CHIPOTLE (pronounced Chee-POT-tleh) has gotta be One of Orlando's Top Take Out Restaurants! If you haven't come across them in other parts of the USA then you have missed a treat! Fairly new to Orlando, CHIPOTLE have now four of these GEMS in the area - ... East Colonial Drive, South Orlando Drive, Winter Haven, University Boulevard & West University Avenue..... small wonder two are grouped around the University of Florida!
A trip one rather dull, wet afternoon took us from Kissimmee to a CHIPOTLE in Winter Haven for our first taste of the BIG BURRITO! It took us a while to find the place, as we were looking for something more, well.... Obvious - this place had come highly recommended! We stumbled across it more by accident than good navigation.... With a very unassuming exterior and a basic but spotless interior, CHIPOTLE appeared much like any other takeaway. One of the main giveaways that this was more than just any old take-out, were the cars jostling for places in the small car park and the queue of people spilling out of the door and wrapping around building ......and this was only 7 pm on a Wednesday!
We queued for sometime & began to wonder what all the fuss was about! Once inside, however, all was made clear .... CHIPOTLE makes the most mouth-watering burritos & tacos I have ever found this side of Mexico! Like most things in the US, the Burritos are BIG. Stuffed with lean meat, smothered in chilli sauces, guacamole and soured cream & vegetables of your choice ....All ingredients are freshly bought & prepared & cooked in scrupulously clean kitchens, open for all to see. No E numbers here! The end result is a Pillow of Mexican Magic, wrapped and served in a foil parcel!
So great was experience on his taste buds that my other half went back for another one to take with him for our journey back to Kissimmee! I have to tell you that we are not normally fast food fans but this Restaurant I would drive miles for, and did! Sadly it was our last but one day in Orlando and we were unable to return again that trip . But you can be sure that it will be high on the agenda during our visit in September!
A CHIPOTLE, for the uninitiated, is a small, very hot, smoked & dried chilli pepper!