Restaurateur • Entrepreneur • Restaurant Technology Speaker • Community Advocate
Irv “Gotti” Williams is a third-generation Houstonian, restaurateur, and serial entrepreneur who brings together a passion for food, family, and technology. A former corporate software engineer who studied Business Management at Texas Southern University, Irv has founded and led multiple million-dollar brands. At Gotti’s, he applies that experience to creating a restaurant where heartfelt hospitality meets forward-thinking operations.
Food, family, and Louisiana roots
With family roots in Louisiana, Irv’s culinary vision draws inspiration from bold flavors, soulful recipes, and the tradition of gathering around a shared table. That connection extends into Gotti’s kitchen and dining room, where a team that includes many family members brings care and pride to the guest experience. The goal is simple: serve food made with love that feeds the appetite and pours into the soul, in a lively atmosphere that reflects Gotti’s fun, welcoming spirit.
At the heart of Gotti’s is Irv’s commitment to building a lasting family legacy. His motivation is to create a business that future generations can help shape, lead, and proudly carry forward. Through hands-on experience, mentorship, and opportunities to take on responsibility, he wants to give the next generation the skills and confidence to become entrepreneurs themselves. For Irv, the restaurant is both a gathering place for today and a foundation for tomorrow’s possibilities.
Restaurant technology and operational innovation
Behind the scenes, Irv uses his technology background to keep Gotti’s at the forefront of restaurant innovation. Through API integrations and automated workflows, he connects systems, reduces repetitive tasks, and helps the team operate more efficiently. His technical foundation informs his approach to connected point-of-sale systems, online ordering, reservations, kitchen display systems, customer relationship management, automated email and text communications, inventory reporting, and business intelligence dashboards. His focus is on making these tools work together to support better decisions, smoother service, and more time for hospitality.
Conference speaking, teaching, and team development
As a featured speaker at the 2026 Global Culinary Conference hosted by Feed The Soul Foundation, Irv educated culinary professionals on the benefits of technology in the kitchen and across restaurant operations. Drawing on experience teaching, training, and developing teams, he translates technical concepts into practical lessons for owners, operators, and culinary professionals. His speaking topics include restaurant automation, API integrations, AI applications in hospitality, data-driven decision-making, digital guest engagement, operational efficiency, developing future entrepreneurs, and building a lasting family business.
Gotti’s has been a member of the Texas Restaurant Association and the LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Irv also attends the National Food Show annually to explore emerging tools, discover industry developments, and stay informed about advances shaping food service.
Community service and the next generation
His commitment to nourishing others extends beyond the restaurant. As a founder and board member of From Us To Us Community Outreach, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving thousands of Houston youth, Irv helps provide essential resources and meaningful support to underserved communities. Across his business and community work, his purpose remains the same: open doors, develop future leaders, and create opportunities that endure for generations.
Irv’s work also includes Gotti TV, alongside his restaurant and community outreach affiliations.