Carmelo’s Reopens Today Under New Ownership | Eater Houston

"After a planned closure following Christmas brunch, I learned that Carmelo’s Ristorante at 14795 Memorial Dr. has been saved by Benjamin Berg, who brings 17 years of experience—including time in high-end steakhouses in Las Vegas, Mexico City, and New York—and a master’s in hospitality management from Cornell; he also comes from a restaurateur family (his grandfather owned an Orange Julius stand in Los Angeles, his great-grandfather was a kosher butcher, and his brother is leaving a New York City chef post to become executive chef at Carmelo’s). Owner Carmelo Mauro, who ran the restaurant for 37 years, seemed happy to pass the torch and said he “wholeheartedly trust[s] [Berg] to honor and respect the Carmelo’s name,” praising Berg’s service-oriented mindset and commitment to giving back to the community. Staff were asked to stay in their positions and longtime chef Fidel Cardozo will remain, and Mauro thanked patrons for “these 37 wonderful years,” saying it is time to move on to the next chapter while expressing gratitude for being part of customers’ daily moments and special days. The restaurant remains open for lunch Monday–Friday 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and for dinner Monday–Thursday 5:00–10:30 p.m., Friday–Saturday until 11:00 p.m., and Sunday until 10:00 p.m." - Alaena Hostetter