I’m sitting in Sparky Town, a restaurant, catering service and art gallery all in one, in the Hawley Green neighborhood a couple of blocks off the Connective Corridor route. Bubbly chef Linda “Sparky” Mortimer happily moves around her tiny kitchen with a window peering out onto two rooms of seating. She concentrates on preparing a lentil soup while talking about all that is Sparky Town.

Fresh, healthy comfort food is the Sparky Town fare – soups, salads, sandwiches, paninis and a wide assortment of beverages. It is also a place where vegans, vegetarians, and meat lovers can eat in harmony, with a menu friendly enough to please even the pickiest of eaters. The menu is the result of Sparky’s training at the Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC, where she learned that balance is what’s important. Along with that, she strives to create a sense of ‘familia,’ as you might experience at an Italian bistro. For under $10, she hopes you will leave “nourished beyond food.”

Though most of her regulars are people in the neighborhood, Sparky is looking forward to more Syracuse University students venturing down. “I want people to come off the hill. People don’t even know this neighborhood exists.” While it is a bit off the beaten path, this quaint restaurant has the heart factor that chain businesses lack. For instance, several items on the menu are named after friends and regular patrons, such as the popular “Jocko” sandwich.

The restaurant also boasts the work of local artists on its walls, making it a recent addition to Th3, or Third Thursday, Syracuse’s citywide open house event. The gallery has a five-week rotation, and every opening includes a free reception with light fare and beverages. With a piano in the center of the second dining room, Sparky Town hosts music on occasion.

“For us to be included as a Connective Corridor venue is a great thing and a way to create community,” says Sparky. Sparky Town is also engaged in the community through fundraising events, as well as through SyracuseFirst, a nonprofit network of local businesses, organizations and citizens dedicated to buying local to build a sustainable community. Locally- or regionally-grown ingredients, such as those found in the anti-oxidant salad, support this mission.

So the next time you’re looking for a great cup of coffee or are in the mood for Sparky’s favorite dish, quinoa tabouli, drop by 324 Burnet Avenue. In the meantime, check out the website for a complete listing of monthly events, and become a friend on Facebook where you don’t have to look far for the daily specials.

Except for August 1-10, when it will be closed for staff vacation, the restaurant is open Monday-Friday from11am-8pm and Saturday from 8am-3pm.