When I was a teenager my father took me to Naples Italian Restaurant to celebrate my graduation from middle school to high school.  From that moment on Naples has kept a warm place in my memory.  As I remember, it was the nicest restaurant I had ever been in, and I was completely taken with the food.  Since then, I have only eaten at Naples twice and both times served my memory correctly.  Naples has been a huge success in Knoxville for decades and the reasons for its success aren't just in the food.  With impeccable service, professionalism, contemporary Italian cuisine and a warm environment, I predict that Naples will be a hallmark in this community for years to come.

Naples has a reputation for being one of the most romantic restaurants in Knoxville.  It was easy for me to fall in love with the restaurant the moment I entered the door last week.  The environment inside was comfortable.  With a modest number of tables, the dining area welcomes all customers to feel part of a family-like dining experience.  I was especially drawn to the casual mood.  The walls were painted a dark maroon with lattes accenting doors and corners.  There were simple checkered table clothes instead of the stiff white fabric that is popular in many high-dollar restaurants.  The table dressing consisted of simple wild flowers instead of overpowering roses in wine glasses.  I wasn't afraid to relax.  I could put my elbows on the table and not have to worry what someone else was thinking about me. 

There were very few people in the restaurant when I first arrived.  There were only a couple of severs, both of whom only had one table each, and a hostess, who I suspect was also a manager.  The hostess was very gracious as I waited for the rest of my party to join me.  The waitress was eager to please and took my drink order as my peers arrived.  None of the staff seemed snobby or stiff.  They were merely ready to contribute to our dining experience in a casual approach.

Naples has a reputation for being one of the most romantic restaurants in Knoxville.

Once everyone arrived, we began discussing what we would each have for lunch.  Everything on the menu looked amazing.  Italian food is my favorite and I was craving more than my stomach could possibly hold.  Having decided to avoid pasta for once, I turned to their selection of sandwiches and paninis.  I chose the Portabella and Crab Panini with asiago cheese, pesto and pasta salad.  Two of my friends ordered appetizers.  The first was of fried black olives stuffed with asiago cheese and the second consisted of a sharable portion of fried artichoke hearts.  I was especially fond of the fried olives for their soft texture and rich flavor.  They weren't filling either, which is sometimes a problem when ordering hors d'oeuvres.

My portabella and crabmeat panini was not disappointing.  The sandwich was served on the same rosemary-seasoned bread that came before the meal.  It was grilled, crusty and practically dripping with butter.  The mushrooms were cooked to perfection.  They were not chewy or underdone and their mild flavor complimented the soft crabmeat excellently.  The asiago cheese and pesto were subtle yet the ingredients held just enough contrast that I tasted them immediately in the first bite.  The sandwich was coupled with a side of pasta salad which consisted of rotini pasta tossed in dried herbs, olive oil and vinegar.  The herbs in the pasta were a bit distracting to the overall mild taste of the sandwich, but I was glad I had chosen the pasta instead of plain french fries.  I had some difficulty eating the sandwich because of the tough outer crust, but other than that, my lunch was scrumptious.  My panini was modestly priced just under eight dollars: a very affordable price for a completely gourmet lunch.

I saved the second half of my sandwich for later to save room for dessert.  While others in my party were preoccupied with tiramisu and chocolate raviolis, I made a safe decision to sample the Key Lime Chess Pie.  Everything I had eaten at that point was savory and yet slightly on the bland side so I wanted to conclude my meal with something with a citrus zest.  It was exactly what I was craving and more.  The generous sliver of pie was tart and tangy with a slight drizzle of raspberry sauce on the side.  The crust of the pie was almost softer than the filling.  It wasn't too crusty, too sour or too rich.  It was light and springy and just enough to energize me as we prepared to depart back to the classroom. 

As I mentioned before, the atmosphere was very important to my experience at Naples last week.  I felt welcome and casual as if I was joining some friends for a pizza.  I can imagine the mood changes quite a bit in the evening hours as the restaurant is dimly lit. It appears to be the perfect recipe for a romantic evening for two, but I was quite pleased with my lunch-time visit. I enjoyed the high-quality selection on the diverse menu and I was impressed by the service.  I was able to have a full lunch and dessert for about fifteen dollars. Since Naples accepts most forms of payment including cash, credit and debit, I am sure I will be returning for lunch in the near future.