To me, going to a restaurant is a luxury. Not that I can't afford it, but it seems so unnecessary. I could feed a family of eight for the cost of one Grand Slam breakfast, plus coffee. In my entire life I can only think of a few times when dining at a restaurant where I didn't think "I could have made this better, and at a lower cost".
Truer words.
I am a foodie and absolutely love spending a day cooking; we had one of those days yesterday. We made Frittata's for brunch and smothered dogs for dinner. There is something to be said though about not having to do dishes and cleanup - after those 2 meals it was 90 minutes of dishes and table cleanup. Also, it's nice to have all food served at once which becomes more of an important thing when serving 6 people.
Rambling - Netflix recently put on some of our favorite shows including Good Eats and Man vs Food - completely different shows, but both will inspire the cook in you.
Good Eats was great. Do watch America's Test Kitchen if possible. Best cooking show that still involves cooking. But Alton needs to take a powder. I own each and every one of his cook/textbooks, but have no idea why he's become...well, he's become quite the puppet. He's earned his success with hard work, but he is not the same guy I knew years ago.
I'm, surprisingly, a people person, so I actually love cleaning dishes. It's intimate. One washes, one drys. You can get to know someone really well, and quickly, while doing something you'd rather both not be doing. Plus cleaning provides instant gratification and an excuse or clarification to goof off afterwards.
Back on topic:
Family owned Mexican Restaurant that isn't tied to a chain food supplier.
First - it was just not what I thought it was. Walk in - stand in a long line; but it is moving fast. We've already noticed we are the only family there (the place was all mid and early 20's hipsters?). The music is too loud. The conversations are too loud. We get up in line after 5-6 minutes (not bad) but it was just "vroom" they were not interested in letting us look at the menu or ask questions. It was so fast when we got to the checkout he asked, "So these 3 - anything to drink." Me: "We should have 6." 3 of my kids were so confused and no one was listening to them that they just followed behind and never ordered. What a miserable / rushed experience. There was nowhere to sit down. People were standing and eating this burrito bombs. Not that we wanted to sit at that point. Rude staff, too cramped, too busy - just not at all what I thought we were going to. $21 for 2 burritos and a kids taco (which is even more of a joke).
Ended up getting the other 3 kids a pizza on the way home and took it all home and ate at home together.
The flavor was pretty good - I do like cilantro and I got the spicy salsa, so it was decent and it was large enough that I was full. Granted 75% of the food was rice and beans - which is fine, but not at $8 a burrito. I won't go back ever. Thankfully my kids were as baffled at the experience as we were so they have no desire to go back. They don't want to try Qdoba either. So, for $20 we can say we experienced the Chipotle phenomenon and we are officially over it.
Oh, if it is a busy locale you are basically screwed. I am sorry to hear that was the case. I won't even go in if there's a long line. You really have to stand your ground and not allow yourself to be rushed. Eyeball the menu while waiting in line if you can. But I guess when you are herding kids, that's a losing proposition.
For my wife and I, we find the price is fine for the amount of food we get. We always leave full. But yeah, I didn't think about the family experience.
Sorry : (
Maybe if you are flying solo some time and jonesing for a big burrito. I suggest white rice, black beans, fajita veggies (they don't charge extra to put these on), carnitas, tomato or corn salsa AND hot salsa (they let you have more than one), half a serving of sour cream and then the cheese. That way you get a robust selection of ingredients and flavors and enough food to pack you full for the rest of the day.
Also, you can call in an order for pickup and skip most of the line.
@ apple - didn't know, no. The restaurants that have popped up the past 7 years-ish I am clueless as to what they are. We just don't go out much anymore. I know there are these things that exist like Panera Bread, Noodles, Chevy's, Chipotle, etc - we keep driving by them but I have no real idea of what they are and who they are serving.
@ maru - yeah, exactly, not a family joint to relax at. That's exactly what I thought though - if i'm on lunch at work or something and I don't feel like other things I normally get, for $8 I can get full and it's a decent change of pace. I'll never understand the guys at the door who are standing and eating though - it just looks so unenjoyable.
I've never had that experience at any of the ones I've been at other than the long line if it's a bad time with the luck of things. I take my time look at what I want and tell them what I want in it, and if someone were to skimp I'd have them scoop a little more. A good bit is the rice and beans but I don't think it was ever 75% of the food.
It sounds like you found a location run by douchebags if they were that pushy and quick about it and ignoring your kids too. I have had to take mine in before and if she tried to they'd take her order or just ask me if I wanted a kids meal. The people in the one near me doesn't really have any hipster losers either, it's a mix of college and adult age people, some kids/teens will pop in due to where it is for a meal and the music has never been too loud at any of the 4 I've been in.
Also was $8 normal for there? The chicken burrito or bowl is like $6.50.
The food at Chipotle is really good. I go more often than I'd like to admit. My 1-year-old can say "burrito" now.
But yes, the "restaurant experience" is lacking. The music is terrible and cranked to 11. The seating is terrible. Uncomfortable stools and the tables all squeezed together so there's no chance of a bit of privacy. It's clear they want to move people in and out, and that they're essentially encouraging (forcing) most everyone to get food to go. In fact, the last time I went there wasn't a single seat open. I got my food to go but on my way out a table opened up. I sat down and took the food out of my to-go back and started eating. Cashier gave be a "look" but whatevs.
There are three locations in Maine, but I've only been to two. The one I prefer, which of course is the one farthest from me, also has some outdoor seating which is good during summertime. There's also a lawn nearby so sometimes I just get food to go and head outside for a Chipotle picnic in the grass.
I have no idea what Qdoba is. Maine is lacking in a lot of fast food chains. No Sonic here either. No Jack In the Box. And certainly no Red Lobster.
