The year was 1995 when Mari opened CZ Flowers & Coffee, a combination establishment that quickly proved popular on South Milwaukee's main drag. The customers enjoyed the cappuccinos and lattes, but longed for a real restaurant.

Mari wanted to do something different - to open a paninoteca. She began work in the building adjacent to her flower shop in March 2002. Seven months later, Cafe Zarletti opened for business. Mari converted what once had been a hardware store and later an auto parts store into a slick cafe that looks like a place found on one of Rome's side streets.

The restaurant's east wall has been stripped to its bare brick. The west wall is painted a rich brick red and sleek, Italian-style track lightshang on wires beneath a freshly painted white tin ceiling. Airy pastel paintings and a mural of an Italian town decorate the walls.

Customers order at a walk-up counter. The orders are delivered to their tables when they're ready.

A blackboard announces daily specials and soup. One of the cafe's specialties is panini ($6.95 each), grilled Italian sandwiches that get their corrugated crusts from special imported panini grills.

Cafe Zarletti is also considered a good spot for a romantic lunch. After all, the Mari still operates the flower shop adjacent to the cafe so lovers don't have to make a separate stop for flowers.