Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill

1 Oak Street
Westborough, MA 01581

508.366.0653

A word on how I write these.  They are based on going out for business or with friends, so writing them becomes an offshoot of one of those events.  They are written in advance of a self-imposed Friday posting timeframe.

Sometimes, when I look at the calendar and see nothing in queue along with no upcoming business meetings, I must head out to find new alone!

Such was the case today.  This is being written on Mother’s Day, and I intended to review Sabatinis.  Alas, they are closed on Sundays and Mondays.  Bruce Tretter may be Mr. Gotta-Eat, today I was Mr. Gotta-Post.  I shot down Rt 30 with the idea of reviewing the Chateau, and they were (spoiler alert) thankfully packed and I didn’t have to go in (not a fan.)

Heading west on Route 9, I was in a quandary when I saw the sign for Chipotle Mexican Grill.  I have never been to a Chipotle, and was intrigued with the idea of a Gourmet Burrito.  After all, Starbucks made coffee a gourmet item.  Most of my experience with Burritos came from food carts in downtown Boston, where Herrera’s makes an awesome lunchtime Burrito.

As I walked up to the restaurant, I was surprised the outside patio had no patrons.  That should have been a warning, and I wrote it off as Chipotle not being a Mother’s Day destination.

What I was expecting was upscale.  What I got was a Moe’s.  I like Moe’s, especially the shouted greeting.  Chipotle claims to be the initiator of a new category, fast casual.

Entering Chipotle reminded me more of a McDonalds.  With everything prepared in the back.

Heading to the back, there was no greeting.  In fact, there was nobody at the counter.  There were a handful of people in the back busying themselves.

Eventually Muhammad came to the counter, and offered to make me a sandwich.  He prepped a tortilla and asked what I would like.

There is a reason I don’t like salad bars.  I don’t make a great salad.  Hmm, how am I going to make a great burrito?

Recalling how the lunch cart guys in Boston make them, I selected a series of ingredients like a seasoned pro.  Asking for steak, Muhammad immediately turned and asked a young woman for steak.  “I’m doing chicken now,” was the response.  Not wanting to argue with a woman with a knife, we patiently waited.

Spying a beer in the cooler, I went for a Corona to go with my burrito.  Sadly, no lime was offered.  And I was firmly instructed not to go on the patio with my beer, after being carded.

The bill seemed rather high for a “burrito joint”, $13.16.  No tip was required, making this seem again more like a McDonalds.

Sitting with my burrito, inside of course, I noticed my burrito was loosely wrapped, and the ingredients didn’t all seem to be working together.  I did have guacamole, and found the sandwich was a guacamole sandwich with some additions.  Not what I had in mind.

As I began eating, I took note of the restaurant.  While all the tables were cleaned, I noticed rice and other stuff on the ground and a wrapper behind the recycling bin.  Many restaurants have messes on the floor at the end of a rush; this was at 3:00 in the afternoon, and there was no rush going on.

Overall, I was disappointed.  My burrito wasn’t great, the place didn’t seem clean, and it was overpriced for what I got.  Fast Casual?  How about Fast Overpriced?  Moe’s at 61 Turnpike Road in Shrewsbury is a far better option.

Hours

Mon-Sun 11am-10pm

Chipotle Mexican Grill gets an RED LIGHT…use caution.

About the RAG scale:

       Green Light – Go and enjoy

       Amber Light – Use caution

       Red Light – Save your time and money