At first glance, what seems to be an intimidating, fancy restaurant turns out to be a pleasant, welcoming refuge to enjoy time with friends and family. Naples Italian Restaurant is a delicious stop in the middle of bustling Kingston Pike that I was able to visit recently. During lunch, it was very quiet and serene and there were no distractions to enjoy a meal of luxury. With beautiful burgundy-red painted walls, exquisite artwork and wood lattice intertwined with grape vines, the atmosphere was perfect for an afternoon of delicious, homemade Italian cuisine.

Rosemary scented butter was served on warm, fresh bread that was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Asiago Olives were served steaming and delicious. The black olives were stuffed with Asiago cheese, breaded and fried and served with an exquisite roasted red bell pepper sour cream. One bite sends your taste buds into bliss as the olives slowly melt in your mouth. If you don't want to buy an entire dinner at Naples, you may want to go at least for the Asiago Olives for only $5.99.

Feeling quite adventurous, I ordered the Seafood Fettuccini. The dish included shrimp, scallops, crab, peas, onions and mushrooms on a warm bed of noodles and a delightfully creamy Alfredo sauce. I was slightly saddened since shrimp is a favorite food and there was only one piece of shrimp in the dish. I found two pieces of crab and five scallops. The dish was very appetizing, however slightly more fishy flavored than I am used to. The Alfredo sauce was warm and creamy and very fragrant. The beauty of the dish almost made you want to savor the splendor before eating it, however the enticing aroma called for it to be devoured. Overall, the satisfying creaminess of the sauce along with the delectable vegetables made this still a delightful meal for $10.99.

I was able to try two very different desserts: the Tiramisu (or Tiramissou) and the Chocolate Ravioli. I have tried Tiramisu in many different places and I have mixed feelings about this dish at Naples. While the ladyfingers dipped in espresso were delectable and the vanilla bean custard was dreamy, the chocolate surrounding this beauty was unmistakably Hershey's syrup. I was surprised to taste this, rather than a homemade chocolate sauce and while it was overall scrumptious, I was expecting something more original. The coolness of the homemade whipped cream made a definite difference and if you like Tiramisu, you should definitely try Naples at least once. This dessert was a tasty $5.99.

The other dessert that I tried, I believe, is one of the best desserts I have had in a very long time. The Chocolate Ravioli served over raspberry puree was entirely luscious. Homemade vanilla ravioli pasta was fried and filled with delectable dark chocolate. The delicate ravioli lay upon a sea of raspberry bliss and was sprinkled with powdered sugar. As elegant as it was lying on the plate, it was even more dazzling in your mouth. The coolness of the raspberry and the warmth of the ravioli coupled together in a way that can only be considered pure happiness. Amazingly, this dessert only cost $4.99. Where else can you buy pure happiness for fewer than five dollars?

Even with some minor disappointment, Naples Restaurant is definitely on my list of future meals. They have old favorites you can find at other Italian restaurants and some specialties you'll find nowhere else. I am definitely looking forward to trying the Cannelloni, the Spumoni and of course, their wine for which they have won the Wine Spectator "Award of Excellent." For groups of two to 52, Naples can provide wonderful atmosphere and scrumptious food right in the middle of Kingston Pike. Now that's enticing.