Angel and Finesse Luna on the opening day of Comal. Photos: Comal
The Luna family introduces a new name and identity for the downtown restaurant.
After six months of operating as San Pancho, owners Angel and Finesse Luna have reopened their Long Lake eatery’s doors as Comal, signaling a new chapter for what will continue to be an authentic Mexican eatery. “When we first purchased the restaurant, we knew where we wanted to go,” Finesse says. “We wanted the time to earn our guests’ trust, refine our menu and service, and build the experience we had envisioned. Comal is the name that finally tells that story.”
Comal, a type of flat griddle, is a versatile cooking surface that plays an assortment of roles in kitchens across Mexico. But beyond its versatility, the word comal symbolizes tradition and craftsmanship to the husband-and-wife team. It also represents the act of caring for others through food, which Comal now looks to do for breakfast, lunch, dinner and beyond. “Our goal has always been to create the kind of neighborhood place that becomes part of people’s everyday lives,” Angel says. “Whether you’re stopping in for your morning coffee, meeting friends for lunch, sharing dinner with family or ending the evening at the bar, we want Comal to feel welcoming, familiar and rooted in genuine hospitality.”
The community turned out to celebrate the opening of Comal.
Comal’s menu draws on Angel’s familial roots in Veracruz, Mexico, and is influenced by the cuisine and flavors the couple has encountered during their travels throughout the country. The mornings start off with coffee and fresh pastries, like Conchas and Churro Cups, followed by a laidback lunch menu, featuring sandwiches, such as the Torta de Pollo and Torta de Bistec. Dinner offers extended entrée options, such as Tilapia en Adobo and the Cast Iron Skirt Skeat Tampiqueña alongside the lunch menu’s appetizer, salad and soup lineup.
While the restaurant’s name has changed, the Lunas say guests can expect the same level of care and hospitality that they’ve come to expect at San Pancho.
