Carrows is a chain of casual dining

Casual dining

This is a list of casual dining restaurant chains around the world, arranged in alphabetical order. A casual dining restaurant is a restaurant that serves moderately-priced food in a casual atmosphere...

 restaurant

Restaurant

A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...

s that serve breakfast and lunch/dinner in the western portion of the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. As of August 16, 2008, the chain operates 89 restaurants in California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 and 2 in Nevada

Nevada

Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...

.

Carrows was started by David G. Nancarrow in Santa Clara, California

Santa Clara, California

Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...

 in 1970 as the Carrows Hickory Chip Restaurant. Carrows and its sister chain Coco's Bakery Restaurants

Coco's Bakery

Coco's Bakery Restaurant is a chain of casual dining restaurants operating in the Western portion of the United States.-Locations:, the chain operates over 115 restaurants in California, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado.-History:...

 were purchased by Advantica Restaurant Group in 1996. In 2002 they were acquired by Catalina Restaurant Group, Inc.

In California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

, Carrows/Coco's Bakery competes directly with Marie Callender's

Marie Callender's

Marie Callender’s is a restaurant chain with 74 locations in seven western states. One East Side Mario’s restaurant also is part of the chain, a remnant of the period when the chain owned the ESM concept, purchased from Pepsico....

 and Bakers Square

Bakers Square

Bakers Square Restaurant & Pies is a casual dining restaurant chain in the United States. Known for its pies, Bakers Square also offers full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus . It is owned by American Blue Ribbon Holdings...

 restaurants.

In 2006 Catalina Restaurant Group was bought by Japanese company Zensho Co., Ltd., which has operated Coco's Japan for many years.