Carrabba’s Italian Grill has debuted a catering hub, Carrabba’s Sandwich Bistro, for its menu of hot and cold sandwiches, sides, salads and soups, the company said Tuesday.
Carrabba’s, a division of Tampa, Fla.-based Bloomin’ Brands Inc., which also owns the Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar concepts, has offered catering for its general menu.
The Carrabba’s Sandwich Bistro selections, introduced earlier this year, are available in bundles to serve a minimum of five people, boxed lunches and trays to serve five or more. The menu offers vegetarian sandwich options and sides include chips and pasta salad. A spokesperson said prices for bundles (sandwich and side for five people) range from $62.50 to $67.50, prices for boxed lunches (starting at orders of five) are $13 to $14 each; and Bistro trays for five people range from $52.50 to $57.50.
“Carrabba’s Italian Grill is known for flavorful Italian food passed down from our founders' family recipes using only the best ingredients to prepare and handmade dishes cooked to order. Now we’re crafting sandwiches with the same love and attention to high quality,” said Pat Hafner, Carrabba’s president, in a statement.
“Catering by Carrabba’s Sandwich Bistro is our way of making it easy for event planners to bring Italian flavor from our delicious sandwich selections to any occasion,” Hafner said.
The sandwich menu includes these offerings:
- Italian: Sliced salami, prosciutto ham, mortadella and mozzarella topped with sliced tomato, romaine lettuce, pepperoncini peppers, roasted garlic aioli and Italian dressing on toasted focaccia bread. (Served cold.)
- Bruschette Chicken: Wood-grilled chicken topped with roasted tomatoes, burrata cheese and pesto on toasted focaccia bread. (Served cold.)
- Caprese: Sliced tomatoes, burrata cheese and pesto on toasted focaccia bread. (Vegetarian option, served cold.)
- Steak Marsala: Sliced sirloin and mozzarella cheese topped with marsala sauce and mushrooms on toasted focaccia bread. (Served warm.)
- Chicken Parmesan: Tossed in breadcrumbs, sauteed and topped with pomodoro sauce, parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses on toasted focaccia bread. (Served warm.)
- Meatball Sandwich: Meatballs simmered in pomodoro sauce topped with mozzarella cheese and grated romano on toasted garlic butter focaccia bread. (Served warm.)
David Deno, Bloomin’ CEO, on third-quarter earnings call in November with analysts, said that the Carrabba’s off-premises sales were “robust.”
“Off-premises is 34% of Carrabba's sales, which includes a strong contribution from our growing catering business,” Deno said. “Carrabba's has the perfect menu to meet the demands of this important and growing channel. … Off-premises will continue to remain a large part of the company in the future.”
Carrabba’s Sandwich Bistro selections are available for delivery seven days a week. Catering orders include plates, serving utensils, and napkins.
Outback Steakhouse debuted catering at about 70% of its U.S. locations in April 2022.
Carrabba’s currently has 216 restaurants, including 199 company-owned and 17 franchised. Parent Bloomin’ Brands had more than 1,450 restaurants in 47 states, Guam and 13 countries.
Update Dec. 6, 2023: This story has been edited to include price ranges and unit count.
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