Carrabba's got it right

When I think of great food the words "Italian" and "chain restaurant" usually don't appear in the same sentence, but Carrabba's Italian Grill seems to effortlessly unite these two concepts in a delicious way. Serving up classic Italian dishes in a rustic, Tuscan setting, Carrabba's definitely creates an enjoyable dining experience. Although the outside view of rows of trees piled high on the restaurant roof top doesn't scream Tuscan Villa, once inside it definitely does. With warm colors sweeping the walls and laughter filling the room, Carrabba's sets the ambience so that it feels like you are in your own home. The painted grape vines and bricks that adorn the walls combined with the fire from the wood-burning brick oven recreate the beautifully decorated restaurants that I had visited in Italy. The terra cotta pots that line the floor also add to the rustic feeling. The open atmosphere encourages conversation and a chance to take in the rest of the decorative surroundings.

The food at Carrabba's is generally pretty good for an Italian chain, and compared to a similar restaurant chain like Olive Garden, the food at Carrabba's is far superior. The dishes, like the ambience, are warm and comforting, combining traditional flavors of classic Italian cuisine.

Since I went with a large party, the helpful staff suggested the appetizer platter for the table consisting of the mozzarella marinara, calamari and grilled bruschette. While the mozzarella marinara was a little heavy, the bruschette was very fresh and flavorful. The calamari was also crispy and seasoned very nicely. The zucchini fritte, which is basically fresh zucchini that is lightly fried, was also a table favorite and the garlic aioli added a unique touch.

The entrees at Carrabba's come with either soup or salad, and the soup for the night was a lentil with sausage. I definitely recommend trying this soup when they have it again, as the flavors of the lentil and sausage go extremely well together. The faint taste of fennel also heightened the flavors in the soup. It was a prefect balance of a hearty, rich, Tuscan stew and a light, clean soup.

Carrabba's offers a variety of traditional Italian classics such as lasagna, chicken parmesan and veal piccata, but I recommend trying some of their own takes on the classic flavors of Italy. These dishes include lobster ravioli, chicken topped with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes and a basil lemon butter sauce and sirloin marsala.

Many people at my table opted for pollo rosa maria - a chicken breast stuffed with fontina cheese and prosciutto, topped with mushrooms and a basil lemon butter sauce. Although there was a slight problem with my dish as the chicken was a little underdone, our waitress quickly and efficiently took care of it.

The flavor combinations in this dish are bold and the tangy sauce pairs nicely with the melted fontina cheese and saltiness of the proscuitto. The chicken was also properly seasoned and could stand up against the stronger flavors of the other ingredients.

Carrabba's also offers wood-fired pizzas and a selection of pastas. Although I find some of their pasta sauces to be a bit heavy, they are still tasty and the combinations of ingredients work well together. The pasta carrabba seems to be a restaurant favorite, a combination of fettuccine alfredo tossed with grilled chicken, sautéed mushrooms and peas. The rigatoni martino also combines some great flavors like grilled chicken, sautéed mushrooms and sundried tomatoes, a tomato cream sauce, ricotta salata cheese and scallions.

Make sure to save some room for desert since they offer many Italian classics. The tiramisu was the favorite of the table. The rich, creamy texture of the mascarpone cheese coupled with just the right amount of espresso and brandy really made this a delicious tiramisu.

As I had mentioned, Carrabba's stands out as a restaurant that mends the division between great Italian food and chain restaurants. Even though it is just a couple miles down the road, when you step foot through the doors it is like you have been transported to an Italian villa in Tuscany.

With good traditional Italian classics at a great price, all Italian chain restaurants should aspire to deliver the warm environment, delicious dishes and fresh ingredients that Carrabba's so naturally does.