08/17/2026
Kayden’s Comfort Kitchen Brings Home-Cooked Meals to Salem
A new Salem business is hoping to make getting a home-cooked meal a little easier for busy families without requiring them to spend the evening in the kitchen.
Kayden’s Comfort Kitchen, located at 200 E. Second Street, Suite G, in the Broadway Plaza, recently opened its doors with a focus on scratch-made comfort food at an affordable price.
Owner Aleta Pisoni grew up in Salem and attended Salem schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. She left the area to attend culinary school before returning home after becoming pregnant with her son, Kayden, who would later become the namesake of the restaurant.
After returning to Salem, Pisoni continued building her experience in the food industry, including working in nursing homes. Eventually, her professional experience and life as a busy mother helped inspire the idea for Kayden’s Comfort Kitchen.
“I wanted to make a restaurant where people could still get the home-cooked food that they would get making it at home” Pisoni said.
She said balancing work, cooking and her son's activities made her realize how many other families face the same challenge. The restaurant is also aimed at individuals who simply want a home-cooked meal without having to prepare an entire dinner themselves.
Most of the food at Kayden’s Comfort Kitchen is made from scratch whenever possible. Pisoni said she also tries to source locally and work with other area businesses.
“I hate the idea of going to a restaurant and getting something that came premade and frozen, especially if I could go buy the same type of thing at the store,” she said.
Affordability was another major factor when developing the business. Pisoni intentionally looked for a smaller location that didn't require operating a traditional sit-down restaurant, allowing her to keep costs down for customers.
The goal, she said, is to give people a good home-cooked meal for around the price they may otherwise spend at a fast-food restaurant.
The menu centers around a changing comfort meal, with favorites including meatloaf, stuffed peppers and lasagna. An alternative option is also offered, with lighter dishes such as Italian pasta salad during the summer. As fall approaches, those alternatives will transition to soups, chili and other cold-weather favorites.
Kayden’s Comfort Kitchen is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The daily comfort meal is available for walk-ins from 4 to 7 p.m., while customers who preorder with approximately an hour's notice can arrange pickup anytime during business hours.
Pisoni is also working toward offering the restaurant's own local delivery for around a $2 charge rather than relying heavily on third-party delivery services and the additional costs they can bring.
The restaurant recently held its soft opening, and Pisoni said the turnout exceeded expectations.
“We definitely exceeded expectations, and then some,” she said. “I definitely learned some things that I could do better for next time, but we still made sure everybody got fed. Nobody walked out of here hungry.”
Pisoni plans to hold an official grand opening after working through some of the remaining details with the restaurant's ordering system.
Helping her along the way are her boyfriend, Michael, her son, Kayden, her friend Ashley, and her father, Mike.
For Pisoni, the idea ultimately comes back to providing something many people still want but don't always have the time to make themselves — an affordable, homemade dinner.
Kayden’s Comfort Kitchen is located at 200 E. Second Street, Suite G, in Salem.
Phone number: 234-564-0019
The business is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with walk-in comfort meals ONLY available from 4 to 7 p.m. Closed Friday and Saturday.
