Carrabba’s Italian Grill
After much debate over where to eat, my family and I finally decided to try out Carrabba’s Italian Grill. I was surprised to see that the website displayed the wait time for the restaurant nearest us, as well as an option to “Get Seated Faster” by entering in the amount of guests and expected time of arrival. I also noticed that ordering online was also an option for those interested in pickup orders.
My wife, my oldest daughter, my son-in-law, my son, my three younger daughters (the girls), and I arrived at the restaurant around four o’clock pm on a Thursday and were seated expeditiously. The host was pleasant and accommodating, ensuring that our family of eight was comfortable with the area of the restaurant that our table was in. The interior of the restaurant had a very pleasing atmosphere, with a lighting that was not blinding, but not at all too dim to read the menu. The tables were laid out in a spacious manner, with no two parties being too close as to overhear the conversations of their neighbors. The fully stocked brick bar in the corner of the restaurant added a rustic touch to the open room.
After promptly returning with our drinks, the waiter took our order for small plates and appetizers. From the small plates section of the menu, we ordered Grilled Asparagus with Prosciutto, Three Cheese & Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms, and Italian Lettuce Wraps. From the appetizer section, we also ordered Wood-Fired Italian Wings. After a brief wait, our starters were delivered to the table.
The wood-grilled asparagus was coated in a balsamic glaze and covered by both fontina cheese and prosciutto, creating a delicious contrast of flavors between the vegetable, cheese, and Italian ham. It was the first time my youngest daughter actually enjoyed eating asparagus. The mushrooms were stuffed with spinach and sausage, as well as three different types of cheese. These were mixed with a tomato sauce and the dish was a perfect starter for our family. The lettuce wraps contained chicken and vegetables, which were coated in vinaigrette dressing, and was a nice lighter fare option as a starter. Finally, I could not get enough of the spicy Italian chili pepper wings, which went hand-in-hand with the Gorgonzola cheese sauce.
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After a brief moment of enjoying the satisfaction we obtained from the starters, our entrees were served. I had ordered the Wood-Grilled Tilapia with a side of Fettucine Alfredo. The seasoning on the fish was delectable and was well suited for the tilapia. My wife had the combination dish of Tuscan-Grilled Sirloin & Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp. This consisted of a six ounce sirloin steak topped with either butter of Gorgonzola, along with a skewer of shrimp and prosciutto. The sirloin and shrimp were a perfect complement to each other. My son-in-law also had the Tuscan-Grilled Sirloin & Prosciutto-Wrapped Shrimp, and my oldest daughter ordered the Tuscan-Grilled Sirloin alone, which can be served as a six ounce or nine ounce plate. The girls had Wood-Fired Pizza and Spaghetti, which was served with meatballs, pomodoro, and meat sauce. We heard no complaints coming from them as they quietly worked their way through their meals.
Despite our immense satiety from the irresistible meals we had all consumed with pleasure, we were ready for dessert. The Tiramisu was a particularly enticing chocolate dish that did not survive long on the plate. We also tried the three different Gelato flavors: vanilla, chocolate hazelnut, and raspberry sorbetto. They were tasty and especially enjoyed by the girls. The Brulee Ricotta Cheesecake was served with strawberries and was one of the best cheesecakes I have had in recent memory.
We ordered the Mini Cannoli, which came with two small cannolis filled with whipped ricotta and chocolate chips. Despite all of the tough competition, the family favorite was Sogno di Cioccolata “Chocolate Dream”. This signature dish would be cherished by any chocolate lover. It is served as a chocolate mousse fudge brownie topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.