Michael Nicoletti, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife, Cheryl, said it had been a long-time dream of his to open up this type of a restaurant.

"I had worked in the business for many years," Nicoletti said. "I started as a busboy when I was 15 and then worked as a waiter and then as a maitre d’. I decided I really liked the business and had been in the service industry for a long time."

While owning and operating his own barbershops, Nicoletti continued to work at restaurants part-time. Locally, he was with the Pasta House, Busch’s Grove and the Tower Club at Westport. Nicoletti also spent some time in the industry in Las Vegas about 20 years ago, where he worked at the Sands, the Dunes and the Riviera hotels. The more Nicoletti worked, the more he knew he really wanted to own his own restaurant. It definitely was his passion and Nicoletti went after it, purchasing his restaurant in the early 1980s.

Once Nicoletti found a good location, he worked hard to come up with just the right recipes to make the new venture a success. With good family recipes, Nicoletti found he could please the most discriminating palate.

"We have a lot of family recipes," Nicoletti said. "Some of the recipes came from my mother; some are from my nephews, including William (Billy) Meyers, who is also the head chef here."

Nicoletti raves about his staff and says that he and the cooks also select good recipes. Nicoletti also is quick to point out that his wife is a valuable and equal partner in the success of the restaurant.

"Cheryl and I are the two active owner managers here," Nicoletti said. "She manages, works as a hostess and works as hard as I do. It really is a fun place with a very friendly staff."

"About 85 percent of our business us return customers who then send us a lot of new customers. I really enjoy it here and that they keep coming back. My favorite thing is all the friends I’ve made here."

Eileen D. Frese
May 1, 2002
West Newsmagazine