Carrabba's Italian Grill

We made an impromptu visit here after a busy day of errands. What a fantastic surprise to learn that they were offering $10 take home entrees with any dining experience. We were delighted. First, we enjoyed a tasty meal then we took home some treats at a more than reasonable price!

Carrabba’s Italian Grill at New Hope Commons in Durham had me walking in with pretty okay expectations — but the reality was more “meh” than wow. The food? Fine. Flavorful enough, but when you look at the price tag, it doesn’t quite land. I mean, there was that offer where you could take an entrée home for $10, which was one redeeming value move. Service was a big letdown. Staff seemed disengaged, barely around when you needed anything. We sat there waiting, trying to catch someone’s eye, and it just didn’t feel like they were invested in the experience. The atmosphere didn’t help either — instead of being cozy or vibrant, it leaned toward dull, kind of flat. Honestly, I left feeling worse than when I arrived. Dining out should lift your mood, give you something to look forward to — this did the opposite. Overpriced food, inattentive service, low-energy space — it all added up. Maybe Carrabba’s is decent in other places, but this location? I won’t be back.

We were seated quickly and the service was great. The bread came out fresh and hot, which was a nice touch. The mozzarella was okay, but the Caesar salad was absolutely delicious. The steak and fries were decent. Overall it was a good experience.

Kimberly is the best server I’ve ever had!!!! She was patient and funny and the meal was well paced and she was gentle and generous and really great to be around! Highly recommend give her a raise she should manage the whole store!!! I will only be back to this carrabas to see kimberly! thank you kimberly!!

I almost want to gatekeep this one, it was so good. The 4 course wine pairing dinner at Carrabba's is top tier. 10/10 would highly recommend. They called to confirm our reservation and obtain any dietary restrictions/allergy information. Unlike other restaurants wine pairings dinners, we had a private table and weren't shoulder to shoulder with strangers. The wait staff was attentive, bringing fresh wine glasses for each course, offered to top offs our glass each course, and made sure everything was satisfactory. They offered their $10 take home. They held a raffle for free wine bottles, guft cards, and the grand prize was a free wine dinner for 2. It was an excellent experience and my friends and I will definitely return. Only suggestion I have is to offer more options like a cocktail pairing. The tequila and bourbon pairing dinners are limited throughout the year.

I went for the Oct. 30 four-course meal and it was delicious! The staff was friendly, and Joey served my friend and I drinks with such knowledge of the wines. Will do this again a!

Food and services was great! We went on A Friday and it wasn’t too packed, To be honest it was a perfect experience for a first time! The pork chop was delicious, that and the soup were our favorites

We really like this location and have always had great experiences here. Most recently, Kimberly was our server and she did not disappoint. She greeted us with a smile and was quite attentive throughout our meal, checking on us several times. If I had a negative, it would be how close seating is in their booths. We find them cozy, but somewhat cramped.

Unexpectedly delicious. A little over priced but I assume it's due to plate size. Good service,Everyone was tentative. Nice looking place.

Waiter was excellent and had no problems with the service. The Caesar salad that came with my Chicken Bryan was fresh and good but the garlic mashed potatoes were horrid! The chicken bryan was extremely dry. Overall, not the best experience in a restaurant that only had two tables other than us.

Stopped in for a late lunch early dinner (3pm). We ordered the Chicken Marsala and Fettuccine Carrabba. I had asked for extra Marsala sauce which I didn't get. Food was good, service was subpar. My husband had to ask twice for a refill on his water, she never asked if we wanted dessert, and she was not friendly at all.

When we first arrived, there weren't many patrons, however when we left the restaurant was packed. Kayla was our waitress and she was so nice. We ordered the meatballs and ricotta as our appetizer with a glass of Prosecco Rose. They were SO GOOD!!!!!! Unfortunately, you only get 2 per order, but they were really good! I ordered the Mezzaluna Pasta with a Caesar Salad and if course the complimentary bread and oil and herbs. Everything was good and a "To-Go" plate was definitely needed! I will always try a Carranba's if one is on the area!

missing items from a very expensive meal ordered on uber eats. please start paying attention to what you're doing.

Food was delicious and was ready when I got there staff was friendly and very professional.

After a long day and the thought of the lobster ravioli in my head for a few days, I decided today was the day to treat myself to dinner! My server this evening, Jasmine was wonderful, she had a great personality and was very pleasant and attentive. The food; a Caesar salad, the lobster ravioli and bread were great! There were not many people at the restaurant which helped provide a low key quiet vibe which I really appreciated after a crazy work day!

Thank you Skye, our server! She helped me decide and both our meals were delicious! A lot of food. My shrimp linguine w oil, garlic and tomato was A+ and hubby's chicken parm w spaghetti was top notch. Thank you Chef, we loved the meal!

Promptly seated. My waiter, Glenn was very attentive. The food is always served hot and delicious. If you are a slow eater, like I am, be sure to let the wait know staff know so that your entree doesn't come too soon. My favorite entree is the Spaghetti with Grilled Chicken Carbonara on the Fall Specials menu. Be careful though, I find it quite addicting. I usually get an additional order to go for only $10. It reheats nicely in about 3 mins on a medium (350) setting.

Food is great, service is also great. Curb side works well, dining in is always a pleasant experience.

we had a very nice experience at Carrabba's our waitress Sadjea was wonderful, friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. I had chicken marsala. My husband had pasta with shrimps. We also got two more meals for just $10 each to take home. Will definitely return for more great food.

Ordered dinner through DoorDash. Picked up the first shrimp and.... found the biggest clump of HAIR!! Couldn't even eat the rest of the order. Absolutely disgusting!

Takeout service on 4.27.2025 was timely and well prepared. I've always been a Carrabba's "fan" but this is the first time I indulged in an Italian "chain restaurant" since my relocation to NC 1.5-years ago. I will most likely be back--maybe next time for a sit down (inside service)?! ‍

great service and friendly stay. The food is delicious and fresh.The restrooms are always clean.

I love Carabbas! It's one of my favorite places to go, and this location is great. It's in a great spot near a lot of other restaurants and across the street from a shopping center. I ordered a strawberry lemonade and a new dish they had called the pasta toscana. It was fettuccine alfredo with shrimp and steak and it was very good. My friend ordered the Italian classic trio and loved it. Our waitress was super nice and attentive, and our food came out fast as well. This is my go to Carabbas, and I will continue to go here!!

5 Stars because of service ! My friends and I love going to Carrabba's for dinner, drinks, and dessert! Our waitress is the best and she remembered our group from the first time we dined in. We love the spaghetti and meatballs, Mezzaluna, and chicken Parmesan! We share the rich and decadent Chocolate Dream with a side of vanilla ice cream for dessert!

Had to wait for hostess to show up and then sat a table for 10 minutes waiting for server before we got up and left.

Cold food and missing items and Uber Eats said that the order is not eligible for a price adjustment. We paid over $120 for a family meal and called the store to verify food items were correct and it was still wrong. No eating utensils or napkins. Never again will I order from this restaurant or use Uber Eats

Food was great! Our waitress was Olivia and she was super attentive and nice. Great experience overall.

I arrived around dinner time and there was a 15-20 minute wait for a table. It looks like Carrabba's isn't opening their full dining room. I didn't mind the way and received a text when my table was ready. I ordered... Calamari - This was delicious, and came with two different sauces. A marinara and spicy cheese. Both were delicious! I just wished it came with more calamari. Shrimp Alfredo - Good but nothing special. Taste like alfredo! Overall, good experience! My server was attentive and kind. I appreciate the dining experience from start to finish.

Came here for a graduation dinner and had to come back two days later for the salmon. A little salty but by far the best restaurant salmon i've ever had. The celebration cake was enormous w and definitely meant to be shared but great overall. Excellent service. The waitress was super patient with me while taking my order because I was indecisive

Our server Jasmine was absolutely wonderful. She was cheerful and attentive to our needs. We were a party of 10 and she handled effortlessly.

I came to visit with my family that lives in Chapel Hill. I wanted to take them out to a nice restaurant to celebrate my grandson starting high school this year. It was 2pm in the afternoon on a Tuesday so business was slow. The server was cordial. I eat at the Carrabba's in Winston Salem often and the food is very good so this was my expectation here. That was not to be. The grilled chicken was chewy and tasteless and the chicken soup tasted like it came out of a can. We left this food on the table as no one would eat it. The grilled wings were bloody next to the bone and we didn't finish those either. The kid's spaghetti meal was tolerable but no better than what I could make at home. The only thing that we liked was the Caprese sandwich and rosemary fries which were good. I was highly disappointed and it was a waste of $70. We'll not visit this restaurant again. We stopped on the way home to get something else to eat. Sad!

Another amazing experience at Carrabba's; we always go for dinner here after a show at DPAC. The service is welcoming, efficient, and timely. The food is always fresh and delicious. Great Job to the Team!

For starters they were out of eggplant parmesan. The salad lettuce was not crispy and fresh. It was soggy like day old salad that sat in the dressing overnight. The worst of it is the chicken marsala which is one of my favorites, so I know how it should taste. The flavor was heavy on the black pepper. I told the server. He took it back to the kitchen and returned with a sample of marsala sauce that tasted more like what is expected of marsala. They prepared a new plate, and the sauce tasted like a mix of the two, more marsala wine and less black pepper than the first. I basically tasted three different sauces. I've never had a peppery marsala. The garlic mashed potatoes were just okay. Fettuccine Weesie noodles were overcooked and soft like egg noodles. The sauce was thin. The decor and ambiance of this location feels dated. We've come to the conclusion that we won't dine here again when we have the taste for Italian. Other chains with talian style cuisine are far better.

we did take out and food was delicious! service was quick, friendly & accurate. definitely a great experience

The food is horrible. Our family ordered 3 meals and all 3 were very disappointing. The service was fine but cannot recommend because the food is just not good at all.

The food was good however,the glass I received was disgusting. It wasn't until I finished drinking it that I was able to see food and fingerprints on the INSIDE of the glass. I figured that by using common sense and good service,the disgusting swamp juice I drank would be taken off the bill. However,when we received the bill I was still charged for the drink. I am not paying $4 for a drink that looked like it was ran through someone's ass first. It needed up being taken off,but the fact I had to ask seemed odd. The service in general was not the greatest. Hopefully,the servers improve in some way.

I ordered Shrimp Diavolo. I could do much better at home. $26.50 for a lunch with no salad. I would cut the portion size of the pasta down and offer a small salad with it They also need to put something in there because it was very plain tomato sauce Very disappointed and I will not go back

First let me start out, this is my first 2 star ever given. I'm normally very honest with what I like and don't like. I try to point out all the good things and not give bad reviews. Carrabba's 100% earned a two star. First with the good and why it did not get a one star. The service is very nice. They were understaffed, so a little slow. But overall it they really tried their best. Parking is good and easy so nothing was overly difficult. Four cheese stuffed mushrooms- these were actually really good. I do recommend these for an appetizer. Great flavor and they were large and great to eat. No the problem, that was the only thing that was good. It was one of those days where I really wanted a steak. But not any steak, a very rare one. You ever are just low on iron and your body just needs it. So I went and ordered a steak and said multiple times I wanted it very rare. Now I could've accepted medium rare - maybe. But they went and cooked it more than a McDonald's hamburger. You ever see SpongeBob??? Where he goes "this tastes like a leather boot" and the next guy goes "mine is a leather boot". Well I got to enjoy a leather boot. I normally don't get to upset but I really really wanted a rare steak and got nothing. This was not the first time something like this happened. The time before my grandparents got a steak and it was super over cooked. I just wish they understood when I asked multiple times for it to be very rare. The grilled chicken was okay it was slightly over cooked but the sauce had good flavor. If you go here do not get steak but I definitely recommend the stuffed mushrooms!

I ate at Carrabba's last night with a friend. I was pleased to be able to order a health-conscious dinner, since I'm following WeightWatchers right now. I enjoyed the Simply Grilled Salmon, the grilled asparagus side, and a side salad without dressing. The service was prompt and courteous, too. The only thing I'd change is the music, which was turned up too loud for my taste. I understand that louder music is an industry standard, I just wish it could be a little softer.

You will not have a better dining experience than having Jennifer S. take care of you. She was so kind and sweet to us, and helped me decide on a meal that was downright scrumptious. She even laughed at my corny jokes so you know she's a professional. My sirloin was perfectly cooked (medium rare or bust, baby!) and her side recommendations were spot-on. The wine was good and not crazy overpriced. And y'all. That bread. Olive Garden could never. Maybe it's the generous pour of highly decent wine talking, but that was a five star dining experience and Jennifer is my new bff.

Carrabba's is a chain. My expectations are reasonable. I'm expecting everything to be frozen and then microwaved. However, if I'm paying $25-30 for an entree, something better be fresh. The meatballs seem to be made in house but no one there knows how to cook them. They were just rolled and then dropped in sauce. They weren't browned first. That means they were mushy and fell apart and because parmesan cheese was used, it had an odd smell.

Let me start by saying that I'm not a huge fan of Carrabba's. It's slightly above average for pseudo-upscale corporate Italian, and you almost get what you pay for. If you keep your expectations low enough, they'll (usually) be met. My sweetie, however, *loves* Carrabba's. So we eat there a lot. Like, a LOT, a lot. Just looking back at slightly less than a year, on just one of the cards I use when eating out, I was appalled to see just how much money we'd spent at Carrabba's. Our average ticket for the two of us is about $58, and I always tip right at 15%, even 'though it's always curbside pickup, and even 'though something's almost always wrong, because I know how bad service staff get shafted by corporations. That said, there's one thing that they've got that I USED to love on their menu. Shoot me for saying this, but when the Tuscan Grilled Ribeye was first introduced, Carrabba's suddenly had one of the best mid-price steaks anywhere, loads better than their corporate siblings across the street at Outback. For a year or so, I no longer dreaded when my sweetie got a craving for Chicken Bryan. I could order my usual, and we'd both be happy (if substantially poorer). But the last six months or so, every time I've ordered the Tuscan Grilled Ribeye, it's been overcooked. I know, expecting a corporate Italian joint to know how to properly cook a steak is NOT keeping my expectations low enough, so I shouldn't be surprised when they're not met. I've called to complain three or four times, and I think I was told that some sort of something would be mailed out for my trouble (I can't remember what, exactly, and it never actually happened, so there was nothing to refresh my memory). But tonight was a step too far, so I'm finally taking it to the internet. For once, it was my love who wanted the Ribeye, *not* me. She ordered it rare, with the Marsala sauce addition. I (stupidly) didn't check carefully enough in the car, so I was home before I realized that they didn't include the Marsala sauce -- but that might've been forgivable. What isn't forgivable, what IS, in fact, a crime against beef, is a steak ordered rare that's not just overcooked, it's cooked practically to oblivion. This steak, that (according to their menu) was supposed to be "Rare: Cool Red Center" was way over on the grayer side of "Medium Well: Warm Brown/Pink Center". Just look at the photo of that awful thing! And then imagine having just paid almost $40 for the dubious privilege of having to offer that sad meal to someone you love. I'll probably not be able to convince her to stop going to Carrabba's. But maybe I'll at least be able to save someone else from the horror of ordering an overpriced, ill-advised, inaccurately prepared disappointment from an indifferent establishment that clearly doesn't care a bit about their (foolishly, ridiculously) regular customers, any more than they care what their cook staff is doing.

so delicious! picked this up for dinner and it was perfect! steak is SO flavorful. the pasta is cooked perfectly and not over done and mushy like some place when i decide to pick up. will be eating from here again

My family and I ate here last week. The hostess on duty that day was incredibly kind and helpful to my wife and son. Good to see excellent manners and professionalism are valued here! Thank you again.

Food here was fantastic. We had the salmon w/tomatoes dish, salad with house parmesan dressing, garlic potatoes, chicken Bryan and broccoli. Complimentary fresh bread served with meals is the best!

So tasty! My husband and I recently ordered takeout from Carrabbas and were impressed by the service and attention to safety that the staff had. We ordered the calamari, the mahi wulfe, the fettuccini weesie (alfredo with sautéed shrimp, scallions, garlic and mushrooms in a white wine lemon butter sauce), and side Caesar salads. Everything was fresh and delicious, and packaged so nicely (sauces on the side so we could assemble right before eating). The mahi was especially delicious- simply lightly-breaded and grilled and topped with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and a basil lemon butter sauce. Just amazing! I was so happy they were open and happy to accommodate a take-out order. What a smooth and pleasant process!

I had a horrible experience at this Carrabba's location. They gave me a salad with a dead bug in it! I was so disgusted. I would not recommend this location at all.

It's been a long time since we ate at Carrabba's. Our daughter was a fan when she was little and now she's in college. I was reintroduced to this location via a Yelp Elite event and returned with some coupons that we were given. It was the middle of the week and we were seated within a few minutes of our reservation. I generally prefer independent restaurants to chains but I recall that local managers are also co-owners, so they have skin in the game. That makes them more invested in the establishment. The blackberry sangria was incredible, my cup of minestrone was hearty and the linguine pescatore was filling. My only complaint was that the scallops in the dish were kind of flavorless. I think I still prefer independent restaurants but would definitely consider coming back here before other Italian chain restaurants.

The servers and service were great. Mostly the food was good but the spread served with the bread was so salty it was inedible. We requested butter instead but were told the butter shipment was delayed so no butter. There's a grocery store close by. Get some butter. The sauces are all butter sauce so clearly you have butter somewhere in the back. The main courses were fine.

Solid. We did, frankly, come here mainly because we were having a very late dinner and it was one of the few places around with a kitchen open so late (11pm on a Friday). They have a good-sized menu with a lot of intriguing options. My friend and I both wanted pasta, and we both had definitely above-average pasta. My rigatoni had a really enjoyable combination of flavors, and my friend's fettuccine was, though nothing fancy, perfect fettuccine Alfredo. It seems like they really pride themselves on excellent fresh pasta. I would definitely want to come here again if I were in town, and I can imagine having a tough decision between trying one of the interesting-sounding meat or seafood dishes and having some awesome pasta that I know will be good. Prices are medium-to-high, and considering you get warm bread and a cup of soup or a side salad, our prices seemed fair. Our waiter took a little while to talk to us at first, but he seemed very conscious of that problem, and my impression was that he was working his hardest. Everything was lickety-split once he got started with us, and everyone was really friendly.

The service was amazing. They were understaffed and put server made sure we were taken care of. The food was average and the cannoli cake was delicious

The pasta is overpriced, dry, and low on flavor. I will not be returning. Both the pasta dishes we had lacked seasonings and the pasta was not well cooked. The dishes were too expensive for what you get and the ambiance is not very fancy. I do not plan on returning.

We did take out on an entree and 2 salads with seafood. When we opened the salads, there were only greens. We were with my elderly father in law and didn't want to delay his meal. Afterwards, we called the store and have been repeatedly rebuffed about making it right. The other entree was tasty.

I've never had a meal at Carrabba's that I didn't enjoy. Note: You can tell I'm new to the "take a photo before I eat procedure" because I keep forgetting about it until the food is almost gone! Let's start with their staff. Top notch. No matter who has ever served me, I've always been treated well. Better yet, the staff "appears" to be relaxed and enjoying their working environment. Kudos to management! The place is always extremely clean no matter when I arrive and I've always been seated quickly. I'm a huge fan of their fried calimari. I grew up in a city by the water where the population is about 60% Italian and I've eaten a lot of Italian food in my life. Carrabba's in my opinion is the best Italian food in the RTP area. Marggiano's would probably be my close - second choice. Regardless, my Chicken Alfredo was slightly heavy on the olive oil, but still the flavor was outstanding. The peas accentuated the meal and tasted like they were just taken out of the pod! Carrabba's seems to excel with choosing fresh food. Not just the core ingredients (Vegetables, meat, seafood), but also the subtle items like pasta, cheese, and seasoning. It's rare to taste fresh ground pepper in your meal! Most importantly, the dining environment there is between smart casual and business casual. If you take an average cost of meals in the area surrounding the triangle, I'd be willing to guess that the cost of dining at Carrabba's is somewhere in the middle of cheap and expensive - so the prices shouldn't break your wallet. Even though Carrabba's is part of a franchise, this establishment is above par and I'm really looking forward to visiting them at another location. Today...I'm giving Carrabba's the rare....."5 Star" rating!

The food is consistent with other locations; the Reston location can use a renovation. I highly the cannoli cake for two!

Love loved loved it here!! I got to attend the Yelp Elite Event and had such an awesome time and a great meal that my fiance and I decided to stop in for dinner on a random weeknight. I had already drooled over the menu all day and just knew I was going to get the eggplant parm with the garlic mashed potatoes, go big or go home! The service here was great, we were very well attended to, drinks always being filled but not to an annoying or excessive amount. My food was amazing, and a huge portion size, I totally had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. I am so happy that Yelp hosted an elite event here so I could reignite my spark for Carrabba's. Can't wait to come back for some more eggplant parm soon!

This is how you do takeout in a Pandemic. Recently my wife and I placed an order for dinner with Carrabba's for takeout. They make it incredibly easy to order which you can do via the website or over the phone. Placing an order online lets you choose whether you want to do pickup or delivery. We had some gift cards so we did the takeout option.  Together we got the Calamari (Hand-cut and breaded, served with our marinara sauce) for our starter and for our mains we got the fettuccine weesie (Fettuccine Alfredo with sautéed shrimp, scallions, garlic and mushrooms in our white wine lemon butter sauce) and the salmon. Everything was delicious and the touchless takeout was impressive. Once you drove up they would come out with masks and gloves and ask your name. They soon brought out your food which was packaged up perfectly and put it in your back seat. The only thing you could touch was the credit card receipt to sign at the end of the process. Overall it was an excellent experience and the food was incredibly good. This location does an immaculate job serving prior to the shut down and their pivot to takeout only is at the same level of excellence.