At Napoli Sea, guests get transported to a lavish nautically themed eatery that feels like it exists anywhere but the landlocked Midwest. One of the latest entries from the Pietoso restaurant family debuted in June 2023 and offers an intimate seafood-centric set of offerings at The Streets of St. Charles.
For the past 35 years, the Pietosos have made a name for themselves with The Napoli Group, which oversees Italian-focused concepts including Cafe Napoli, Napoli II, Napoli III, and Napoli Bros. Pizza and Pasta. Located next door to Napoli III, Napoli Sea fills a niche in the area, featuring fresh fish with an Italian flair.
“We’re big foodies in general, but as far as fresh seafood, we saw there was a market out here in St. Charles where there are not a lot of seafood options,” says Kye Pietoso, who co-owns the concept with his parents, Tony and Kathy Pietoso, and his brother, Ande Pietoso.
“There are so many fish lovers, and we’re here to show our clientele that just because you’re in the Midwest, it doesn’t mean you can’t get fresh fish flown in daily,” Kye says. “You can order fish that was in the water yesterday.”
Napoli Sea pays homage to Kye’s grandfather, nicknamed “Doc,” who served as a first-responder diver in the non-tactical amphibious Underwater Demolition Teams, which preceded the Navy Seals. A bronze diver’s helmet serves as the commemorative centerpiece of the white granite bar, visible as guests enter the extravagant room.
The 2,200-square-foot space features around 80 seats across the bar, dining room and mezzanine – all of which come embellished with an eye-catching blue, sea-themed interior design. “My mother really wanted to make it feel as if you were on a really nice yacht,” Kye says. “It’s very elegant but comfortable.”
Murals of hand-painted sea creatures, decorative portholes and a wall of screens displaying a variety of dazzling coastal and underwater scenes make the restaurant feel like a destination-worthy place to dine. The thoughtful details extend to the menu, which features some show-stopping attractions of its own.
“We have fresh fish, oysters from the east and west coasts, lobster tails, caviar and tableside options such as seafood risotto that comes out of a Parmesan wheel, bananas foster and dover sole,” Kye says. “Dover sole is such a delicious dish, but it’s tedious because it has so many bones and you have to really take your time. We offer an experience by deboning it for our guests at the table.”
Executive Jon Berger and chef Craig Lowing developed the unique set of food specialties. “The showstopper for me is the Parmesan wheel. It comes in at about 100 pounds,” Kye says. “It’s lit on fire, and we toss the risotto in it with shrimp, clams and lobster. It’s definitely one of the things that catches everyone’s eye.”
Additional highlights include charred octopus, a 12-ounce Australian wagyu strip, and a crowd-favorite appetizer: spicy tuna crispy rice, featuring a simple but delicious combination of spicy tuna atop crispy rice with avocado, jalapeño, wasabi, tobiko, eel sauce, sweet soy glaze and Sriracha. To pair with the fare, choose from a selection of wine, local beer and a selection of colorful cocktails.
“If you want to feel like you’re near a beach, this is definitely the place to go for a special occasion or just a night out where you can get the freshest dishes in St. Charles,” Kye says.