After not having been in touch for 14 years, like so many boomers, childhood friends Roger Caro and Neil Baim reconnected on Facebook to rekindle their friendship.
What they discovered was that neither of them were still working in the industries they had remembered. Roger had left the Garment Center in NYC to pursue a career in the restaurant industry. For nine years, Roger basically learned and became expert at every position in the restaurant business. In fact, he made a name for himself at some of the most successful and popular places in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. He realized that his dream was to one day open a health food restaurant somewhere in Westchester.
Five years ago while working on Wall Street, Neil tired of the grind and decided to take up bartending as an occupational therapy. He found a spot at a popular Northern Italian restaurant in the West Village of Manhattan, and never left the place while exiting The Street after 15 years. Subsequently, he got out from behind the bar and worked every position in the business and discovered this was his life's calling.
When Roger and Neil reconnected, they realized they both shared the same vision: to open up a healthful and cozy restaurant in a great neighborhood.
When the opportunity presented itself to Neil and Roger to resurrect what was Comfort Lounge, they both jumped at the opportunity. Comfort had a history of serving the community with healthful, sometimes organic, sometimes gluten free, but always very tasty and hearty dishes that resonated with its loyal customers. For years as a small take-out business, Comfort served up foods that developed a fine reputation. The hope had been to bring the customers across the street to a warm environment where they could sit down to eat, drink, relax, and feel at home.
After having made some changes inside, Comfort Restaurant opens its doors to welcome everyone in the Hastings and surrounding communities. You can expect many of the famililar healthy and popular dishes, as well as new offerings. Also, you can always expect a smile when you walk through the door and know that you are always welcome in our house.