Spring Break
Chipotle comes to town, with free burritos
Sean Sweany
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: Scene
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The choices are simple. Fajita or burrito? Black beans or pinto? Chicken, steak or carnitas? Hot, medium or mild salsa? Sour cream, cheese or lettuce? Perhaps a splash of guacamole for extra flavor?
The result is delicious. A personalized, mouthwatering Chipotle creation made from fresh ingredients right in front of your eyes. For those who have enjoyed Chipotle food before, a description and thoughts of such a meal may cause a rumbling in the stomach. For others who have not experienced the joy of a Chipotle meal, this may sound like unnecessary hype and praise for such a seemingly simple thing as a burrito.
With the opening of South Bend's first Chipotle, however, the uninitiated need remain that way no longer. Access to what the company itself calls, "A complete, four-course meal in a handy tortilla carrying pouch" is now available to all who can ferry themselves out to Grape Road.
The success of Chipotle took some by surprise, but has most certainly not gone unnoticed. Conceived as a more casual fast-food establishment than a McDonalds or Burger King, Chipotle has enjoyed wild success in its meteoric rise as a prominent restaurant chain. Other competitors including Wendy's and other smaller corporations have launched competing chains like Qdoba and Baja Fresh to capitalize on the Chipotle phenomenon.
The secret to Chipotle's success, however, is quite simple. As soon as diners walk in the door, they know that they will receive fresh, quality food with no frills, obnoxious advertising or grotesque pictures of clowns or other cartoon characters everywhere. Rather, the setting is trendy and varied, eclectic music tracks set a mood conducive to relaxation and peaceful dining.
The food itself is the true gem of the restaurant and the one-pound burritos make a perfect meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Many people like senior Tim Wyne feel the key to Chipotle lies in one thing.
"The guacamole," Wyne said. "You can tell it's not been in the store for months like other Mexican restaurants."
The result is delicious. A personalized, mouthwatering Chipotle creation made from fresh ingredients right in front of your eyes. For those who have enjoyed Chipotle food before, a description and thoughts of such a meal may cause a rumbling in the stomach. For others who have not experienced the joy of a Chipotle meal, this may sound like unnecessary hype and praise for such a seemingly simple thing as a burrito.
With the opening of South Bend's first Chipotle, however, the uninitiated need remain that way no longer. Access to what the company itself calls, "A complete, four-course meal in a handy tortilla carrying pouch" is now available to all who can ferry themselves out to Grape Road.
The success of Chipotle took some by surprise, but has most certainly not gone unnoticed. Conceived as a more casual fast-food establishment than a McDonalds or Burger King, Chipotle has enjoyed wild success in its meteoric rise as a prominent restaurant chain. Other competitors including Wendy's and other smaller corporations have launched competing chains like Qdoba and Baja Fresh to capitalize on the Chipotle phenomenon.
The secret to Chipotle's success, however, is quite simple. As soon as diners walk in the door, they know that they will receive fresh, quality food with no frills, obnoxious advertising or grotesque pictures of clowns or other cartoon characters everywhere. Rather, the setting is trendy and varied, eclectic music tracks set a mood conducive to relaxation and peaceful dining.
The food itself is the true gem of the restaurant and the one-pound burritos make a perfect meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Many people like senior Tim Wyne feel the key to Chipotle lies in one thing.
"The guacamole," Wyne said. "You can tell it's not been in the store for months like other Mexican restaurants."