By Valerie Sweeten

It's been a labor of love for the D'Amico family as they've served the greater Houston scene for 40 years. What began in 1975 in Huntsville when Nash D'Amicoand his cousins Tony and Damian Mandola launched their first family restaurant, Damian's Fine Italian Food, turned from the humble beginnings of pizza and sandwiches to a full-service restaurant with a loyal following.

Additional cousins, Charles Petronella andPhillip Barletta also lent a hand in the endeavor. The owners started with money borrowed from family and introduced authentic Italian cuisine in a world of barbecue and hamburgers. By 1977, D'Amico, a Sam Houston State Universitygraduate, branched off with his northern Italian and Sicilian cuisine, launching D'Amico's Ristorante Italiano in Houston.

Read more

Source: http://www.chron.com/