- November 23, 2024
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As I walked around the dining room of Palm Coast’s newest restaurant, Thursday, Dec. 6, a breeze came through the open doors to the front patio of the indoor/outdoor seating area. Before I could see the cooks, the inviting aromas of garlic and olive oil pulled me toward the open-style kitchen that Carrabba’s Italian Grill is famous for.
These smells were not on accident; in fact, sensory perception is something that Carrabba’s has thought long and hard about. It couples with the open floor plan of the dining room for a home-style feel. Photographs depicting the streets of Italy line the walls juxtaposed against black and white photos of the family that started it all back in 1986.
The restaurant will officially open its doors for business in Palm Coast 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, but as a member of the media, my taste buds and I got a sneak peak.
As the 64th store in Florida, the 244-seat restaurant needed to get some practice cooking signature menu items, and of course, it doesn’t hurt to give out free meals to people in the community.
Carrabba’s serves an array of classic Italian favorites, combining handmade recipes passed down for more than four generations with fresh ingredients. The sneak peak started with three appetizers.
First up were the crab cakes. Pan-seared to a golden perfection, these are not your Maryland cakes. It’s a celebration of Italian seafood with a signature blend of spices, lump crab meat, breadcrumbs and Romano cheese. Of course, I tried to get them to give up the signature blend, but they were holding onto the secret pretty tight. But better than the cake was the beautiful pool of roasted red bell pepper sauce that accompanied it.
Next up was the classic best-seller calamari, or squid, for you English speakers. Then came the cozze in bianco, directly translated to mussels in white wine. It was an Italian seafood feast, but those were only the starters.
I was already getting full, but ready to take this culinary journey, which was the history of Carrabba’s.
No Italian meal is complete without pasta. Mezzaluna, the half-moon ravioli stuffed with chicken, ricotta and spinach in tomato cream sauce embodied that portion of the menu.
Since Carrabba’s is best known for its wood-burning grill, the Chicken Trio was up next, which included Chicken Bryan, Pollo Rosa Maria and Marsala. I am going to tell you now that I did not eat the full dishes of everything that was brought out. I did, however, taste a little bit of everything, to make sure that I got the full experience.
The last entree, Pizza Margherita, transported me to the streets of Venice. The wood-fired thin crusted pizza topped with fresh mozzarella, basil and tomato pulled out the travel bug that I have been trying to suppress and a craving for the little pizza shop that became a regular stop for me when I was in Venice.
But alas, no meal is complete without a sweet ending. Presented on the dessert plate were Sogno Di Cioccolata, or “Chocolate Dream,” Tiramisú, and Dessert Rosa, which made a table of very stuffed media professionals.
While presenting an Italian culinary experience to its guests is Carrabba’s first goal, it doesn’t stop there.
“We’re entrenched in the community and have a budget to give back,” said Proprietor Michael Xifaras, who now resides in Palm Coast with his family.
To kick-start support for the local communities, 50% of the Carrabba’s opening night sales, up to $5,000, will benefit Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation, which is part of Adventist Health System, the nation’s largest not-for-profit Protestant health care provider.
Located at 160 Cypress Edge Drive, Carrabba’s Italian Grill will be open 4-10 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 4-11 p.m. Friday; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Call 246-9839 for call ahead seating and carry out.
