After working twenty years in restaurants and hotels all over the world, Carmelo moved to Houston in 1978 with his wife Hilary. Shortly afterwards they opened their first Carmelo's on Memorial Drive in Houston and in 1985 expanded to Austin. Both restaurants have been restored over the years and are a continual work in progress. Carmelo's Ristorante Italiano’s Specialties: Pasta. Mediterranean Mussels Fra Diavolo. Ossobucco over wild mushroom risotto. Ciabatta bread. Cannolis. Tiramisu.