Artichoke Joe’s to unveil new open kitchen in San Bruno

“The vision behind this was one of the owners, Dennis, wanted to have an open kitchen. That was a decadelong vision,” spokesperson Justin Tang said. “We finally started the project, and now we have an open kitchen ready.” 

The new open kitchen will also have an emphasis on fresh, ready-made food, with new barbecue options and fresh cookies made daily, alongside other fare. 

The grand opening ceremony will be 11 a.m. at 659 Huntington Ave., with local leaders, including Mayor Rico Medina, Police Chief Matthew Lethin and members of the business community in attendance. 

After the event, a barbecue will be held with slow-roasted pulled pork, brisket and chili, Tang said, giving attendees a taste of the restaurant’s new menu. 

“There’s a lot of different items — you never know what to expect, always something new,” he said. 

The new iteration of the kitchen is the latest development for what has become a staple establishment in the community. Artichoke Joe’s was founded in 1916, with the restaurant developed in the 1970s. 

Originally known for its cowboy burgers — a cheeseburger with bacon and onion rings — the restaurant inside of the casino is designed to please a range of customers at a wide variety of times.

“We wanted to satisfy everybody … we want to make sure we could satisfy their hunger or their cravings,” Tang said.

For now, the restaurant remains for adults only, but Artichoke Joe’s is looking at different future options to serve customers of all ages, including a possible drive-thru, pickup window or even, in the future, splitting the restaurant and casino into two separate businesses. 

Tang said the business is hopeful that new and longtime customers will find something enticing to eat in the new space. 

“This kitchen was also because of the customers — they wanted something new and heard about past plans. That’s why we had to make it happen,” he said. 

Go to artichokejoes.com for more information.