After a full month of cafeteria food, overcrowded Sonic hangouts and late-night Burger King runs, it may be a good idea to travel to a world outside of Searcy and experience some new flavors. If you are willing to make the drive and shell out a little extra cash, Little Rock has plenty of great restaurants to choose from.
As a Little Rock native, I think one of the most exciting additions to the local dining scene is the Southwestern-inspired Chipotle Mexican Grill, located in downtown Little Rock at 11525 Cantrell Road. In order to get the full Chipotle experience, I couldn’t resist taking the 45 minute trip there myself to see what all the hype was about.
The first thing I noticed upon arrival was the modern atmosphere. Unlike other burrito joints such as Moe’s or Blue Coast Burrito, Chipotle has adapted a much more futuristic approach in its décor.
High-set tables and chairs and myriad chrome furnishings create a simple and interesting environment. Large tables and wide spacing make Chipotle a great place to bring a large group of friends without much hassle. My only issue about the layout of Chipotle is the lines get long at normal lunch and dinner times, and the wait can be a little cramped.
Although the interior can give the sense that Chipotle is going to break the bank, it is actually moderately priced.
The staple menu item at Chipotle is the burrito, which comes in five different varieties and is priced at about $6. I strongly recommend getting the chips and guacamole as well, which are another $3. It is probably best to make your trip to Chipotle in a large group and split a few orders of chips between two or three people. Overall, a trip to Chipotle is going to run between $6 and $10 per person.
The best part about Chipotle, obviously, is the food. I tried a burrito with barbacoa, which is a moderately spicy shredded beef. I also had the friendly staff pile on some cilantro, salsa, shredded lettuce, guacamole and rice. I must say that it was definitely one of the best burritos I’ve had the privilege of enjoying. Other burrito varieties are chicken, steak, carnitas (shredded pork) and vegetarian. You can also try a burrito bowl, which is simply a burrito without the tortilla. The chips and guacamole combo is also a customer favorite, and the perfect companion to any burrito.
If you have any questions or concerns about the food at Chipotle, I suggest you visit their website at chipotle.com. Other than being a little pricy and a long wait, my trip to Chipotle was a rather pleasant experience, and it has become one of my new favorite restaurants.
