One of the first restaurants to open downtown, this grocery store turned elegant eatery has been loved and family-run since 1995.
Caffe Capri was opened on September 18, 1995, by Rami Cerone, Texas A&M class of 95, relying solely on money from credit card cash advances. It was a bold move, especially since downtown was not yet established. 26 years later, however, this restaurant continues to grow and has won numerous awards such as ‘Best Italian’ and the ‘Aggie 100’ fastest growing businesses in the world.
The menu is a combination of recipes: some consist of items that come directly from the Cerone family kitchen. many are the result of rami constantly experimenting with different ingredients – what you see are the recipes that actually worked. The marinara sauce is a secret recipe from his father’s family.
So secret in fact, that until November of 1995, his father would come twice a week just to make 30 gallons of sauce (but not before chasing everyone out of the kitchen). Thankfully, however, business picked up, and twice a week was no longer enough so rami finally learned the recipe. The open kitchen is there so you can see the food being prepared – they have nothing to hide.
The Caffe strives to be green and environmentally friendly. for example, they have switched from foam carry-out containers to those that are recyclable & biodegradable. They recycle all of their cardboard and glass daily. They use recycled paper for their printing needs. They are striving to become a zero-waste business.
This building was originally a grocery store. However, only the tin ceiling remains original – the rest has been restored. The tables and columns are made of a stone called rose travertine that was taken from the interior of an old downtown Bryan building. Upstairs, they offer a private banquet room that can seat up to 60 people. The music, although different from an Italian restaurant, adds to the upbeat atmosphere and the unique decor.
They pride themselves on their attentive and friendly customer service their staff wants Caffe Capri to become your favorite restaurant. Their biggest compliment is when customers bring back friends.
Banquet Info
Their banquet room can comfortably seat up to 60 people with plenty of room to mingle.
Benefits
- No charge for using the room
- A/V equipment is available at no extra cost
- Plenty of convenient, well-lit parking
- They use linens, glass, and china
- Trained servers
Dinner
- $20 per person for choice of two entree combinations.
- $17 per person for choice of one entree from the banquet menu. All banquet dinners include their lemon-lime Caesar salad, fresh garlic bread, and iced tea.
- Dessert and/or appetizers are optional but can be added to your event.
Bar Options
- Beer and wine service is available. Choose from a cash or a hosted bar.
- Purchase bottles of wine from us in advance or we can just sell it by the glass- the choice is yours.
- Ask about specific wine pricing.