Spiedino di Mare

What's in the Spiedino di Mare?

At 560 calories per serving, the Spiedino di Mare represents about 28% of a 2,000-calorie daily intake. On the macronutrient side, roughly 49% of those calories come from protein, 45% from fat, and 11% from carbohydrates — a profile typical of Carrabba's Italian Grill's Entree section. Sodium is often the line to watch with sit-down chain entrees, and this dish delivers 1480mg, or about 64% of the FDA's daily reference value. If you're watching salt, pairing the Spiedino di Mare with a side salad (dressing on the side) and water rather than a sweetened beverage is the standard mitigation. Like most items at Carrabba's Italian Grill, the dish is built for shareable portions and is plated at restaurant scale rather than a strict single serving. Boxing half of it before you start is one of the simplest ways to bring the per-meal calorie load down meaningfully without giving up the experience.

How this fits a 2,000-calorie day

One serving of the Spiedino di Mare supplies 560 calories, which represents roughly 28% of a 2,000-calorie reference day. That is a moderate restaurant-portion meal — generous compared to a home-cooked plate but not at the upper end of the chain's menu. A side salad or a smaller appetizer can round it out without pushing the day over budget.

The macronutrient split lands at roughly 47% protein, 10% carbohydrate and 43% fat by calorie share — a useful frame because raw gram counts often understate how much of a dish's energy actually comes from fat. Protein delivery is meaningful here at 68g per serving, which can keep satiety high relative to carb-heavy or fat-heavy alternatives.

Sodium clocks in at 1480mg, or about 64% of the FDA's 2,300mg daily reference value. That is on the higher end for a single restaurant serving. It still fits a normal day if other meals are light, but two restaurant meals in a row at this sodium level will add up quickly.

Allergen profile

Shellfish

The Spiedino di Mare is flagged for Shellfish in the chain's posted allergen panel. Shellfish presence means shared fryers and shared prep surfaces are likely; a shellfish-allergic guest should ask for confirmation that the protein is cooked on a dedicated surface. Cross-contact in a shared kitchen is always possible, so when in doubt, ask the floor manager.

How it stacks up against the casual-dining category

Across the 146 Entree entries we track in this category — averaging 791 calories and 1,869mg sodium per serving — the Spiedino di Mare at Carrabba's Italian Grill sits roughly 29% lighter than the category average. It also delivers 389mg less sodium than the typical Entree item we list, which is the more useful number if you're cross-shopping menus on the way to a reservation.

For direct cross-shopping, here are the closest Entree matches we track at competing chains:

Ordering strategy

If the Spiedino di Mare is the entrée you want, the highest-leverage adjustments are usually the ones that change the surrounding meal rather than the dish itself. Because the entrée itself is moderate, you have headroom for an appetizer or a starter side without dropping into restrictive territory — useful for a longer dinner where the goal is to stretch the meal rather than minimize it. Sauces, dressings and finishing oils are routinely the largest hidden source of calories on a casual-dining plate; getting them on the side gives you direct portion control without changing the dish you actually want to eat.

Ingredients summary

Grilled shrimp and scallop skewers, lemon-butter, rice

The bottom line

The Spiedino di Mare from Carrabba's Italian Grill is a moderate entry on the chain's menu at 560 calories and 1,480mg of sodium per serving. Protein delivery is strong, which is the dish's most useful nutritional feature. Anyone tracking sodium specifically — including most people on blood-pressure medication — should weigh this dish against the chain's lower-sodium options on the same menu before committing.