STHS

Alumni Restaurateurs

The men who walked the halls of St. Thomas High School and went on to shape Houston's culinary landscape.

1950s

Ciro Lampasas portrait Houston restaurateur and owner of Ciros Italian Grill In Memoriam · 2020
Ciro Lampasas Class of 1951 Ciro’s Italian Grill, Damian’s Cucina Italiana ✝

1960s

Jerry Pizzitola portrait owner of Pizzitolas BBQ Houston In Memoriam · 2024
Jerry Pizzitola Class of 1960 Pizzitola’s Heritage BBQ
Vincent Bubba Mandola restaurateur portrait owner of Ninos and Vincents Houston In Memoriam · 2020
Vincent Mandola Class of 1961 Grappino di Nino ✝, Vincent’s ✝, Nino’s ✝ +1 more
Frankie B Mandola portrait Houston restaurateur and STHS Hall of Fame athlete In Memoriam · 2016
Frankie B. Mandola Class of 1965 Ragin’ Cajun — Spring Branch, Damian’s Cucina Italiana ✝, Ragin’ Cajun — Richmond
Roland Laurenzo portrait Roland Laurenzo Class of 1965 El Tiempo Taqueria, Laurenzo’s Restaurant, El Tiempo Cantina — NRG Stadium +12 more
Jack Laurenzo (STHS 1968) portrait In Memoriam · 2021
Jack Laurenzo Class of 1968 Ninfa’s on Navigation

1970s

Damian Mandola portrait Houston restaurateur and co-founder of Mandola family restaurants Damian Mandola Class of 1971 D’Amico’s Italian Market Cafe, Mandola’s Italian Kitchen — Maitland, Mandola’s Italian Kitchen — Jacksonville +8 more
Photograph of Bill Hutchinson who is associated with Pizaro's Pizza Napoletana Bill Hutchinson Class of 1974 Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana — Montrose, Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana — Memorial
Johnny C Carrabba III portrait Houston restaurateur and owner of Carrabbas and Mias Table Johnny C. Carrabba III Class of 1977 Mia’s Table — Bellaire, Mia’s Table — Cypress, Mia’s Table — Memorial City +7 more

1980s

Gino Laurenzo, founder of Ninfa's on Navigation, studio portrait Gino Laurenzo Class of 1981 Rio Grande Tex-Mex Grill
Willie Madden portrait Houston restaurateur and owner of Pizzitolas BBQ In Memoriam · 2021
Willie Madden Class of 1982 Texadelphia — Garden Oaks, Pizzitola’s Heritage BBQ
James Maida portrait owner of Pizzitolas Heritage BBQ and Hightower Texas portfolio manager James Maida Class of 1985 Pizzitola’s Heritage BBQ
Photograph of Domenic Laurenzo who is associated with El Tiempo Cantina Domenic Laurenzo Class of 1989 El Tiempo Taqueria, Laurenzo’s Restaurant, El Tiempo Cantina — NRG Stadium +13 more

1990s

Bryan Caswell chef portrait at Latuli restaurant Houston Bryan C. Caswell Class of 1991 3rd Bar Eating House ✝, El Real Tex-Mex Cafe ✝, Little Bigs ✝ +3 more
Photograph of Dante Trevino who is associated with La Mexicana Restaurant and Bar Dante Trevino Class of 1998 La Mex, La Mexicana Restaurant
Greg Gatlin pitmaster portrait Gatlins BBQ Houston Greg Gatlin Class of 1998 Jackson Street BBQ ✝, Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers, Gatlin’s BBQ

2000s

R
Ricky Hernandez Class of 2001 Arandas Bakery — Beechnut
Photograph of Christian Hernandez who is associated with Barbacana Christian Hernandez Class of 2008 Barbacana
Photograph of Danny Hernandez who is associated with Arandas Bakery Danny Hernandez Class of 2008 Arandas Bakery — Beechnut

2010s

Photograph of Raffi Nasr who is associated with Craft Pita Raffi Nasr Class of 2010 Craft Pita — West University, Craft Pita — Fountain View
Honorary Eagles

Friends of the Eagle Family

Individuals who didn't attend St. Thomas High School but are closely connected to STHS restaurant families and have made significant contributions to Houston's dining scene.

Doris Orine Greer (Honorary Eagle) portrait Honorary Eagle
In Memoriam · 2005
Doris Orine Greer Mrs. Greer’s Cafeteria
Photograph of Ninfa Laurenzo who is associated with Ninfa's on Navigation Honorary Eagle
In Memoriam · 2001
Ninfa Laurenzo Ninfa’s on Navigation
Portrait of Rosie Carrabba at the Original Carrabbas restaurant in Houston Honorary Eagle
Rosie Carrabba Carrabba’s — The Original on Voss, Carrabba’s — The Original on Kirby