Depending on your on your social standing, this is either a great happy hour place to unwind after a long day of board meetings with your fellow partners or more of a special occasion place with that special someone or group of friends. On the evening we were here, it was apparently THE place to be at to celebrate a birthday and I gotta tell you, they will sing their hearts out in Italian for you on your special day! As I illuded to in the start, this IS a fancier place but there is a nice offering of various tastes and but the level of service really matches the price. The waters and soft drinks are always full, the dirty plates are picked up promptly, and everything is clean clean clean. The food is pretty good too and even if you were planning on getting a salad there like I was, their fresh bread is too tempting not to eat. read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - INSALATA CARRABBA - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Y'all, this was my first time here and it definitely lived up to the hype. It was super busy for a Saturday night, but we were greeted quickly and had our food within 30 minutes. Thomas was amazing and genuinely thoughtful with his recommendation for the chicken parm. I originally wanted the Alfredo, but somehow still got the best of both worlds. Mind you ....this was my first time trying it and I was not disappointed. The garlic bread was TOO good...flavorful, soft, and honestly one of my favorite parts of the meal. I didn't get a picture of the entrée, but just know I'd absolutely order it again. Also, the lighting inside is dim and cozy, making it really cute for a date night or even a dinner out with family. read more

TL;DR: authentic Italian dining with superior service and hospitality Came to celebrate a couple family milestones and everyone had a blast. The food was delicious and the ambiance was very much family-forward. We enjoyed our time at Carrabba's and can't wait to go back! Surprise Italian lessons in the bathroom are always fun Cheers, Carrabba's! read more

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The food is amazing spacious and clean setting with a friendly and kind staff this place rocksss check em out great food Items!!!

People don't need to put reviews in for Carraba's unless they have a new menu and to show new entrees. I've never had a bad meal in over 30 years and I decided to show you their Lasagna Bolognese I had today. As usual it was spectacular and came with their house salad. It was Monday not crowded and took my time for an enjoyable meal. served very promptly. read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Lasagna Bolognese- wonderful - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Fried mozzarella was wonderful. Sat outside and it was wonderful. A little loud indoors from after work drinks but outside was great! read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Fried Mozzarella - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Can you believe this was my 1st time dining at Carrabba's?!y I met some friends here and they told me that I picked the right location to dine at because this is thee original location (confetti)!!! I started with the drinks, lemons drops were a nice blend of liquor and lemon. I ended up ordering a lump crab and shrimp dish that is no longer on menu but servers are aware of it (rec per my gf who orders this pasta dish) and it was a generous portion and very delicious. Our servers were patient and welcoming (we sat on the patio for hours with friends rotating in and out including me). The ambiance was perfect for a Sunday Funday, not too hot or too cool with ample comfortable seating and decor. read more

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The knock offs just don't compare to the original on Kirby. The menu is more authentic and they are more likely to customize your meal. Prices are a little steep with a bill of $56 for just a lunch of veal piccata and mushroom ravioli and water but the taste was excellent. read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Veal piccata and mushroom ravioli. - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great food and great service. Never had bad food nor bad service. Our last waiter, Ryan tended us very well. Highly recommended from local people. read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Red snapper, lump of crabs, and green beans. - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

My husband and I came here around 6 pm on a Saturday night. It was extremely packed !!! Make sure you call to make a reservation !!! We did have reservation but had to wait at the bar for a bit we ordered some water and gin/tonic and paid at the bar. Once we sat down we spent some time looking though the menu. Our waiter was kind of quiet or the place was just loud. He gave very neutral suggestions about what dishes to get so it wasn't very helpful. But we ended up getting the seafood ravioli and raffy scampi and a limoncello spritz. Both dishes were amazing. I normally don't like pasta but these were great. The ravioli was stuffed . The Raffy scampi had decent sized shrimps, with shells on so watch for that. The season and cheesiness on both was so comforting and warm. They complemented well with the limoncello spritz which was light and gentle taste to it. I would order all of this again. The decor was a warm yellow and def an echo of pasta colors. There isn't a dress code but many were dressed up and there was a birthday song being sang every so often. As a birthday treat, it looks like a creme puff with chocolate fudge over it. Great place for a date or group celebration! We parked at a free parking garage across the street. They also have valet but I'm not sure if it is free or at a cost. read more

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Stopped here for a Saturday lunch with friends. Ambience and inside are nice and the staff was very attentive. I had lasagna and it was tasty. Meal comes with a salad and of course bread for the table. I will return to try more things. A plus that there is parking available. read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I was there just a few days ago with my family The food was a 10 out of 10 this was my first time at this location I will definitely be coming back in our waiter His name was bird was excellent and he treated us so good and so right I will most definitely be asking for him again Next time I go back he was so sweet read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The original Carrabba's remains my absolute favorite restaurant in Houston. The service is always flawless, and the atmosphere has that warm, lively Sunday‑dinner buzz that makes every visit feel special. This time I ordered the special pasta -- spaghetti with fresh crab and vegetables -- and it was beautifully light and perfectly seasoned. My husband had the steak with pasta Alfredo, and it was excellent. I recommend this location without hesitation and dine here at least once a month. read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Pasta with fresh crab - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Excellent food preparation. The Marsala sauce is legit. We both enjoyed our food tremendously and our waiter Mathew was the best

Carrabba's is an Italian restaurant, famous for their authentic fettuccine alfredo. The interior of the restaurant is very spacious with lots of seating and many windows for natural lighting. Service is good as expected. We started off with fried calamari and shrimp. Nothing special, just your average calamari. We also had the sausage and peppers. I love sausage, but again, there was nothing special about this dish. For entrees, we ordered mushroom ravioli, pasta carrabba, ribeye steak, and rigatoni alla norma. All the pasta dishes we had were good, and the steak was cooked just right. I like mushrooms so I did enjoy the mushroom ravioli. However, nothing was screaming at me to come back. Pretty pricy, and the food was mediocre. I wouldn't be able to tell you what improvements could be made. The flavor profiles just didn't reach my expectations. read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Rigatoni alla Norma, Rib-eye - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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3.5 stars The Original Carrabbas has offered great Italian food for decades in Houston. We had the Meatballs in a rich Marinara sauce, and were not disappointed by the size or the meaty flavor. The Capellini Pomodoro was overcooked, but the flavor was actually better as leftovers as the garlic developed overnight. The Salmon, Arugula and Fennel Salad was an excellent blend of flavors with the salmon perfectly seared and crispy. Service was friendly and accommodating. read more

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Yesterday, my group had a great time. We decided to grab a bite after church. Upon pulling in to the Valet lane, we noticed it was packed. The Valet got our cars parked in a timely manner. We waited maybe 5 minutes for a table. Our server didn't wait long to engage with drink requests, and entree orders. Everyone enjoyed their meal of choice. read more

We just had to try out the Original Carrabba's. Their service and atmosphere was impeccable. We felt so welcomed there and the food was wonderful! The minestrone soup and salad was delicious. Our drinks were great! I loved the warm bread with its seasoned olive oil. The Chicken Bryan Texas was amazing! The goat cheese gave that great flavor. The Cappelletti was tasty that we finished our plates lol We even ordered cannolis and were very delectable. This was a wonderful experience. read more

Had a reservation here for a surprise dinner for our stepdad. They allowed us to use their private room for the surprise at no additional fee, which was very accommodating of them. We were seated right away with no wait time. For an appetizer we had the fried mozzarella sticks, which are a pretty nice size compared to what some restaurants would offer was definitely impressed. For my entrée, I had the special which was a shrimp Parmesan that came with spinach fettuccine everyone rated this dish as their favorite. For the other entrées the chicken Parmesan was good so was the lobster ravioli and the cowboy chicken pictured. This restaurant is perfect for celebrations or even just dinner with friends. They only offer valet, but there is a parking garage across the street that allows free parking. read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I picked up an order of Lasagna here last night, one of my 3 favorite dishes from Carrabba's. It was so comforting, good quality ingredients, thick, generous in every main component and very delicious. The sauce was a bit sweet n tangy with a prominent tomato vibe to it. The cheese was fresh and savory without being too much in amount. The meat was well-seasoned and the pasta layers were doughy n tender. There were subtle garlic notes in it too. It's not authentic Italian or a NY type, but just a very good, comfort TX Italian fusion casserole. Great, friendly togo service. read more

This place was bustling! We came here for HRW and did have to wait more than 10 min past our reservation for seating due to the crowd. However, once we were seated, the service was wonderful. Out server Rey was kind and attentive. He checked in frequently and made sure that we all had everything we needed during the meal. The bread basket was also delicious and had a crispy exterior and soft center. I had the shrimp osiel, the chicken soup and the baked rigatoni. Everything was very tasty and the portions were extremely generous. The chicken marsala and pasta carrabba were also very tasty, with the spinach fettuccine being a nice and unique touch. I was very happy with the menu options and was glad to have tried the HRW menu. While there was a wait, I think it was well worth it. read more

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We made a detour on our way back from Galveston to the ORIGINAL Carrabba's. It was a bit tricky to get here - lots of detours, but it was worth the drive. It was lunchtime, so we sat in the bar. I'm not a huge fan of the locations in Austin, but this was totally different. This original location is not part of the "chain" so it's quite different including many more options for vegetarians. We will definitely stop in again for dinner when in the area. I wish some of these menu options were available in other cities. We ordered salad & appetizers. They were so good. The service was exceptionally good. My margarita was delicious! read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Bar - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This or Mama Carrabba's are the only locations I will visit. The ones not owned by the family have definitely lost their way. Service, food, and ambience are always top notch. I have never had a bad meal. Not the cheapest Italian food, but definitely delicious. read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Hidden Menu item: OCL - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Carraba's on Kirby is always a must when visiting Houston with the family! This amazing restaurant offers a classic Italian food menu, and they use real and fresh ingredients on all of their dishes. My go-to order is their Pollo Rosa, which is a chicken breast stuffed with prosciutto and fontina, with a mushroom basil butter sauce and served with fettuccine Alfredo. This dish is more on the saltier side because of the prosciutto, so just keep that in mind when ordering it. Their pizzas are also delicious and my kid absolutely loves them. Besides the amazing food the service here is outstanding! I can assure you that you won't find this level of care and attention anywhere else. All the staff always goes above and beyond to make sure you have the best experience and that is absolutely priceless. Thank you Carrabba's for the amazing food and amazing time! read more

I was told that this specific location is where it all started and the original of all Carrabba's so I've been wanting to try it to see how it is compared to all the other locations in the suburbs. The location is central and there is valet only parking at the front of the establishment, but plenty of complimentary self parking in the garage just right across the street. The space is cozy and inviting! With a large bar area and several dining rooms, I can see why its great for groups small or large. I came with a large group to dine in a private area, which made for a nice evening. The service was on point and efficient with our larger group, while food and drinks were similarly pleasant. I enjoyed having many good drink options including one of my favorite sparkling red brachetto. With specialty cocktails, martinis, reds, whites, blushes, beers, and more, there's definitely something for every palate. There were several remarkable apps and main dishes including their fried calamari (lots of rings, crispy, and had 2 different dipping sauces), house salad (nice and cream parm dressing), the Pasta Carrabba (with mushrooms, peas, and grilled chicken that was tender) and Rosie's Italian Cream Cake (pecans, walnuts, coconut flakes, and cream cheese frosting...not too dense yet packed with flavor). I also tried their Chicken Bryan Texas (grilled chicken breast with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil butter, this was very salty), Margherita pizza (a classic that's super simple but had too tough of a thin crust), pepperoni pizza (not much going on but crust is slightly tough/too chewy), dessert rosa (butter cake topped with pastry cream, bananas, strawberries, pineapple, and whipped cream, great combo of fruity flavors but very soggy), sogno di cioccolata (fudge brownie with Kahlua, chocolate mousse, whipped cream, and hot chocolate sauce, which was a super indulgent combo of flavors so you really need to love, not just like chocolate), and fresh berry tart (blueberries finished with a glaze, was very tart, no sweetness at all). All in all, I liked this restaurant a lot more than the Carrabba's locations I've visited in different suburbs before. There were a few things I did not care for but others found enjoyable, and vice versa. I would come back and try other items I've never had before as well as a few of my preferred ones. read more

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I went to Carrabba's The Original on Kirby on a Saturday evening around 5:30 pm with my family. This restaurant has deep roots in Houston, having opened in 1986 as a family-owned neighborhood Italian spot with a simple menu, an open kitchen, and a reputation for warm service. Over the decades, it grew into a Houston institution and eventually expanded into a much larger space on Kirby Drive, alongside sister restaurants Mia's Table and Grace's. Despite the history, our experience was far from enjoyable. We were lucky to get a table quickly, but the parking situation was a mess. Valet was offered at the front, so I dropped off my wife and child, but I parked across the street in their garage, which was completely full to the top. Walking back was hectic, and once inside, the restaurant felt overwhelming. It is extremely large, incredibly loud, and packed with people. Servers and staff were constantly rushing past tables, creating a nonstop sense of chaos. During our meal alone, staff sang Happy Birthday loudly at three nearby tables, a busboy dropped a large container of glass bottles that shattered across the floor, and within seconds everything went back to full speed like nothing happened. The kitchen appeared to be operating at full throttle at all times. This is not a calm or relaxing place to enjoy dinner. It feels like mass-produced food moving through an assembly line. They do have high chairs available, which was helpful. We ordered our child's food immediately, but service was extremely slow afterward. It took a long time for our server to return so we could order our own meals. Drink refills were nonexistent. Complimentary bread with oil and herbs was brought out, which was fine. [KID'S MENU] +Chicken Fingers for $7.49 - Served with buttered penne. This was fine and did its job for a kid. Nothing special. - 3/5 [PIZZA] +Pepperoni Pizza for $24.89 - This was one of the blandest pizzas I've ever had. The crust had almost no flavor, which I didn't think was possible. Not terrible, but definitely not good. - 2.5/5 [PASTA] +Spaghetti with Meat Sauce for $25.39 - This tasted oddly sweet and lacked depth. It did not feel like a quality pasta dish at this price point. - 3/5 The pizza and pasta took close to 30 minutes to come out. Trying to pay at the end was another challenge, as it was difficult to track down our waiter in the chaos. Overall, Carrabba's The Original on Kirby is not a place I would recommend for Italian food or for a relaxed dining experience. Regardless of the history, the environment is overwhelming, service is slow, and the food does not justify the prices. From this experience alone, I would not return and would suggest looking elsewhere if you want quality dining in Houston. read more

Usually enjoy eating here so decided to have a pick up order delivered. We did not get half of our order that we "paid" for and the order as a whole was very simple. Pasta and a side salad with a dessert. Highly disappointed in this. Not sure about ordering out from here again Anytime soon. read more

A memorable meal -- exceptional, attentive, efficient service and tasty food. A truly Italian- American restaurant worthy of a return visit, I hope to go back soon. From the moment we were seated, we were treated like VIPs. The Caesar salad was fresh, crisp and dressed perfectly. The Red Snapper, topped with lump crab meat was over the top delicious. The dining room is large, and nicely appointed. A good, but not particularly lengthy wine list --all of which pair well with the food served here. Vallet parking. This could be my "go to" restaurant in Houston. Well done! read more

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Stopped by On The Kirb's Kirby location after a great workout. I was very hungry, and one of their managers, Lauryn recommended the fajita platter. It hit the spot! Highly recommend the dish and asking for Lauryn as your server. Great atmosphere to watch any game at or to just pop in for a bite to eat. read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Fajita platter stacked to the brim! - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

I tried the meat ravioli today and it was incredible. The lemon made it taste bright, the filling was wonderful, and the flavors were perfectly balanced. Service was great, the wait wasn't long at all, and the portion size was just right. I'll definitely be ordering it again. read more

A few of my friends and our wives met for dinner last nite. One of them frequent this restaurant and he made the reservation. When you arrive unless you find street parking, you will have to valet. It's only five dollars. Once inside, we arrive to our table and sat down and had drinks. One of the appetizers we ordered was shrimp osiel. It was it was delicious. It was golden fried shrimp tossed in a garlic herb butter sauce with asparagus, roasted red bell peppers, and jumbo lump crabmeat, served with garlic toast. We all had a variety of dishes, but I had the meatball appetizer, house salad and pasta carrabba. It was in the HRW menu. I was impressed with the service as well as the food. We had a great time and hung around until they were closing and we had to leave. It each my first visit and I will definitely come back in the future. read more

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Complimentary valet & no reservations, walk-ins only! Love a restaurant that does that. It was very cozy and warm inside. The waitstaff & our server were outstanding! Very funny & relatable. We started off with a bottle of Pinot Grigio, fried calamari & shrimp, & house salad. The portions are very generous here. Loved the bread service they offered too. We ordered the Mushroom Ravioli, Raffy's Scampi, and Pollo Rosa Maria. My favorite was their house salad, calamari, & fettuccine pasta. Everything was so flavorful. We ended the night with the waitstaff singing to us for my friend's birthday. It was great! Would definitely come back soon to order all of our server's favorite dishes, hopefully we could get the same server again! read more

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An all time favorite. Been going to other locations since I was a kid. Was lucky enough to meet the owner at this location, who frequents often. I always always get the chicken Brian, always delicious. Their mozarella sticks and Cesar salad. They also make strong and yummy cocktails. It's definitely a louder, crowded, lively vibe and is a fun spot to catch up with friends or entertain a group. read more

Visited location Sunday evening 2/16/25 about 530pm was seated immediately . Greeted with smiles ordering didnt take long. Aside from the friendly environment 10/10, lets get into those delicious juicy mouth watering lamb chops i had !! No sauce needed very juicy and tender , cooked to my medium well desire and they did not disappoint me at all the asparagus and spinach both tender and seasoned to perfection for my palate for a perfect meal .....i cant wait to go grab me some more !!!! Will be back read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - My mouth watering just looking at the juiciness and tender all meat just a little fat for the taste !! Best hands down ive had in a while - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Oh boy, hold onto your taste buds, because Carrabba's - The Original is like a flavor carnival for your mouth! From the moment you step in, you're greeted with the aromas of Italy and the promise of culinary adventure. First off, let's talk about those sauces. I'm convinced they must have a secret sauce wizard hidden in the kitchen because every sauce is like a work of art in a bowl. I'd bathe in that marinara if I could, but I won't, because that would be weird... right? And don't even get me started on the seafood, which tastes like it was just plucked from the ocean and perfectly seasoned. Fresh, succulent, and swimming in flavor (pun absolutely intended). But it's not just about the food, oh no. The atmosphere is as warm and inviting as your grandma's kitchen (if your grandma was a master chef, that is). The staff? They're helpful in ensuring your dining experience is equally as awesome as the food. If authentic super delicious Italian food is your thing, you'll want to return over and over, and often too. Buon appetito! read more

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Everything went well. The service was above expectations. The food was excellent. Perfection!

I visited this restaurant yesterday with some friends. It was 6pm on a Tuesday. The restaurant wasn't incredibly busy but had plenty of patrons. We were welcomed with smiles and directed to our table. We were served promptly by a super friendly waitress. I ordered the Filet Mignon with small potatoes and it was absolutely incredible. The steak was one of the best I've had in ages. Honestly surprised. I expected good Italian food, but the steak I was expecting average. This steak was cooked Med-Rare as ordered and it was delicious! The ambiance is nice but it's noisy. Lots of people in a big room, so it's expected. My preference is for a more quiet area where I can converse easily. I highly recommend thjs restaurant for its service and quality of food. Thank you very much. read more

Lemon drop martini was on point! I had the grilled quail with Parmesan asparagus and roasted potatoes! Everyone's food looked delicious! read more

Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby - Grilled quail, Parmesan asparagus, and roasted potatoes - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

take reservations online. small wait for New Year's Eve. self parking garage just across the street. super nice server. quick restaurant staff. bar area available while you wait. read more

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The Original Carrabba's is a world apart from the Carrabba's chain locations you see around town. The menu and food choices are delicious. So many items are homemade and you can definitely tell the difference. For comparison sakes, I've always said you can judge a Mexican restaurant by the chips/salsa. Well, you can judge an Italian restaurant by their calamari. TOC has delicious calamari. It is prepared to perfection. Everything else I had there is also delicious. It's a higher end restaurant and the staff and service are impeccable. There is limited self parking on the grounds of the restaurant. There are limited handicap spots on the grounds of the restaurant. They do have valet parking available. There is street parking and a parking garage directly across the street which helps with the overflow. Bottom line - Excellent Italian restaurant that is way better than the chains that are located in the suburbs. Simply no comparison. This is a must try when you're looking for good Italian food. read more