CHIPOTLE Mexican Grill Eatontown NJ

[Tapas52]

We tried Chipotle in Eatontown last week after seeing it featured on Bobby Flay's new show American Restaurants on NBC.....I have to tell you it was wonderful...friendly service form the start.. they asked if we were first timers and we said yes, that followed by a full explanation of the menu by the manager which really helped our confusion. We ordered the Crispy Tacos one of each Grilled Steak, Pork, Barbacoa, with all the trimmings...the beef Barbacoa was delicious......my wife had a Spicy Beef Barbacoa Burrito And enjoy it so much, their cilantro-lime rice is heavenly...surprisingly when we got to the register to pay they said it was "On The House" because we were first timers!!!!!...afterwards we ordered two Salads to take home.....
Chopped romaine lettuce with choice of pinto or vegetarian black beans, meat (braised carnitas or barbacoa, adobo-marinated and grilled chicken or steak) or guacamole, salsa and cheese, with freshly made chipotle-honey vinaigrette that was to die for..... ...oh yeah for lunch we also had the fresh Chips & Guac,......... Chips are made fresh every day, with a squeeze of real lime and kosher salt. Guacamole is made from perfectly ripe avocados, and hand mashed, up to three times a day. I will be back again and again......really nice to see casual fast Food up to these standards at a great price also. They have over 1000 locations & I can now see why......hope they make a few more in South Jersey also..

http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/menu/me...

[Quine]

Isn't the founder of Chipotle one of the judges/investors of the show? Do you think Flay will get one or more of his Chain places showcased as well? Hum...

[aerynsun]

The food at Chipotle Mexican Grill is disgusting. The quality of the meat isn't much better than Qdoba or Baha Fresh. Try La Esperanza in Lindenwold, NJ. The prices are reasonable and it was given a near perfect score for food in Zagat. I guarantee you will see a major difference in the quality and preparation of the food.
http://mexicanhope.com/

[tommy]

I find the quality of Chiptole's animal proteins to be exceptional. What barometer are you using for this opinion?

[aerynsun]

There is nothing "natural" about chicken that has been injected with sodium additives. Qdoba, Baha Fresh and Chipotle all suffer from this problem. If you bite into "real" chicken, the center of the chicken is not salty at all. Any salt you taste is actually on the outside of the meat and is achieved by being sprinkled with salt by the chef/cook. I'm sorry that you have trouble telling the difference between processed and real chicken. I'll give you some examples of chicken that has been "plumped": Tyson, Butterball and Perdue are all processed brands of chicken. An example of chicken without additives and preservatives is Bell and Evans. The difference in taste is astonishing.

[tommy]

What leads you to believe that I have any trouble at all? LOL!

I guess you don't like kosher or brined birds.

Chipotle was using Bell and Evans chickens for some time, and I believe still are in my area.. LOL!

[fourunder]

I don't know what's used for the marinade, but here's the skinny on the chicken...

http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/fwi/ani...

[tommy]

Yuck. Sounds horrible.

[aerynsun]

If by kosher you mean that the animals are being humanely killed then no, I prefer kosher meat actually. I have brined meat before and have no problem with that either. What I am talking about is a little different than brining. As far as I know, the location I tried shortly after it opened (Eatontown) was not using Bell and Evans chicken. But if you have a link saying otherwise (about the Eatontown location) then please post it. I'd be happy to eat my own words and give it another shot.

[equal_Mark]

It's my go-to place for quick crisp tacos (usually carnitas or barbacoa (Even though the barbacoa is beef instead of goat)). Tomatillo red chile salsa, guac and a splash of chipotle sauce.

For soft tacos I still have to defer to NOTB or Acapulquenos...

[Tapas52]

Hi Mark....

I'm lovin' Chipotle for my on the run choice....that Tomatillo RED Salsa is awesome also!!!!
Acapulqueno in LB is very good also..Havn't tried NOTB yet..;)....
but my favorite for Soft Tacos is......

Taqueria Madrigal
105 Cedar Bridge Avenue,
Lakewood, NJ 08701-4222
[phone] ‎

[joonjoon]

I love Chipotle also, my go-to is Chicken burrito with rice, black beans, pico, hot salsa, corn salsa, lettuce and cheese. Can't beat it for 7 bucks!

[cantkick]

Interesting that you went because of Bobby Flay's mentioning of it, since his burger joint is in the same structure. I don't think there is any relationship there though.

It's hard to believe you've never encountered one before. As you discovered, they do a decent job, better than many full service Mexican restaurants. I like their fajita style with the peppers and onions. And I usually get the wrapperless burrito. Less messy and fewer carbs. (Like that'll make a difference with the rice there :) )

[yCf]

kind of related... I saw a Chipotle sign in the defuncted Quizno on Rt 537 in Freehold (across the road from Walmart, Sam's Club, Olive Garden). I will be very happy if they really open one in that location.

-----
Olive Garden
83 Weston Ct, Wayne, NJ 07470

[jsfein]

Chipotle followed by Yo Mon, yum. Need to get a Yo Mon thread going on CH. The place is constantly mobbed since opening and really is quite good.

[Tapas52]

The manager mentioned the new Freehold location opening soon also .

[MarlboroMan]

Sign in window as we passed by on Saturday:

Grande Opening: Thursday, April 21st

[Tapas52]

MarlboroMan ....good news ! Chipotle in Freehold is scheduled to open April 21 in the Colonial Plaza Shopping Center on W Main St., across from the Walmart Plaza.

[yCf]

Yes!! I know where I am going for lunch on Friday.

[fourunder]

Nice review......

Off topic, but I have to go to Trenton next week for state business. Are Papas & Rossi's open for lunch? Besides the obvious of pizza(tomato pie) and a burger.....any other specific recommendations I should not miss?

[jfedorko]

Rossi's website says they're open for lunch 11:30-2:30 only, Mon thru Sat.

http://www.rossiburger.com/

[fourunder]

thank you for pointing out the limited hours.....does that mean the bar does not offer food after 2:30 until dinner service? TIA

[jfedorko]

Sorry, can't tell you for sure. We've made the hour trek for the great burgers a few times, we're not locals. I do seem to recall from past postings that they do literally close the kitchen between lunch and dinner.

[fourunder]

Ahh...I guess Trenton hot spots all need to have their quirks.....last time in Trenton I made a trip to DeLorenzo's Hudson Street. I got their an hour before they opened, but had to wait until(4-4:30?) when they opened. First in and placed my order immediately. The place filled...they all got their pies before me.....90 minutes later my pies were ready.......

[Tapas52]

Papa's opens at 4pm -8:30pm.....
Rossi's is open for lunch 11:30-2:30pm...then close the dining room till 5pm-10pm for dinner again.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGHP_enUS366&q=rossis+trenton+nj

http://www.papastomatopies.com/

[fourunder]

Thanks.....