which restaurant would you choose?

godblessourhome

restaurant one - grappa's mediterranean bistro
First Course
Appetizer (your choice of):

* Open Faced Lobster Ravioli with sun-dried cherries, spinach and fresh mozzarella in a light curried lobster sauce
* Grappa Crab Cakes served with lemon basil & tomato caper buerre blanc
* Portobello & Grilled Asparagus with herbed chèvre, truffle basil vinaigrette and balsamic reduction

Second Course
Entrée (your choice of):

* Duck Confit Risotto ~ In radicchio cup with grilled asparagus and caramelized cipollini onions; finished with white truffle and parmiggiano-reggiano
* Shoulder Beef Rilet Mignon Au Poivre ~ Cognac flambéed with homemade pomme fritte
* Penne Pasta with Salmon a la Vodka ~ Penne pasta in pancetta parmesan cream sauce with grilled salmon
* Veal Scaloppini Piccata ~ In lemon caper butter with whipped potatoes

Third Course
Dessert (your choice of):

* Raspberry Crème Brûlée
* Chocolate Fondant with Pistachio Gelato
* Tiramisù


OR


restaurant two - carrabba's italian grill
First Course
Choose one to share, or as an individual sized appetizer:

* Hot Antipasti Platter ~ A combination of two house favorites: lightly battered and fried calamari, served with marinara sauce, and zucchini fritte, served with garlic aioli for dipping
* Cozze in Bianco ~ Prince Edward Island mussels steamed in white wine, basil and lemon butter

Second Course
Choose one:

* The Damian ~ Enjoy this grouping of our three most popular seafood dishes: Grilled Salmon topped with tomato basil vinaigrette, Spiedino Di Mare and Lobster Ravioli
* Chicken Trio ~ Carrabba’s three famous chicken dishes on one plate! Chicken Bryan (topped with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, and basil lemon butter sauce); Chicken Marsala (topped with mushrooms, prosciutto and our Lombardo Marsala wine sauce); and Pollo Rosa Maria (stuffed with fontina and prosciutto, topped with mushrooms and basil lemon butter sauce)
* Pasta Rambo ~ Named for the chef who created it; your choice of sautéed shrimp or jumbo lump crab meat crowns a nest of imported Italian linguine, spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes sautéed in our basil lemon butter sauce
* Sirloin and Crabcake ~ A USDA certified center cut sirloin seasoned and grilled to perfection and crabcake, served with fresh asparagus

Third Course
Choose one to share:

* Tiramisù ~ Lady fingers dipped in liqueur laced espresso, layered with sweetened mascarpone, Myer’s Rum and chocolate shavings
* Songo Di Cioccolata “Chocolate Dream” ~ A rich fudge brownie brushed with Kahlua, with chocolate mousse, fresh whipped cream and homemade chocolate sauce
* Bacinos ~ “Little kisses,” that’s just what our mini-desserts are like; small, guilt-free versions of our favorite desserts, made fresh daily; ask your server about today’s delicious selections

Additional Items

* A Quartino (glass and a half) of house wine for each person is included in the price: White Zinfandel, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Montepulciano D’Abruzzo or Cabernet Sauvignon


**and what would you order?

sillygoose1977

The first because I've been to Carrabas and it was :sick: . Mediterranean is probably a lot healthier anyway.

NiecyD

How about Cantina D'Italia, they are wonderful and everything is prepared fresh.

jennlee80

Id pick the first option! I worked at Carrabba's for years! Great food but not so great if you're dieting. I'd pick the asp/mush app, the filet and the tiramisu...ENJOY!

JennDoesKeto

i would pick carabbas

Mussles

the chicken platter (cause you don't have to eat the whole thing)

and the little kisses desert (same as above)

mielikkibz

neither!

godblessourhome

How about Cantina D'Italia, they are wonderful and everything is prepared fresh.

sorry, i don't think we don't have one here in denver. plus, they would have to be participating in 5280 week for me to eat there this week. lol.

godblessourhome

neither!

how come? not a fan of greek or italian?

godblessourhome

i'm leaning more towards grappa's mediterranean bistro:
* Open Faced Lobster Ravioli with sun-dried cherries, spinach and fresh mozzarella in a light curried lobster sauce/Portobello & Grilled Asparagus with herbed chèvre, truffle basil vinaigrette and balsamic reduction (can't decide!)
* Duck Confit Risotto ~ In radicchio cup with grilled asparagus and caramelized cipollini onions; finished with white truffle and parmiggiano-reggiano
* Raspberry Crème Brûlée

but hubby wants carrabba's italian grill:
* Hot Antipasti Platter ~ A combination of two house favorites: lightly battered and fried calamari, served with marinara sauce, and zucchini fritte, served with garlic aioli for dipping
* Chicken Trio ~ Carrabba’s three famous chicken dishes on one plate! Chicken Bryan (topped with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, and basil lemon butter sauce); Chicken Marsala (topped with mushrooms, prosciutto and our Lombardo Marsala wine sauce); and Pollo Rosa Maria (stuffed with fontina and prosciutto, topped with mushrooms and basil lemon butter sauce)
* Songo Di Cioccolata “Chocolate Dream” ~ A rich fudge brownie brushed with Kahlua, with chocolate mousse, fresh whipped cream and homemade chocolate sauce
* A Quartino (glass and a half) of house wine for each person is included in the price: White Zinfandel, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Montepulciano D’Abruzzo or Cabernet Sauvignon

ahhh, the dilemma.

MakingAChoice

neither!

how come? not a fan of greek or italian?

I'm a fan of Greek and Italian foods, but I cannot say I would choose anything you listed without some major changes requested to the waiter. Plus the calorie content of a three course meal is going to be crazy high. It seems kind of silly to come on and ask us our thought on totally wrong food choices.

mielikkibz

neither!

how come? not a fan of greek or italian?

nope. we go to macaroni grill and I get grilled chicken on top of noodles, just butter please.

godblessourhome

neither!

how come? not a fan of greek or italian?

I'm a fan of Greek and Italian foods, but I cannot say I would choose anything you listed without some major changes requested to the waiter. Plus the calorie content of a three course meal is going to be crazy high. It seems kind of silly to come on and ask us our thought on totally wrong food choices.

hmmm. maybe it's the foodie in me, but i don't see any 'totally wrong food choices'. i'm not sure if you've eaten in high end restaurants, but they usually don't overserve portion sizes. they are actually quite small. also, it's not like you would eat like this everyday, and with a pretty intense workout, i'm sure it will fit in most people's calories.

godblessourhome

nope. we go to macaroni grill and I get grilled chicken on top of noodles, just butter please.

i've eaten there once. i wasn't a fan. must have ordered the wrong thing. lol.

melodyg

The Mediterranean place... only because I can go to carraba's anytime (it is good, but I like trying new places!)

Crab cakes for the appetizer

Entrée (your choice of):

* Penne Pasta with Salmon a la Vodka ~ Penne pasta in pancetta parmesan cream sauce with grilled salmon
* Veal Scaloppini Piccata ~ In lemon caper butter with whipped potatoes

I can't decide. I'd probably go with the pasta and salmon even though I am sure it is really bad for you. I like chicken piccata too (mmm....) but I have veal issues and I can't get very excited over most restaurant whipped potatoes

Third Course
Dessert (your choice of):

* Raspberry Crème Brûlée
* Chocolate Fondant with Pistachio Gelato

Torn here between raspberry and chocolate... I'd probably see what I felt like at the time. I love pistachio ice cream (spumoni, yum!) but I also love raspberry. Guess raspberry gelato isn't an option...

I have to say I am jealous of all of your yummy restaurant options lately!

tam8374

I like option one... Sounds yummier and healthier.

mielikkibz

nope. we go to macaroni grill and I get grilled chicken on top of noodles, just butter please.

i've eaten there once. i wasn't a fan. must have ordered the wrong thing. lol.

I go with my roommate who loves italian food, I don't, so I get the make your own pasta LOL My favorite restaurant is Stoney River steakhouse LOl

andreamichelle82

Carabba's, but with Chicken Bryan and whatever wondeful Chocolateness dessert they give you complimentary for your birthday... mmmm!

Oh, and they are both totally great choices! Carabba's portions are reasonable, and their food is quite fresh. Nothing a good workout and planned calories can't fix!

doo1963

i'm not sure if you've eaten in high end restaurants, but they usually don't overserve portion sizes.

I didn't knowr Carraba's is considered high end.

godblessourhome

i'm not sure if you've eaten in high end restaurants, but they usually don't overserve portion sizes.

I didn't knowr Carraba's is considered high end.

i'd classify it is mid to high. it is better than olive garden, red lobster, applesbee's, etc (entrees in the 10s and teens), but not as classy as the palm, ruth's chris steakhouse, morton's, etc ($30-$50 entrees) it is along the lines of buca de beppo, maggiano's, macaroni grill, etc ($20-$25 entrees). at least the one here is.

pretentiouskate

No matter where you eat, I'd recommend either asking for a box or a second plate and halving your portions - even through the portions might not seem oversized they WILL be using real butter, real cream, fat marbled cuts of meat, oil, SALT - the works - that's what makes it taste so good!

Rather than bringing the leftovers home I'd probably toss them so that they didn't hang around to tempt me - I wouldn't want to eat it again the next day - having a treat is one thing but making a habit of it is quite another, and to me eating the leftovers would mean blowing two days.