Five months after we broke the news that Chipotle Mexican Grill was in the works for the ground floor of 4730 California, it’s weeks away from opening. Thanks to Kennedy for tipping us that its exterior sign was going up today; we just got the chance to go over for a photo. We also checked with Chipotle’s media-relations department to see if there’s an update on when they expect to open – the reply, “late August.”
Welp, I know what I’m eating for dinner (and lunch the following day with leftovers) once a week forever starting in September.
Shame parking is so hard though.
You couldn’t pay to step a foot in the place, esp. after the way employees treated on-duty police officers and uniformed military personnel.
All my dreams are coming true!
It’s a little unfortunate that more chains are now coming to the junction instead of locally owned shops but I can’t complain about a delicious chicken burrito!
Is this one of the incidents you are talking about, E-WW?
http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/chipotlenypd.asp
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Mike
@Ex-Westwood Resident: Is this the incident to which you refer? http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/chipotlenypd.asp If so, this seems to be a random twit employee who got called out for his rogue action as soon as the fit hit the shan on social media.
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Otherwise, I’m VERY much looking forward to this opening! Love the food and having a Chipotle on the peninsula will make going there much more pleasant.
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@Alex: Keep that frustration in mind as you vote. This insane anti-car bias in city government is gonna start killing the businesses still standing after the minimum wage hike!
Instead of posting hit and run with no substantiation whatsoever, how about providing a hint of documentation about what Chipotle allegedly did? And whatever happened, do you really believe there is any chain in the country whose official policy is to treat law enforcement and service people poorly?
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Since you were too lazy to do any research, I did the bare minimum for you. Snopes.com rates this as “mostly false.”
Anti-car bias?? Last time I checked it was roads & cars as far as the eye could see. Maybe 1 bike for every 1K cars?
the fact the food is on the wrong side of mediocre makes this other debate irrelevant. Why not a señor moose quality restaurant….
Sad that these new expensive developments mean the loss of gems like Pica to soulless chains like Chipotle
I can’t wait. This is going to be my go-to spot the nights I don’t feel like cooking. Fast, fresh, and tasty!
Oh goodie, another over hyped mediocre chain restaurant comes to West Seattle. How exciting.
Can’t wait! Those that are complaining have plenty of other establishments to chose from.
@Marcus – Pica was not lost due to expensive new developments. Sure would fit your narrative if it were true. But alas, it is not.
Wow, seriously? People are getting excited about a Chipotle coming to West Seattle? Ugh. West Seattle just keeps getting more and more burger joints and lame chain restaurants. WS sucks so bad in terms of food choices. I guess a bunch of generic restaurants fit in perfectly with all the new generic buildings and apodments taking over the area.
Local doesn’t necessarily mean good. I’d prefer all *great* local places like Bakery Nouveau, but I’d gladly welcome something good and consistent like Chipotle if it drives out lackluster restaurants as rent increases. We’ll never get to restaurant bliss like Capitol Hill if the mediocre establishments stagger on.
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I don’t think these Picado Bueno comparisons are worth anything. The place is usually pretty empty outside of prime meal times, which sums up my thoughts on its culinary might. Chipotle won’t be getting any Michelin stars, but watch as it’s busy and stable. I expect that’ll be good competition and good for the neighborhood.
@Miles Senor Moose would be great. You can’t really honestly compare the two though. One is a quick meal restaurant that does mostly to go orders. The other is an authentic restaurant where you usually have to wait a half hour for a table.
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Comparing Apples to Oranges never works out.
I once pushed really hard to get Senor Moose to come to West Seattle. The owner said she’s terrified of bridges and viaducts and will never open a place in West Seattle.
As for Chipotle: They emphasize buying locally, encouraging organic, natural farm raised animals. They do not buy from food factories. Many places (including locally owned) buy from distribution and don’t look into where their supplies are sourced.
At a minimum, it’s a place that has never paid people to steal alcohol from the local stores.
Wes, I didn’t compare the two the way you suggest…..
I’m quite sure I implied one was quality and the other not so much, thus apples and oranges…..
I would like to see many more restaurants of the high quality of Bakery Nouveau, Ma’ono and Mashiko in the Junction. Nouveau is mostly a quick meal/to go restaurant too, by the way, and it rocks!
If Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream can’t survive a “I Buy My Cones At Husky Deli” backlash, how well is this mediocre chain going to do with an admittedly overpriced but much tastier Taqueria Guaymas across the street? They seem to have some fans here, but I wasn’t impressed. Nor do I understand the Chik-Fil-A hype on the Eastside. It’s a chicken sandwich, and a rather boring one at that. You people pining for one of those too?
Obviously the developers are pricing locals out of their new arse-ugly developments. Sad.
tacos guaymas is not ‘better tasting’ by any stretch of the imagination. its a local chain that sells mediocre to average slop.
chick fil a on the other hand is pure hype. its a chicken sandwich served on a bun with no mayo and unseasoned fries!
I agree with Steve, with exception of the word “slop” for some reason. Certainly the outrage at a mayo-less chicken sandwich. Maybe the eastside folks haven’t heard of Ezell’s yet.
You guys linking snopes, how dare you offset emotional reactions with facts and logic. Disgusting! But really, it’s unfortunate how many people’s core beliefs and daily actions are a direct result of made up things they see on facebook and the like. Scary really.
I agree with Steve and Matt, Taqueria Guaymas is a big load of lackluster, bland slop. I love places like Bakery Nouveau and Ma’Ono (Mashiko is okay, but way expensive and not nearly as good as some places in the ID). Unfortunately, the bulk of restaurants in WS are just so-so and I have yet to find much variety. I’d love a decent Chinese, Mexican, Italian, or Korean restaurant in the nearby area, but I have yet to find one. It is hard for me to understand why other parts of town like Capitol Hill have such great, diverse restaurants and WS is stuck with nothing but lame burger joints.
@Generic Junction: Matt did not support the word slop. You’ve nailed it though, and I hope that our awesome local places thrive and mediocre ones are nudged out. I think it just takes more people wanting great stuff. We’re definitely getting more people, now let’s just all agree to be insatiable!
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FWIW we were put off by some attitude at Mashiko (and we’re polite, responsible, well-tipping folks) but have always been welcome and enjoyed decent sushi at Azuma. Tsukushinbo is my all-time favorite, but it lacks a certain West-Seattle-ness that’s quite apparent once you get there.
There are at least 3 Mexican restaurants that are barely hanging on, grinding out can-opener food that was considered spicey in the 50’s. Bland overcooked meats hidden under melted “chesee” no longer draws the crowds. I’ve been tempted many times to kidnap the owners and drag them to Fonda La Catrina. There they would see lines out the door, people waiting to get in to order up tasty Mexican food made fresh every day. Even the chips are made fresh from their own tortillas. The chorizo comes from a local farmer who makes it only for them. It doesn’t take an Einstein to realize tastes have changed and we like good food made fresh.
Mashiko’s is so overrated and unnecessarily expensive. Azuma has better food and service, but honestly there are Japanese restaurants in the ID that have far better service and atmosphere at way more reasonable prices. Dhg has it right; the Mexican restaurants in WS just hand you a huge helping of a bland, cheese-covered mess. There is no decent Italian restaurant to be found either. La Rustica is a miserable experience with bad service and overpriced food that tastes like it was heated up from a frozen pasta bag from QFC. Spiros has friendly service, but the food is nothing special. Chinese food is limited to Lee’s Asian, which is the very definition of “meh”. I get so frustrated when I hear about a new restaurant coming to WSB, and then it turns out to be another burger place, Chipotle, or sports bar. I keep getting my hopes up for something cool or tasty, but I am constantly disappointed.
I’m looking forward to Chipotle opening. Too bad they can’t go in Puerto Vallarta’s space.
Some people love mall food. To each his/her own. I’ve not even attempted Mexican in Seattle since around my third year here. Like ordering the salmon in Topeka.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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