Carrabba's Italian Grill

My fiance' and I have been going faithfully to the Carrabba's in Germantown for years so when one opened in Frederick we were nothing less than ecstatic! We have NEVER had a meal at either place where we didn't constantly oooh and aaah over the dishes. My absolute favorite, Veal Marsala, is so rich and flavorful with piles of mushrooms and THE BEST sauce I have ever had the privilege of tasting, that it almost brings tears to my eyes! Even simple fare like the hot Italian bread with crispy crust over spongy soft center and the minestone are impressive! The grilled chicken dishes, of which there are a few, are tender, succulent and nothing short of heaven on a plate. They make fabulous fettuccine alfredo with a thick yummy cheese sauce that arrives piping hot and resists congealing even as it cools. Try the Pasta Weesie for alfredo and shrimp at eyeball-poppingly wonderful levels of "oh dear GAWD, that's GREAT!" Scampi Damian usually stuns my fiance' into silence while he relishes the first few bites in silence and tastebud nirvana.

Desserts? Yep, they have 'em but I can't seem to abandon my favorite, the John Cole. This is a particular brand of vanilla ice cream (rumoured to be Pres Bush's favorite) with a generous drizzle of caramel and topped with cinnamon pecans. If by now you haven't been reduced to tears or eyeball popping from the previous dishes, more than likely your eyeballs will roll backwards with ecstacy on this one! Assure your dining companion that you are not having a seizure but that you are experiencing the pure decadent pleasure that only a quality dessert can provide.

We have never had a complaint about the service and the wait staff has always been well-spoken, attentive and personable.

We hear that they do catering so we are hoping to retain Carrabba's to feed our wedding guests this year! We KNOW the food will be world class and memorable.

PROS: Best time to go:Late Sunday afternoon! Great parking.
CONS: Leftovers don't reheat well, so eat it all there!

Posted 01/23/06 | Report Abuse

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I love this restaurant. The food is excellent. The atmosphere is nice. The staff is very friendly and helpful. We were seated promptly. Overall eating at Carrabas was a very pleasant, tasty experience.

Posted 05/23/05 | Report Abuse

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