Crowning Glory

When Arturo Perez came to Marco Island in 1986, he thought it was for one season. But 37 years later, Perez, arguably the most famous chef in the island’s history, is putting the finishing touches on a restaurant he feels is his crowning glory. And to top things off, Perez is returning to the same location in the Royal Palm Mall where he spent his first ten years on the island, building his reputation as a chef and restaurateur.

“My boss in New York,” Arturo Perez said, "bought a place here. He called me to come here to help open it. So I came here to help open the restaurant and to get the place running. He called it Mr. C's. We changed the name to Antonio’s a year later because we changed from a steakhouse to an Italian restaurant. I was here for 10 years, then in 1996 I opened Arturo’s.”

It was his 18-year run at Arturo’s Italian Restaurant, located on Bald Eagle Drive, which brought Perez local fame as a chef. He started with a seating capacity of 60 then expanded to 150. Most recently he enjoyed an eight-year run at Arturo’s Bistro in the former Island Cafe location on North Collier Boulevard. The new Arturo’s Bistro at Royal Palm Mall will seat 160, including 30 to 40 in a newly redesigned courtyard area.

The one thing missing at the old location was a bar. Perez has designed a magnificent bar area for the new Arturo’s Bistro. The bar itself seats 18, with additional seating in the bar area.

 “At least 20 to 30 percent of the people coming to a restaurant,” Perez said, "like eating at the bar. We have three dining tables here in addition to the bar. If there are 100 people in the restaurant, 30 people can be in the bar area for sure.”

“People call for takeout or order their takeout and they come and sit here and wait for their food at the bar,” said Diana Aruta, Perez’s longtime domestic partner and general manager of Arturo’s Bistro. "Another common practice is to just come in, order, and then wait at the bar for the food.”

Perez is especially proud of how the bar area turned out.

“I like this color of green,” Perez said with a smile as he surveyed the large marble bar.

"Because we went and picked it out in March,” Aruta adds, "the guy told us luck is with you. Because for Saint Patrick's Day, the whole month all of their green marble was on sale. We had already picked this piece of marble, so it was like there wasn't ever any question. But I like that there's a lot of room for the bartenders to move back there. Because some bars are so crowded and cramped and this one, at least they're not going to fall all over each other. And they've got their draft beer in the middle there. No matter where they're standing, they've got access to that. So I think it's designed pretty well."

The bar design is conducive to conversation among patrons.

“It’s nice,” said Arturo Perez, Jr., "because it's like an island, so people can see each other and talk. You can meet new people. I like the shape. It’s like a family eating dinner here in a big dining room, even though they don't know each other.”

Arturo, Jr. and his son Jacob, form the trio of Perez family leading Arturo’s Bistro into the future. Though he’s only 17, Aruta sees Jacob Perez learning the family business in much the same way as his father Arturo, Jr. did.

"Jacob's learning the whole operation here,” Aruta said proudly. "He actually started in the kitchen and then he started helping in the front hosting. And now before he probably runs off to college, he wants to learn the rest. He's very, very smart. He catches on quickly. I'll tell you, he's the best one I have ever had help me in the front. He gets how it works. It’s a lot like a puzzle up there. One wrong move and you can really get yourself in a bad way. Especially in season when you've got 50 people running around asking you stuff.”

Arturo Perez, Jr., 39, has high esteem for his famous father. He’s been learning the restaurant business from him his entire life.

"I look up to him because he's good,” said Arturo Perez, Jr. “I used to take things the wrong way. But now I know he’s right. He has helped me improve myself so that in the future I won’t make the same mistakes. He makes me better. I don't go against him. I just do it.”

One room in the new Arturo’s Bistro that’s destined to become treasured is Arturo’s Room, a stand-alone room that seats 28 in privacy.

“This can be for private dining,” Arturo Perez said of the room that bears his name. “A cozy little room.”

Though Arturo’s Room is perfect for private functions, it will be available to restaurant patrons when it’s not reserved.

“If we don't have a big party,” Aruta said, "we'll obviously book this room. They claim these closed-in spaces are quieter. A lot of our guests will like that.”

Of course, everyone wants to know if Arturo’s famous stuffed pork chop will be on the menu. That’s a no-brainer. Perez created his signature in the same kitchen that he’s returning to.

“In New York,” he said, "we always did a veal chop, the veal with the bone. So when I came here, I needed to create something different. So I created a pork chop. We made a hit with that."

"It's a home run,” Aruta said enthusiastically. "It's not on the menu. It's presented every day as the house specialty. Very few people eat the whole thing. Even men will take it to go."

Arturo Perez looks at the new Arturo’s Bistro as his last hurrah in the restaurant business, though at 61 he feels he still has 20 years left in the business. He also sees it as a very special homecoming, returning to the very location it all started for him on Marco Island.

"This is a big deal,” Arturo Perez said in his understated style. "Yeah. This is my last project, and I'm happy to do it because I've got people behind me."

“This is it for him,” Aruta said. "This is the last rodeo. He passes the torch after this one. It’s a full circle thing with him starting here and ending here."

"I started here and I’m ending here,” Arturo Perez said with his easy smile.

"I mean, you can't make this stuff up,” Aruta said in her effervescent style, "You just can’t!”

After hosting an invitation-only evening on an undisclosed date, Arturo’s Bistro opens to the public on Tuesday, August 15.