It’s not hard to miss the trendy diner at the corner of Markham and Scott Streets, appropriately named @ The Corner, but it’s likely that you haven’t tried it out yet if you’re not a downtown dweller.
And if you tried it tomorrow, you likely wouldn’t know that the eatery hasn’t been in business for less than a year, because the food and service is solid.
Co-owner and head chef Kamiya Merrick says, “Over the past eight months our goal has been to continue to do as much as we can in-house and to grow our relationships with local farmers and providers.”
They’ve gone from buying chicken tenders to breading their own, making hand-cut fries, roasting their own turkey and much more. Plus, they are working with great local providers including Tanner Farms, Arkansas Natural Produce, Barnhill Orchards and more to provide the freshest meal to your table.
The secret? Listening to their customers and staying creative with daily specials. Merrick says, “Our specials have become really popular, sometimes people come in just to see what we have.”
Plus, the team is excited to be working on expanding hours to include a dinner service. Keep your eye on the restaurant, as they’ll likely have the kinks worked out before or by this summer.
If you haven’t, take a peak at the menu below. Warning, if you’re not hungry right now, you will be by the end of this article.
First up, breakfast – sample the Dutchman Burrito, named for a family member. The dish comes loaded with sausage, scrambled eggs, cheddar, fresh salsa, plus hash browns and aioli.
You also can’t go wrong by ordering toast, which you can order to your liking – either with housemade jam, eggs, peanut butter or honey butter. Co-owner Leila King says, “I’m really into toast, so I think this is a great offering we have. Plus, we make all the jam – most of the combinations are to die for.”
For lunch start with the River Trail Salad if you’re trying to keep your New Year’s Resolutions. King says, “Our menu is seasonally driven, so the dishes represent what we could get fresh.” The salad comes with grilled chicken, blue cheese, apple, granola, and red onions, topped with pomegranate vinaigrette.
If you’d like to try a burger, check out The Big Dam BBQ. This beast comes with bacon, cheddar, onion rings, dill pickles, mayo and bourbon-n-beer BBQ sauce. Poutine may be calling your name, and if that’s the case, opt for the Poutine Burger Bowl. Merrick says, “We made this at the request of a customer and it turned out pretty well.”
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, don’t by-pass the baked fresh daily specials, which line the counter. Everything from cannoli to croissants and tartlets are available, plus whatever may strike pastry/sous chef Chris Busick’s fancy.
Finally, don’t miss brunch. The diner is now serving up a boozy breakfast on Fridays and Saturdays, complete with mimosas, beermosas, and bloody marys. There’s a particular dish – The Hangover Hash – that I myself can’t wait to try.
Try your favorite dish this week, as At The Corner is currently open Tuesday – Saturday for breakfast and lunch.
@ The Corner: 201 E Markham St Little Rock, Arkansas
Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 7:00a – 2:00p; Saturday: 8:30a – 2p
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