Johnny Carino’s

I eat until I don’t feel good any more every time I go here. It’s not fancy, but I really like the food here. I get fried mozzarella every time. Otherwise, they do chicken parm well, and most of the pasta dishes are tasty. Normally after eating apps, salad, and multiple loaves of the hot bread, the entrée goes into a to go contained after a few bites. The pasta dishes reheat well.
Normally I sit at a table in the bar area. The service varies a lot from visit to visit. If you’re in a hurry, they are very good about bringing out all of your food very quickly if you request it.

Pretty sad. My sister and I went to Carino’s today for lunch and we found the menu had changed. The soup or salad option with your entrée is now just salad, you have to pay $ 4 if you want soup, pretty nuts as my sister wanted soup but was not paying $ 4 for that… maybe $ 1 more but not $ 4. These changes turn people off and should be reconsidered as Carino’s will lose regulars that are use to what they like.

All in all food was good. Bread with oil/​garlic for dipping hot and crispy. Soup (potato) Flavorful. Pepperoni bread appetizer also good. Kind of like a mini pizza. Our server was bubbly and very accommodating. Our glasses were never empty. The menu prices were good as well. My only comment would be the booths. The banquette seat was too low. Table came up mid chest and my seat was torn and worn. It was very clean though and you can see the kitchen much like another Italian restaurant small chain. We also donated 4.00 and got two free appetizer cards, used one last night. Gave the other to Jeff to use another time. I would go back, maybe sit at a table next time.

I ordered apps, mains, and desert. Everything was good except for one of the main dishes we ordered. When my waitress picked up my jalapeño tilapia, it was obvious that I only had a few bites. I explained that the fish tasted really old. She apologized and said she would tell them in the back. No manager ever came to apologize, and I was still charged for the meal I clearly did not eat. Upset that I couldn’t find a manager during the entire meal, I stopped at the bar and asked to speak to one. The bar tender came back and told me one would be out in a minute. 5 – 10 minutes later it was obvious that no one at this restaurant cares, so I left. Very disappointing. I tried to contact corporate, but their website wouldn’t accept the exact same feedback I’ve left here.

We just came back from our tasting for our wedding reception with manager Lex Solis and visiting staff from Little Rock, Linda Busick at the Slaughter Austin TX restaurant. We had an amazing time and wanted to commend these two. Not only were they professional, sweet, and friendly, but they really respected our wishes and concerns. Lex gave us his professional experience from working with the catering business and Linda gave her professional opinion on the food, which was delicious! As soon as we entered we were taken off to a private area and brought samples of the dishes we had previously discussed. Lex and Linda listened to our likes and dislikes and made further recommendations without being pushy. They were fantastic! We just know our wedding guests will love Carino’s catering!

The restaurant was very warm, about 85 degrees. When asked if Ac broken waitress replied, everyone keeps asking me that. We ordered 2 wedge salads no blue cheese and half the normal dressing along with cariino style broken bread. We got salads with blue cheese and double dressing, the bread was burned down one side but was still delicious. We gave back the salads, too hot to wait again for new ones. My water was never refilled. My friends tea was watery due in part to the heat and ice melted. Could not find the waitress for the check, had to go up front where we asked someone to find her for us. Finally got outside where it was cooler.

Took my wife to lunch here one Saturday. First we got the Italian Nachos, as an appetizer, the half portion is perfect for two. Very tasty! We both did the Market pasta create your own meal. We both had Green Chili Jalapeño Alfredo over fettuccine, I got mine with Italian sausage, she had hers with no added protein. I liked the sauce and the sausage but thought they could leave the jalapeños out of it. The jalapeños over powered the green chilies and the flavor of the Alfredo. The wife agreed with me and said there was not enough flavor in the Alfredo like it needed more butter and salt. The service was excellent! Ask for Amelia when you visit.

Wish I could give negative stars!!! Ordered the Pizza Bread. First order came out burnt. The fact that they even plated something so terribly burned is sad. Took forever for them to cook another. This time the order was not only half the size of the first but it was burnt again. This time they tried to remove the burnt pieces. You can’t remove the burnt taste! Will NEVER go back!!! They obviously do not care!

Slow service, overcooked, salty food that had to be returned. I hadn’t been to a JC’s in a long time. Seems to have gone downhill since. Won’t be back.

We came in an hour before close, and our waiter didn’t rush us or seem pushy. The bread and salad is really good. Love the olive oil and garlic.
The downside, the entrees. We ordered the angel hair pasta with shrimp and artichokes and the lasgana. My lasgana came out on a plate that was much hotter than the actual food on it. The lasgana wasn’t bad, will be good when it is heated up later. The angel hair pasta wasn’t angel hair, just regular spaghetti with fishy tasting rubber shrimp.
I would give it 2 stars, but our waiter was great, so added a star. Plus, it is hard to go wrong with olive oil and garlic with bread. Noms.

Back to this restaurant in response to a free appetizer offer and recently, they closed to remake this location. I am please to report that the service on Sunday was very good and the food back up to standards. It seemed that the chef staff had also gone the 2^nd mile in their cooking, presentation, etc., so I applaud them.
Only one thing that I missed, was the pepper in the oil/​garlic sauce for bread dipping. But hey, I can put my own pepper in it… so no big deal! Yes, I will go back.

I’ve never had any issues with Carino’s. I know what to expect here. It’s a chain restaurant.
We came here for dinner b/​c we thought we knew what to expect. consistent food.
My experience was not consistent. The food was just… off. The service was horrible. I don’t know if this is the waiter’s first day or what. Usually they have someone with them while training but this waitress. Sigh. I understand for new staff, busy time and short staff but it was just horrible. We rarely saw our server, when she was around, it would take her at least 10 minutes to get back to us! I’m not sure how they set up her tables but we would see her hurry into the back and not come out for a while. When I need something, I watch for my server and I felt like I was watching for her the whole meal. Rarely check in on us.
We just wanted to get in and out quickly but that was not the case.
So the food, I usually just get the Jalapeño Garlic Tilapia. It’s consistent. I like the tilapia and the spicy level. This time it was just bland. No flavor, no spice. HOW?!?
I guess it’s always hit or miss. Hope they get more staffing and/​or that server found a new place to suck at.

Ate here with the husband on 2÷6÷15 because they were having a «Grand Reopening» with BOGO entrees and happy hour specials all day. The food itself deserved 4 – 5 stars, but our experience was what removes a couple stars.
Service was very questionable. The place looked pretty packed and I was worried there would be a wait. We only had to wait a couple minutes. Our host asked us if one of the center tables would be ok. I asked if we could sit at a booth and pointed at one that appeared to be open. He looked at the table. Saw that there were 2 abandoned waters and told us that it wasn’t ready. He does seat the NEXT couple at that table.
It took forever to get any service once we were seated. A hostess noticed and asked if she could get us waters at least and apologized for the wait (points for her.)
Once our server finally came around she was cute and personable. It took her awhile to bring our first round of drinks and we were waiting with empty glasses awhile before she took our 2^nd order of drinks.
The manager (who didn’t look like he ironed his shirt) was standing around chit chatting with the staff. In all fairness he did hand deliver drinks from the bars including our 2^nd round. We weren’t impressed.
We also did not have silverware on our table and had to ask our server for them once our salads arrived.
The entrees were delicious! I ate all of my seafood pasta medley with the spicy marinara. My husband (who ate most of the bread) ate almost all of his combo skilletini. I ate the rest of his skilletini the next day and it was STILL good.
We came to this location whenever there was a coupon (free appetizer maybe?) years ago and had a similar experience. Good food, questionable service.
I think we will only be back if we have a coupon or there’s a deal that makes it worthwhile. Maybe we should try another location…

I think that this place is pretty alright.
Food: I had the Jalapeño Chicken Ravioli and it was delicious. I was really wanting something different and spicy and this really hit the spot. I actually split between my wife and I and it worked out well. For the most part, you can always split these meals into two meals. I always do because it is so expensive here.
Discounts: There is always going to be some discount out there that you can find for this place. I found a groupon and it was totally worth it.
Access: This one is in the Southpark Meadows. You can see it off the highway but one you turn in, its kind of a mess trying to get to the place.
Service: I can not complain about the service. Although, somehow when I used my groupon, the way they treated me was kinda weird, like the waiter thought I was too cheap to leave a good tip. Which is the whole reason why I get the discounts in the first place, it is basically the normal price of the meal when you get done tipping.

Had a great visit recently. Complete turn around from last time. Friendly, quick and helpful server. Food was delicious. Got the spaghetti and meatballs and my bf got some jalapeño dish which I enjoyed more. I hate when I do that! Signed up for pasta points because it seemed neat. Got $ 10 off my meal… What a deal! Will be returning more often now.

Excellent bread to start the meal, excellent stuffed mushrooms, excellent service, and love the unlimited soup and salad with entrees!

Used a Groupon tonight and received excellent service and excellent food. We absolutely LOVE their calamari, it is THE BEST I’ve ever eaten. I had some only one other time that would equal this calamari in Napa, CA. The best ever. Our waitperson Tatiana was great, attentive, polite, helpful. Oh yea, we’ll be back, with or without a Groupon.

Had dinner here and the service was excellent. We used a groupon that was for $ 10 for $ 20 worth of food excluding alcohol. Our server (can’t remember her name) was AWESOME! She was very attentive and friendly. Our food came out in a timely manner and had no problems or attitude when redeeming the groupon. Will def be returning. :)

I thought long and hard before posting this review as we have always loved the carinos restaurants. Sept 22 we went to the south Austin location for lunch. We are retired and rely on discounts such as groupon. When we presented these immediately the servers attitude changed and he said he would need to check with the manager to see if he could honor these coupons his attitude was just as bad. We were made to feel like we shouldn’t be there the server made us ask for everything such as silverware and napkins. i have not given up on corinos but I will never eat at that location again bill h

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen! Okay I came to this Carino’s location last night and I must say– I really wanted to review here today. Keep in mind though, I have been at many others before this location in this state as well.
Upon arriving: When entering the restaurant you have very limited space from the hostess podium and the enter/​exit door, so be careful. We were seated pretty quickly for a party of three, so that was nice. By the way, it was a little after 7:30pm in case anyone reading this is wondering about time.
Server: Our server was delightful!
Food: The food was delicious… once it was finally cooked and ready to serve to us. I say this because we had to wait for an hour for our food to arrive. Which is actually not the norm for me, even on a weekend evening. Matter of fact our server came by to apologize about the delay and slowness of the food. We ordered an appetizer, but sad to comment-​it never arrived :-(We did get lots of bread to fill in the gap on behalf of this Carino’s.
Bathroom: Oh my! I really wanted to review the bathroom for all my readers! There is no room between the toilet and the stall door! You have to devise a plan of escape as you turn yourself to get out too! That was just an awkward ordeal going in the stall and exiting out to leave. The silver lining to this would be that if your are carrying a purse, you won’t lose sight if it-​lol! Oh yeah, can’t forget to tell you all about the maze walk to the bathroom… I was seated on the opposite side of the restaurant to where the bathrooms were located, making this more of a pain. There was no space between tables and seats while walking to the bathroom, except for some where I had to turn my body sideways to carefully pass behind the people I could. (without rubbing my body on someones hand or back lol) So, that just added to the craziness as well as the stall space.
WiFi: They do have a wireless internet connection, but it is secure and you need the pass code. Maybe due to all the people trying to connect or whatever… it didn’t connect for us at least last night.
Fun Sounds: We heard dishes breaking for a good potion of the evening too. Guess some workers came in mad that night.
Overall: The food and server were great, but with the combination of everything else… I could not recommend this Carino’s to myself again or the general public… sorry.