For the past 11 years, Joe’s Italian Restaurant has established itself as a hub for people who crave pizza and pasta in Conroe.

Joe’s Italian Restaurant is owned by Joe Haliti, who first immigrated to the U.S. from Albania with his family at the age of 14.

“We had to leave Albania because of the communist regime that had taken over,” Haliti said.

The family settled in New Jersey, where Haliti learned to cook from his father and later continued in the family business by opening his first restaurant.

In 2001, Haliti moved to Texas and opened pizzerias in Longview, Tyler and Dallas. In February 2006, Haliti moved to Conroe. That is where he decided to plant his roots.

“I was very lucky, because people seemed to find out about us right away, and since then we have just continued to grow along with the city and the rest of the county,” Haliti said. “We have been very blessed.”

The restaurant specializes in southern Italian cooking and also makes brick-oven New York-style pizza, homemade pasta and chicken, seafood and veal dishes that are paired with house wine recommendations.

“I always just focus on having good food with reasonable prices, good service and a clean, cozy, family-oriented atmosphere. We just want to keep our customers satisfied and do better every day than the day before,” Haliti said. 

The restaurant also serves soups, salads, Italian hero subs, calzone and stromboli, and it offers an extensive selection of beer, and red and white wine.

Haliti said his customer service and attention to loyal customers is what sets the restaurant apart.

“Owning a restaurant is a very special feeling,” he said. “We have a lot of regulars, and getting to know them is just the best part of this job.”

Joe’s Italian Restaurant offers carryout and catering service and has daily lunch specials starting at $7.45 from 11-3 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.