Owner Jose Grimaldo opened Jose’s Villa Italia in Conroe five years ago to continue the tradition established by the restaurant’s original owner, Norma Coronelli. The restaurant serves traditional and homemade Italian fare, dessert, wine and beer. Grimaldo said Coronelli created some of the recipes offered at the restaurant from scratch, including the linguini pescatore dish, which features seven different kinds of seafood served on pasta with marinara sauce. “The menu has a lot of recipes that she invented, so we are the restaurant that has them,” Grimaldo said. “Nothing is prepared in advance. We have pasta, seafood and meat dishes­—really just little bit of everything. We even make our own marinara and salad dressings.” Grimaldo worked for Coronelli for 15 years at her original restaurant, which was simply named Villa Italia. Coronelli opened her original restaurant at 203 Simonton St., Conroe, in 1994. Over the years she opened additional restaurants in Willis, Spring, Huntsville and Cleveland. Following her death in 2011, her family closed the Conroe, Willis and Spring restaurants—which she still operated at the time—leaving Grimaldo without a job. Because Coronelli mentored him over the years, Grimaldo said he was inspired to reopen the Conroe restaurant. The establishment relocated in 2009 to the historic Cochran home, which was built in 1918. “My brother [Ramiro] and I opened this location with all of the recipes she taught us,” Grimaldo said. “Her family sold me the equipment because the restaurant was already closed. I am very grateful because she taught me everything I know.” The restaurant offers a variety of affordable daily lunch specials that come with a choice of tiramisu and chocolate or lemon cake for dessert that appeal to regular customers, Grimaldo said. Grimaldo said the restaurant benefits from its location near the Crighton and Owen theaters in downtown Conroe. Patrons of those venues often make reservations for an evening dinner at the restaurant before a show. Customers can reserve private rooms free of charge by calling in advance. Grimaldo said creating an enjoyable ambience for customers is an important part of the business. The restaurant hosts private parties and also offers catering services, Grimaldo said. Every Friday the restaurant also hosts Francisco Nunez, a pianist that hails from Spain. “A lot of people like that they can get their own room and can close the doors,” Grimaldo said. 603 N. Thompson St., Conroe 936-539-5599 www.facebook.com/joses-villa-italia-214671665260881/ Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-9:30 p.m., Sat. 4:30-9:30 p.m., closed Sundays