Viola Barrios migrated from Mexico to Texas as a child. Years later, as a young widow, she founded her first family restaurant in 1979 as a means to support her young family. The business has grown from a few tables located in a small boat house into large and prospering family restaurants capable of catering events of all sizes and serving many customers daily. Public recognition was not important to Viola, although she received awards for inspiring women in business, and a scholarship for women was named in her honor by Les Dames d' Escoffier.