⚠️IMPORTANT: This post is for general educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Texas carry laws are complex and change. Consult a licensed Texas attorney for questions about your specific situation.⚠️
Facts below are from Texas statutes, TABC Public Inquiry (apps.tabc.texas.gov/publicinquiry), and photographs of signs posted at the doors. Public records current as of date listed. Records change.
When the sign is optional, the claim it makes is not.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill at 750 Kingwood Drive holds an active Mixed Beverage permit with a Food and Beverage (FB) Certificate. The TABC Public Inquiry record lists:
- Trade Name: CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL
- Owner: CIGI BEVERAGES OF TEXAS LLC
- License Type: MB
- License Id: 100083133
- Master File Id: 2100000339
- License Status: Active
- Subordinates: FB
- Gun Sign field: blank
- Expiration: 11/2/2027
A blank Gun Sign field means TABC has not made a determination under Alcoholic Beverage Code §104.06 that alcohol sales for consumption on site constitute 51% or more of the location’s gross revenue. Government Code §411.204(e) states that the 51% notice requirement does not apply to a business that holds a Food and Beverage Certificate. The statutory 51% language posted at the entrance therefore does not match the current TABC designation on this file.
The entrance also posts a sign stating, “Weapons Prohibited Pursuant to Section 46.03.” Section 46.03 lists specific locations (schools, polling places, courts, hospitals, and 51% premises after a TABC determination, among others). A restaurant is not on that list unless the TABC file shows a 51% classification. The sign uses the broader statute for a location whose record does not show that classification.
The same entrance also displays older pre-HB 1927 “blue sign” language. That sign used the wording that unlicensed possession of a handgun on the premises was a felony. HB 1927, effective September 1, 2021, removed the general license requirement for eligible adults. The blue-sign text on the door reflects the pre-2021 statute.
Private property owners may still exclude handguns by posting compliant notices under Penal Code §30.05, §30.06, and §30.07. Those are the signs that create a gun-free dining room:
- 30.05: Prohibits entry with a firearm, including permitless carry.
- 30.06: Prohibit license holder carrying concealed.
- 30.07: Prohibits license holder carrying openly.
Those notices say the owner is excluding. They do not read as a TABC 51% classification.
When I see 51% language or the older blue-sign wording posted at a location whose TABC record shows an FB certificate and a blank Gun Sign field, I treat the dining room as restricted for practical purposes and either secure my handgun in the vehicle or go somewhere else. I do not discuss the signs with the staff.
I ate lunch there after reviewing the records. Service was good, the lunch special was reasonable for the price and portion, and the waitress was professional. If you decide to eat there, the Creamy Parmesan Chicken Tender Sandwich paired with a Caesar salad (beverage included) is a solid lunch order.
This is the same records question as the Rosenberg locations in the earlier post. The 51% form is on the glass. The determination is not on the file.
The person seating you did not issue the permit and will not change the file. The license can be confirmed on TABC Public Inquiry. A business complaint can be filed through AIMS at tabc.texas.gov (no account required) or by email to complaints@tabc.texas.gov. Include the address, the date, and a photo of the sign. TABC decides whether the premises is a 51% house and whether that notice belongs on the door.
When in doubt, step out. Take your business elsewhere.
⚠️Educational purposes only. Not legal advice. Records change. Save the screenshot.⚠️
