New Look, Elite Tastes at Carrabba’s Italian Grill

I’ve never been to Carrabba’s before so I was stoked to get on the invite list for this event! My «+1» was one of my best friends — who happens to be Italian and LOVES Carrabba’s! This was the unveiling of their remodeling/​revamping. Since I’ve never been to a Carrabba’s before I can’t compare it to how it used to look, but I really dig the current design. It’s pretty awesome — cozy & intimate!
For the food, there were 8 courses and a lot of variety in each of them. Nothing was really similar so it was nice to sample a wide array of what they offer — especially being a newbie. They did have samples of sangria and possibly wine (already forgot), but I forgot my ID at home so I wasn’t able to sample anything. Bummer.
The calamari was excellent! The breading on it was outstanding! Such good flavor/​seasoning. The 2^nd course was delicious as well. 3^rd course — Tag Pic Pac — was definitely delicate and light. Simple flavors but satisfying. Kind of reminded me of ramen noodles, the texture of the pasta at least — not the taste at all! Mahi Wulfe was OMG!!! So delicious! It kind of tasted like chicken. So good! The Chicken Bryan was excellent but I could’ve done without the goat cheese — not a fan. The pork was great & the prosciutto put it over the top delicious! The mashed potatoes were great as well. Dessert: Chocolate Dream & Cannoli (pistachio). The chocolate dream was just that — chocolate dream! My mind was convinced I could finish it, but my stomach tapped out with 2 to 3 bites remaining. Since my husband had to work I took the cannoli home for him.
The service was a great. I believe our waiter’s name was Paul. He was very friendly, funny and attentive. It was also great to get some background information on Carabo’s because I literally knew nothing about them other then they serve Italian food. Lol! I had no idea the Novi location had been there for 12 years! I also wasn’t aware they’ve been around since 1986 and started in Texas. Crazy!
I definitely want to go back and wouldn’t mind paying their prices for great food. Thanks again to Unilocal for planning and making such great events happen!

Another fantastic Unilocal Elite event from the Unilocal Detroit team and venue.
I have been to this Carrabba’s before but it was a long time ago, pre-​renovation. I frequent the Troy location now though with my book club, usually, since the happy hour deals are so great — half off most appetizers and you can get 1.5 glasses of sangria for the price of 1.
We started off with calamari, but I don’t eat seafood, so I contented myself with their great bread and dipping oil. The sangria «samples» (full glasses, really) are also not to be forgotten — I had the blackberry sangria, since I’ve tried their peach sangria before (and liked it, as I did with this kind). Next came the whirlwind of 7 other plates, including the Chicken Bryan (one of my favorite dishes there), a huge brownie (and mini cannoli) for dessert, their arancini (another favorite dish), and more.
My favorite of the dishes was probably the Chicken Bryan or arancini. I had never tried the pasta dish before — it was okay — or the brownie, though I’m not a huge whipped cream fan (it was topped with a whipped cream-​type base). I went to a similar type dinner at the Troy Carrabba’s, since I’m in their Amici Club, but I will say this one was way more decadent.
Four lucky Unilocalers won $ 25 Carrabba’s gift cards (it was hidden under our chairs — clever and fun!) and all of us took home a goody bag which included Carrabba’s olive oil (in packets) and some of their grill spices, which you can use the next time you grill up some meats.
Yummy event all around (I’m still full!) and fun to network with other Unilocalers — I sat with Lauren C. and Matthew P., whom I had met previously at the Lazybones UYE a few months ago. Waitservice was very good, also — my water glass was never empty.

Awesome time. Great food. Probably too much of it. Wonderful drinks. Again, plenty of that too.
Eight courses of fun. Started with apps of calamari and arrancini served with Carrabba’s excellent marinara. This was followed by my personal fave Carrabba’s pasta, Tag Pic Pac. Three main courses followed: Mahi Wulfe with a side of roasted cauliflower and broccoli, Chicken Bryan (caprino cheese, score) with a side of amatriciana pasta and Prosciutto wrapped pork tenderloin in a delicious fig sauce served with mashed potatoes. If that were not enough we had two desserts. The densely rich chocolate dream (I am not typing out the Italian name) and the light and crisp mini cannoli. Yeah those desserts got packed to go at our table, so stuffed.
That blackberry sangria? I could swim in it and kind of did. We were offered freebies but after drinking mine and swiping the hubs as well I needed even more. That happy hour get a quartino for the price of a glass is an excellent deal. I was very happy indeed. I highly recommend you sample this. The peach was good but the blackberry is definitely my fave.
Charming host, the manager loves his restaurant and is justifiably proud of the improvements. He runs a tight ship seamlessly, checking in with everyone and he is just full of genuine enthusiasm about his products. Great waitstaff, especially John. This man had us as extremely early arrivals and made us feel so welcomed and cared for, just very knowledgeable and sweet. I love a great server and he really was. Every member of staff we encountered were efficient, smiley and helpful. Like I said, seamless.
Great prizes and lovely gift bags of happiness. Annette as always gave us an excellent event. Special kudos to Chelcie for being so sweet to the early birds and keeping us entertained. Apologies for not being more social but I could barely talk. Damn laryngitis.