Inverness BID city centre star Comfort Foods cafe – eat out with all the comfort of home!

We all need comfort now and then and there really is nothing more comforting than a delicious homemade meal that’s excellent value for money and enjoyed with great company – and not having to do the washing up afterwards!

You can enjoy all the comfort of home cooking (and treats) at family-run Comfort Foods cafe on Church Street run by Lorraine and Richard Comfort.

The popular cafe is this week’s Inverness BID city centre star and it is easy to see why with its fantastic menu of the very best comfort food – from mac and cheese, French toast and fish and chips to the freshly baked scones every morning, to mention just a few!

But Comfort Foods is much more than its menu. It is a welcoming eatery where the company and warmth is just as important as the food, and that’s down to Lorraine and Richard.With their small team of staff, Richard and Lorraine provide the local community with a friendly atmosphere to enjoy a tasty treat in.

Q. Tell us about you

A. Comfort Foods is a family-run, family-friendly, busy, city centre cafe and takeaway. We are open seven days per week, 8am to 5pm, serving breakfasts, hot/cold drinks, lunches and main meals. Our menu includes an all-day breakfast, French toast, soup, sandwiches, toasties, paninis, club sandwiches, baked potatoes, steak pie, fish and chips, scampi, seafood platters, macaroni cheese and much much more. Everything is homemade and we have a choice of two soups each day as well as our freshly baked scones each morning.

We have vegetarian and vegan options as well as gluten-free and dairy-free options. There is also a kids menu for the little peeps. Everything on our menu can be made to take away too. As well as being one of the head chefs, Richard also hand crafts the metal wall art that you see for sale displayed on the cafe walls. Many of the items can be made to order and collected at the cafe.

Q. What is happening at Comfort Foods over the festive season?

A. We have a few more additions to the menu over the Christmas period such as our festive panini filled with turkey, stuffing, brie and cranberry sauce, our festive club sandwich, turkey Caesar salad, gingerbread latte, candy cane hot chocolate and homemade mince pies.

As well as the metal art making an ideal Christmas present, we also sell Comfort Food vouchers.

Q. Why is Inverness city centre a great place to eat out, visit and work?

A. The city centre is a great place to eat out and shop in as it has a number of hidden gem shops and cafes in it that you wouldn’t normally see when you head to the larger retail parks. There is definitely more of a personal vibe to the local city centre shops. Everyone is so welcoming. Comfort Foods feels more like a community hub some days with the mix of regular customers, tourists and local shopkeepers coming in for their takeaways, with everyone chit chatting and getting the craic. I love walking to the cafe, knowing that I will say hello to at least two or three other local heroes.

Q. Who are your city centre stars?

A. Everyone is so friendly, especially the Harry Gow girls, Duncan Fraser Fishmongers, the Saffron ladies, Highland Souvenirs, Far Fetched, All Sorts, the Music Shop, Lush, Poundland, the Trophy Centre, Youngs Sweet Shop, Story Chocolates, Hastie & Dyce, Primark and the list goes on.

We also get a lot of support from the local offices such as the solicitors and estate agents as well as other local restaurateurs wanting somewhere else to eat on their lunch breaks.There is a lot to be said for the community spirit within the town centre and I am very thankful to be part if it. I am also very grateful for all my wonderful customers and for my hard-working staff.

Q. Why is the Inverness city centre gift card a great present?

A. A good day out can be had within the city centre. There is a wide variety of eateries, mainstream clothing retailers as well as quirky independent ones, beautiful jewellery and gift shops, shoe shops, cobblers and tailors, music and electrical shops, flower and sweetie shops, hairdressers and barbers, beauticians and nail bars as well as tattooists and piercers. I would also like to add that the many charity shops dotted around the centre provide a vital service to those that need it and the bargains you can get are fab!

So all in all, there are many reasons to keep it local and support your city centre businesses including your very own Comfort Foods!

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