I ordered the same meal from Olive Garden and Carrabba's, and the winner blew me away with its generous portions

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.