Puerto Rican restaurant, Ñoño's Happy Kitchen opens in Brunswick

BRUNSWICK — Ñoño's Happy Kitchen, the only Puerto Rican restaurant to be located in Brunswick, opened its doors to the public recently. Ñoño's offers a small variety of Puerto Rican food such as empanadas and combo meals which can be made with different types of meat, rice and sides like beans, plantains, yucca and more. It is owned by husband and wife Frederick Martinez and Karen Ramos whose hometown is Guanica, Puerto Rico. Ramos said Martinez has always wanted to open a restaurant. "It was hard, but we did it," she said. "We're here." The name of the restaurant comes from Martinez's nickname "Ñoño" as well as his personality. "He's always listening to music, and he's always happy," she said. They wanted to bring a Puerto Rican restaurant to Brunswick because there are not many nearby, Ramos said. "(Customers) don't have to drive all the way to Cleveland like I've been told so many times," she said. "We just wanted to bring our touch and make them feel comfortable." It took approximately a year to open the restaurant. Ramos said it is exciting and nerve-wracking to bring a new type of cuisine to the area, but that customers have reacted positively so far. "The hospitality, the way that they have treated us, it's beautiful," she said. "I wasn't expecting that much from a group of people that maybe were not as familiarized with the food (or) with the concept, but it's been so nice." Besides Martinez and Ramos, Ñoño's has two employees. Ramos said in the future, Ñoño's intends to have more employees and expand its menu little by little by putting new items out and seeing what sells well. "We're offering something different," she said. "Our flavors are different." Ñoño's Happy Kitchen is located on 1663 Pearl Road. Ramos said residents of Brunswick and the surrounding area should stop by because it is unique and a welcoming environment. "Other customers that have been coming in here, they expressed their excitement (and) their happiness because we're here," she said. "We're bringing something different." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.