Yeah! I got the hint...you want a BIG TIP!
Written: Jun 12 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: TASTY FOOD! REASONABLE PRICE!
Cons: couldn't get the waitress to go away! chain atmosphere.
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| DiamondLynn's Full Review: Carrabba's Italian Grill |
It is late Friday evening and Hubby wants a fish fry. Considering that he had a bad day I think it is a pretty reasonable request.
We used to live in an area that getting a fish fry (large piece of fried haddock with ample coleslaw and french fries on the side...lotttttttts of tartar sauce) was as easy as going to McDonald's. We, unfortunately, now live in an area where McDonald's is the closest thing to a fish fry you can find. That being said....thus begins my review:
"Ok, no diner around here has one Love~Bug, do you want to go to Mickey-Dees? or the Burger Czar?" I said as I drove passed the 9 th diner that night that he had said no to.
Just then, the smell hit us. That new place, just recently built. The one with the tree garden planted on the roof. We had driven by it so very many times but it is a ~chain~ Italian restaurant! If I am going to a ~chain~ Italian place I would rather go to my beloved family Italian restaurant Pane Vino.
It smelled so good though. Pane Vino's is at least a 20 minute drive away and there it was, Carrabba's Italian Grill...wafting scents of oregano and wine sauce. Taunting us, inviting us in for a taste.
Like a spouse sneaking off to a no-tell motel we parked the car in back..and sneaked in the side door. After all we were hungry and she was offering her wares right there. Immediate gratification. Pane Vino never had to know of our infidelity right?
We slithered up to the hostess, "Table for two please. First available!"
Normally we would have waited for non-smoking but we were hungry now! Besides, when cheating on ones true love, you don't linger out in public waiting to get caught!
We were seated immediately in the smoking section. The ice water and hot bread was on the table within moments. A small plate of herbs placed on the table then our waitress poured fresh extra virgin olive oil onto the plate to dip our hot crusty bread in.
"Would you like some spirits?" the waitress asked after reciting the nights specials. We ordered a pitcher of House Red Wine ($18). She scurried off while we indulged in our hot crusty bread and extra virgin olive oil.
We scanned the menu and finally decided, no appetizers. Hubby was to have the nights special of Mezzaluna ("delicate half moon ravioli stuffed with chicken, ricotta and spinach in a tomato cream sauce") with grilled chicken accents. I was to order the Scampi Damian ("Shrimp sauteed with garlic, white wine, herbs and lemon butter served over linguine" $12.99)
The waitress came back with our wine and made sure we knew her agenda for the night. "Gee! My bartender friend REALLY hooked you two up! Do you see how full that pitcher is with wine? I mean, they NEVER fill it up that high! But we are friends so he always takes care of MY customers. Do you SEE how FULL that pitcher is??"
We did the obligatory and uncomfortable.."um yeah, full." What I really wanted to say is, "Gee, I ORDERED a PITCHER of wine...and that is EXACTLY what you brought me. Are you saying if I come back to this place and you and your "bartender friend" aren't on duty that I will get a pitcher filled a tenth of the way?" The wine came in a nice ceramic pitcher.
She scurried off with our orders and returned very promptly with my husbands salad (it came with his meal) with house dressing. This salad was INCREDIBLE! The greens were varied and icy cold. The plate was even cold. The salad dressing was creamy and sweet and unique. The waitress noticed immediately that we needed more bread..and scurried off again.
We enjoyed "our" salad, (we have been married nearly 9 years...joint property laws you know!) and took in the ambiance of the restaurant. It was clearly a chain without the charm of a family place but the walls had brick accents to give the appearance of an Italian Oven type of decor. The silverware was nice and heavy. Long forks, pricey stuff!
The waitress came back with our steamy hot crusty bread. This bread was HOT! It was a full half loaf of round bread and she made sure we noticed how big and hot our order was. "I had to go all the way back to the bread oven to get this for you! I mean that is a long way away! And HOT..I nearly burned myself getting this for you!"
We again did the obligatory but uncomfortable, "yeah..hot."
She then went on about how full the wine pitcher was again. "um yeah, full..thanks." She lingered for a few moments too long waiting for more praise...and then ditched off to get our dinners.
"Wow!" she said, as she lay our plates in front of us. "They are really hooking me up tonight..do you see the size of the shrimp on your scampi? There are so many too! You guys are getting the royal treatment tonight!"
"Um, yeah..shrimp..thanks." We again had to praise her for the wine..and in her defense..we really did get at LEAST six glasses out of that pitcher. I do feel though that if you are going to serve less in a pitcher than what we have, serve it in a smaller pitcher so I am fooled.
I was beginning to think our infidelity to our regular restaurant was going to be more of a "Fatal Attraction" with this girl as our waitress.
We weren't really expecting a lot. While this Carrabba's siren called us in with her fragrant calls to us once inside you could not smell the food.
The food was OUTSTANDING! The shrimp, average size, were perfectly done. The scampi was very garlicky and spicy. The linguine was very tasty!
The grilled chicken was tender and had a perfect grill taste to it. The ravioli were delectable! The sauce it came in was creamy and sweet. The peas (which my hubby hates but I ate for him) were fresh and a perfect accent!
The waitress came over to hover and have us praise her for obtaining such great food. Without her the chefs would have not known what to do! Now, I should say that we eat out frequently. More than we eat in even, and I do know how to tip well! It is rare that I leave less than 20% anywhere I go, but in all honestly, all she did was bring the food from point A to point B without tripping. I felt very uncomfortable having to constantly stroke her ego rather than look into my hubby's eyes and swoon.
It was like watching an 8 year old at a playground. Yes, I see your somersault. Yes, I saw that one too. Yes, you do a very nice somersault. Yes you are right, no one somersaults like you do.
I do appreciate the attentiveness, knowing whether we needed more water or bread. There is a difference I think between attentiveness and practically sitting down to feed me!
The check came and there we were, still finishing up that wine. She was right, it was a lot of wine!! Her friends had sat at a table too close to us and she was hovering near them while watching us trying to figure out the tip. The bill for the evening was an incredibly reasonable 47.66.
We gave her $60.00 and brought the change making sure that we knew that she gave us change on $47.00..that she "comp'ed us the .66 cents.
Again, I am a good tipper. A great tipper even. And while we were schlepping our way to the very back of the parking lot in the back forty of the plaza, well hidden from the eyes of our beloved Pane Vino, my hubby asked me, "What was your problem figuring out the tip tonight?"
I told him, the food was great, the service was great, and and I appreciated all she did to get us "bigger portions" but if she had schlepped out to bring our car around, "Now THAT would have been something!"
We slipped into the car, looked at each others eyes and said.."was it good for you too?"
All in all, I highly recommend this restaurant. The food was outstanding, the service really was good even if this girl made me uncomfortable, and the prices are reasonable. My tryst with the ~chain~ restaurant was satiating, but I will never leave my beloved Pane Vino permanently.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
DiamondLynn
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Member: Diane
Location: pennsylvania
Reviews written: 55
Trusted by: 51 members
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