1. Give us a brief history of your company
Started by two Sicilian men from Texas, Carrabba’s Italian Grill is here to offer its guests a unique, Italian dining experience. From the moment they docked in Galveston, TX, the flavors of southern food enticed the men. From Louisiana to Texas, the options were limitless. Founded in 1986, Johnny Carrabba III and his uncle Damian Mandola crafter Carrabba’s Italian Grill with the idea of offering Italian-American food.
2. What would you tell the rest of Acadiana makes you special?
Carrabba’s has many features that make us special to the Acadiana area. Some of those features include: employees that care about the customers before the business, food that will make you want to come back time and time again, adult beverages that will quench your thirst, and catering that will make your events tastier and easier.
3. What are you most proud of?
At Carrabba’s of Lafayette, we are most proud to offer our customers two monthly unique dining experiences. These events are our monthly wine dinner and our monthly brunch. The monthly wine dinner, usually the third Tuesday of the month, allows customers to experience a four-course meal where each course is paired with a different alcoholic beverage. For the monthly brunch, normally the last Saturday of the month, customers can enjoy a similar meal. Brunch is a three-course meal where each course is paired with a different alcoholic beverage. At each of these events, customers are given a raffle ticket for chances to win free wine dinners/brunch, free bottles of wine, or exclusive Carrabba’s swag.
4. Where do you see your business in 10 years? What are your plans for the future?
In ten years, we can see Carrabba’s Italian Grill becoming the top Italian restaurant in Acadiana. We want people to think of us first when they say, “I’m really in the mood for some Italian food.” With our great food, service and atmosphere, we know this goal can be accomplished.
5. 1A is “Focused on Forward” – meaning we are taking an active role of improving the community we live in. Our members are Focused on Forward, too! – What does Focused on Forward mean to you? How is your company Focused on Forward?
Carrabba’s of Lafayette has recently taken steps to partner with Hilton and Ovey Comeaux High School Quarterback Club in Lafayette to support our community in ways we never have. Carrabba’s is “Focused on Forward” by investing into the very thing that will fuel our community in the future: education. We believe that tomorrow’s leaders are in today’s classrooms.