Nick and Marjana Stojani opened Damiano’s Italian Restaurant in November, and the owners said everything about the restaurant is authentically Italian—the decor, the food and the family.

The couple is not new to the restaurant business. They opened a restaurant in Dallas five years ago, which is now managed by Nick’s nephew. The Stojani family moved to Cedar Park last year.

“We liked the location,” Nick said. “The schools are very good. We’ve been happy with the business and customers, and the kids are happy here.”

Damiano’s is located off Parmer Lane and RM 1431, and the interior is decorated with large paintings depicting scenes across Italy.

Nick and Marjana have four children ages 4-17. Like their parents, the Stojani children have grown up eating food specific to Naples in Italy.

“Food from Napoli has a distinct flavor,” Nick said of what makes his regional Italian food special. “The pizza and cheese is different [than American pizza and cheese], and the fettuccine and Alfredo sauce for the pasta is different.”

Pizza, pasta and seafood variations make up the menu at Damiano’s.

“This is real Italian food,” Nick said, explaining that he purchases all of the restaurant’s ingredients from an Italian company, as opposed to the grocery store.

Ambrogio Buraglia, the restaurant’s chef, is also from Naples, which adds to the authenticity of the food, Nick said.

“Ambrogio has been with us since day one,” Marjana said. “We had the ideas and names for the foods already, and he helped make it real.”

Many of the dishes at Damiano’s are named for the Stojanis’ family and friends. The staff members at the restaurant have been welcomed into that family. According to Marjana, the group is close.

“It’s [Nick and Marjana]; Ambrogio; Pattie, our amazing manager that makes sure everyone feels welcome, happy and satisfied; and a great high school student who works as a waiter on the weekends and after school,” Marjana said. “Since we opened they have been a part of this place and a part of our family. This has just been a dream come true for us.”

Damiano’s Italian Restaurant| 13010 W. Parmer Lane, Ste. 300, Cedar Park 512-986-7843 www.damianosrestaurant.com Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.