Big City Burrito

                                                                BIG CITY BURRITO



blog by Matt Kostel

 



A local favorite here in Kearney Nebraska known as “Big City Burrito” is just the location that I have decided to partake upon for my restaurant blog and review. Big City Burrito is a local restaurant similar to Qdoba or Chipotle being part of the large burrito restaurant theme, but with a slightly more home-style flavor that you won’t find in the chain restaurants, they are known for their potato burrito which is truly one of a kind.  BCB is a fairly affordable quick bite on the go burrito shack with a touch of ambiance. BCB has recently changed locations to a more accessible location, now being located across the street from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

I believe we can all agree on what it is that makes a good restaurant good, or not so good, first of all you must have a good product the food must be great, a customer is willing to overlook small issues if the food can make up for it. You must also have a well-trained and friendly staff that also covers customer service which is a must. The establishment must be clean, and the décor must be interesting. The presentation of the food itself must look as good as the food tastes, and a restaurant should have a variety of foods with at least a consideration for those that are trying to eat healthy, and the price must be reasonable, and yet again first and last you must have a good product being a restaurant the food is the main focus.

Let’s start with the importance of a well-trained and friendly staff as well as overall cleanliness of a restaurant. The staff and how they treat the customers is the first impression that patrons will experience when visiting any restaurant, the staff is the face of the establishment it is imperative that they give the consumer a positive impression right from the get go, and until the customer leaves. Cleanliness is also a major aspect of presentation and overall atmosphere, if an establishment is not clean people won’t stay for dinner, so to speak. BCB is not the type of restaurant that you sit down and order and are waited on, instead you order what you want at the front of the restaurant, and go down the line pointing to what you do and don’t want on your burrito, similar to “Subway”. When you first walk into BCB a staff member is usually waiting behind the counter to take your order. They are friendly and generally greet you with a hello and what can I get you. So they are friendly but are they well trained? If you become a regular to BCB like I have you will become familiar with all the employees. They are all very well trained and competent. It is that one time like my last experience when someone new was behind the counter, and that is when trouble can arise, this poor kid had no idea what he was doing, clearly he had not been given the proper training, well at least he was friendly, and believe it or not there is a craft to preparing and rolling one of these giant burritos. Nine out of ten times BCB nails it on a friendly well trained staff. The cleanliness of BCB is also nearly impeccable, the main dining area is always clean and the kitchen also appears to be well taken care of, the only place I can say that has room for improvement would be the bathrooms, but honestly they are no worse than what you would see in most restaurants.  Overall I give BCB 8 out of 10 for a well-trained friendly staff and cleanliness.

 

Décor and the ambiance really set the mood and feeling of a restaurant. When a customer opens a door to a restaurant it is that split second when they first experience the interior and are immediately given an emotion based upon the décor. The experience can be one of bliss and delight or utter disgust and loathing. In the case of BCB the new location is much more soothing on the eyes than the old location. With hand blown glass light fixtures above each table and beautiful tile and matching carpet, and a cohesive color theme of warm reds and oranges with soft earth tones on the tile and carpet, BCB is very relaxing and inviting, it is nicer than most sit down restaurants. I give BCB 8 out of 10 for décor and ambiance.     

 

 

The presentation of food should look as good as it tastes, and also a restaurant should have a wide variety of choices on the menu, and some of those choices should put healthy eating into consideration. Also the pricing for the food should be appropriate for what you are getting.  At BCB there are no frills of any kind simply a burrito wrapped in tin foil, a very larger burrito, for me it is all about the size of the burrito compared to the cost. I give BCB 6 out of 10 for presentation. BCB has a very limited menu, burritos, nachos, tacos with a combination of meats, beans, and salsas, as well as a handful of variations of breakfast burritos, and a wide array of fun and different hot sauces, but in the case of this mid-sized menu I feel that less is more, sometimes you go to restaurant and they hand you a menu that looks more like an encyclopedia than a food menu, you get confused and don’t know what to order. What BCB has on the menu may be simple but it is simple done right. I give BCB 8 out of 10 for menu variety. BCB can also be very healthy; you basically build your own burrito so you can leave out the cheese the sour cream, and create a low fat high protein meal with some amount of vegetables. I give BCB 8 out of 10 for healthy meal choices. The price of a burrito at BCB is very competitive with other big burrito chain restaurants, depending on the size you order the price is around five to eight dollars, but look out for those extras like meat on the potato burrito, or sour cream and guacamole, the price can go well above twelve dollars if you are not carful with the add-ons. I give BCB 6 out of 10 for the price of their food.

 

Now the most important feature of them all, how does the food taste. This is the one factor that will keep people coming back for more or will reject the consumer to not even want to think of your product ever again, and only mentions the food when telling others how horrible the meal was. So when it comes to BCB taste is there number one asset, they are not perfect on all other marks but I am willing to overlook those flaws because the foods is so great. BCB has more of a home style flavor than the commercial burrito chains, they also have a variety of tortillas which is lacking in the major burrito chains, the flavors of the fresh ingredients always leaves me wanting just one more bite, it is this standard of a quality product that keeps me coming back for more. They also offer a punch card system that allows you to get your 10th burrito free I love it when places do this. May I suggest to you if you ever get the chance to try BCB that you get the potato burrito with chicken mole on a jalapeno cheddar tortilla it is my personal favorite. So for flavor and quality I give BCB 9 out of 10.

 

In closing I can say yes that BCB has indeed met my expectations of what I consider a good restaurant. It is not a super classy sit down establishment, but instead a no nonsense hole in the wall that serves good food. The staff is well trained and friendly, the presentation and variety are not spectacular, but what is inside that foil wrapping is, and the food is indeed fairly healthy if you properly order. The décor and cleanliness are also very inviting, and the prices are also not too outrageous, and last but certainly not least the taste and the quality of the foods is always consistent, as I write this I can imagine the melting cheese, the crunch of the potato, the snap of the fresh salsas, and the rich creaminess of the sour cream. Yes I will certainly be going back to BCB in the near future, and I suggest that if you are ever are in Kearny that you should do the same.      

The Chicken Coop

Last Tuesday, my family and I decided to eat dinner at The Chicken Coop in downtown Grand Island.  My step-mom had been there once or twice before but my three siblings and myself had not.  I had heard advertisements for this restaurant on the radio, but I rarely venture to downtown Grand Island so I took this blog assignment as an opportunity to go check it out.

Before I arrived, I made a list of the qualities I thought most important for a good customer experience: service time, friendliness, cleanliness, quality of food, and price.  As I approached the restaurant, and throughout my entire visit, I took notes and pictures to record the things I found to illustrate my experience at The Chicken Coop.

Signature logo hanging above the entrance 

We got to the restaurant around 5:45 pm and, not surprisingly for a Tuesday, it was not busy at all.  The entrance of the building looked original and conveyed the style of the restaurant.  As we walked in, the restaurant was cool and tidy. We seated ourselves and were politely greeted within the minute by a waitress. She promptly took our drink orders and brought them back in under 5 minutes to take our meal orders.  The menu had a decent amount of variety--what you would expect at a Sports Bar & Grill. The prices were pretty reasonable with an average of around $10/meal.

The menu

While we were waiting for our food to be done, I decided to take a look around the place.  The overall atmosphere was pretty laid back and the decor was simple yet appropriate.  There were many TVs hung with numerous different sports programs being broadcast.  My favorite part of the restaurant were the brick archways that separated the bar area from the other seating areas because the architecture of it was uncommon in other restaurants.

The arches

When I was done taking a tour of the dining area, I ventured into the women's restroom.  They say that the cleanliness of the bathroom is an indicator of how clean the kitchen is.  The rest of the restaurant was very well-kept and the bathroom turned out to be no exception.  The toilet paper, paper towels, and soap were all stocked.  All the surfaces were clear of grime and the trash can was not in need of taking out.  It didn't even smell "bathroomy".  I was very pleased with the way their restrooms were maintained.

After my snooping, I returned to our table.  Within ten minutes, all of our meals were served.  Although the presentation was nothing fancy, it was still "put-together" and it all looked and smelled tasty! Once we made sure our meals were just as we had ordered them, we dug in. Thankfully our taste buds agreed with our other senses; everything was delicious, as well as hot and fresh.  During our chow-down, our server happily came around to our table 3 times (I counted) to make sure everything tasted to our liking, to see if we needed refills, and to ask if we needed anything else.  When she saw that we were slowing down due to full bellies, she brought us our check and a to-go box for our leftovers. 

I tried the wings

My brother got a burger and fries

Based on the criteria I judged my experience on (service time, friendliness, cleanliness, quality of food, and price), The Chicken Coop in Grand Island is an excellent restaurant. I believe this venue to be appropriate for various occasions, whether you are just going to the bar with your buddies or taking your whole family out to dinner.  The service time is excellent and the staff is very professional, pleasant, and helpful. As far as I could tell, nothing was dirty or in need of maintenance.  I felt confident in the safety of the food I was eating; its quality matched the not-cheap-but-not-expensive price. It was served up hot and fresh, the presentation was appealing to the eye, and it tasted good, too! Overall, my experience was above my expectations and I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others.  I look forward to going there again soon!

Tacos Las Palmas

Did somebody say "Mexican Food"? If you want an authentic taste of Mexico this is a great place to be. Tacos Las Palmas is located in South Locust in Grand Island, NE. It is opened 7 days a week. For real night owls they even have a taco mobile food unit that sits in their parking lot until real late like 2 am if not later.

 

I will be reviewing the restaurant on menu choices, cleanliness, service and taste of the food. Even though I can think of other areas, these four areas are the ones I believe are most important to me.

I visited the restaurant on Friday July 12th, 2013. As you walk-in there is a big open space with tables on both sides of the building and a couple tables in the middle of the floor for larger groups. You walk to the back of the building where the kitchen is and you place your order at the counter. The first thing you notice is the big menu posted on top. There are pictures of some of the food. They also have a dry erase board that lists their daily specials. I haven't tried much of the food there, we usually just go there for tacos but it all looks really good. They have a variety of drinks from beer to soda and fresh fruity waters.

 

 

The kitchen area which you can see from the counter looks clean. The tables were clean with the exception of one that hadn't been picked up yet or been swept underneath but overall the restaurant was clean. I took a trip to the restroom to check it out and everything was fine in there as well.

 

  

The owner is usually the one at the counter ready to take your order. He's always friendly and greets you with a smile. You pay for your meal after you order. When you find a table to sit in the waitress comes with your drinks and serves chips with salsa. We always ask for a side of guacamole to eat with our chips as well. They bring it at no extra charge. The waitress is nice and checks in on you.

 

This time we ordered a chicken burrito. It is a big burrito. The taste of the food is good and it is fast service as well. The tacos are really good and you get alot of meat with two tortillas each. We have been there previously with a bigger party and the only thing I did not like was that the food was brought out to the table when it was ready, not all at the same time. So some people we asked to start eating because their food was getting cold while we were waiting for ours.

 

Overall the experience is pleasant and I will keep going back there when I'm in a mood for tacos. I should probably try other items off their menu but why change when you know you like something!

Coney Island

I chose Coney Island located in downtown Grand Island. The main reason why I chose Coney Island is because I love the old fashioned feel and the uniqueness of it. I visited Coney Island on July 10^th with my mom. It is a great place to visit especially if you like the 1930’s feel. Coney Island has also stayed with the same family, which is very cool since it opened in 1933!

   

     

When I think of a good place to eat I think of good food, obviously! Although, many other features are important when deciding a good place to eat, I think cleanliness is a very important feature, especially with utensils, plates, tables and floors. Overall, the restaurant should be sanitary for me. Good service and friendly workers, welcoming atmosphere outside, delicious food, reasonable prices and a comfortable environment are a must. 

Cleanliness

When we sat down, I noticed a lot of crumbs and French fries on the floor. Even though it was the after noon closer to closing time, I thought the floors and tables could have been cleaner. The utensils and cups all had watermarks on them that seemed unsanitary and didn’t make my visit comfortable. Overall I did not think Coney Island met the standards of being clean.

Outside Atmosphere

Downtown Grand Island is not the most exciting place to be. It can seem sketchy and uninviting. Coney island is located on a corner and is pretty small. Since it is staying old fashioned, the outside is not updated. Since I like the old feel to it, the outside appearance did not bother me.

Sorry for the car!

Food and Prices

When looking at the menu, most of the items are pretty cheap. I ordered the Coney Dog and fries while my mom ordered a hamburger. We also shared a shake which is a must try when visiting. The food at Coney Island is a bit on the greasy side, but it was okay for me to pig out a little bit. The shake was amazing and will surely order one every time I visit. Overall the food is average but very tasty!

   

Coney Island is a fun place to go for a little treat or for a meal.  Although it was a little unclean, I loved the feel of the restaurant. With the original menu on the wall to the old-fashioned register you will think you are back in time. They have pictures of the place many years ago and you can see that Coney Island has not changed much.  The workers are very friendly and you get your meal fast. Not only is the food inexpensive but it is also filling.  If you want to go to a place with a lot of history, visit Coney Island!

   

The Gourmet House

The Gourmet House. Located in Holdrege, NE; this restaurant provides all the satisfaction a customer needs to make them want to eat there 7 days a week. I chose to do a blog on this restaurant because it is my all time favorite place to eat. It has great food and great help. 
   

 

 The Gourmet House is known for their amazing food. I have been to many Chinese restaurants in other towns and have yet to find one that has better tasting food than this place. They have many choices available on their menu. They offer chicken, beef, pork, and shrimp dinner options combined with yummy vegetables and a unique, tasty sauce. They also have the best fried rice around! Also, I would definitely recommend that anyone that goes to this restaurant orders their crab rangoon; absolutely to die for!  The food is also reasonably priced. If you go there at lunch the food is much cheaper than for supper; and lunch also includes a free cup of soup (amazing!).

Sweet & Sour Chicken (After I had eaten some pieces!)

Crab Rangoon

The Gourmet House is also known for their friendly workers and staff! The restaurant is owned by a married couple of the Asian descent, and they are the sweetest people! They are so polite and kind and when you eat there it is as if you are being around your own friends and family. They make sure that you are enjoying your dining experience. They also make sure that you aren't hungry for long because they bring your appetizer or main course out to you in a very reasonable time (even on the busiest of days!), which I believe is a feature that all restaurants should have.  

The Cellar Bar and Grill

I chose The Cellar Bar and Grill located at 3901 2nd Ave. in Kearney. I chose this location because it isn't a chain restaurant and is one of my favorite places to eat. I visited this restaurant on Wednesday the 17th of July and was very impressed. I went with my mom and sister for a little girls day out.

 Walking into The Cellar, we were greeted by a very friendly host. We were quickly seated and our waitress was at our table right away for drinks. This was very impressive, and we didn't feel rushed at all. We ordered our appetizer (their famous onion rings) and since we had been here before, went ahead and ordered our food. Then waited to receive our food. It took our food about 10 minutes to get to our table, very fast. The food was amazing! I tried the new Prime Rib Wrap, and it was perfect.

 

The restaurant itself was very clean. I am very big on cleanliness, and everything was vacuumed and the tables were cleaned off nicely. They were also very helpful with my noisy one-year old daughter. They brought me a highchair and recommended certain things for her to eat. The waitress was very good about keeping our table cleaned off as soon as we were finished with our plates. 

The Cellar was very family-friendly, clean, had good service, and was very reasonably priced. This restaurant is a must for anyone in Kearney or the surrounding area that has never tried it. It is celebrating 35 years of service this year, and there is a reason for that. It is delicious and a great place to eat. I am very happy to highlight this restaurant.

Murphy's Wagon Wheel

Murphy's Wagon Wheel

On Friday, July 12th, I went to Murphy's Wagon Wheel for supper.  I had never been to this restaurant before, but when trying to decide on a local, non-chain restaurant to visit with two of my friends, Sarah and Kelli, both suggested Murphy's.  Murphy's Wagon Wheel is located in downtown Hastings at 107 North Lincoln Avenue.  This is a wonderful restaurant to visit if you are in the area and looking for a nice, casual place to eat.

When I visit a restaurant, there are many features that I find important.  Restaurants that have a variety of food, a pleasant atmosphere, friendly workers, reasonable prices for the amount of food, cleanliness, and quality service are places that I enjoy eating at and giving business to.

Because I am a clean freak, I take the cleanliness of a restaurant very seriously.   The tables were wiped clean and the floors were swept.  From where I was sitting in the restaurant, I was able to see my food being cooked.  Because of this unique design, I was assured that my food was handled properly.  I did not have to question if my food had been dropped on the floor or slapped together with dirty hands.  

Not only was Murphy's Wagon Wheel clean, but it also was a pleasant place to enjoy a meal.  The tables were far enough apart that we were able to have a nice conversation without worrying about other people listening.  There were numerous televisions at different angles to watch and plenty of room to eat with a couple friends or a large group of people, as well as a designated bar area.  With this setup, many different groups of people are welcome.

When choosing a place to dine, I find the price of the food an important factor in making my decision.  I try very hard to be frugal with my expenses.  With that being said, I always try to make sure I choose somewhere that I will receive a decent amount of food for the price I pay.  At Murphy's, I was given more than enough to fill me for a fair price.

Along with reasonable prices, I value restaurants that serve a variety of food.  Although the menus at Murphy's were simple in design, they offered a number of different meal combinations.  Whether you are trying to eat healthy or are out to splurge, Murphy's offers a wide selection of salads, sandwiches, and baskets, as well as several different appetizers and sides.  Murphy's Wagon Wheel also offers a wide variety of beverages and desserts to fully satisfy you.

Overall, I was very pleased with my first visit at Murphy's Wagon Wheel.  The quality of service and food was great, they offered a variety of food for reasonable prices, and the atmosphere was refreshing.  I definitely plan to visit this restaurant again and will recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good, relaxing place to eat.