Johnny Carino’s Italian restaurant is a family restaurant that has an interesting selection of food and a reputation for hospitality . This restaurant’s mission is to provide a great atmosphere, and delicious Italian food for the entire family to enjoy and that’s exactly what they’re known for.
The restaurant’s cuisine consists of not only the standard Italian favorites that anyone can enjoy, but what makes them really stand out from other Italian restaurants is their unique spicy Italian dishes. So whether you’re in the mood for lasagna or nachos with a bit of extra kick, this place has you covered.
| Item | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Appetizers | ||
| Italian Nachos - Chicken, Sausage Or Combo | crispy pasta chips, black olives, pepperoncinis, roma tomatoes, jalapeños, alfredo, mozzarella and parmesan | $5.29 - $11.29 |
| Hand-Breaded Calamari | thinly cut and lightly fried. served with spicy marinara sauce | $11.29 - $5.29 |
| Baked Stuffed Mushrooms | spinach, parmesan, red onions and garlic topped with lemon basil cream sauce, roma tomatoes and basil | $10.29 |
| Mozzarella With Marinara | breaded in special seasonings. served with spicy marinara sauce | $8.79 - $5.29 |
| Bruschetta | garden fresh roma tomatoes tossed in our lemon basil seasoned oil with grilled garlic bread | $7.99 |
| Sautéed Mussels | new zealand green lip mussels in a garlic chablis lemon butter sauce with fresh lemon, roma tomatoes and basil | $12.29 |
| Fresh Caprese Salad | the classic dish from capri, italy - hearty slices of creamy mozzarella and fresh ripened tomatoes topped with seasoned olive oil, fresh basil and a sweet balsamic glaze | $10.29 |
| Trio Appetizer $12.49 | ||
| Calamari | ||
| Italian Sliders | ||
| Mozzarella With Marinara | ||
| Fire Sticks | ||
| Salads & Soups | ||
| Pecan-Crusted Chicken | fresh spinach, gorgonzola, roma tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon, red onions and crispy onion straws. served with warm bacon vinaigrette | $13.29 |
| Honey Pecan Crusted Salmon Salad | fillet of grilled salmon with a honey and chopped pecan topping, served over freshly chopped romaine, sun-dried tomatoes, red onions and capers in a light lemon vinaigrette | $15.49 |
| Classic Chicken Caesar | romaine, roma tomatoes, black olives, red onions, parmesan and garlic croutons | $11.29 |
| Classic Chicken Caesar | shrimp & artichokes | $13.79 |
| Italian Wedge | iceberg wedge, applewood smoked bacon, candied pecans, gorgonzola, roma tomatoes and apple slices. served with roasted garlic ranch. à la carte | $8.29 |
| Italian Wedge | with entrée | $5.29 |
| House Or Caesar | unlimited house or caesar salad dressings : creamy gorgonzola, ranch, roasted garlic ranch, spicy ranch, signature caesar, house chianti vinaigrette. à la carte | $5.29 |
| House Or Caesar | with entrée | $2.99 |
| Unlimited Soup & Salad Combo | unlimited soup, house or caesar salad, and fresh-baked tuscan bread | $8.99 |
| Sandwiches | ||
| Crispy Pepperoni Burger | half-pound, hand-formed patty on a soft bun, topped with mozzarella, parmesan, san marzano tomato sauce and fried pepperoni | $11.79 |
| Chicken Parmesan | hand-breaded chicken breast topped with mozzarella and tomato sauce | $10.79 |
| Smoked Turkey And Bacon | smoked turkey, applewood smoked bacon, gorgonzola, mozzarella and roma tomatoes | $11.29 |
| Grilled Chicken Caesar Panini | grilled chicken breast, caesar dressing, fresh romaine, roma tomatoes and red onions on grilled panini bread | $10.79 |
| Beef & Pork | ||
| Italian-Style Baby Backs | baby back ribs slow roasted until tender, basted over the grill with our homemade balsamic barbeque sauce with a parmesan crust. served with parmesan shoestring fries | $15.79 |
| Oak-Grilled New York Strip | 12-ounce cut of nolan ryan all natural beef, marinated in johnny's house blend of seasoned oil and fresh italian herbs. served with fresh vegetables and choice of pasta and sauce | $22.99 |
| Oak-Grilled New York Strip | add a savory shrimp & scallop scampi topping to any steak for just | $4.79 |
| Fire Grilled Skirt Steak With Roasted Garlic Butter | premium flat iron steak served with grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes. | $19.99 |
| Fire Grilled Skirt Steak With Roasted Garlic Butter | add a savory shrimp & scallop scampi topping to any steak for just | $4.79 |
| Chicken | ||
| Lemon Rosemary Chicken | grilled chicken breast with angel hair, spinach and roma tomatoes. served with a choice of fresh vegetables or roasted red pepper green beans | $16.49 |
| Chicken Balsamico | balsamic glazed chicken breast served with angel hair, spinach, roma tomatoes, and parmesan | $15.49 |
| Chicken Fettuccine | pasta with sliced grilled chicken and alfredo sauce | $14.99 |
| Chicken Scaloppini | sautéed chicken breast, mushrooms, roma tomatoes, bacon and lemon butter cream sauce. served with spaghetti | $16.49 |
| Chicken Marsala | sautéed chicken breast, mushrooms and sweet wine sauce. served with fettuccine or sautéed spinach | $18.49 |
| Chicken Milano | sautéed chicken breast with mushrooms and alfredo layered with ham, basil and provolone. served with fettuccine | $16.49 |
| Seafood | ||
| Lemon Pepper Salmon | grilled fillet topped with artichokes, roma tomatoes and spinach in a lemon butter wine sauce. served with roasted rosemary potatoes | $19.99 |
| Shrimp Florentine | jumbo shrimp sautéed with fresh spinach, roma tomatoes and angel hair in a lemon butter wine sauce | $20.99 |
| Lobster Ravioli | maine lobster-filled ravioli with fresh spinach, roma tomatoes, asiago and lemon basil cream sauce | $19.49 |
| Jalapeño Garlic Tilapia | tilapia sautéed in a lemon butter cream sauce with garlic, spinach, jalapeños, roma tomatoes and angel hair | $18.49 |
| Seafood Fettuccine | tender calamari, black tiger shrimp and new zealand green lip mussels sautéed with fresh garlic, tossed in fettuccine with your choice of our spicy marinara sauce or alfredo sauce | $17.99 |
| Penne Vodka & Salmon | fresh salmon sautéed in shallots, diced tomatoes, and vodka in a pink sauce tossed with penne pasta | $16.99 |
| Pastas | ||
| Angel Hair With Artichokes | angel hair sautéed with roma tomatoes, garlic, capers, basil, black olives and parmesan | $13.49 |
| Angel Hair With Artichokes | chicken | $15.29 |
| Angel Hair With Artichokes | shrimp | $16.29 |
| Spicy Shrimp And Chicken | penne sautéed with shrimp, sliced chicken, cayenne pepper romano cream sauce, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and green onions | $18.49 |
| Baked Cheese Tortelloni | cheese stuffed tortelloni with a creamy meat sauce. baked with mozzarella and parmesan | $14.49 |
| Grilled Chicken Bowtie Festival | bowtie sautéed with sliced chicken, bacon, garlic, red onions, roma tomatoes, asiago and cream sauce | $16.29 |
| Spicy Romano Chicken | bowtie sautéed with sliced chicken, bacon, garlic, red onions, roma tomatoes, asiago and cream sauce | $16.99 |
| Spaghetti A La Carbonara | spaghetti pasta tossed with bacon, mushrooms and egg yolk in a light cream sauce with parmesan cheese | $14.99 |
| Risotto Primavera | arborio rice with roasted vegetables finished with butter and parmesan cheese | $15.99 |
| Risotto Primavera | chicken | $17.99 |
| Risotto Primavera | shrimp | $18.99 |
| Potato Gnocchi | an italian classic available 3 ways - with tomatoes and melted fresh mozzarella cheese, or 4 cheese and roasted pine nuts sauce, or sirloin steak tips in a creamy mushroom sauce. tomato | $14.99 |
| Potato Gnocchi | pine nuts | $15.99 |
| Potato Gnocchi | steak | $16.99 |
| Create Your Own Pasta | spaghetti, angel hair, penne, fettuccine or bowtie. served with choice of tomato, spicy marinara, or alfredo sauce | $11.29 |
| Create Your Own Pasta | meat sauce | $12.29 |
| Create Your Own Pasta | chicken or sausage | $13.29 |
| Classics | ||
| Chicken Parmesan | signature recipe. tomato sauce, parmesan and mozzarella. served with spaghetti | $16.49 |
| Homemade 16 Layer Lasagna | made fresh daily. layers of pasta, italian sausage, beef, meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan | $14.49 |
| Johnny's Combo | lasagna, chicken parmigiana and spaghetti with marinara | $18.49 |
| Spaghetti And Handmade Meatballs | handmade meatballs and tomato sauce | $12.99 |
| Skilletini | sizzling skillet with spaghetti, spicy marinara sauce, parmesan, marinated onions, green bell peppers, and your choice of chicken, sausage, or combo. | $15.99 |
| Skilletini | shrimp | $18.49 |
| Eggplant Parmesan | our signature recipe, vegetarian style. spicy marinara sauce, parmesan and mozzarella. served with spaghetti | $14.29 |
| Pizzas | ||
| Traditional Margherita | sliced roma tomatoes and fresh basil | $11.29 |
| Create Your Own Pizza | customize by choosing any five toppings below: extra mozzarella, red onions, ham, pepperoni spinach, mushrooms, bacon, roasted red peppers black olives, tomatoes, italian sausage chicken, artichokes, | $12.29 |
| Family Platters | ||
| Lemon Rosemary Chicken | $36.99 | |
| Chicken Milano | $36.99 | |
| Grilled Chicken Bowtie Festival | $35.99 | |
| Skilletini | chicken, sausage or combo | $34.99 |
| Skilletini | shrimp | $38.99 |
| Spicy Romano Chicken | $35.99 | |
| Spicy Shrimp And Chicken | $37.99 | |
| Homemade 16 Layer Lasagna | $35.99 | |
| Chicken Fettuccine | $33.99 | |
| Spaghetti And Handmade Meatballs | $30.99 | |
| Chicken Parmesan | $36.99 | |
| Create Your Own Pasta | tomato, spicy marinara or alfredo | $27.99 |
| Create Your Own Pasta | meat sauce | $29.99 |
| Create Your Own Pasta | chicken or sausage | $31.99 |
| Lunch Features $11.99 | ||
| Spicy Shrimp And Chicken | penne pasta, cayenne pepper romano cream sauce, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and green onions | |
| Spicy Romano Chicken | bowtie pasta, cayenne pepper romano cream sauce, artichokes, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and green onions | |
| Homemade 16 Layer Lasagna | made fresh daily. layers of pasta, italian sausage, beef, meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan | |
| Jalapeño Garlic Tilapia | tilapia sautéed in lemon butter cream sauce. served with garlic, spinach, tomatoes and angel hair | |
| Chicken Parmigiana | signature recipe. tomato sauce, parmesan and mozzarella. served with spaghetti | |
| Baked Cheese Tortelloni | creamy meat sauce tossed with ricotta. baked with mozzarella and parmesan | |
| Signature Italian Drinks | ||
| Premium Margarita | on the rocks with cointreau, choice of don julio blanco or herradura silver tequila. | $11.29 |
| Amalfi Strawberry Lemonade | sweet lemonade with strawberries and captain morgan rum | $7.99 |
| Pomegranate Granita | part italian ice, part martini with cointreau and bacardi superior rum | $8.99 |
| Bellini | frozen peach nectar, white wine, champagne and rum, swirled with our italian sangria | $8.79 - $26.49 |
| Italian Sangria | valpolicella red wine, fruit juices and brandy | $22.29 - $5.99 |
| Italian Margarita | a carino's classic. frozen and made with tequila, dekuyper triple sec and amaretto. also available on the rocks with sauza gold tequila, or premium with cointreau and herradura silver or don julio bl | $8.49 |
| Italian Margarita | on the rocks | $8.79 |
| Italian Margarita | premium | $11.29 |
| Martinis $9 | ||
| Cosmopolitan | tito's handmade vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec and citrus | |
| Mexican Martini | premium silver tequila, triple sec, sweet agave and jalapeño-stuffed olives | |
| Italian Lemon Drop | caravella limoncello, tito's handmade vodka and sweet citrus | |
| Mixed Berrytini | van gogh acai-blueberry vodka, blackberry and a touch of sweet lime | |
| Appletini | absolut vodka, apple liqeur, midori and sweet and sour | |
| The Classic | tito's handmade vodka or tanqueray gin, olive juice and gorgonzola-stuffed olives | |
| Desserts | ||
| Italian Chocolate Cake | rich, warm chocolate cake topped with sweet chocolate icing, toffee and almonds. served with vanilla ice cream | $3.29 - $7.49 |
| Turtle Cheesecake | creamy cheesecake layered on fudge and a graham cracker crust, topped with caramel, pecans and chocolate chips. | $7.49 |
| Mascarpone Bread Pudding | custard-soaked tuscan bread with creamy mascarpone cheese and rich caramel, oven baked and topped with vanilla ice cream | $7.49 |
| Tiramisu | our homemade specialty - ladyfinger cookies soaked in espresso and layered between a sweet italian custard blended with rum and coffee liqueur | $3.29 - $7.49 |
History
With it’s first establishment being opened in 1968, Johnny Carino’s has been in business for almost 50 years. The restaurant’s original location was in Austin, Texas and it was known as Johnny Carino’s Country Italian. Since then it has undergone 3 name revisions after being by Fired Up Restaurant Concepts in 1997.
Over the past 19 years the restaurant chain has rapidly grown from it’s original 6 locations that were acquired in 1997, to more than 100 locations in the United States. The company has also expanded it’s brand internationally and has an additional 10 locations operating in the Middle East.
Norman Abdallah and Creed Ford III are the original founders of Fired Up inc. When they first acquired Carino’s from Brinker International they intended to expand the restaurant as well as preserve it’s unique style that customers had come to love.
Today the company has indeed managed to keep it’s individual style of food and dining environment that it has almost 50 years ago. The restaurant prides itself on not only being a place to go just to enjoy great food, but somewhere you can go when you want to have a great time as well.
Review
One of the best features of this restaurant is that they have great selection of dishes that you can choose from on the menu. Basically any type of popular Italian food you can think of is offered. Whether you’re feeling casual and want to enjoy a few slices of pizza, or you want something more fancy like chicken Marsala they have something to offer for every occasion.
If you’re wondering what dishes are worth giving a try, the spicy shrimp and chicken or the Italian nachos are really delicious. For those who are trying to watch their weight or eat healthier, they also have some pretty good salads and soups available.
Surprisingly, the prices are actually very affordable for an Italian restaurant. An average meal costs around $11 as opposed to most authentic Italian restaurants which can cost you at least $20. This leaves you some extra money to order a couple glasses of their many wine selections.
The overall experience at Carino’s is really quite the treat and their establishments are always very sanitary.. The servers are usually quite friendly and they make you feel right at home. Their service is pretty quick when it comes to taking your orders and delivering your food on time. Overall, this is good place to bring the whole family to eat without breaking your wallet.