“My grandmother had 11 children, and all her kids worked in the factory. They used to bring kids to the house all the time,” Raffa said. “That was really how my family started in the restaurant business. My grandmother started making meals at her house for a nickel a plate for the co-workers of her kids.”
Now, Raffa is the owner of two restaurants in Kingwood: Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant and Raffa’s Waterfront Grill.
Amedeo’s, which opened in July 1985, was Raffa’s first venture into restaurant ownership, although he had already spent most of his life in the industry.
The Italian eatery offers authentic Italian dishes, including popular favorites, such as the Southwest rigatoni chicken, homemade lasagna, veal marsala and chicken piccata, in addition to an extensive wine list.
According to Raffa, many of the recipes still in use at Amedeo’s can be traced back to his grandmother’s kitchen.
“Our spaghetti sauce and marinara sauces are ages and ages old,” Raffa said. “Our lasagna [and meatball] recipes are the same as the day we opened.”
Raffa noted after 36 years in business, Amedeo’s has endured plenty of hardship from hurricanes and winter freezes to economic recessions and a pandemic.
“All of those little obstacles make you a stronger person,” Raffa said. “They make you a survivor.”
Despite the challenges, Raffa opened a second restaurant, Raffa’s Waterfront Grill, in 2007, and said he would consider opening a third restaurant if the right conditions were met.
“The most rewarding thing is always to see a happy guest in the restaurant,” he said. “The term hospitality is what our industry is all about, so we want to feel like this is our home and we’re hospitable to our guests.”
Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant
22704 Loop 494, Kingwood
281-359-4451
www.amedeos.net
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat. 5-9 p.m., closed Sun.
