CONCORD, Calif. (July 2, 2024) — Despite what some politicians say about the effects of inflation, dining at a restaurant is much more expensive than it was a few years ago.
To save money, some families choose to share main dishes, avoid buying alcohol, or visit restaurants where meals cost $15 to $20 per person.
One place that fills that need for affordability is Corner Kitchen in Concord, a traditional burger joint that serves up a menu that rivals fine dining restaurants and harkens back to the early days of San Francisco's iconic Fog City Diner.
Located in an isolated strip mall on Willow Pass Road, Corner Kitchen has much lower overhead than its locations in downtown Concord and on Mount Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette.
Concord High School Graduate
Brothers John and AJ Groppetti are partners in the business along with Sal Morales. They all grew up locally and are graduates of Concord High School. Morales also graduated from Diablo Valley College's culinary arts program.
Corner Kitchen specializes in fresh ingredients, grinding Angus chuck daily for burgers and sliders cooked rare. Favorites include the Classic, Blue, Mushroom Swiss and Brie Burgers.
The hearty sliders help keep the price down if you order smaller portions. In addition to the beef sliders, the pulled pork option is also popular. The shoulder meat is slow-cooked for 13 hours with seasonings including fresh jalapeno peppers. The result is a melt-in-your-mouth flavor. I love the Mojo, a garlicky citrus sauce, and the Colorado, with its housemade coleslaw and pickled pepper relish.
Fried and grilled chicken sliders and sandwiches are Corner Kitchen's mainstays, along with beef and pulled pork, all with homemade sauces. The three owners are almost always on hand and cook to order, so there's no prep time involved.
In a display of the restaurant's attention to detail, the fries are dusted in flour and fried twice European-style, giving them a flavour and texture far superior to those served at most fast food joints.
Vegetarian cuisine
Falafel is my favorite dish, and while most competitors use a powdered mix, Corner Kitchen grinds chickpeas to create this Mediterranean fried dish, served with a delicious yogurt-based tzatziki sauce that had me asking for a second serving.
Beyond falafel, there's plenty on the menu for vegetarians: Meat-free John Groppetti is proud to serve up a three-bean chili that's a great accompaniment to sliders, burgers, and chicken wings, while on the green side, Corner Kitchen serves up a fantastic coleslaw and a variety of salads, including wedges, quinoa, and cranberry chicken.
Seasoned to perfection
The menu also offers skewers of chicken, steak, shrimp and grilled vegetables, all perfectly seasoned and paired with jasmine rice, and are shareable so everyone at the table can enjoy the same flavors.
The restaurant offers regular specials – don't miss the pork belly sliders with pineapple and pickled pepper glaze – and also has a great selection of draft beers and several cocktails on offer.
Corner Kitchen is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11am to 8pm (until 8.30pm on Fridays), and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays so the owners can spend some quality family time with their little ones.
Seating inside is limited and there are plans to expand the outdoor dining area. The restaurant is located at 3606 Willow Pass Road and the phone number is 925-822-3303.
Please contact Richard Eber at richeber9@gmail.com.
Rich Ever
Rich Ebert is a local journalist and longtime Concord resident. His topics range from politics to food. He can be reached at rjerje@pacbell.net.
