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                                                                    Exhibit 99.7

Conformed Copy

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

$20,541.42                                                         July 31, 1998
                                                                Cincinnati, Ohio

         On or before June 15, 1999, for value received, CIAO CUCINA CORPORATION
f/k/a CIAO LIMITED, INC., an Ohio corporation, successor in interest to FIRE IN
THE KITCHEN, INC., an Ohio corporation ("Maker"), promises to pay to TOWNE
INVESTMENT CO., an Ohio partnership, or order, the sum of Twenty Thousand Five
Hundred Forty-One Dollars and Forty-Two Cents ($20,541.42). Said principal
amount shall be paid in two (2) installments, the first installment in the
amount of Fourteen Thousand Six Hundred Seventy-Four Dollars and Eighty-Four
Cents ($14,674.84) is to be paid on or before August 15, 1998, and the second
installment in the amount of Five Thousand Eight Hundred Sixty-Six Dollars and
Fifty-Eight Cents ($5,866.58) is to be paid on or before June 15, 1999.

         This note may be prepaid at any time without penalty.

         In the event Maker remains current on all rent payments and performs
all of its other obligations required of Maker under a certain "Sublease" dated
November 14, 1990, as amended by a certain "Amendment to Sublease" dated June
11, 1991, and as further amended by a certain "Second Amendment to Sublease"
dated April 11, 1997, hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Sublease",
for premises consisting of approximately two thousand eight hundred twenty
(2,820) square feet, located in the Shopping Center known as The Shops at
Harper's Point, Symmes Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, the above-said second
installment shall be forgiven. In the event Maker fails to remain current on all
rent payments and perform all of its other obligations required of Maker under
the Sublease, the above-said second installment shall become immediately due and
payable on demand.

         Upon failure to pay the balance of principal at maturity, or upon the
appointment of a receiver for Maker, or the making by Maker of any assignment
for the benefit of creditors, or upon the commencement of bankruptcy or
insolvency proceedings by or against Maker, or upon the placement or issuance of
any levy, lien, writ of attachment, writ of garnishment, writ of execution, or
similar process against Maker, or any property of Maker, or upon default in the
payment of any other liability of Maker, to holder in accordance with the terms
thereof, or in the observance or performance of any term, condition, or
agreement in any document given by Maker to holder, with respect to this
obligation, then, upon the occurrence of any one or more of such events, unless
holder shall otherwise elect, the full amount of indebtedness 


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evidenced hereby to holder shall become immediately due and payable on demand.

         Upon failure to pay the balance at maturity or upon failure to pay any
installment of interest or principal when due, the entire principal with accrued
interest thereon shall become immediately due and payable on demand.

         Upon default, Maker agrees to pay all costs of collection, including
reasonable attorneys' fees and from and after default of this Note interest
thereon at the rate of five percent (5%) per annum in excess of the prime
commercial rate then in effect for Key Bank Corp.

         No delay or failure on the part of the holder hereof to exercise any of
its rights hereunder shall be deemed a waiver of such rights or any other right
of such holder nor shall any delay, omission or waiver on any one occasion be
deemed a bar to or waiver of the same or any other right on any future occasion.
Maker and every endorser or guarantor of this Note waives presentment, demand,
protest, and notices of every kind and assents to all extension(s) or
postponement(s) of the time of payment or any other indulgences by holder, and
to additions or releases of any other parties or persons primarily or
secondarily liable hereon, if any.

         In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Note and any other
agreement, the terms of this Note shall control.

         Maker hereby authorizes any attorney at law to appear before any court
of record, state or federal, in the United States of America (other than any
court in which utilization of this warrant of attorney would be contrary to law)
after the indebtedness evidenced by this Note becomes due, whether by demand, by
lapse of time or by acceleration of maturity, by operation of law or otherwise
to waive the issuance and service of process, to admit the maturity and
nonpayment of this Note, to confess judgment against Maker in favor of the
holder of this Note for the amount then appearing due, together with interest
and costs of suit, and thereupon to release all errors and waive all rights of
appeal and stay of execution. The foregoing warrant of attorney shall survive
the judgment. Should any judgment be vacated for any reason, the foregoing
warrant of attorney nevertheless may thereafter be utilized for obtaining
additional judgment or judgments against Maker.

         This Note is being executed and delivered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and all
rights and obligations hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Ohio.

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         WARNING - - BY SIGNING THIS PAPER YOU GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO NOTICE AND
COURT TRIAL. IF YOU DO NOT PAY ON TIME, A COURT JUDGMENT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST
YOU WITHOUT YOUR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE, AND THE POWERS OF A COURT CAN BE USED TO
COLLECT FROM YOU REGARDLESS OF ANY CLAIMS YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST THE CREDITOR
WHETHER FOR RETURNED GOODS, FAULTY GOODS, FAILURE ON HIS PART TO COMPLY WITH THE
AGREEMENT, OR ANY OTHER CAUSE.

                                                  CIAO CUCINA CORPORATION,
                                                  an Ohio corporation

                                             BY:  /s/ Stephen J. Kent
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                                                  President
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Due:
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