Review of Carrabba's Italian Grill

This is a sponsored review from BlogHer and Carrabba's.

This contest is now closed. Thanks to all of you who entered!

When I was first contacted about conducting a review for Carrabba's Italian Grill, I jumped at the chance. I mean, really, who doesn't appreciate date night on someone else's dime? I will admit, however, that I was hesitant about dining at Carrabba's. Would it be like any other Italian chain restaurant, with mediocre food, indifferent servers, and a penchant for turning tables faster than McDonald's?

When my husband and I first arrived at Carrabba's in Orem, Utah with our friends, we realized that we unwittingly visited on high school prom night. This had two effects on me - I felt very old and exceedingly underdressed all in one fell swoop. After adjusting my taffeta-less blouse and decidedly uncoiffed hair, and doing my best to raise my head high to smooth out any wrinkles threatening to form on my neck, I was set to enjoy the evening.

Once seated, we were promptly greeted by our server, Steve, who was pleasantly enthusiastic, professional, and attentive throughout the evening. As Steve left to fill our drink orders, the manager of the restaurant presented us with a plate of appetizers, on the house, as an apology for our wait. Now, I do not think this is standard restaurant policy. By this point, the manager realized that I was there to conduct a review and was hoping to make us as comfortable as possible. Regardless, we enjoyed being able to whet our appetites with the items on the plate.


Often, I find that restaurants serve calamari that is covered in a batter so thick that the squid is unrecognizable. Carrabba's calamari, which is available in two sizes, was lightly battered and served with a fantastic marinara sauce. Even though I was trying to save room for the rest of the meal, I had a difficult time not polishing off the tender squid on my own. Alongside the calamari Mozzarella Marinara, Carrabba's version of the popular breaded appetizer. While the breading was tasty with the addition of herbs, we found the pieces of mozzarella to be rather thin, thus being overwhelmed by the crust.

One of the things that impressed me the most about Carrabba's menu was that many of the dishes are available in two sizes, small and regular. Often I find myself ordering an appetizer and salad for dinner because I know that many restaurants serve entree sizes that could feed an army platoon. With the option to order small portions at Carrabba's, you do not have to order more than you can eat or, in these lean economic times, more than you can afford. Many of the entrees, which are served with a choice of soup or salad, start at $12.

To sample as many of the menu items as possible, we each ordered a different dish, sticking with the small portion sizes. Our choices ranged from classic Italian dishes such as Chicken Parmesan and Veal Piccata to wood-burning grill specialties, such as Pollo Rosa Maria and Filet Florentina.

One of our friends ordered the Pollo Rosa Maria, which is a grilled chicken breast stuffed with fontina and prosciutto and topped with mushrooms and a basil lemon butter sauce. Well, you simply can't go wrong with melted cheese and salty prosciutto. Topped with the tangy, smooth sauce, this chicken breast was both luxurious and satisfying.


Our other friend chose the Chicken Bryan, which is another entree prepared on Carrabba's wood burning grill. The grill imparts a pleasant smoky flavor that does not overwhelm the food. Topped with a round of goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, and the basil lemon butter sauce, this dish promises great flavor. While the texture of the tomatoes and goat cheese were complimentary to the moist chicken, the acid in the lemon butter sauce was a bit overwhelming when paired with the tang of the goat cheese.


You never know what you are going to get when you order salmon in a restaurant. Will it be dry and dense, or moist and tender? We were impressed by the preparation of the Grilled Norweigan Salmon that my husband ordered. The moist fish was topped with a mint and tomato salsa which, appropriately light-handed with the mint, was a fresh accompaniment. While the salmon was a good dish overall, it could have benefited from an extra dollop of salsa.


For my entree, I decided to go for the gusto and ordered the Filet Marsala. I was presented with a very generous filet, topped with sauteed mushrooms and a marsala wine sauce. In my opinion, there is no point in ordering a good piece of beef if you are going to ask for it to be cooked beyond medium-rare. I went one step further and ordered mine rare. The kitchen did not disappoint. My filet was tender, juicy, and beautifully pink inside. Paired with the rich, flavorful sauce, this dish was my personal favorite of the evening.


At Carrabba's, each entree is served with garlic mashed potatoes, cavatappi, or the vegetable of the day, which was a choice of broccoli or spinach. Two of us chose spinach and the other two chose broccoli. Those who chose spinach definitely came out with the better end of the deal. The spinach, sauteed to perfection with olive oil and slivers of garlic, was a light, fresh side dish. Unfortunately, the broccoli was overdone and lacked the fresh taste of the spinach.

Even though we each ordered the small portion sizes, we left feeling satisfied. In fact, I would even say that we felt relatively guilt-free, both nutritionally and monetarily. Good food, good wine, and good friends all add up to one very pleasant evening.

The generous people at Carrabba's are offering a $100 Carrabba's gift card to one lucky commenter. All you have to do is answer this question.

"What great things come in small packages?"

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This giveaway runs from May 10 - June 10, 2010.

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For more information on the menu or to find the location near you, please visit Carrabba's site.