SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Syracuse’s newest café is across the Hall — literally. On the corner of East Water and Montgomery streets, Across the Hall Café opened last Monday as a place for downtown Syracuse workers to get a sit-down meal to-go.
Owner and operator Joe Terotta has been in the restaurant and catering business for almost 30 years. He says the food industry runs in his blood as his cousin owned a sub shop right in the heart of Philadelphia.
“Seeing [my cousin’s business] when I was young made me someday just want to and work towards having my own place,” Terotta said.
It took over a dozen other attempts, but Terotta now has a place to call his own. His wife, two kids and a family friend are the five workers behind this café, located in a diner car building built in 1939 by the Bixler Dining Car Company.
Terotta says everything on the menu is made from scratch with local ingredients and comes out in less than 10 minutes, so workers can grab their food on a lunch break or on the way to work. You can even order Chicken Riggies when they open at 7 a.m.
