Written by Isabella Aranda Garcia & Gia Miller
If the show “Cheers” was based on a real-life restaurant, odds are it would be The Blazer. Not necessarily for the characters many of us grew to love over their 11 seasons, but for, as the theme song says, a place where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came. For over 50 years, The Blazer has been a beloved staple in North Salem. Sisters Alice O’Leary Kerrigan and Colleen O’Leary Duffy have kept many things the same: high-quality food that is cooked fresh, no heat lamps, name-brand condiments on their shelves and at their tables, etc.
But it’s more than just the food that makes customers feel at home; it’s also the atmosphere. The sisters treat The Blazer as if it’s their home, making sure customers and employees feel like family. Because of this, there’s very little staff turnover, and customers know that even a bad day can be made better after a meal at The Blazer. Plus, for their regulars, the sisters keep a list filled with names, phone numbers and dishes near their phone so they can call customers when a favorite item is on the menu.
What We Love
They model kindness, regularly donating to the less fortunate, and their customers are inspired to do the same. For example, during the pandemic, a “Blazer regular” anonymously donated Blazer gift cards, which the sisters gave to the North Salem Office of Emergency Management to assist their neighbors.
Runner-up: Di Nardo’s Ristorante Italiano, Pound Ridge
This article was published in the January/February 2025 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
To view all 2025 Connect to the Best winners, click here.
Gia Miller is an award-winning journalist and the editor-in-chief/co-publisher of Connect to Northern Westchester. She has a magazine journalism degree (yes, that's a real thing) from the University of Georgia and has written for countless national publications, ranging from SELF to The Washington Post. Gia desperately wishes schools still taught grammar. Also, she wants everyone to know they can delete the word "that" from about 90% of their sentences, and there's no such thing as "first annual." When she's not running her media empire, Gia enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, laughing at her crazy dog and listening to a good podcast. She thanks multiple alarms, fermented grapes and her amazing husband for helping her get through each day. Her love languages are food and humor.
Isabella Aranda is a designer, writer and social media specialist with an M.A. in emerging media from the New Media Institute at the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication. Driven by curiosity and inspired by timeless modern design, she blends creativity and strategy to craft compelling narratives that engage diverse audiences.
Her expertise spans digital marketing, content creation and UX design, with notable achievements such as co-creating the Georgia On Your Mind podcast and leading digital campaigns that significantly boosted engagement. A Venezuelan immigrant, Isabella brings a multicultural perspective to her work, enhancing her ability to connect with and inspire others.
