Moe's Southwest...how the heck did this place become a chain?

[boagman]

Wow. It takes a particularly bad set of food for me to think it's lousy when it cost me nothing.

Let me be fair right from the start: the employees at the one I dined at today (Dearborn, MI) were very helpful, even if their greeting at the door was one of those horrid corporate-mandated greetings that I abhor since they're so stinking insincere. Regardless, the employees were pleasant, helpful, and aimed to please. That's actually a nice surprise, especially considering the area.

But the food itself? It's just awful. And this food was provided for me as a birthday present from Moe's themselves! Free, and yet, awful, especially when compared to the competition available at places like Chipotle, Qdoba, et al. I mean, seriously: it's hard for me to hate on food that's been generously offered, but now I'm starting to understand why this chain has so quickly dried up in the area. There used to be a *bunch* of them around, and now there are only three left in all of Michigan, and only one in the Detroit area! I'm glad I didn't make a special trip to get here (probably an hour one-way from my house), else I would have been *sorely* unhappy.

The pork itself was merely functional, and that was the *very* best part of the burrito! Everything else about it was pretty much terrible, and I have a new contender for Worst Pico de Gallo Ever. Grilled peppers and onions? Extra, so I didn't get them. Everything about the burrito, minus the pork, was pretty miserable. The chips that came alongside were okay, but with nothing good to eat with them, why bother?

I just can't believe that a place with food that lousy was able to parlay it into chainhood. No wonder all the franchises around here folded, and so quickly.

[al b. darned]

The Moe's near me has o.k. food but a bit over priced. With a seasonal local Mex joint just up the hill, Moe's only gets our business between November and March, and then only occasionally.

[tb421ny]

Moes is the worst food I have every had. Tried it once in Atlanta, took one bite spit it out and tossed it. Rather be hungry than eat that. Figured it might have been a fluke so I tried them again in NY, same thing 2 bites and trash. Their food is bland at best. I bet they go out of business as Chipolte expands. I think Moes get the "beef" taco bell turns down.

[Faraway11]

I used to live in Norfolk, VA and the Moe's there was excellent... There was one about 10 miles away in Virginia Beach, however, that was awful. Damn chains and their inconsistency.

[kkachurak]

I'm not a vegetarian, but I'll typically get the "Art Vandalay", which is their veggie burrito with the following: Two helpings of rice, queso (mucho queso), sour cream, guacamole, cheese, diced tomatoes, pico, lettuce, diced onion (both sauteed and fresh), jalapeños (both fresh and pickled) and a drizzle of their chipotle ranch dressing.

This thing is magical. And overflowing. I don't even bother with chips or salsa. It is quite satisfying and a fair price, too, considering what I'm used to being charged at Chipotle.

[Woof Woof Woof]

I agree it can vary by store.
My last trip to a Moes was here in Baltimore and needless to say I am not running back to that store anytime soon. I walked in one afternoon and there appeared to only 2 people in the entire store. One in back doing random things and not really in sight. Other was cleaning the dining floor w/ dustpan & broom. He sees me walk in, & just says "hold on". I am like um ok... then finally gets back behind food station. I had to ask him to wash his hands before putting on his gloves.
The make station looked like a bomb went off. They were out Ground Beef and I had to wait at least 10 minutes for a burrito all the while waiting and trying to avoid the sight of his underwear hanging out of his pants that were sagging to his knees while making sure my other food was made right..

But then I went to a Moes in Norfolk in Ghent and my experience there was great. I was greeted with the typical "Welcome to Moes" and service was Excellent, fast, and friendly. And I was in and out in 5 minutes tops.

[roro1831]

They just opened up one here about a mile down the road from a Chipotle.
I don't see this place making it, nothing had flavor. They opened up in a new strip mall, but you can't see it from the highway, except on the rotating signage out front. With Chipotle up the tsreet I'll keep going there, even with the lines out the door.

[monkeyrotica]

The Moe's near us isn't terrible, per se, but everything I tried was completely flavorless. I expect the chicken to be white breast meat with all the flavor boiled out, but it's pretty hard to cook all the flavor out of pork. The beans and sides were also "negative flavor" in that they seemed to suck tastes OUT of my mouth. Chipotle up the street is much better, but I end up favoring a taqueria up the street that, although inconsistent, at least has flavorful food and a variety of options. No reason to go to Moe's ever again. The stupid names for the meals ("Joey Bag of Donuts?" WTF does that have to do with a burrito?) was just the icing on the whole nasty cake.

[Hensley]

Moes lasted less than 6 months in Naperville. Bland, and overpriced.

[beachmouse]

I think it might be a case that they went into areas that Chipotle, Qdoba, etc. hadn't gone into yet. I don't live in a big time metro area so we tend to get skipped in the first couple rounds of expansion by a lot of franchises. Chipotle and Qdoba have never made it here, but we've got Moe's all over the place.

I've tried Moe's once, and never felt the need to go back. If I want Americanized Mexican, I actually like Tijuana Flats (regional Florida/Southeastern chain) quite a bit, even though it's definitely not a place for purists.

[Bob W]

Well, my five-year-old twins like Moe's, and they are not overly adventurous eaters (although my girl likes black olives on her burrito), so that probably says it all. Actually, their favorite menu item is the cookies (chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin, how very Mexican).

And yes, the chips are pretty good.

We're going tomorrow night, actually. I have a coupon for $5 off a $15 purchase, so that will help ease the pain.

[linsue]

I generally have a pretty high tolerance for fast food, but Moe's was awful. The chicken was gray and tasted boiled instead of grilled. the vegest were tastless and the rice sticky. Try anything else. The Moe's I went to was in an upscale shopping center in Woodbury Long Island, I can't see it lasting there. The chips were good but you have to ask for them