Burrito Bar Kitchen--Good Review!

anonymous · September 2005

[Note: Some people questioned the neutrality of this detailed rave review, because it was posted anonymously. However, it appears that this review comes from a bona fide foodie with California roots! -Ed.]

My husband and I went to Burrito Bar & Kitchen last Saturday. It was GREAT. The food was really good. Portions were exactly the size they should be, AND, most important, the food tasted like Southern California Mexican food--something totally missing in NYC and all along the east coast. The chicken was marinated perfectly and-- for anyone familiar with southern California--the burrito could have been a high end Alberto's burrito or from Las Olas. There's not much that NYC can stand to adopt from so cal EXCEPT good Mexican food. The 8-mile high nachos were a delicious start and I liked that fact that the plate wasn't so big that you are full before dinner.

We also had a pitcher of Sangria.....a large pitcher at that. I think we each had 5 glasses, and it was delicious.

We also noticed a brunch menu (12-3:30 on weekends) that looked like good food and a good deal. Any meal AND 2 cocktails (bloody mary's, mimosa, something else...) for under $14. Usually the two mimosa's alone would be that.

We liked the atmosphere, too. Variety of people--singles, families, groups out. We didn't take much note of the music, but since we didn't notice it one way or the other it must have been decent background music at least. I am sure they will refine this as their clientele establishes itself.

Anyway, we were impressed. We loved the food. We hope the place does well.

emily · September 2005

Thanks for your thoughts. But you haven't addressed the burning issue of the day: what did you make of the sign?

anonymous · September 2005

i really hope they have a good fish taco. you can't get a good fish taco in NYC.

daveb · September 2005

Subject: Re: Burrito Bar & Kitchen--Good Review!

nikki wrote: My husband and I went to Burrito Bar & Kitchen last Saturday. It was GREAT. The food was really good. Portions were exactly the size they should be, AND, most important, the food tasted like Southern California Mexican food--something totally missing in NYC and all along the east coast. The chicken was marinated perfectly and-- for anyone familiar with southern California--the burrito could have been a high end Alberto's burrito or from Las Olas. There's not much that NYC can stand to adopt from so cal EXCEPT good Mexican food. The 8-mile high nachos were a delicious start and I liked that fact that the plate wasn't so big that you are full before dinner.

We also had a pitcher of Sangria.....a large pitcher at that. I think we each had 5 glasses, and it was delicious.

We also noticed a brunch menu (12-3:30 on weekends) that looked like good food and a good deal. Any meal AND 2 cocktails (bloody mary's, mimosa, something else...) for under $14. Usually the two mimosa's alone would be that.

We liked the atmosphere, too. Variety of people--singles, families, groups out. We didn't take much note of the music, but since we didn't notice it one way or the other it must have been decent background music at least. I am sure they will refine this as their clientele establishes itself.

Anyway, we were impressed. We loved the food. We hope the place does well.

Fishy tacos aside, I smell a suspicious post! :shock:

emily · September 2005

Subject: Re: Burrito Bar & Kitchen--Good Review!

daveb wrote: Fishy tacos aside, I smell a suspicious post! :shock:

Maybe the sign starts to look good after five glasses of sangria per capita! We'll have to recommend that to Medusa. :P

queen_of_pies · September 2005

daveb wrote: Fishy tacos aside, I smell a suspicious post! :shock:

weirdly detailed rave review + anonymous post = fishy tacos

dailyheights · September 2005

I know Nikki's posted here before, but I have to admit: it does look a little fishy. Nikki, if you have any personal/financial relationships with the restaurant, please clarify.

carnivore · September 2005

I'm just glad I wasn't the one to say it this time.

anonymous · September 2005

Subject: The Original Post is from someone unaffiliated with Burrito

I should have added when I began the post and wrote the rave review...I am absolutely not affiliated with Burrito Bar. My husband and I just moved into the neighborhood a few weeks ago--having recently relocated from California. I am an intellectual property attorney and my husband work's for his dad--a small business owner--in the Bronx. We are restaurant critics at heart, but our day jobs are far less exciting. We have no connections in the restaurant world (except, well, my cousin, who is also "Puck" in the Donkey Show, is a waiter at Ocean Grill on the upper west side).

The review came simply b/c i loved the food and wanted to give my long-winded two-cents in support of a business in the neighborhood.

I guess it is anonymous b/c i am not registered on daily-heights, though i did write a username.

anonymous · September 2005

Subject: Fish Tacos

Sadly, I didn't see a good fish taco on the menu. If you want a GREAT fish taco--go to Martini Ranch.....located in downtown San Diego, Encinitas (north part of San Diego), Scotsdale Arizona, or Denver Colorado. They have hands down the BEST FISH TACOS you could imagine. With grilled mahi-mahi as the fish.....(again, no affiliation, just used to frequent it after work for their fish tacos!!).

That does us no good in Brooklyn.

dr f · September 2005

We tried to go last Sunday around 6:00 and they were closed. Very weird to be closed on a Sunday evening especially when, according to Nikki, they have a brunch on weekends.

munchkin · September 2005

Subject: It was okay

My husband and I went to Burrito Bar last weekend. I thought it was okay. My smoothie was small and fairly tasteless, but my husband's chicken wrap was pretty damn tastie. It came with a bit of very good mango salsa and good guac on the side. Fresh, good, a bit pricey. I had fun watching a bartender trying to figure out how to get a frozen margarita out of the blender. Hey, the place is new. The food seems decent, the staff is erring on the over solicitous side and that's okay. We'll go back. (Yeah, and we passed on the $2 salsa and chips).

whyfi · September 2005

Nikki-

I was wondering when someone else from the garden house would show up...

3B. Anyone else?

teddyballgame · September 2005

i got a smoothie to take out there yesterday, it was ok, although it did cost 6 dollars which is a bit obscene considering i can get dinner for that much at the usual.

because i'm shamelessly male, i'll be going back because the flirtacious waitstaff used their evil hot chick powers on me, and thus I have no choice but to return.

anonymous · September 2005

Subject: Garden House

Ah, our luxurious garden house....:) I hope the Indian food was good last night:)

I guess I should come up with a creative nickname if I am going to frequent the site for little pleasures throughout the day:)

whyfi · September 2005

Subject: Re: Garden House

Nikki wrote: Ah, our luxurious garden house....:) I hope the Indian food was good last night:)

I guess I should come up with a creative nickname if I am going to frequent the site for little pleasures throughout the day:)

The food was pretty good!

I wouldn't worry about the creativeness of the name too much- you can see that I certainly didn't! And when you do register a name, it makes a good way to make the day go by an even better way to make the day go by- others take you a little more seriously and you can receive private messages, etc...

quig · September 2005

Second a good review, Jules, Quiglet and I went tonight. Service was great, food was very good, they were *very* kid friendly. Most of all..

They didn't charge for chips and salsa.

p.s. we had the chicken mole and the three enchiladas.

typograffiti · September 2005

Subject: BOOOO

My man and I went to Burrito Bar last night. We vote it is more Bar than Burrito. Food was mediocre. Why spend that much on bland uninspired Mexillence when you can walk a few more block to La Taqueria on 7th ave?

Better yet- make it at home!

Give it a try to see for yourself, but my return visits will be limited to draft Dos Equis and guac (pass the salt and some hotsauce).

anonymous · September 2005

the bar vs. resturant identity crisis was the problem w/ city lighting which also had bad food. i hope it works out for the burrito bar but it makes no sense that they spent so much effort to make the place look nice and then put that "toys-r-us"- style sign in front.

as for fish tacos, i don't believe you can have a good one that features grilled fish (mahi mahi or otherwise). gotta be fried .

tacamahac · September 2005

anyone have the expertise to say whether it offers the same menu as its Tribeca predecessor?

anonymous · September 2005

The Daily News's summary on 9/2/05, fyi.

[snip]
HIPPIE HANGOUT, TAKE 2: Looking for new digs after his Tribeca landlord wanted to revamp his building, the owner of the flower-powered Burrito Bar stumbled into the sweet corner space at 307 Flatbush Ave. and Prospect Pl. in Brooklyn. With plans to reopen in mid-September, owner Greg Yerman is shooting for the fun of his original spot with a little less of the 1960s feel, installing sleek floor-to-ceiling windows and a DJ booth. There'll also be nine varieties of burritos, fresh fruit smoothies and margaritas, fish tacos, quesadillas, sandwiches and salads.

anonymous · September 2005

Just out of curiousity, why would you order a smoothie at a place called Burrito Bar and expect it to be good? There are what, 600 freakin' smoothie places in the neighborhood? Bet the smoothie places burritos suck.

anonymous · September 2005

Subject: we got sick

We had an order of the crab nachos and the "mini chimis" and are pretty sure one of the dishes made us sick. My boyfriend was throwing up all night and my stomach has been in knots for the past couple days. I miss City Lighting...

emily · September 2005

I don't! I'm pretty sure my husband and I got food poisoning from their brunch once...

will · September 2005

I haven't tried Burrito Bar yet, but I certainly don't miss City Lighting. What a missed opportunity that place was!

burningorange · September 2005

Burrito bar was in tribeca for 14 years... If you think that sign is bad you should have seen the original ...it was a 3-D pink VW van and lots of poofy clouds... It looked even more gaudy. Hippy stuff just doesn't work as well outside of California or vermont.

I used to go there for happy hour drinks when i worked right around the corner. Their chips are really good.

for more on the owner and a photo of the old place check out this link.

http://www.tribecatrib.com/newsjuly04/hippie-burrito-over.htm

arielbl · September 2005

I actuall like the pink VW bus with the clouds!

devincf · September 2005

I used to go to the old place all the time. I have worked down by City Hall for years and years, and before this area was sucked into Tribeca somehow, you couldn't find anything to eat, so we'd walk up there. It wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible.

stacey · September 2005

burningorange wrote: Burrito bar was in tribeca for 14 years... If you think that sign is bad you should have seen the original ...it was a 3-D pink VW van and lots of poofy clouds... It looked even more gaudy. Hippy stuff just doesn't work as well outside of California or vermont.

I used to go there for happy hour drinks when i worked right around the corner. Their chips are really good.

for more on the owner and a photo of the old place check out this link.

http://www.tribecatrib.com/newsjuly04/hippie-burrito-over.htm

I didn't know it was associated with that Burrito bar - when my husband worked around the corner for Kozmo.com I would meet him there for drinks - I remember the bartender made some really strong drinks!!

roux42 · September 2005

Subject: So far so good!

My boyfriend had dinner last night with one of his friends, they both said it was very good. They also said that they waitstaff was very attractive but rather disorganized. So... It looks like it can only get better!

mr. tips · September 2005

Went there last night. Took 15 min before a manager type took our order then another 20 to bring out the app. The entree came a resonable time after they took away the app plates.

We had the crab nachos...boring! but the burritos were good. I still like los politos more.

I also had the maragita - way too stong - but i drank it anyway.

ok, i feel like you have to try anyplace twice before you write them off. So, i will give them anotehr try I dont feel like schleping a mile for a burrito. They were swamped and they are new - hopefully they'll work out the kinks.

Burrito Bar Kitchen--Good Review!

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