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.
History
The chain was founded on December 26, 1986, by John Charles "Johnny" Carrabba III and his uncle Damian Mandola.[1] Together, they opened the first restaurant on Kirby Drive in Houston, Texas. A second location followed at the intersection of Woodway and Voss Road, which was later expanded and renamed "Rosie Carrabba's" after Mandola's sister, Rose. Johnny Carrabba and his family retain ownership of both original locations.[2][3]
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