Tonight, I returned to another Corner: Corner Grinder in Hartford.

 

I first made note of them on the third page of this thread, two years ago. I was more casual back then, and this time, I’d resolved to give them fuller attention. My former landlord, an older gentleman by the name of Giadone, had told me that he used to work there back in the ’80s.  Their website states they were established in 1980.

 

Here’s the counter pic I posted last time. The only difference is that there’s a bit more lighting now.

 

 

I’ll never understand the Yelp folks who demand “updates” to the decor. Places like this should never change if they can help it.

 

 

 

I don’t know why, but warm days tend to put me in the mood for toasty hot chicken parm (or meatball/sausage parm) instead of cold deli meats. Chicken parm it was.

 

 

This was among the lightest of chicken parms I’d had. The breading wasn’t terribly oily or rich, which was, honestly, refreshing – I felt like I could scarf down the entire half-grinder without making myself sick. There was a nice restraint here.

 

 

Unlike Maple and Franklin, the other two members of the Holy Hartford Trinity, Corner isn’t a “giant grinder” place, but trust me, they’re plenty filling.

 

 

Gorgeously toasted.

 

 

A tangy yet overall mild sauce, housemade, no doubt.

 

 

I couldn’t resist a slice of their house pizza, which was topped with spinach, potato, and sausage. I could have sworn there was some bacon and onion on there as well.

 

 

I’ve been to many grinder shops where pizza was an afterthought. Corner Grinder is not one of those. This was excellent, and very well priced. I would order a whole pie from this place with full confidence.

 

If Pepe’s, Sally’s, and Modern are the Big Three of New Haven, then Franklin, Maple, and Corner are the Big Three of Hartford, each a gem in its own way and each worth your time.