Each time you waltz into the dining room at Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Panama City, Florida, their homey décor and low-key atmosphere will instantly prepare you for a dining experience to remember. They have cozy booths throughout the dining space surrounded by beautiful houseplants of all kinds. Further setting the stage, they always use soft lighting that illuminates your meal while maintaining a chill ambiance.
They take the experience to the next level by offering friendly service from the second you walk in the door. After receiving a warm welcome, your server will guide you to your table and provide the menus. Upon bringing out cold glasses of water, they will take your drink and appetizer order, then allow you to browse the menus at your leisure. You will never feel rushed to order or finish your meal while dining at this restaurant. Instead, you can lounge around and eat each course in peace as you would at home.
Their menu features a wide variety of creative Italian dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients. To create each menu item, the owners fused the traditional Sicilian recipes passed through their family with techniques learned while living in Texas. The fusion elevates the Italian flavors while adding not-so-subtle hints of Creole and southern dishes of all kinds.
Fan favorites on their menu include:
Shrimp Scampi
When you order the Shrimp Scampi, you can rest assured all the flavors will be top-notch. They start with the creation of the sauce using lemon butter, garlic, and white wine. Then, they add a generous portion of shrimp and serve it all up with fresh-baked bread.
Lobster Ravioli
When lobster meets Romano cheese, you just know it is going to be good, which is definitely the case with their Lobster Ravioli. Each square of decadent pasta is stuffed full of this lobster-cheese combo, then simmered in an incredible white wine cream sauce. Right before serving, they cover the whole dish with diced tomatoes to compliment the rich flavors.
Pollo Rosa Maria
The Pollo Rosa Maria features chicken breast filled with a prosciutto and fontina cheese mixture, then grilled to perfection. Over the top of the chicken, they add mushrooms in a basil lemon butter sauce. With your order, you can choose between soup and salad plus add garlic mashed potatoes, sautéed broccoli, or another side of your choice.
Spiedino Di Mare
When you want to experience all the flavors of the Gulf, order the Spiedino Di Mare. This dish starts with sea scallops and shrimp by the boatload that are lightly breaded and fried. Over that, they add sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes in generous amounts. The whole dish receives a healthy topping of their iconic basil lemon butter sauce to finish it all up.
With all their tasty meals to choose from, it is nearly impossible to save enough room for dessert. If you can manage, however, there are a ton of awesome treats to enjoy. You can order up classic Tiramisu or go for the inventive cannoli cake for two. They even have Sogno di cioccolata, which is a fudge brownie topped with chocolate mousse, whipped cream, and then smothered in chocolate sauce.
Insider Tip:
– If you visit on Monday through Friday before 3 pm, you can order their ever-popular Endless Soup & Salad or one of their other lunch specials.