It’s been years since Carol Ceraso thought that making her own restaurant a reality would ever happen. Ceraso and her husband, Jeff, looked into purchasing their own place back in the 1990s. When nothing came to fruition for the couple, they settled down and had a family. However, things recently changed for the couple when their children went to college and they began looking back into Carol’s dream.
“She always wanted to have her own place,” said Jeff Ceraso. And with 35 years of food experience under her belt, Carol, Jeff and Carol’s sister, Westbury teacher Diane DiNicola, found a place to make that dream come true—the Starving Artist Café & Gallery in Franklin Square.
“We decided to go for a café and gallery because we have two kids that are both artists,” said Ceraso. The couple’s two children—a boy and a girl—are each in college for art and work with a variety of mediums.
Opened in late 2014, Starving Artist Gallery & Café is located at 1045 Tulip Ave. While Ceraso explained that the trio was trying to find a location closer to the area colleges, this spot was just too good to pass up. They got to work lining up artists and figuring out a menu, something that Ceraso explained his wife’s food industry experience made a breeze.
From soups, salads, flatbreads, wraps, paninis and more, Starving Artist Café offers something for everyone. “We wanted to have fresh product all the time,” said Ceraso. “So we settled on our menu but offer specials everyday as well.”
The gallery adds another distinct dimension to the newly-opened eatery, allowing local artists to come and show their work for free. Artists are also allowed to sell their projects, however, a portion of the proceeds from the sales go towards furthering art education in schools.
And, said Ceraso, the outpouring of community response has been very encouraging.
“We have been received beautifully,” he said. “Everyone is telling us that Franklin Square needed something like this. They have embraced us totally and tell us that they want to see us succeed.”
With live events filling the calendar at Starving Artist Café & Gallery and a delivery menu planned as one of the couple’s short-term goals, it doesn’t look like Franklin Square’s newest hotspot will be slowing down anytime soon.
And, Ceraso added, Carol’s desire to make her dream come true, albeit with his help, has been an inspiration to him.
“I am so proud of her,” said Ceraso of his wife. “I am so proud that she is doing this and what she is doing for the community is great.”
The Starving Artist Cafe is located at 1045 Tulip Ave. in Franklin Square. For more information visit www.starvingartistcafe.org or call 516-358-2233.
