake, slathered with strawberry purée. Delicious! I should give a little disclaimer here. Carrabba's has long been our "date night" place to go. In years past, we would sit up at the pasta/dessert bar seating areas and quite frankly be entertained by the staff cooking dinner (it's a foodie thing, I think). So we kinda changed it up a little for this dinner-we brought another couple along and sat at a table (seating is currently not allowed at the pasta/dessert bars due to pandemic/Covid concerns). Disclaimer out of the way, I can honestly say our dinner was absolutely perfect. Camille, our server did an absolutely OUTSTANDING job taking care of us. All of our special modifications to the meals were not only received without hesitation, they were delivered exactly as requested. That young lady deserves a raise! I regret not getting any pictures, but the plating was excellent and each meal could have been a menu picture. read more

We love the Happy Hour drinks and menu. Wish it were earlier than at 4 PM for us old folks but the HH menu is great and we love the Red Sangria and wings. Some of the small plates are pretty good but we get the tomatoes with Birria cheese and glaze. Lunches are very good too but do love our pitcher of Sangria at HH. read more

Delivery was good. Food was outstanding! Steak temp was perfect. Salad was fresh. Highly recommend.

Passing through FL on our road trip we had a WONDERFUL dining experience at Carrabbas in Gainesville!!!!! TOP NOTCH service and food!!!! Maria the hostess greeted us and was super warm and friendly!!!! Mitch was our server and he was just GREAT; friendly, knowledgeable and efficient!!! Food was delicious; my filet with Bryan sauce was perfectly cooked! Husband had a pasta dish with seafood that he loved. We did notice a woman who might have been the manager checking on a few tables which we thought was a really nice touch too. We dine out a lot and at some higher end establishments; we can always count on any Carrara's to be consistently good. This time around we hit the jackpot with GREAT service too!!! read more

The service was good for a change. The bread and salads were as expected and good. The issue was my lobster ravioli that comes with a brandy cream sauce was dry. There was barely any sauce on the dish and for 26.00 was unacceptable. The waiter offered to bring more sauce. When the sauce arrived it was bland and tasted like milky water. I asked for the manager. She came out and didn't offer her name, no smile. just asking about the issue. She saw I had a to-go container with the leftover ravioli and said, " You're bringing them home and what doctoring them up " as to imply I was trying to get a free meal. She even questioned me about what was wrong with the sauce. I've had this dish like 30 times and it's been the same everytime before today. This place smacks of TGI Fridays, Outback, and Chilis all relics of the past that are on their way out. It's a shame because the service and food used to be top notch for a chain restaurant but these days Olive Garden is a better value and often times better service. read more

This place is great. Our waiter Jordan was wonderful. The amount of food you get is unbelievable. I have been able to make 3 meals out of one dinner plate. You can't beat it. The restaurant is always clean and neat including the restrooms. read more