Carrabba's Italian Grill

11/16/09

Wonderful Food and Friends

by Doylesee at Citysearch

The food is great. Period. The service was bungling a bit, drinks a little slow, wrong salads, wrong drinks.

All taken care of pretty quick. Only reason I mention it was because it was so many times.

Our table was near the kitchen and so we were nearly shouting to be heard a couple of times. The restaurant was very busy so I attribute it to that. An affable waiter that was a bit distracted. In spite of that he did his job and we did tip in the 20% range.

First time there and was impressed with the taste and quantity of our food choices.

Would recommend to anybody.

• Pros: Great food!
• Cons: Loud atmosphere, hard to talk

10/03/09

Good but not Great!!!

by londie1 at Citysearch

This was my second trip to Carrabba's. I went a couple of years ago and was greatly disappointed; however, after receiving a gift card...I decided to give them one more try. Unfortunately, nothing has changed. The food is just as bad as it was a couple of years ago. I don't understand why so many people flock there...I'm assuming it's because of habit, it definitely can not be because of the food. If you want good pasta, go to LaStrada. Everything I have tried there is excellent and the prices are comparable to Carrabba's. You won't be disappointed and feel like you have gotten ripped off.

• Pros: Good service, friendly staff
• Cons: The food

10/23/08

Got very sick from this location, careless cooks.

by NickyJames at Citysearch

Awful. We went here specifically to get the Italian wedding cake, which we like. They didn't have it, but we went ahead and had dinner anyway. However, the chicken bryan wasn't cooked at all and so we had to ask them to take it back and cook it some more. We over looked this and went back the next night because I was craving the Carrabas wedding cake. Again, they didn't have it, but what I did get was very sick from their meat sauce and sausage pasta! 3 days later I stll have fever and I am throwing up. I hate to pay 60 plus 10 dollar tip for two people and then have them give me some old awful food that we had to throw before even getting home because of the stench in the car. Really peeved about this. Missing work and contemplating going to the hospital.

08/09/08

THIS is Carrabba's!!!

by zisa at Citysearch

I've been dining at THIS Carrabba's (Kirby) for 20+ years, and it has NEVER failed to impress!! Yes, there is always a wait. Yes, it's crowded and noisy. But THIS Carrabba's is one of the things that gives Houston it's charm. The food is ALWAYS delicious, the service is ALWAYS terrific, and the atmosphere is ALWAYS fun and lively. Tonight, I tried somthing different, based on a recommendation: pappaderelle pasta with sausage & peppers. Oh.My.GOSH. Delicious!!! And the house salad....no, it's not a traditional Caesar. It's 1000 times better!! The bread and the olive oil mix, the wine list, I could go on...in short, Carrabba's Kirby is hands-down, one of my top 5 favorite all-time Houston restaurants!!

• Pros: Food, service, peach bellinis, open kitchen
• Cons: Parking

08/04/08

Wonderful Italian - NOT part of the chain, thankfully

by sooner07 at Citysearch

I routinely eat at the Carrabba's at Woodway and Voss. One of the two restaurants owned by the originial creators. I haven't been to the one on Kirby yet. I absolutely love this restaurant!! Everything I try is wonderful, though I most often choose the salad with goat cheese and grilled eggplant and add grilled chicken. My favorite salad bar none. Everytime I take a business associate to lunch, this is the place I choose. This location is never crowded and you don't have to wait for a table. The prices are a teensy bit high, but the taste is worth it. One of the Carrabba's sons is usually around working in the restaurant and if you're lucky, so is Mama Carrabba!!

• Pros: Taste!
• Cons: None!!!!

06/07/08

this isn't the Carrabba's I know

by cmk1126 at Citysearch

I think that EVERY other Carrabba's in America is better than this one. A real Carrabba's has an amazing Caesar salad, which isn't even on the menu here. My wife ordered one without looking at the menu, and the waiter brought out a house salad, perhaps thinking she woudln't notice. We were charged for it, too. I say, "Shenannegans!" I also noticed that the prices are a few dollars higher. It may be worth the drive to ANY other Carrabba's. It's a shame that this IMPOSTER is so close to my home. And don't give me that nonsense about this being the first Carrabba's. I don't care if it is. Should I feel privileged to order from a limited menu and pay more just because this restaurant spawned restaurants with the same name that are actually pleasant?

03/20/08

Long Time Fav

by Gripe at Citysearch

Went to Carrabba's a couple of Sundays ago with my 16 yr old daughter. We waited about 20 minutes to be seated. Once we got to the table we shared calamari for the appetizer. For entrees, we had fettucine alfredo and osso buco.

I have been coming to the Kirby locstion since it first opened, and had a great time as always. Only complaint is that the everything keeps getting spicier as the years go by, sort of like Molina's. I mean don't fix what ain't broke.

• Pros: Atmosphere
• Cons: getting a little spicy

11/01/07

Incredible Cuisine and great service

by kmcwhorter at Citysearch

I recently visited for lunch and sitting outside on the patio in Mid October reminds me why Houston is great this time of year. Try to get their early for lunch. By the time we left, the place was packed. They do offer complimentary parking or there is a lot across the street. I had the chicken special which came with a salad. The lettuce was so crisp and it was a unique flavor which I was trying to pinpoint the taste. It may have been apple or something sweet but it was so tasty. They have a chicken dish with goat cheese and sundried tomatoes which was so delicious. Even if it was lunch, I had to order their cappuccino and a piece of Tiramisu which melted in your mouth! I highly recommend Carrabba's.

03/04/07

Crowds on Saturday, Excellent service.

by italylover11 at Citysearch

I recommend this Carrabbas. It is a perfect place to bring your boyfriend or girlfriend, a very good romantic atmosphere. I ate at this restaurant on a Saturday evening after attending the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Carnival, and it was very crowded. Plenty of people. I waited about 10 minutes for a table of 3. but It was worth the wait. Excellent service. Perfect for large parties of people. The food is the best Italian food I have ever tasted. IT is very highly recommended. So attend!

• Pros: Food, Service, Value
• Cons: Not seated promptly

11/03/06

Great place to eat Italian

by opiejsm at Citysearch

If you are a late nighter and want something to eat at. then come here where the staff are kind and have a sense of humor. The price is really cheap and they serve things that you proberly havent even heard of yet