A hidden gem on the corner

Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. A corner storefront - say, at the intersection of First St. and Wilmington Ave., for example - could hold one of the best-kept secrets in downtown Rehoboth Beach. The sign says breakfast and lunch, but there’s a lot more than omelets, burgers and cheesesteaks goin’ on at the Corner Grille.

You might not expect a fine-dining chef to be short-order cookin’ in a little carryout, but George Vrentzos and his daughter Irene are known for their made-from-scratch goodies. George began his cooking career literally under fire in the Greek military. He came to the United States in the late ‘70s, landing a job as head chef at the hoity toity Diplomat Restaurant in Bethesda, MD. He was soon running the kitchen at the Serbian Crown restaurant, formerly located in Washington, D.C.

It wasn’t long before George and his wife Soula welcomed their daughter Irene into the world. The couple opened the critically acclaimed Athenian Café in Waldorf, Md. where Irene spent the first 14 years of her life. When the family moved to the Rehoboth area, she enrolled at Delaware Technical and Community College, earning her degree in early childhood education.

But Irene loves the food biz, and she loves her dad, and they soon opened Corner Grille. “I love to cook,” George tells me, and it’s obvious from the menu that the little joint isn’t just about Greek food. Breakfast goodies include french toast, pancakes, waffles, eggs, and of course the obligatory Greek omelet. Sandwiches, subs, clubs and burgers populate the lunch menu. On sunny summer afternoons, sandy toes pad in for freshly made goodies to be enjoyed by the surf.

Next time you visit Corner Grille, get adventurous! The homemade hummus (chick pea, garlic, lemon and tahini puree), tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber, and garlic), spanakopita, rice pudding and avgolemono soup are the stuff of legend. And they whip up a pretty good scrapple, egg and cheese sandwich, too.

So whether it’s breakfast, lunch or some of George’s off-menu specialties at Corner Grille, bring a tasty Greek accent to your day at the beach. Check their hours at 302-227-7653.