by Aimee Farquharson
Chipotle is a modern restaurant with stainless steel and wood furnishings. Chipotle’s Company recycles as much of their waste as they can, and they use locally and organically grown, unprocessed foods. The food always tastes very fresh and well made. Chipotle makes fast Mexican food with fresh ingredients, in a line right in front of the customer. Chipotle has works of art made of manipulated metal and on a wood backing; some of them look like animals or tribal looking faces. Chipotle restaurants are simply designed with hard solid surfaces and without the clutter of fake plants or fabrics like some other restaurants.
At this point the dinner rush is winding down. The booths are all full, but there are only about 4 people still in line. After ordering a burrito bowl with fresh, handmade guacamole, I found a table by the trash and overlooking the cashier. The restaurant was loud with the sound of voices but it was also loud with music. Chipotle plays music with a bob Marley feel and tribal sound. It fits the industrial, but relaxed style of the restaurant.
Chipotle is popular among all ages and genders of customers; you see everything from a family night out, to a date night, to business takeout at the end of a work day. Chipotle is not a loud, chaotic place though; many of the people who go are just there to have great Mexican food and dinner out. There is not much ruckus going on.
I eat at Chipotle very often, up to three times some weeks, usually just once though. Last Thursday night I had dinner at Chipotle; here are the stories of customers I saw there.
Businessman
Around 40, wearing a suit, no tie. Stands in line behind a woman with children who takes quite a while ordering. He checks his watch approximately 5 times before he finishes his order. He buys two chicken burritos, both with hand-made guacamole which is not always a popular addition. He orders one salsa and one mild salsa on the side, which is almost entirely fresh tomatoes. He pays with a card and does not say thank you. Leaves with his order in a bag, does not sit at a booth or table. Surprisingly he holds the door open for a different mother with children on his way out.
Couple
Boyfriend and girlfriend in their early thirties. The man has on a flannel over a sweatshirt, and the woman is wearing jeans and a very oversized sweater. They have a quiet conversation while waiting in line that includes a lot of giggling. They wait for more veggies to finish cooking before they both order burritos. The woman orders a vegetarian burrito, and the man orders a steak burrito. They both order brown rice and pinto beans. Neither have guacamole in theirs, but they order a side of chips and guacamole to split. The woman pays for all of the food with cash, and they each say thank you to the cashier as they walk away to fill up their drinks. They end up sitting on the far side of the restaurant against the windows. I leave before they do, but I see them showing each other photographs on their phones.
