Carrabba's Italian Grill, Murfreesboro, TN

There is a new restaurant in the booming, college town of Murfreesboro, TN. Carrabba's Italian Grill has opened its doors at 544 North Thompson Ln. I had the pleasure of dining at this establishment recently and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the staff and the quality of the food.

The Murfreesboro Carrabba's is located in a shopping strip at the corner of Medical Center Parkway and Thompson Lane. There was plenty of parking despite the restaurant having to share spaces with nearby stores. The restaurant itself was very clean and had a nice Italian atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed the audio Italian language lessons in the bathroom.

On a Friday night, there wasn't much of a crowd. We were able to be seated right away by a happy hostess. The manager himself came to our table and asked us if it was our first time dining at that particular Carrabba's. When we told him that it was, he brought out a sample of their Mezzaluna, ravioli stuffed with chicken, ricotta, and spinach then topped with a tomato cream sauce. It was delicious, but I ordered the Chicken Marsala with the garlic mashed potatoes. My meal came with the option of soup or three different salads and I chose the Italian salad. The waiter provided us with bread and our drinks very quickly, and the salad soon followed. We did not have to wait long at all for our food, but the manager apologized for it taking so long. The portions were generous and, I have to say, the garlic mashed potatoes were among the best that I have ever had a restaurant. Our glasses were never empty and there were plenty of left-overs for us to take home and enjoy Carrabba's the next day. Our waiter brought the to-go boxes to the table and boxed the food himself.

Carrabba's is a little expensive for the average family to enjoy every week, but I felt as though I got my money's worth with the amount of food we received. Prices range from around $9.99 to $19.99 with appetizers, soups, and salads being a little cheaper. There is an extensive wine list (being pregnant, I could not indulge) that had plenty of good wines to complement the meal. Carrabba's is open Sunday 11:00 A.M. to 9:30 P.M., Monday thru Thursday 4:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M., Friday 4:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M., and Saturday 3:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. If you do not feel like eating in the restaurant, they do offer carry-out.