Carrabba's

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

In any case, this thread should be moved without delay to the FFF forum

Since when is Carrabba's a "fast food" joint?

Horrible. It's good for people who don't really like food. It's even bad for a chain.

quote:

Originally posted by twinwillow
Since when is Carrabba's a "fast food" joint?

It's not.

The sad fact is that the webmaster of this website has indicated that the FFF forum is intended for chain eateries whether they be fast food or not

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

quote:

Originally posted by twinwillow
Since when is Carrabba's a "fast food" joint?

It's not.

The sad fact is that the webmaster of this website has indicated that the FFF forum is intended for chain eateries whether they be fast food or not

Curious. Would posts about "Houston's" and say, "The Capital Grille" also be relegated to the FFF forum?

quote:

Originally posted by twinwillow

quote:

Originally posted by TJ Jackson

quote:

Originally posted by twinwillow
Since when is Carrabba's a "fast food" joint?

It's not.

The sad fact is that the webmaster of this website has indicated that the FFF forum is intended for chain eateries whether they be fast food or not

Curious. Would posts about "Houston's" and say, "The Capital Grille" also be relegated to the FFF forum?

If they are franchises or chains they're supposed to be lumped in with McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and the like. You know, Like, say, Morton's.

Yes, as well as some institutions reviewed by the Sterns, like Maid Rite, Steak n Shake, In and Out, and etc.

Due to the unevenness of the moderating here - and by that I mean no disrespect to the all-volunteer and much overworked moderating team - threads on Capital Grille or Mortons might take weeks, months, maybe never be moved to the proper forum at all. Or one might be moved in an hour and another never moved. Hard to say.

First generation, son of Italian immigrants (Father is a cook) here...
I'll add my own thoughts to the chorus about Carrabba's. It is, at least for me, one of those "better" options when you are travelling in an unfamiliar area, want Italian food (and neither your friends nor your "Roadfood" guide can help you out with other options there), and your dining companions are clamoring for a "known entity."
I was dragged there for the first time this year, and I have to say, I thought it was decent (a hundred times better than Olive Garden with its bitter dressing-drenched salad, doughy, undercooked "breadsticks," etc., and ironically, not much more expensive). I ordered simple: the caesar salad was not much to write home about, but those who had the "Italian" salad had what looked to be a good, fresh dish. I was surprised at how good the tagliarini with marianara sauce was...the pasta was cooked just right, and I had no complaints about the sauce.
Oh, as to the poster who mentioned the bread being addictive, I'll admit that I overloaded on that, too!

quote:

Originally posted by tacchino

First generation, son of Italian immigrants (Father is a cook) here...
I'll add my own thoughts to the chorus about Carrabba's. It is, at least for me, one of those "better" options when you are travelling in an unfamiliar area, want Italian food (and neither your friends nor your "Roadfood" guide can help you out with other options there), and your dining companions are clamoring for a "known entity."
I was dragged there for the first time this year, and I have to say, I thought it was decent (a hundred times better than Olive Garden with its bitter dressing-drenched salad, doughy, undercooked "breadsticks," etc., and ironically, not much more expensive). I ordered simple: the caesar salad was not much to write home about, but those who had the "Italian" salad had what looked to be a good, fresh dish. I was surprised at how good the tagliarini with marianara sauce was...the pasta was cooked just right, and I had no complaints about the sauce.
Oh, as to the poster who mentioned the bread being addictive, I'll admit that I overloaded on that, too!

The garlic toast that comes with their (terrific) shrimp scampi is fantastic!

Take a look at this quote from the Stern's in a Boston Globe article from Wednesday. I believe Carrabas would fall into the Applebee's/Outback category. And that would mean Carrabas would NOT be considered "Roadfood". Agreed?


"They Brake for Burgers" Boston Globe May, 17, 2006:

.....Beyond chronicling their roadside eating, though, their books act as a tribute to the kinds of places they fear are vanishing. ''We wanted to sort of document what life was like before Applebee's and Outback and cellphones and GPS," Jane says.


Link to the full article:
http://www.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2006/05/17/they_brake_for_burgers/

I wrote about a meal at Carrabba's in my "Christmas in KC" thread. We were brought there by a friend and fellow foodie who has been a chef/owner of his own restaurant, a specialty food creator, and a man who generally knows his way around a kitchen and can turn out an exceptional meal.

Despite early trepidations about Carrabba's chain status, we had an excellent meal. My friend Fred ordered a rare filet mignon that was as good as anything served at Gibson's or any of the other old school steak houses here in Chicago. It was cooked exactly as he'd ordered it. It was butter soft and absolutely delicious.

Without referring back to the thread, I cannot remember many more specifics about the meal except that it was surprisingly good. I left with a full, happy belly that told me we should come back here some time.

As for the comments here regarding the authenticity of Carrabba's, I cannot speak with any ethnic authority. However, my friend Fred Fatino, a second generation Italian, had no complaints. Good food is good food, even if ain't exactly like mama used to make.

Buddy

BuddyRoadhouse-

I can't agree with you more- Good food is good food regardless of whether it is "authentic" or not.

If I like a dish I'm eating, my tastes don't change based on whether or not it is authetic. It's not some bizarre religious sect that says you can't enjoy good food that isn't authentic.

I've had bad "authentic" food as have I had bad americanized food.

quote:

Originally posted by salsailsa

BuddyRoadhouse-

I can't agree with you more- Good food is good food regardless of whether it is "authentic" or not.

If I like a dish I'm eating, my tastes don't change based on whether or not it is authetic. It's not some bizarre religious sect that says you can't enjoy good food that isn't authentic.

I've had bad "authentic" food as have I had bad americanized food.

I don't disagree with this. It's just disingenous to call something authentic if it's not. It might still taste good, it might still be a great meal, but why not just be proud of what you've got instead of claiming it's something it's not.

I love carrabba's. Not whole heartedly though. Their soups are way too salty, no matter which one you get, they are like a salt lick.

Calamari is also excellent and one of the best deals as it is huge and shareable. Also the mussel appetizer. I have never had a bad or unopened mussel at Carrabas, at least the three locations I have repeatedly frequented. Which is more than can be said at many independent joints.

My wife always gets the filet and it is always tender and cooked perfectly.

We also like the fact that they have a gluten free menu, one of the first major chains to do so. Not only do they have it, but their staff actually knows what we are talking about. pretty rare to have such a well trained staff at a chain with its high turnover. Shows a commitment to its customers.

As for the authentic talk, sorry but I have enough problems dealing with inauthentic jewish food. Cant get involved in the italian's business, it would take up too much of my time!

I have been stopping at Carrabba's for several years. I do not recall ever getting a bad meal. I always get their mussels with garlic wine sauce and garlic bread for an appetizer. I also enjoy their shrimp scampi.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Ate there once and once very disappointed. Had the chicken marsala and it was awful. I'll try one more time, and if I don't like it I will not go again. Ours is always packed and as always, some like it, some don't.

quote:

Originally posted by renfrew

I love carrabba's. Not whole heartedly though. Their soups are way too salty, no matter which one you get, they are like a salt lick.

Calamari is also excellent and one of the best deals as it is huge and shareable. Also the mussel appetizer. I have never had a bad or unopened mussel at Carrabas, at least the three locations I have repeatedly frequented. Which is more than can be said at many independent joints.

My wife always gets the filet and it is always tender and cooked perfectly.

We also like the fact that they have a gluten free menu, one of the first major chains to do so. Not only do they have it, but their staff actually knows what we are talking about. pretty rare to have such a well trained staff at a chain with its high turnover. Shows a commitment to its customers.

As for the authentic talk, sorry but I have enough problems dealing with inauthentic jewish food. Cant get involved in the italian's business, it would take up too much of my time!

Although I also love Carrabba's, I feel they over do the salt in a lot of their dishes.

Without debating where it belongs -- or whether it belongs -- on roadfood.com, I'm in the "likes Carrabba's" camp. Perhaps it's not "authentic" (I wonder how much of what's served even by family stores in the U.S. would be considered to be so by somebody from Italy) but the food (if you know what to order) and service are very good.

I'll say this: When they have the bone-in N.Y. special, that's a steak whose flavor will rival that of any fine restaurant.

The bread and olive oil/herbs is indeed a problem, a totally addicting one.

No disrespect here but I feel it is terrible that some chains are sent to fast food forum immediately and some allowed to stay here. I think there should be two forums; one for fast foods (Hello!!!...we all know what that is) and one for chains.

This way, Roadfood in it's truest sense would be allowed exclusive use of the "front page" and this is the way I think it should be. I notice that one moderator on these boards goes to a lot of chain restaurants and fast food places............is this the reason nothing is done to change the forums?

quote:

Originally posted by Greymo

No disrespect here but I feel it is terrible that some chains are sent to fast food forum immediately and some allowed to stay here. I think there should be two forums; one for fast foods (Hello!!!...we all know what that is) and one for chains.

This way, Roadfood in it's truest sense would be allowed exclusive of the "front page" and this is the way I think it should be. I notice that one moderator on these boards goes to a lot of chain restaurants and fast food places............is this the reason nothing is done to change the forums?

I second the motion.

quote:

Originally posted by SassyGritsAL

Ate there once and once very disappointed. Had the chicken marsala and it was awful.

Your comment jogged my memory of our Carrabba's dinner and my post pursuant to it. I too had the Chicken Marsala. While I did say that the Marsala sauce was disappointing as a Marsala sauce, it wasn't bad as a sauce in general. In addition, I recall that the chicken itself was one of the best, most perfectly prepared chicken breasts I've ever eaten.

I think the moral of the the story is that any restaurant, on any given night, with any given meal can turn out genius or crap. You think there's never been anybody who walked out of Charlie Trotter's and didn't feel some level of disappointment?

The key here is the trend-are there more happy experiences than unhappy ones. I haven't done an actual count here, but I also question the objectivity of many in this crowd. All you folks who are bad mouthing Carrabba's, maybe you did have a lousy meal. Maybe the next time I go, I'll have a lousy meal. The last time I went, there were five of us in the party and we were all served excellent food. Until I get a bad meal at Carrabba's, I'll be a defender.

You're always going to have the people that will categorically denigrate the food just on the basis that the place is a chain and not on the quality itself.

Hey, is this thread in the right forum?

Authentic or not, I like it! We havn't had a disappointing meal yet. We especially enjoy the appetizers. My husband likes the calamari and I the fried (shoestring) Zuchini. I love the house soup(minestrone), I don't find it salty, as previously mentioned, but I wish the sauces were a little less salty. The bread is GREAT! No one has mentioned the desserts, which are decadent!

quote:

Originally posted by saps

You're always going to have the people that will categorically denigrate the food just on the basis that the place is a chain and not on the quality itself.

Well, I'm not one of them. I've never been to Carraba's, although I'm sure it sucks!

I moved this to the place that now seems to be where it belongs.

Disclaimer: No offense intended to the subject, fans of this chain, or the citizens of earth.

Hubs and I ate at Carrabas last night. We had a shrimp scampi appetizer, which was fantastic. For entrees, he had chicken marsala, and I had a pizza, with italian sausage, sweet peppers, and onion. He said his marsala was delicious, and my pizza was good, but I was a little bit disappointed in the crust. They say they bake them in a wood fired oven at 600 degrees, which I thought would be a good thing. But the toppings and cheese fell off the end towards the middle, which is not a good thing.

Overall though, I think Carrabas has some tasty menu selections.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry - RibRater - Jay

Is it italian? opinions vary (and so does italian food). but it's a pretty good meal.

Maybe that's something we need to consider as a general rule. Being your basic Southern gourmand rather than a true gourmet, I do better with discussions of "what I like" than I do with esoteric disquisitions on authenticity!

quote:

Originally posted by John A

I think it is very good, what say you?

John

I say we don't have one here. Never heard of them.

quote:

Originally posted by floridafoodeater

I'll say this: When they have the bone-in N.Y. special, that's a steak whose flavor will rival that of any fine restaurant.

Off topic somewhat, but confusion here- I thought there was a T-Bone steak cut, and if the bone removed it was a NY Strip Steak.

Is this a new thing?

quote:

Originally posted by Gizmolito

quote:

Originally posted by floridafoodeater

I'll say this: When they have the bone-in N.Y. special, that's a steak whose flavor will rival that of any fine restaurant.

Off topic somewhat, but confusion here- I thought there was a T-Bone steak cut, and if the bone removed it was a NY Strip Steak.

Is this a new thing?

I brought this up a long time ago.
I got a NY with bone in, and It was not a t bone.
I was stymied also.
I am just assuming that it is a thicker cut of a TBone with most of the bone removed, since it was not in a T--Just a piece of bone down the side.
Here is the link to the discussion.
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10579