The long-awaited Tommy’s Burger Co. on San Pablo Avenue quietly opened its doors Saturday in Richmond’s North and East neighborhood, turning on the griddle for customers for the first time after months of delays.
Inside, co-owner Tommy Ryan moved between the fry basket and grill, still training staff and dialing in the first-day rush. “It’s all fresh meat,” Ryan said. “We grind our own using brisket trim from our barbecue spot. Certified Angus beef; you can taste it.”
Ryan, who grew up in Richmond and San Pablo, is also the chef behind Tommy’s Barbecue Company, a one-time Richmond restaurant that relocated to Hercules. When the chance came to open a burger joint back in Richmond, Ryan said it felt right.
“I come from burgers. That’s where I started. That’s where my heart is,” Ryan said. The North and East location made sense to him for another reason: the neighborhood’s trajectory. “We see this area as up and coming; it’s changing, so we want to be a part of that. We want to add to it,” Ryan said.
Ryan’s burgers are not fast-food fare…