Outback Steakhouse Has A Slightly More Expensive Italian Sister Chain Not Enough People Know About

Like many chain restaurants, Outback Steakhouse is quietly a part of a group. In this case, it's owned by Bloomin' Brands (Outback is the flagship property, which explains the Bloomin' name). But Bloomin' Brands serves more than just Bloomin' Onions; its other restaurants delve into different culinary territory — and one of them serves Italian food. In this case, the restaurant is Carrabba's Italian Grill, and you can think of it as being casually more upscale than, say, Olive Garden (but we think it has a better value for the money).

This is reflected in the menu design as well as the price. Carrabba's sells familiar Italian dishes like your usual lasagna and spaghetti, but it has its own signature items, like the Chicken Bryan (a grilled chicken breast with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, and lemon butter sauce), and Fettuccine Carrabba, which is fettuccine with grilled chicken, mushrooms, and peas. Just so you have an idea of the price point, the Chicken Bryan costs $26.99, and the Fettuccine Carrabba is $23.99 at an Illinois location in the Chicago suburbs (Woodridge, specifically). It also serves other wood-grilled meats like steak and seafood, along with a wide array of appetizers, soups, and salads, some of which are unique to Carrabba's.

In the case of Carrabba's, there really is someone with that last name. It's one of the co-founders, Johnny Carrabba, who started the chain with his uncle, Damian Mandola. They're two Texans of Italian heritage, and they founded the original restaurant in 1986 in Houston, Texas. Shortly after they created the first one, they opened a second location, and in 1993, Carrabba's united with Outback Steakhouse under a joint venture partnership, allowing the chain to continue growing. As of now, Carrabba's exists in 28 states, but the majority of them are in Florida.

The founders eventually sold their stake in the chain version, but kept their two original restaurants as part of that deal. However, Carrabba and Mandola aren't just restaurateurs; they're also TV personalities, having shot a show called "Cucina Sicilia" on PBS. Since Carrabba's Italian Grill is part of Bloomin' Brands, that means you can actually use gift cards for any of the other restaurants (Outback, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar) at that chain too, which might come in handy to know if you've got one burning a hole in your pocket, and you're not in the mood for an Aussie-themed steak dinner.