Critic's Review
I hadn't been to a Chipotle since the food scares killed their business; and with this location newly opened, it seemed like a good opportunity to see what changed were made. They've been in the news lately, as they just hired Taco Bell's CEO to run the company. Widespread speculation that they'll be adding Chalupas to the menu is wildly exaggerated.
Walking into the place, this is the most unappealing Chipotle I've ever been in. Now Chipotle restaurants are ugly by design, but this one does't even reach that bar.
It's very small, very square, and the tables are BOOR-ING. The only high tables are facing outside, toward the parking lot. I'd rather watch people in the store. No garage-like speaker systems noticable. If this was their flagship store they would never have become successful.
I've expressed my disdain for storefront restaurants many times; corner units are just worse.
No line here. I'm low carb-ing it, so I ordered a no-rice, both beans, veggies, lettuce, cheese and sour cream. Messy stuff.
I usually get water at Chipotle, because they don't have lemon for the iced tea. That's one thing that hasn't changed. I did order an iced tea today.
They have lemonade in the soda machine, so a shot of lemonade in the cup added the necessary flavor to the tea. I took the bowl to go, but reluctantly sat at a table to eat half the bowl now.
Something they've done since the health scare is that they've sured up their recipes; they cook the food a bit more thoroughly. There's definitely a different taste to the gilled chicken. Much smokier. Or maybe the beans are smokier. Something is smokier.
There's something interesting about Chipotle. There's really nothing good about this bowl of stuff. Yet you can't stop eating it. Skipping breakfast is part of it, but I just kept shoveling one forkful after another into my mouth.
I still wonder if ANYONE orders a burrito. Every single person I saw got a bowl.
Conclusion
With McDonald's, WaWa, Krispy Kreme and (Coming Soon) Charlies Cheesesteaks, there aren't a lot of healthy options popping up here. This is Walmart, so they get a certain type of crowd. I've never seen a Chipotle this dead, even at 2:40pm.
With the new CEO, it's likely that they'll be more innovation on the menu; Taco Bell is known for frequent menu changed and promotions; something Chipotle doesn't currently do. I wouldn't expect any Dorito Burritos though; baby steps.
Store at Commercial and US 1 is just as ugly and boring, and a corner location too.
What national design group believes customers want to sit on plastic auditorium chairs and use plywood-like communal tables?