New Neighbors: Romanacci Transforms the former Commuter Coffee on Railroad Place
Romanacci Italian Restaurant has moved - and grown - next door, celebrating a larger space with more options at the historic 46 Railroad Place storefront.
Romanacci Manager Maciej RoginskiThe train station neighborhood was alive late last night as the last customers of the evening left, and manager Maciej Roginski and his crew began to prepare for today’s crowds. The restaurant - owned by Graziano and Maurizio Ricci - opened on Thursday, adding a large italian eatery to the area with a full service dining room, bar, and outdoor seating.
The Ricci’s made the decision to move to the larger space next door to expand their italian menu and create a permanent option for local diners. The space was transformed from the former Commuter Coffee eatery, which closed in June of 2018 after over four decades of service. The Commuter’s former windowside pink booths and large corner counter have been replaced with natural woods, exposed lighting, and natural accents - with a full bar overlooking the kitchen, and outdoor seating available on the deck over Railroad Place.
The restaurant is known for their italian specialties and pizzas, and now adds a larger food locale in the heart of the ever-changing Railroad Place community. They’re open Sunday - Thursday from 11AM until 10PM, and Fridays-Sundays from 11AM until 11PM. Roginski described the new opportunities the larger space gives them, with a future of live music and continued success in the area all within view.
More information can be found on their website, romanacci.com
New Neighbors: “Hook’d on the Sound” Pushes Through a Rainy Memorial Day Weekend
Nadine Wilf, General Manager, stands at the counter with Beck Lewis, a University of Miami freshman. Hook’d on the Sound celebrated its brick-and-mortar opening this month on Compo Beach - an exciting transition as the staff and 86 year old building prepare for the summer season in Westport.
The staff at Hook’d stayed warm behind the counter as only a handful of brave souls walked the shoreline this Memorial Day weekend - a time when the beaches celebrate their opening and the community marks the beginning of the warm season.
Although the screen door swung open for the first time this month, the restaurant team ran a large food trailer last year, when their contract officially began with the Town of Westport.
The interior of the local beach shack was renovated completely, with all new appliances and designs put in place throughout the structure. However the comfortable feeling of the former Joey’s by the Shore remains as staff greeted the customers at the famous building-wide countertop.
Managed by Nadine Wilf, Hook’d on the Sound is open seven days per week and offers a variety of breakfasts, snack-shack foods, as well as larger entrees, deserts, and healthier smoothies and bowls made-to-order.
The Compo Beach concession stand the day after Hurricane Sandy hit in October, 2021. The structure’s adjoining brick walls collapsed during the storm, and the famous boardwalk patio floated several feet away. Photo by Jaime Bairaktaris. Although a wash-out of a weekend, the staff remained positive - describing the community’s warm welcome during such a cold holiday weekend.
The Compo Beach concession stand was built in 1935, with extensive renovations being done to the building and adjoining bathhouses and lockers after Hurricane Sandy destroyed parts of the brickwork in 2012.