Mystery Diner: The Corner Grind a wonderful addition to downtown Elburn

ELBURN – The coffee shop is a vital component to Main Street America. During our often busy, fast-paced lives, it serves as a place for neighbors and friends to come together and take a moment to smell the roast.

With the inception of The Corner Grind, downtown Elburn has fulfilled that need.

The coffee shop, which opened in October, serves coffee, espresso, teas, smoothies, cocoas, baked goods, soup, sandwiches and salads to the caffeine-deprived and lunching crowd.

Owned by married couple – Tony and Ann Cobb of Elburn – The Corner Grind is a cozy enclave with simple decor and clean lines.

When my dining companion and I arrived on a Monday for lunch, the place was packed – not an open seat in sight. But, by the time we placed our orders and picked up my coffee, a table opened up.

With New Year’s resolutions in mind, I opted for the coffee shop’s January special, the Resolution Latte, made with skim milk, sugar-free vanilla and caramel. I automatically assumed that my figure-conscious concoction would be bland and tasteless, but quite the contrary.

“Mmm, this is good,” I muttered to myself in-between sips.

The latte tasted as if I was drinking the full-caloric version, which is always a compliment when dealing with anything “diet.”

The soup of the day was Vegetable Beef Barley and could be combined with a half-sandwich for $7.25.

A detailed menu written with colorful chalk on a blackboard hanging behind the front counter showcased the coffee shop’s unique array of sandwiches and salads.

Sandwiches are made with fresh ingredients and premium Boar’s Head meat and cheeses on 10-inch french bread, while the paninis are made using sourdough bread. Both options come with a bag of kettle chips.

I opted for the Black Bird ($7.50) – blackened turkey breast, three-pepper colby Jack cheese, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and red onion – while my dining companion ordered the Italian ($7.75) – Genoa salami, capocolla, pepperoni grande, ham, provolone, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pepperoncinis and deli dressing.

Other enticing fare (to name a couple) included the Porky Ciabatta – barbecue-simmered pulled pork with Vermont cheddar – and the Thailand salad ($6.25) – Nappa cabbage, romaine, cucumber, carrot, red onion and edamame, tossed with sweet lime, cilantro and peanut dressing.

With kids in mind, Corner Grind also serves a Grilled Cheese panini and Peanut Butter and Jelly.

Owner Ann Cobb, who was running food and wiping down tables, served us our sandwiches and – throughout our visit – lit the place up with her friendly smile and genuinely kind demeanor.

The Black Bird was the table favorite. A delicate layer of spiciness from the three-pepper colby Jack cheese combined nicely with the juicy, tender turkey and crunch from the lettuce and bread. The Italian had entirely different flavor components, offering hints of tang and sweetness that melded nicely with the smorgasbord of salty deli meats.

Before leaving, my dining companion ordered a cool and deliciously fresh Mango Berry smoothie, which – thankfully – he was happy to share with me.

The Corner Grind provides a sense of community – locals and visitors sharing time, conversation and good food, with the fresh scent of coffee wafting in the background. It’s a beautiful thing.

• The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at the Kane County Chronicle. The diner’s identity is not revealed to the restaurant staff before or during the meal. The Mystery Diner visits a different restaurant every other week and then reports on the experience. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a review.