Toast of the Town: 3 Corners Grill and Tap Celebrates Second Anniversary

When brothers Kevin and Jeff Metz opened  in March 2010, the goal was simple: provide quality food at a fair price in a casual, comfortable environment.

Two years later, their plan seems to have paid off.

The Lemont restaurant has slowly built a loyal customer base of everyone from families to local golfers, Kevin Metz said.

"There are some Friday nights when the wait is an hour long," he said. "We're incredibly lucky to have so much support from people in this area."

To commemorate its second anniversary, 3 Corners has been offering various food and drink specials during the week. On Saturday, the celebrations will be capped with the second annual "

Patch spoke with Kevin Metz on Tuesday about 3 Corners' second anniversary, and how he and his brother have built a loyal base of customers in Lemont.

PATCH: What made you decide to open 3 Corners?

METZ: After Pico del Mundo (the restaurant that formerly occupied 3 Corners) closed, my brother Jeff was left with this huge space. It was a good time for a fresh start, so we kind of put our heads together and decided to open an American grill. The thing was, we knew we had to do it right—solid food, great environment, reliable staff.

PATCH: Lemont already had several bars when you opened. Were you nervous about what the reception would be?

METZ: We knew we couldn't be just a bar if we wanted to survive. It all started with the kitchen and having rock solid food. We spent a lot of time on the menu, making sure it had a good variety of appetizers and salads and entrees. We have something for everyone, plus a large selection of craft beer. That's something that sets us apart.

PATCH: How would you describe the restaurant?

METZ: It's just a warm, approachable spot where you can enjoy good food and socialize—at least that's what we want it to be. It's hard to categorize 3 Corners. We're definitely not just a sports bar. We've really worked hard to make this restaurant an enjoyable place to spend time, whether it's at the bar, in the dining room or out on the patio.

PATCH: What are some of your most popular dishes? What would you recommend to someone who's never been to 3 Corners?

METZ: Our burger is probably our most popular menu item, but a lot of people love our macaroni and cheese, ribs and salads. But if you're coming here for the first time, I'd probably tell you to try our burger.

PATCH: What have been some of your biggest challenges since opening?

METZ: I think the location has probably been the biggest challenge. On one hand it's great because we're really close to all the golf courses. We have a ton of golfers who skip the clubhouse and will come here to eat and have a few drinks.

On the other hand, I think there's a perception that the town center is either in downtown Lemont or on State Street. This area is still developing, so it's been a challenge in that sense.

PATCH: What are some of the things you do to draw people to the restaurant? Do you have any signature events?

METZ: We've really tried to be selective with what we do because we want the events we put on to be something people look forward to. This Saturday we're hosting our second "Shamrocks and Shenanigans" event beginning at 10:30 a.m. We'll have a ton of St. Patrick's Day specials, plus activities for kids.

We also do Oktoberfest in the fall, and it's been a big hit.

PATCH: We see occasional posts on your Facebook page about community fundraisers at the restaurant. How important has it been for 3 Corners to become involved with charities and community organizations?

METZ: As a business owner, it's an incredible feeling to be able to give back to the community that supports you. We try to lend a hand whenever we can. One of the things we do a lot is our voucher days when we give 15 percent of all proceeds to the organization. The groups just have to print out the vouchers and hand them out to as many people as possible. 

PATCH: Your business has officially been around for two years, which is no small feat for new restaurants. What has been the key to your success?

METZ: I think the key has been providing a quality product. It's really that simple. There's not another restaurant exactly like 3 Corners in the Lemont area, so I think we fit in well. But really it's just about providing quality food at a fair price, all in a place where people want to hang out with their friends and family.

For more information on 3 Corners Grill and Tap, 12371 Derby Road, check out their website or Facebook page.

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Every week, Patch will feature a local business or business owner as part of our "Business Spotlight." Know of a person or place you would like to see on our site? Email Lemont Patch Editor Amanda Luevano at amanda@patch.com