Damian Mandola founded Carrabba’s Italian Grill launches new menu
Carrabba’s Italian Grill launched a completely revamped menu aimed at younger diners in March of 2016. A wide variety of new appetizers, entrees and desserts were launched among highly respected food writers, food bloggers and a few journalists. The new menu has more small sharing plates, inexpensive entrees and a simpler choice of dishes to attract younger customers. One of the problems plaguing casual dining restaurants is that mostly older people dine here.
Bonefish Grill recently closed fourteen of their restaurants due to losses and Carrabba’s would be hoping to avoid the same fate by revamping the menu. Carrabba’s still serves all of the classics but cheaper and small plates like meatballs with ricotta or stuffed mushrooms are aimed at the younger customer who is looking for a quick and causal bite.
Success of the chain
Carrabba’s Italian Grill is an American restaurant chain that was established in 1986 in Houston, Texas. It is owned and operated by Bloomin’ Brands with its headquarters in Tampa, Florida. Having been in business for over three decades, the chain has become highly successful and currently operates in over 250 locations all across the United States.
The family run business serves authentic Italian-American cuisine and believes food is not just food, but a way of life. Run by the interconnected families of Mandolas and Carrabba’s, the restaurant chain is inspired by the saying “You may be poor but you’ll never be hungry”, which has been in the families for many generations.
History
Carrabba’s Italian Grill was founded by Damian Mandola and his nephew John Charles “Johnny” Carrabba III. The two were instrumental in the opening of the first ever Carrabba’s at Kirby Drive in Houston. A second location was soon opened after the success of the first and these two original locations are still owned by the Carrabba family. In the next seven years the Carraba family formed a partnership with Outback Steakhouse, Inc. to open ten more locations across Houston and Florida.
Soon they acquired rights to open restaurants nationwide and expand the brand. The first airport location for the Carrabba’s was the Tampa International Airport and since then the chain has opened many restaurants all across America. Like many other casual dining restaurant chains, the Carrabba’s Italian Grill is also owned by Bloomin’ Brands, a hospitality industry corporation.
Food
Carrabba’s Italian Grill serves the best authentic Italian food among any restaurant in the United States. Probably the most popular Italian-themed restaurant chain in the country, they still serve recipes that have been inspired by the original Carrabba family recipes. Grace, the mother of Mandola and Rose, his sister have created many of the delicious dishes you can taste on Carrabba’s menu. One of the best dishes and one of their most popular, served by the chain is the Chicken Bryan.
Named after the city Bryan in Texas where the Carrabba family initially settled after emigrating from Italy, the dish features a perfectly grilled chicken breast served with goat cheese and sundried tomatoes in a base of basil lemon butter sauce.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill launched a completely revamped menu aimed at younger diners in March of 2016. A wide variety of new appetizers, entrees and desserts were launched among highly respected food writers, food bloggers and a few journalists. The new menu has more small sharing plates, inexpensive entrees and a simpler choice of dishes to attract younger customers. One of the problems plaguing casual dining restaurants is that mostly older people dine here.
Bonefish Grill recently closed fourteen of their restaurants due to losses and Carrabba’s would be hoping to avoid the same fate by revamping the menu. Carrabba’s still serves all of the classics but cheaper and small plates like meatballs with ricotta or stuffed mushrooms are aimed at the younger customer who is looking for a quick and causal bite.
Success of the chain
Carrabba’s Italian Grill is an American restaurant chain that was established in 1986 in Houston, Texas. It is owned and operated by Bloomin’ Brands with its headquarters in Tampa, Florida. Having been in business for over three decades, the chain has become highly successful and currently operates in over 250 locations all across the United States.
The family run business serves authentic Italian-American cuisine and believes food is not just food, but a way of life. Run by the interconnected families of Mandolas and Carrabba’s, the restaurant chain is inspired by the saying “You may be poor but you’ll never be hungry”, which has been in the families for many generations.
History
Carrabba’s Italian Grill was founded by Damian Mandola and his nephew John Charles “Johnny” Carrabba III. The two were instrumental in the opening of the first ever Carrabba’s at Kirby Drive in Houston. A second location was soon opened after the success of the first and these two original locations are still owned by the Carrabba family. In the next seven years the Carraba family formed a partnership with Outback Steakhouse, Inc. to open ten more locations across Houston and Florida.
Soon they acquired rights to open restaurants nationwide and expand the brand. The first airport location for the Carrabba’s was the Tampa International Airport and since then the chain has opened many restaurants all across America. Like many other casual dining restaurant chains, the Carrabba’s Italian Grill is also owned by Bloomin’ Brands, a hospitality industry corporation.
Food
Carrabba’s Italian Grill serves the best authentic Italian food among any restaurant in the United States. Probably the most popular Italian-themed restaurant chain in the country, they still serve recipes that have been inspired by the original Carrabba family recipes. Grace, the mother of Mandola and Rose, his sister have created many of the delicious dishes you can taste on Carrabba’s menu. One of the best dishes and one of their most popular, served by the chain is the Chicken Bryan.
Named after the city Bryan in Texas where the Carrabba family initially settled after emigrating from Italy, the dish features a perfectly grilled chicken breast served with goat cheese and sundried tomatoes in a base of basil lemon butter sauce.