As someone who grew up in the suburbs, restaurant chains like Olive Garden and Carrabba's always had a special place in my heart.Some get a bad rep and, sure, they may not always be the most authentic, but sometimes there's comfort in knowing exactly what to expect. Plus, they can have some pretty great dishes.Both chains serve tons of Italian-American classics, and I was curious which had the better bites and dining experience. So, I headed to both an Olive Garden and Carrabba's in the Panama City Beach area of Florida and tried ordering almost the same meal at each.Here's how they compared.
First, I stopped by Olive Garden for an early dinner.
Olive Garden has a Tuscan-inspired exterior.
Abigail Abesamis Demarest
I started this taste test with my local Olive Garden since I was more familiar with it.The Italian-inspired chain has more than 900 locations worldwide (most in the US) and is known for its "Italian generosity," in part because its meals come with unlimited breadsticks and salad.
