Don't Go The Carrabba's Restaurant If You Are Hungry
It's no wonder people are giving up on going out to eat any more. When you are going to spend $25.00, (or so) on a meal, you expect to get a decent serving of food. Studying the menu where the steak sizes are 6 or 7 ounces, REALLY? Sure, load me up with lots of bread, lots of mashed potatoes, appetizers LOADED with salt and then 40 minutes later bring me that steak and PASTA. We visited Carrabba's for the first and last time. Italian food, ABSOLUTELY NOT. It's nothing but a different kind of Outback.
When I worked at Carrabba's, over time I could tell the portion sizes were decreasing, but the manager said they are still the same sizes. I think both Carrabba's and Outback are serving smaller portions and passing them off as larger than what they really are. The last 14 oz. Rib eye I got from Salisbury Outback was smaller than described, and their blue cheese now tastes premade. Gone are the happy hour food deals, as well. All their recipes and steak seasonings are released online, Carrabba's even released their recipes in book form. I'm done with both places. It's a shame, they use to be top notch. Adam's Tap House in Fruitland has an awesome rib eye, that's where I prefer to get my protein fix!
4:33, Have you seen their new commercial, (Outback)? They try to claim their prices are less then you'll ever remember. $17.00+ for Alice's Spring Chicken. PLEASE! It used to be $7.95, (or less). Some "SPECIAL".
Oh, I should add, here you have one very small chicken breast, a piece of cheese and a slice of bacon. $17.00+ is their special? I'm not saying it's not worth getting out but don't piss on my head and tell me it's raining.
That's a tiny plate if food. I could easily eat two plates of that. I'm used to going to restaurants that I'm asking for a doggie bag at the end of the meal.
Went to Carrabas once, the wait was 45, went to get a drink and noticed some of the plates at the tables ... Walked right back out and left. Looked like something you'd microwave at home. Overrated and the feeling inside was like a cafeteria.
We used to go there, portions were huge, so we could justify the price because we took more then half home. Then portions got smaller, and the things we went for were no longer on the menu. Haven't been back at in over a year, and the few I know that have, haven't returned either.
It's kinda funny peoples perception of dining out. Casual dining restaurants no longer prepare and cook food. ALL of the prep is done before the food gets to the restaurant, the salad is pre-chopped, the soup comes from a bag, the steak is pre-cut and crro-vac packaged then frozen, your shrimp is pre-breaded, pre-skewered, pre-scamped and is thawed and warmed prior to serving making you think that you are getting FRESH food. It is such a scam that these casual dining concepts are all doing the same thing. It doesn't matter whether you are talking about Carabba's, Outback, Applebee's, Chilis, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesdays, Olive Garden or Longhorn they are all doing the same thing, warming your food. All you have to do is drive by the "chain" restaurants 15 minutes before they open and see how many cars there are in the parking lot. Usually there are three. One is presumably the Manager, the other one is the dishwasher there to clean up from the night before, and the other one is the cook. Let me ask you this. How is one person going to prep and cook all of the food for the salad bar, cook the soup, and prepare the food for 200 or so lunch customers ??? If you want REAL food go to a REAL restaurant that creates, cooks, and serves food that is locally sourced and is served with integrity. You may pay a little more, but the couple of dollars extra that you pay will go to local farmers, local prep cooks, chefs, and servers in your local community.
Anon 9:24, Carrabbas employees are there at 8:00 am prepping food. I know this for a fact since our son is employed there. Don't lump all the restaurants together. And a lot of food servings are smaller, the majority of what we buy in the grocery store is in smaller packaging, yet we are paying the same price for it. Sad times in this country.
955-I worked at Phillip's crab house one summer. We started prepping at 6AM every day. Despite the fact that 99% of the products being served were from Sysco boxes.
Olive garden makes (ALL) of the soups and sauces from scratch daily using fresh ingredients hand cut. Now as far as salads go yes the basic salad mix comes in bags but Romaine lettuce is cut by hand daily and mixed in along with aNY added veggies. Soup and salad prep takes 6 to 8 hours daily with holidays sometimes taking hours longer. Now as far as seafood goes yes the shrimp come frozen. Then again you would be hard pressed to find a resturant using fresh shrimp here on the eastern shore simply because we don't have a fishery for them here. Now pasta's are cooked daily as well but, pasta like ravioli do Come frozen.
Isn't this indicative of everything now days? Prices keep escalating but goods and services continue to decline. People get less money but when they do decide to purchase they don't get what they pay for. Instead, they get substantially less and less with each passing month.
When you go to Carrabba's, don't they bring you bread or breadsticks with dipping oil and herbs before your entree arrives? And a salad?
That's what, 8 ounces of meat plus another 5 or 6 ounces of pasta with sauce? Looks like well over a pound of food total, estimated maybe 700 to 900 calories, probably more. I can't imagine you'd still be legitimately hungry after the full dinner there.
Gigantic oversized portions are a factor in the increasing rate of obesity.
1025 why should restaurants monitor what you put in your own mouth? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Always a victim, right? God, people really need to take responsibility again! People like 1025 think the world is here to police everyone. I guess you'd vote for Bloomberg, too. Extra costs for Real Coke rather than Diet Coke and no takeout boxes, please!
Waaaaaaaaaaa
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked at Carrabba's, over time I could tell the portion sizes were decreasing, but the manager said they are still the same sizes. I think both Carrabba's and Outback are serving smaller portions and passing them off as larger than what they really are. The last 14 oz. Rib eye I got from Salisbury Outback was smaller than described, and their blue cheese now tastes premade. Gone are the happy hour food deals, as well. All their recipes and steak seasonings are released online, Carrabba's even released their recipes in book form. I'm done with both places. It's a shame, they use to be top notch. Adam's Tap House in Fruitland has an awesome rib eye, that's where I prefer to get my protein fix!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete4:33, Have you seen their new commercial, (Outback)? They try to claim their prices are less then you'll ever remember. $17.00+ for Alice's Spring Chicken. PLEASE! It used to be $7.95, (or less). Some "SPECIAL".
ReplyDeleteOh, I should add, here you have one very small chicken breast, a piece of cheese and a slice of bacon. $17.00+ is their special? I'm not saying it's not worth getting out but don't piss on my head and tell me it's raining.
ReplyDeletechilis 2 for 20 u can get two steaks 2 sides and a appetizer for 20 bucks
ReplyDeleteCarabbas's(or however it is spelled) is just another Outback. Craptastic "fast food" quality.
ReplyDeleteWow! That steak is so small it looks like a hamburger.
ReplyDeleteVery SAD looking meal for the price...
ReplyDeleteReminds me of an old joke;
ReplyDeleteConcerned host asks " well, how did you find your steak?"
Disgusted patron says, " I merely looked under my baked potato and there it was..."
Sad meal Joe! We were at Market Street Inn this afternoon and had the two crab cake entrée and it was a marvelous meal!! Great service.
ReplyDeleteliberals wanted 15 per hour wages, something has to go up or down...
ReplyDeleteVote Bernie.... not
I know Red Roost is known for crabs but you have to try the steak sometime. Best one around.
ReplyDeleteCookie Cutter = bad
ReplyDeletelocal = good
Eastern Shore weekend revenue generators (vacationers = tickets) begins Friday Apr 1 through the end of Sept!
That's a tiny plate if food. I could easily eat two plates of that. I'm used to going to restaurants that I'm asking for a doggie bag at the end of the meal.
ReplyDeleteI guess that is not Carrabbas' goal.
Was that picture the child portion? What a rip off!
ReplyDeleteThat's about the amount I usually eat at dinner. Just saying...
ReplyDeleteWent to Carrabas once, the wait was 45, went to get a drink and noticed some of the plates at the tables ... Walked right back out and left. Looked like something you'd microwave at home. Overrated and the feeling inside was like a cafeteria.
ReplyDeleteWe used to go there, portions were huge, so we could justify the price because we took more then half home. Then portions got smaller, and the things we went for were no longer on the menu. Haven't been back at in over a year, and the few I know that have, haven't returned either.
ReplyDeleteThis place sucks and completely over priced. Takes forever to get food usually 90 degrees inside. Went once I will never return.
ReplyDelete623 seriously?! Over priced on a dirty river...nothing marvelous has ever came out of that kitchen. Thank you for the laugh.
ReplyDeleteJoe, did you get it "pittsburg style?"
ReplyDeleteWent to the place once and that was one times too many. Have never been back and don't intend to go back.
ReplyDeleteHey Joe,
ReplyDeleteIt's kinda funny peoples perception of dining out. Casual dining restaurants no longer prepare and cook food. ALL of the prep is done before the food gets to the restaurant, the salad is pre-chopped, the soup comes from a bag, the steak is pre-cut and crro-vac packaged then frozen, your shrimp is pre-breaded, pre-skewered, pre-scamped and is thawed and warmed prior to serving making you think that you are getting FRESH food. It is such a scam that these casual dining concepts are all doing the same thing. It doesn't matter whether you are talking about Carabba's, Outback, Applebee's, Chilis, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesdays, Olive Garden or Longhorn they are all doing the same thing, warming your food. All you have to do is drive by the "chain" restaurants 15 minutes before they open and see how many cars there are in the parking lot. Usually there are three. One is presumably the Manager, the other one is the dishwasher there to clean up from the night before, and the other one is the cook. Let me ask you this. How is one person going to prep and cook all of the food for the salad bar, cook the soup, and prepare the food for 200 or so lunch customers ??? If you want REAL food go to a REAL restaurant that creates, cooks, and serves food that is locally sourced and is served with integrity. You may pay a little more, but the couple of dollars extra that you pay will go to local farmers, local prep cooks, chefs, and servers in your local community.
Roadhouse is much BETTER
ReplyDelete11:23 Don't be upset cause they don't except your EBT card....LOL stick to your McDonalds, the rest of us prefer restaurants!!!
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:24, Carrabbas employees are there at 8:00 am prepping food. I know this for a fact since our son is employed there. Don't lump all the restaurants together. And a lot of food servings are smaller, the majority of what we buy in the grocery store is in smaller packaging, yet we are paying the same price for it. Sad times in this country.
ReplyDelete955-I worked at Phillip's crab house one summer. We started prepping at 6AM every day. Despite the fact that 99% of the products being served were from Sysco boxes.
ReplyDeleteOlive garden makes (ALL) of the soups and sauces from scratch daily using fresh ingredients hand cut. Now as far as salads go yes the basic salad mix comes in bags but Romaine lettuce is cut by hand daily and mixed in along with aNY added veggies. Soup and salad prep takes 6 to 8 hours daily with holidays sometimes taking hours longer. Now as far as seafood goes yes the shrimp come frozen. Then again you would be hard pressed to find a resturant using fresh shrimp here on the eastern shore simply because we don't have a fishery for them here. Now pasta's are cooked daily as well but, pasta like ravioli do Come frozen.
ReplyDeleteBeen to Fratelli's lately on Snow Hill Rd? went there last week and thought I had a Child's meal but paid for an Adult.
ReplyDeleteThere food has went down hill.
DeleteGo to the Old West Steakhouse. You won't be disappointed...and you won't leave hungry.
ReplyDeleteTerrible atmosphere from the owner.
Deleteif it wasn't for Sysco everyone on the eastern shore would have starved by now, but fortunately we only get diabetes
ReplyDeleteIsn't this indicative of everything now days? Prices keep escalating but goods and services continue to decline. People get less money but when they do decide to purchase they don't get what they pay for. Instead, they get substantially less and less with each passing month.
ReplyDeleteHow's that socialism working out for you?
When you go to Carrabba's, don't they bring you bread or breadsticks with dipping oil and herbs before your entree arrives? And a salad?
ReplyDeleteThat's what, 8 ounces of meat plus another 5 or 6 ounces of pasta with sauce? Looks like well over a pound of food total, estimated maybe 700 to 900 calories, probably more. I can't imagine you'd still be legitimately hungry after the full dinner there.
Gigantic oversized portions are a factor in the increasing rate of obesity.
Welcome to Obama-nomics.
ReplyDelete1025 why should restaurants monitor what you put in your own mouth? Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Always a victim, right? God, people really need to take responsibility again! People like 1025 think the world is here to police everyone. I guess you'd vote for Bloomberg, too. Extra costs for Real Coke rather than Diet Coke and no takeout boxes, please!
ReplyDeleteYou obviously didn't read more than three or four words of what I said, before popping off.
DeleteSince you missed it, here's the point: that's not an unreasonable portion. Not enough to gorge on, and too much to starve on.