P&G Burgers, located in the heart of Colton for 22 years has consistently good food made to order. This is a place local residents love, “Oh my gosh we were just talking about how the food here is so amazing, we love it…it's wonderful,“ raves Timathina Jacob, as her and her family of four enjoyed a meal. With its 1950’s motif, familiar diner-style, checkerboard pattern and the aroma of fire-grilled hamburgers, even if there is a line, you know the wait is going to be worth it.
Colton residents have known about P&G Burgers for years. But our little home town burger joint recently received some nationwide praise for their tasty food. Hoodline.com listed P&G Burgers of Colton one of nation’s top 50 best burgers under $10.00. Hoodline is a San Francisco-based online neighborhood news network, using sources like Yelp, Zumper and other rating services. Hoodline brings together wire service data and editorial content from local newsrooms to highlight topics and trends of local interest.
P&G Burgers was started by Peter and Georgia Smirniotakis who came to California in the 1960’s from Greece. The Smirniotakis family has had restaurants in Covina, Riverside, and Moreno Valley over the years, but landed in Colton in 1996, attracted by a well-located restaurant building and a homey atmosphere of friendly citizens. “We wouldn’t be in the Top 50 Burgers in the US without the beautiful people of Colton,” says Pete, the son and co-owner of Peter and Georgia.
Through the years, Peter and Georgia updated the restaurant and adapted menus, keeping up with changing tastes, but always priding themselves in offering a fresh, quality product at a reasonable price. Through their efforts P&G has always been popular and has realized a steady growth of customers.
Their son Peter Smirniotakis Jr. (Pete) worked at the restaurant with his parents on and off through high school and college years, becoming more fully involved 6 – 7 years ago. “We are blessed and lucky to be a part of this beautiful community,” says Pete, who has been working with his parents to further modernize, redecorate and tweak the business side of the restaurant. His efforts are also paying off. Pete says that there has been a substantial rise in receipts after the interior and exterior renovations.
City employees frequent P&G, some lunch there once or twice a week. Cecilia Barajas, a Colton City Employee, loves P&G. So does her family, who drives there for lunch from Moreno Valley whenever they can. It is also a very popular place to lunch after church services on Sundays where adults and children alike eagerly wait for a burger, Thrifty ice cream, or shake.
If you haven’t tried P&G, you owe it to yourself. You now know they have nationally recognized burgers, but try the tuna melt, or the pastrami, or any other delicious item on the large menu. It will be cooked while you wait in the cute 1950’s seating area, and you will not regret the few minutes your order takes.