Mamma Mia! Italian restaurateurs take over former cook-to-go kitchen

MARION - Customers discerning the Italian accents of restaurateurs Muho and Gony Qerimi could be tempted to ask where the owners of Marion's newest restaurant grew up.

That's one question they can skip with a look at the name of the restaurant - Napoli's - which opens Monday.

Napoli (Naples in English) is widely regarded as the birthplace of the pizza. That has made it one of the more popular names for Italian restaurants in the United States.

Naples is even more special to the Qerimi brothers. It's the city where their grandfather opened a restaurant decades ago, and where they grew up. It's the source and inspiration for all the foods they will serve in the restaurant in Cottage Plaza at 500 Marion Blvd., Marion.

“I know the Cedar Rapids area has everything, but now it will have authentic Italian food,” said Muho, the elder brother, who lives in Dallas. He said the restaurant will make everything the way it's made in Italy, with ingredients mostly imported from Italy and prepared fresh daily.

In fact, the restaurant's menu doesn't bend to traditional American options such as burgers, steaks or chops. Whether the dish is built around veal, chicken, seafood, or a tomato or cheese-based sauce, every single one is Italian.

Gony Qerimi will manage the restaurant. He will be joined in the kitchen by Alejandro Spahiu, a “pizza Maestro” who most recently worked in New York City. A window opening into the dining room from the kitchen will let them demonstrate their pizza crust tossing skills, and other kitchen theatrics, when time allows.

The Qerimi family has six Italian restaurants spread across the West and Midwest. They heard about Cedar Rapids from customers at their restaurant in Mason City, and Muho decided to make a scouting trip.

One of the first locations Muho viewed in the metro area was a space in Marion that was originally Cooking Cottage, a cook-and-take-home kitchen that closed after three years. It had been difficult to lease due to the economy, according to Barbara Hames, whose parents, Curt and Norma Hames, own Cottage Plaza.

Barbara Hames said she was thrilled when the Qerimis leased the space because she had long thought its high vaulted ceilings, open floor plan, archways and outdoor patio made the perfect setting for an Italian restaurant.

It still took a little work to make it look Italian.

Artist Santiago Sanchez was commissioned to paint murals of Naples and Italian scenes on the walls and ceiling. The atmosphere is more casual than formal.

“It's been wonderful to work with Muho,” Barbara Hames said. “He's an experienced restaurateur.”

Italian food afficionados who like a little wine with their meal won't find a wine list.

That's because Napoli's doesn't have a liquor license, but Gomy says customers will be invited to bring their own bottle and no decanting charge will be involved. It's a cost savings for customers, he said.

Prices at the restaurant will range from $7.95 for a simple spaghetti dish with marinara sauce to $16.95 for Veal Napoli's.

Lunch prices will range from $6.95. to $8.95. Catering and takeout meals also will be offered.

The restaurant will seat about 100. It will be open seven days a week, with no reservations required.