“Will there ever be another place like this?” Harith Razaa is asked on the weekend his Comfort Desserts Reimagined closed. “I hope there will,” he said. “Because I want to go there.” Razaa opened his restaurant at 517 Dempster St. two years ago. “I was allowed to be creative, to listen to jazz in the morning, give people coffee for free, tell silly jokes, share stories and give little children cherry cider and blueberries.” He never expected his “greatest experiment” would last longer. He’s closing to see his grandkids, learn the saxophone and, “I want to go and visit the island of Madagascar only because I figured at my age, I should have at least met one person from Madagascar.” (Photo by Richard Cahan) Credit: Richard Cahan

“Will there ever be another place like this?” Harith Razaa is asked on the weekend his Comfort Desserts Reimagined closed. “I hope there will,” he said. “Because I want to go there.” Razaa opened his restaurant at 517 Dempster St. two years ago. “I was allowed to be creative, to listen to jazz in the morning, give people coffee for free, tell silly jokes, share stories and give little children cherry cider and blueberries.” He never expected his “greatest experiment” would last longer. He’s closing to see his grandkids, learn the saxophone and “visit the island of Madagascar, only because I figured at my age, I should have at least met one person from Madagascar.” (Photo by Richard Cahan)

Richard Cahan

Richard Cahan takes photos for the Evanston RoundTable. He also is publisher of CityFiles Press, a small but mighty media company that believes in the power of words and pictures. You can reach him at...

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  2. A Thursday after-school visit to the “cafe” was a ritual for my four and seven year old grandkids. Books for all ages available on each the table, a cozy corner table near the sunny front window, familiar customers at the same time on the same day. The children carefully selected a spectacular bread pudding to share, and they were grateful recipients of that cherry cider.The three of us will truly miss Mr.Razaa’s warm welcome, wonderful recipes, and generous spirit. Here’s wishing him good times with his grandchildren, joy learning the sax, and adventure in Madagascar.

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