Pino's Restaurants

[toga]

Anyone remember the restaurant? I loved the food, was a busboy there in 1975-76

[Purpledevil]

I remember an Italian eatery named Pino's down on Cullen Blvd when I was a kid. Right there by UH and the old Jeppessen Stadium off the Gulf Freeway. Seems like it was called Pino's anyway.

My father, being from Sicily, loved Joe Matranga's on Irvington Blvd. Of course, that being the case, there's where we went for Italian dine-out. Man, I still get a craving for the spaghetti and meatballs from Matranga's. Sure hated to see that fade away after Mr. Matranga's death.

[Ross]

Wasn't Pinos on Voss? One of Marvin Zindlers favorite places? I ate there a number of times. Decent food and service

[toga]

There might have been an original one on Voss, but this was on Hillcroft near Westhiemer as far as I can remember. Pino and Adriano owned it, Adriano had a Pantera he always parked out front.Yes Marvin would come in some, a lot  of the Rockets and Oilers too.  The beef cannelloni was killer. 

[Purpledevil]

Looks like we're all right. Started out on Cullen, ended up on Hillcroft. Here's something I found that gives a bit of history to the establishment.

http://www.pinosrestaurant.com/

[Ross]

Voss/Hillcroft, same street.

[Callaflower]

I loved PIno's. I lived in an apartment complex on Hillcroft, late 60s, so close we could walk. Loved the food. So sad to see it go. Same thing with Ballatori's. I forgot the street, but it was in a bank vault across the Gulf Freeway from UH. Their carciofi fritti was to die for.

Edited July 17, 2015 by Callaflower

[WWW]

I worked in Pino's kitchen in the early 70s as a teenager. Great food, interesting people. It left lasting memories. Pino was kindhearted; he would often pat me on the back, stick a dollar bill in my shirt pocket and say "You such a good-a boy, you work-a so hard." Just as often, when I broke a dish, Adriano would say to me "that's-a one dollar off-a your paycheck". One of our waiters was a guy called "Crazy Barry" , who was famous for doing wild dances at Rocket's games. One of the male staff members was a real wolf with the young waitresses. Once he pinched an Italian waitress on the butt and she hit him so hard it almost knocked him over. After a stunned silence the entire kitchen staff started applauding. Hillcroft and Westheimer were pretty safe back then, so my brother and I would walk several miles home after closing up at midnight. We didn't find out about Dean Correll until later. Fun times!

Edited November 30, 2019 by WWW

[toga]

Adriono now has a Italian restaurant in College Station,still serve their famous beef cannelloni. I spoke with his wife and Pino is still doing good! 

[Coolrog2]

My parents were fond of Pino's. I recall one evening in 1977, during my teenage years, when Bum Phillips and Dan Pastorini had a heated argument, yelling and screaming at each other in the packed restaurant. Despite the commotion, the great food and fond memories of Pino's remain unforgettable.

[Tracy Frittella]

I have bought Frittella Italian Cafe from Adriano and Vancene up here in Bryan/College Station and that is great news from people that loved Pino's in Houston!  That means if you want the incredible beef cannelloni, lasagna or cheesecake that used to be at Pino's, you can get the exact same thing from us.  We have just started going to the Memorial Villages Farmer's Market and have just begun shipping product around the country.  Here is a link to our restaurant and then one to our store, plus one to the Memorial Villages Farmer's Market.  Great Farmer's Market!    Servando is still our chef too!  He has been cooking the Pino recipes for 43 years now!  He started cooking at Pino's when he was a teenager!

Frittella Italian Cafe - Bryan, TX (frittellacafe.com)

Frittella Lasagna Kit | Official Sponsor Of ATM Athletic – Frittella Italian Cafe (frittellacafe.com)

Memorial Villages Farmers Market (mvfarmersmarket.org)

We will be taking orders of things during the week and bringing them to the Memorial Villages Farmer's Market every Saturday and that way even if you don't buy $175, there will not be any shipping charges.  If you have any questions, you can call the restaurant at 979-260-6666 and ask for Tracy.  It is so great to read all the great things that people have to say about Pino's!  Pino is still alive and well too at 99 years old, plus still lives in Houston!