What started as a story about maxing out credit cards to follow a dream turned into one of Downtown Bryan’s most established and well-regarded restaurants: Caffe Capri. (Rhett Brady/Community Impact)
What started as a story about maxing out credit cards to follow a dream turned into one of Downtown Bryan’s most established and well-regarded restaurants: Caffe Capri.
How we got here
Founded in 1995 by Texas A&M University graduate Rami Ceroni ‘95, the restaurant serves a number of Italian dishes, including pasta, salads, soups and desserts in the heart of Historic Downtown Bryan. Ceroni said he grew up with the flavors of Italian cuisine in his Italian-American family, so the transition into cooking those meals for the public while also keeping the menu simple and familiar was easy.
“I would say we’re a creative Italian restaurant that’s traditional with twists,” Ceroni said. “I used to change the menu often, but people have their favorites and I am limited on space, so I don’t want to take it off again.”
Some of Caffe Capri's dishes being made in the kitchen.Courtesy of Caffe Capri
Diving in deeper
Ceroni’s journey with Italian food might have started as a child, but he said his fears of unemployment and building a future with a family after graduating from A&M made him rethink working a typical office job or opening a business later in life.
“When I was 22, I cash advanced multiple credit cards to get this place open. It was a lot of interest,” Ceroni said. “I didn’t want to ask my parents for money, because it would be their restaurant.”
Ceroni said his start brought challenges from local competitors and chains, especially the opening of Johnny Carino’s some years ago.
“When Carino's opened, it was scary at the time. As I got more established and other restaurants opened, it didn't affect me as much,” Ceroni said.
Caffe Capri's full bar takes over much of the restaurant and serves many different mixed drinks.Rhett Brady/Community Impact
It's five o'clock somewhere
While the menu stays familiar, Ceroni said the restaurant occasionally will do specials and features, along with the newer addition of a full bar.
“We started doing mixed drinks five to six years ago. We only did beer and wine [before then],” Ceroni said. “We really ramped it up during COVID with the takeout cocktails and the bar has grown during the weekends.”
The restaurant is also known for its Art Deco design and art wall. Ceroni said the inspiration was from his personal taste and his desire for the restaurant to have the high-end feeling without the high-end price.
“I love Art Deco and the uniqueness of it,” Ceroni said. “It's not a chain and it's accessible. I love the art wall and murals too. It’s a very comfortable and atmospheric interior.”
Caffe Cupri's Art Deco decor is featured throughout the restaurant.Rhett Brady/Community Impact
Going forward
Ceroni said something he looks forward to every day is continuing to build relationships with customers, both local and out of town. He said he also looks forward to being able to maintain relationships with his staff.
“I see multitudes of people and it creates a great social aspect. We are getting new customers all the time,” Ceroni said. “My staff has been very long-term with hardly any turnover. It's nice that I have made a living for myself and for others.”
After more than 30 years of serving the residents of Bryan, College Station and beyond, Ceroni said his priority is keeping the same great dishes and maintaining his customer base. He added that with the revitalization of downtown Bryan, businesses have had an attractive area for people to visit.
“Downtown has become cool. When I went to school here, it was very dark with a lot of potholes and it was perceived as scary,” Ceroni said. “It’s hard to say what I want to happen next, but I just hope it goes well.”
