O, hai! It's winter, so I'm virtually jobless until spring, so, if you haven't noticed, have more time to explore lunch-time eats in Wilmington.Big dining news in Wilmington! The California-style burrito chain, Qdoba, recently opened in downtown. Now, before you jump down my throat for reviewing a chain restaurant, let the person who has never eaten at a chain restaurant cast the first biscotti. [long pause] That's what I thought.
Personally, I've been waiting a long time for Qdoba to open (it teased us for, like, ever), and from the looks of what I saw when I visited, a bunch of downtown workers have, too. Wilmington's downtown dining scene is getting better, but is still lacking some basics that most large and medium-sized cities take for granted.
As a big-time rice eater, I crave big-ass, rice and bean burritos, so welcome Qdoba to downtown. I've only visited Qdoba once, about four years ago, and my only memory of the experience was of a disappointingly bland burrito.
There's a basic rice and bean burrito, a 3-cheese burrito, and a grilled veggie burrito for me to choose from. I like mine basic (rice, beans, salsa, cheese, and guac), but, remembering the blandness, added the poblano pesto sauce (additional charge) to my burrito.
Large, but not overwhelming. Qdoba does not have a salsa bar for you to load up on salsa, onions, and cilantro to augment your burrito. They have bottles of hot sauce, but that's all.
The burritos are barely wrapped. Ideally, you want a generous, snug wrap of foil around that baby to hold everything in.
The poblano pesto is supposed to be made of roasted poblanos, cilantro, almonds, garlic, and pine nuts, but, really, tasted of nothing more than a green salsa, and had a watery consistency. It did add a little heat and garlic, though.
The burrito maker forgot the guac.
The cilantro lime rice served in the burritos sounds enticing, and, even though it's studded with tons of cilantro, didn't taste like much. Were my taste buds on vacation that day? And the every-grain-of-rice-separated instant rice at Qdoba is one of my pet peeves. There is something very unsatisfying about rice grains that are separated. Rice grains should stick together! (Or, at least, that's how I like them.)
Just like my experience at Qdoba, I find most big-ass burrito chains soulless and unimpressive (non-chains, not necessarily), but just can't resist rice and beans in a steamed tortilla every once in a while.Is there a big-ass burrito chain out there that kicks ass for you? Note the word "chain" in that question.
Qdoba
837 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE 19801
302-397-8851
19 comments:
Chipotle kicks ass, in my opinion. It's one of the only chain places that I will eat! (And their rice does clump together -- score!)
one of the things that I love about this blog even though I'm a carnivore is the gusto with which you review chains as well as "nicer" establishments. It's great!
There isn't a Chipotle in Philly (yet), and when it comes it'll be in West Philly, and, unfortunately, I'm never over there. But I have heard that they rock.
There's a Chiptole on City Line, right off 76. It's next to a CPK, a Starbucks, and a Pei Wei (little sis to PF Chang's) :)
El Fuego in Philly is great. There are two locations, so not much of a chain!
Jen - Yes, there are a few Chipotles outside of Philly (Ardmore, Bala Cynwyn, Plymouth Meeting, Willow Grove), but not in Philly, or at least until the one in University City opens.
yeah chipolte is really good for a chain.
even though you said chain, i will mention that Machismo in manayunk has the best burrito i've ever eaten in my life. no joke. plus they have boca crumbles..super.
I'll chime in and suggest California Tortilla. I know there is one in Newark DE - not sure if there are any in Wilmington. It fills that burrito craving for me when I have it. :)
Well I thought I was going to surprise you with Chipotle's but everyone already knows about it. They have great Burritos and you can customize them any way you want with things like grilled fajita veggies, cilantro-lime rice and vegetarian black beans. They are opening one up at the U of Penn at 3925 Walnut St. Also there is one in Moorestown, NJ (near Cherry Hill).
it serves more than just burritos.. but with several locations throughout PA and one in OH to make it a chain restaurant, i think Mad Mex offers up FANTASTIC and inventive burritos
I go nuts for Moe's. The veggie burrito is seriously delicious. The rice is awesome and they have a fun salsa bar. There was one in the Roxboro part of Philly which closed a few years ago (rumors said it closed because of arson or looters, but that may be completely false) . I hear there is one in Wilmington somewhere though.
Beth - There's a Moe's in the Brandywine Town Center Mall on 202 in Wilmington. This chain started in Atlanta, and is the best dining option if you're ever laid over in the Atlanta airport.
I second the El Fuego comment, there's a new one on Chestnut around 20th or so and then the original location. Also, if you're ever in Center City for lunch, there's a new Moroccan place on 17th and Sansom, called Argan's, that's great for pitas and they have an entire vegetarian section! It was pretty tasty and you could def add some heat depending on what you put in your pita.
Taylor-Sorry, I'm new to the blog and didn't realize that when you said Philly you were just talking about Center City.
I'm ALL ABOUT Moe's. I eat there at least twice a week. I get the "Triple Lindy" w/ rice, pinto beans, tofu, pico de gallo, lettuce, guacamole and cilantro. It's amazing.
i think baja fresh has really good burritos. i'm not even vegetarian, but always get the veggie burrito there. it is delicious and they also have a salsa bar.
Kate -- I think they are opening up a California Tortilla at Route 1 and 322 in that new shopping center by the Cosi.
I used to love getting Qdoba's Queso Burrito without meat, but I haven't had it in awhile.
We have Baja Fresh, Qdoba, and Moe's here in Nashville (and a local chain Baja Burrito/Blue Coast Burrito) and I have to say I like Baja Fresh the best. Really good service, good beans, good guac, and all-you-can-eat cilantro. But the others are in a close three-way tie for second.
Ate at Qdoba's last week. The staff was pleasant, but my burrito was shaped like a square. A SQUARE!
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