History

From the beginning, the Carino’s Italian team has thought of itself as a family; a family which embraces hospitality and the love for Italian food. Part of our mission is to ensure that we bring this sense of community to our extended family—our guests. We’ve grown from our grassroots beginnings in Texas to more than 150 locations across the country and abroad, but this mission and passion remain the same.

Carino’s was born of the desire to transform the typical American approach to casual Italian dining into a unique experience that pays homage to the authentic culinary traditions and experiences of Italy.

The evolution of Carino’s began when Spageddies Italian Kitchen was acquired from Brinker International, Inc. by Kona Restaurant Group, Inc. in the mid 1990’s and became Johnny Carino’s Italian Kitchen.

Austin, Texas-based Fired Up, Inc. acquired the five existing Johnny Carino’s Italian Kitchens in 1997, infusing all of them with the energy and excitement of the Carino’s we know today. Fired Up continued the culinary passion of Carino’s by reinventing the menu to focus on fresh ingredients and handmade dishes.

This innovative approach better reflected the tenets of authentic Italian cuisine: using the finest ingredients, preparing them with passion and infusing them love. No fancy names, no over-embellished dishes, and no inflated prices—just delicious handcrafted food. With the expertise of Chef Carino, and later Chef Christopher Peitersen Carino’s also developed standout signature dishes that respect authentic Italian traditions while creating unique flavors that express Carino’s vibrancy and passion.

This shift in priorities extended to the dining experience, as well, and the restaurants were re-envisioned to echo the feel of an Italian home where families gather to enjoy each other over a great meal. The kitchens were opened to guests, creating a subtle rapport between chefs and diners, much like a kitchen in Italy would be the hub of the household. The energy permeating from our open restaurant design helps add to the fun dining experiences our guests have come to love.

With over 140 locations in the US and 10 abroad (including locations in Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates), Carino’s has changed the face of the American-Italian dining experience here and around the world. As we have evolved over the past 16 years, we have never lost touch with the passion for exceptional food and wonderful service we provide our communities. Discover for yourself the unbeatable experience of sharing a signature, handcrafted meal with those who mean the most—let our family traditions become part of yours.