LYONS — A lot of diners lamented the closing of Trombino’s and its classic Italian offerings many years ago.
However, a new restaurant plans to bring those classic dishes back to Lyons.
Gabriel’s Italian Comfort is opening at 1 Canal St. in the place where Papito’s Burritos operated before moving to Rochester. Papito’s has since closed on Culver Road, but the family behind the restaurant is back — and this time, they are focusing on Italian fare.
The restaurant’s owners are Joe Snell, Toni Lese and family. They said in a press release that the goal is to offer “traditional Italian comfort food made from family recipes passed down through the generations. The goal is to bring back the warmth, flavor, and old-world charm that many feel has been missing from the community for years.”
As for the name, the owners said it is in homage to former Lyons mayor and village trustee Gabe Vardabash, who died in 2008 (his wife, Betty, died in 2021) and who was “our grandfather and father.”
“Many residents also remember him as the owner of the Southside Market, a neighborhood staple, and later as a familiar face at Loson’s Big M, where he was known for his kindness and connection to the community,” the owners said in the press release. “To his family, Gabe represented the heart of home — Sunday dinners, big tables, and the belief that food brings people together. That spirit is the foundation of Gabriel’s Italian Comfort, which will focus on honest traditional Italian dishes made without shortcuts.”
Entrees include traditional Sunday dishes such as spaghetti and meatballs and sausage, greens and beans with sausage over capellini, chicken French, and chicken Parmesan, as well as fettuccine Alfredo among other offerings.
In a Facebook message to the Times, the owners said that “Gabriel’s Italian Comfort is more than a place to eat — it’s a place where community gathers, stories are shared, and every meal feels like it was made for family.”
The restaurant, which does not have a liquor license as yet, will be open Thursday to Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. Reservations are being accepted for New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and Friday and Saturday nights.
To reserve a table, call 315-226-3694.
Dining and Cooking