The first thing you notice when you walk into any Carrabba''s is the open kitchen. The pace is lively, the motions efficient. It''s entertainment all unto itself to watch the chefs move and shake as they keep this popular restaurant up to tempo. Everything comes together in perfect harmony. If it sounds like I''m describing a symphony, it''s because I am . . .
We were seated immediately in a comfortable booth. As we perused the menu, our server brought a basket of crusty, warm rolls and filled the bottom of a dish with lovely extra virgin olive oil for dipping.
Although making a choice was difficult, we opted for the veal piccata, the eggplant Parmigiana, and the chicken Alfredo. We chose to start with a plate of the excellent calamari served with marina sauce to be shared among the three of us.
The calamari arrived almost immediately, along with salads. We had no trouble scarfing up the squid, a mix of rings and tentacles, all cooked to tender perfection. The marinara is very subtle. The spices are in the background, pointing up the gentle sweetness of the tomatoes.
Salads are always a treat here. They are an imaginative mix of greens with tomato, onion, cucumber. Everything is immaculately fresh and the house vinaigrette, a blend of aged balsamic vineger and extra virgin olive oil, bathes the greens lovingly in complex flavors.
The piccata was superb. The veal was fork-tender and enrobed in the caper-punctuated, lemon/white wine ambrosia. The eggplant Parmigiana was perhaps the best I have ever had (and this Italian gal has made it through a LOT of eggplant in her day!) It consisted of two sliver-thin slices of eggplant, each one dressed with its own slice of mozzerella, then combined for a tasty packet. There were two of these, and it was served with a side of angel hair pasta dressed, again, with the excellent house marinara sauce. The chicken Alfredo consisted of pieces of breast meat combined with penne, all swathed in a sumptuous Alfredo sauce. The chicken had a very woodsy taste to it, indicating that it had been first grilled over a fire.
Our server was delightful. Somehow, she seemed to know just when to appear, when something was needed. She kept the water glasses filled. She could answer any question put to her about the preparation of any dish on the menu. Apparently, Carrabba''s devotes time and effort in training its waitstaff, like every restaurant should, but rarely does.
Since the open kitchen theme is extended to a very open dining room, sometimes the sound level is a tad excessive, making this a somewhat unsuitable choice for a romantic dinner. However, it''s wonderful for a fun, boisterous party or get-together.
For Italian food that is both delicious and imaginative, don''t pass up Carrabba''s!