Carrabba's - The Original on Kirby

About the Business

Specialties

Today, Johnny Carrabba and his family are proud that the two original locations on Kirby Drive and Voss Road remain family owned and operated neighborhood restaurants. What makes us unique are the quality ingredients that go into each dish along with our lively and warm dining experiences. At The Original Carrabba's, we have an open kitchen and we take enormous pride in our food. Our pizza dough is made fresh every day and our pizzas are cooked in a wood-burning oven. We fillet our own fish daily, make fresh homemade pasta, and we even hand stuff our own signature Cappelletti. Even our fresh milk mozzarella is hand made. Our steaks, chops and seafood are all cooked over a wood-burning grill. Johnny's father, Mr. C. still mixes his own secret spices and makes his own Italian sausage for our restaurants. The Original Carrabba's on Kirby Drive and Voss Road is where people come together to eat, celebrate, share stories, share meals and share many laughs and memories.

History

Established in 1986.

Carrabba's was founded by Johnny Carrabba and his Uncle Damian Mandola. The Original location on Kirby Drive opened its doors on December 26, 1986. The restaurant was 3000 square feet with seven bar stools and a main dining room. A second location came a year and a half later on South Voss Road. In 1993, a joint venture partnership was developed with Outback Steakhouse who cultivated the national chain Carrabba's Italian Grill. The Kirby and Voss locations remain family owned and operated neighborhood restaurants.

Meet the Business Owner

Business owner information

Johnny C.

Business Owner

Proudly born and raised in the East End of Houston, Texas, Johnny Carrabba III was raised in his parent's family-owned grocery store, Carrabba's Friendly Grocery, and attended St. Thomas High School.  In 1986, Johnny opened The Original Carrabba's on Kirby Drive.  The second location on South Voss Road opened its doors in 1988.  In 1993, Outback Steakhouse created a joint venture partnership consequently opening over 250 Carrabba's Italian Grill Restaurants nationwide.  Johnny and his family continue to own and operate the two original Carrabba's locations.  In 2012, the family's new fast-casual concept, Mia's, opened one block behind the Original Carrabba's on Kirby.  In 2014, Grace's, affectionately named after Johnny's grandmother, Grace Mandola, opened its doors forging the fourth family-owned and operated restaurant for the Carrabba family.  In December 2015, Johnny purchased a fifth concept, Common Bond Cafe & Bakery in the heart of Montrose.