Our Story
ABOUT US
A Modern Fonda. A Timeless Welcome.
For us, hospitality has always been about more than serving a meal. It's about making people feel welcome, gathering around the table, and creating a place you'll want to return to again and again.
Inspired by the warmth and generosity of Mexico's traditional fondas, Comal is a neighborhood café, fonda, and bar where every part of the day has its place. Mornings begin with organic coffee, espresso, and fresh pastries. By lunch and dinner, the comal is at work—hand-pressed tortillas, scratch-made salsas, and dishes rooted in tradition. As evening settles in, thoughtful cocktails, great food, and easy conversation carry the day forward.
In Mexico, a fonda is more than a restaurant. It's where neighbors gather, recipes are passed down, and every guest is welcomed like family. That's the spirit that inspires Comal.
We chose our name for the same reason. The comal has long been the heart of the Mexican kitchen—a place where tortillas are cooked, chiles are toasted, and generations of family recipes come to life. It represents craftsmanship, tradition, and the simple act of caring for others through food.
Those values guide everything we do. Inspired by Angel's family recipes and our travels throughout Mexico, we cook from scratch, press every tortilla by hand, and prepare each dish with respect for the people, places, and traditions that continue to inspire us.
Whether you're stopping in for your morning coffee, gathering with friends for happy hour, celebrating with family, or simply enjoying dinner on an ordinary Tuesday, we invite you to make Comal part of your own traditions.
Thank you for letting us share our family's table with yours.
Bienvenidos. Siempre hay un lugar para ti en nuestra mesa.
With gratitude,
Angel & Finesse
MEET THE TEAM
Angel Luna • Owner/Chef
Born in Misantla, Veracruz, Mexico, Angel Luna immigrated to the United States at 19 with determination, a strong work ethic, and a deep respect for family and food. Raised in a home where gathering around the table was central to daily life, he learned early that meals are about more than nourishment — they’re about care, connection, and presence. As the second oldest of six siblings, Angel assumed responsibility at a young age, shaping his belief that hospitality is where culture, purpose, and people come together.
Angel began his restaurant career with Lettuce Entertain You, rising from cook to chef and leader while developing a strong foundation in kitchen operations, team development, and cost control. He later spent 11 years as Managing Partner and Chef at 6Smith in Wayzata, joining prior to opening and helping shape it into a beloved neighborhood destination. There, he focused on strong systems, consistent execution, and a professional, collaborative team environment — always centered on the guest experience.
A longtime Orono resident, Angel is deeply connected to the community he calls home. He has served on the Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce Board and supports several local nonprofit organizations. Together with his wife and business partner, Finesse, Angel is a proud parent to Anthony, Eva, and Luca, and is driven by a desire to build businesses rooted in integrity, hospitality, and long-term sustainability.
Today, as Co-Founder of Palm & Pine Hospitality and owner of Comal, Angel brings his culinary background and operational leadership together to create a place that feels welcoming and built to last. Guided by a belief in hospitality as a family value, he is focused on building something meaningful, for the community, for the teams who grow within it, and for the family legacy he and Finesse are creating together
Finesse Luna • Owner
Finesse is a Minnesota native and hospitality professional with more than 25 years of experience creating restaurants where people connect, celebrate, and feel at home. Her career is guided by a deep love of food, a commitment to excellence, and a belief that hospitality is about more than a meal, it’s about community.
Her journey began in 1995, when she left college to enter restaurant management, quickly becoming the youngest General Manager in her company’s history while leading the busiest location at the Mall of America. She later held leadership roles with Lettuce Entertain You Inc. before playing a key role in the opening and growth of 6Smith in Wayzata, where she led core operational and strategic initiatives across training, marketing, and business development.
Building on decades of experience, Finesse and her husband founded Palm & Pine Hospitality to create restaurants rooted in genuine hospitality, thoughtful food, and meaningful connection. Comal is their first restaurant under Palm & Pine and a personal expression of their shared values, family traditions, and love of gathering around the table.
Finesse’s approach to hospitality is shaped by family, food, and culture. Raised around shared meals and traditions—and inspired by her husband’s Mexican culinary heritage—she brings intention, warmth, and a people-first mindset into every space she creates. Together, they are proud parents of three children and are building a family legacy rooted in hospitality, connection, and community.
At home in Orono, Finesse finds balance in lake life, time outdoors, and gathering with family, friends, and their four dogs. That same sense of welcome lives at Comal, a neighborhood restaurant where hospitality feels personal, familiar, and meant to be shared.