Torrington — Talia Zavala and Jennifer Frankel thought about opening Cravings Cafe & Grill a year ago, but they ended up battling supply chain problems, inflation and labor shortages. rice field.
Now, the two are finally ready to open their dream shop on May 30th on Mijeong Street.
“I’ve been working in food service since I was 14,” said Zavala, now in her 20s. She has experience as a grocery store, caterer, and Boston-trained barista. In 2018, she launched Hot Z’s, her mobile food truck in Torrington, which she still owns and operates today.
Mr. Frankel worked at Tactical Arms on Mijon Avenue, where Mr. Zabbala often parked his food trailer. When Zavala said he wanted to open a cafe on the corner of Mijon Avenue and Church Street, Frankel wanted to join. They are now partners.
“I have an extensive background in the field of customer service,” said Mr. Frankel, who is a qualified bookkeeper, a skilled baker and has a great sense of design.
“I have some family recipes that I use here as well, so I wanted to add that to this place and make it unique,” she said.
The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, paninis, wraps, specialty sandwiches, salads, and more, just like food trucks. Zavala pointed to full coffee bars, which he said are competitive with high-end specialty coffee establishments. She serves lattes, espressos and drip coffees, much of it from Newington’s Sacchutzo Coffee Company.
“Our meat comes from Litchfield Locker,” said Zavala. “That’s why it’s so delicious.”
Cravings’ hot dog is called New Britain’s Max. Milk is a dairy product found in Storrs.
“I think what makes this place different from other places is the fact that it’s a cafe,” Frankel said. “You can come in and have breakfast, and you can buy baked goods in the store. I can eat.”
They’re working to get their beer and wine permits, and “we’ll get you anything you crave,” Frankel said.
“This was my dream before I had food trucks. Food trucks were a way to get my name out there,” said Zavala.
She considered several buildings, but said the corner building she finally chose seemed promising. A former home appliance outlet, this building is across from a building that will be converted into two or three bedroom apartments. The prospect of attracting so many potential customers “was the trigger,” she said.
“This just fell into our hands,” Zavala said. “From the beginning everything went exactly as it was intended, literally.”
Zavala credits Frankel for the final design, which features silver, white and black on the walls and floors, as well as gleaming stainless steel counters, cabinets, sinks, cookware and appliances. The food counter and coffee bar are made of thick blond wood. Right-angled wooden counters open onto plate glass windows overlooking Church and Water streets on one side and Mijon Street on the other.
“I just like working with people. I love it. It gives me energy. It makes me happy. It motivates me,” Frankel said. rice field. “And I love food. it is perfect -“
“Duo,” finished Zavala.
“Well, it’s just the perfect situation and we have our own,” said Frankel.
Zavala says her fascination with food service was influenced by her father, Nick Zavala, who ran a banquet hall in New Britain. He helped her out at Hot Her Z’s and is going to work on the grill at her Cravings. He taught her that assembling her food was an art, she said.
“Sandwiches are art, wraps are art, fries in bags are art. Everything is art,” she said. “And another thing that’s important to me is cleanliness. That’s why we have an open kitchen. I want you to see it.”
Cravings Café & Grill, located at 9 Migeon Ave. in Torrington, will have its grand opening on May 30th. Hours of operation are Monday through Wednesday from 6 AM to 3:30 PM, Thursday and Friday from 6 AM to 8 PM, and Saturday from 7 AM. – 3:30 PM and Sundays from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
For takeout, catering and more information, call 860-482-0432 or visit www.cravingscafeandgrill.com or www.facebook.com/cravingscafeandgrill.