Carrabba's Italian Grill

Carrabba's Italian Grill (or simply Carrabba's) is an American restaurant chain featuring Italian-American cuisine. It is owned and operated by Bloomin' Brands, and headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

Carrabba's Italian Grill
Hospitality
IndustryRestaurant
GenreCasual dining
FoundedDecember 26, 1986 (1986-12-26)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Founder"Johnny" Charles Carrabba, III
Damian Mandola
Headquarters2202 North West Shore Boulevard, Suite 500
Tampa, Florida, U.S. 33607
Number of locations
247 (2015)[1]
Area served
United States
Key people
Michael Kappitt
(President of Carrabba’s)
ProductsItalian-American cuisine
(pasta • pizza • chicken • seafood)
RevenueUS$ 687 million (2017)
ParentBloomin' Brands
Websitewww.carrabbas.com

History

The chain was founded on December 26, 1986 by John Charles "Johnny" Carrabba III and his uncle Damian Mandola.[2] Together, they opened the first restaurant on Kirby Drive in Houston, Texas. A second location was opened soon after at the intersection of Woodway and Voss Road. After a considerable enlargement of the restaurant, it was renamed "Rosie Carrabba's" in honor of Damian's sister Rose. Johnny Carrabba and his family are still the proprietors of both original locations.[3][4]

In January 1993, under a joint venture with Outback Steakhouse, Inc. (the predecessor to Bloomin' Brands), 10 new Carrabba's locations were opened in Houston and Florida. Two years later, OSI acquired the rights to develop the Carrabba's chain nationwide.[2]

In 2008, OSI teamed up with HMSHost to open the first airport location in Tampa International Airport.[5]

As of 2013, there were more Carrabba's restaurants in Florida—home to parent company Bloomin' Brands' corporate headquarters—than any other state in the United States.[6]

In 2015, the first Carrabba's international location opened in Brazil, rebranded as "Abbraccio"[7]

Many of the recipes for the dishes on Carrabba's menu are those of Damian's mother, Grace, and his sister, Rose.[8] These recipes were featured on the PBS cooking show Cucina Sicilia, which is hosted by Carrabba and Mandola.[9][10]

Chicken Bryan, one of Carrabba's Italian Grill's dishes,[11] features an 8 oz grilled chicken breast, topped with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes, and a basil lemon-butter sauce. The dish is named after the city of Bryan (Texas), where the Carrabba family settled.[11]

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References
  1. Bloomin' Brands, Inc. (December 27, 2015). "FY 2015 10-K" (PDF). U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 5, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  2. "Carrabba's Story". OSI Restaurant Partners, LLC. Archived from the original on April 19, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  3. "Carrabba's Locator, Kirby". OSI Restaurant Partners, LLC. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  4. "Carrabba's Locator, Woodway". OSI Restaurant Partners, LLC. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  5. Steve Huettel (October 22, 2008). "Changes on their way to Tampa International Airport". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  6. Carrabba's Locations
  7. "Bloomin' Brands Announces 2015 First Quarter Adjusted Diluted EPS of $0.54 and Diluted EPS of $0.47". May 5, 2015. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  8. "About, Meet the Family". OSI Restaurant Partners, LLC. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  9. "Cucina Sicilia". PBS. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  10. "Founders". OSI Restaurant Partners, LLC. Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  11. "Chicken Bryan". OSI Restaurant Partners, LLC. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
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