Carrabba's Italian Grill
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | December 26, 1986 in Houston, Texas, United States |
| Founder | John Charles "Johnny" Carrabba III, Damian Mandola |
| Headquarters | Tampa , United States |
Area served | United States, Brazil, Canada |
| Products | Italian-American cuisine |
| Owner | Bloomin' Brands |
Number of employees | (2022) |
| Parent | Bloomin' Brands |
| Website | www |
Carrabba's Italian Grill—commonly referred to as Carrabba's—is a United States-based restaurant chain that focuses on Italian-American cuisine. It is owned by Bloomin' Brands and has its corporate headquarters in Tampa, Florida. As of 2022, the chain operates 217 locations.
History
The restaurant was established on December 26, 1986, by John Charles "Johnny" Carrabba III along with his uncle Damian Mandola. Their inaugural venue was situated on Kirby Drive in Houston, Texas. A subsequent site was opened at the intersection of Woodway and Voss Road. Following growth, the original restaurant was renamed "Rosie Carrabba's" to honor Damian’s sister, Rose. These two initial establishments remain under the ownership of the founders.
In January 1993, a collaborative venture with Outback Steakhouse, Inc. (currently known as Bloomin' Brands) led to the opening of 10 additional Carrabba's outlets located in Houston and Florida. By 1995, OSI had acquired exclusive rights to develop the brand nationwide.
The first airport-based Carrabba's was launched in 2008 through a partnership between OSI and HMSHost at Tampa International Airport.
By 2013, Florida—where Bloomin' Brands’ headquarters are located—boasted more Carrabba's restaurants than any other U.S. state.
International expansion began in 2015 with the brand’s debut in Brazil under the new name "Abbraccio."
In 2020, Carrabba's made its entry into the Canadian market by opening a restaurant in Moncton, New Brunswick.
In 2021, Bloomin' Brands obtained complete ownership by purchasing the founders’ interests via a royalty termination agreement; however, the original Houston locations remain with the founders.
Menu
Numerous recipes featured on Carrabba's menu trace back to family traditions from co-founder Damian Carrabba’s mother, Grace, and his sister Rose. These culinary creations were highlighted on the PBS cooking series Cucina Sicilia, hosted by both Carrabba and Mandola.
One of the brand’s hallmark dishes is Chicken Bryan, which consists of an 8 oz grilled chicken breast topped with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, and a basil lemon-butter sauce. The dish is named after Bryan, Texas, where the Carrabba family originally settled.