I love burritos. I eat far too many and have what a therapist would call an obsession. Despite a massive increase in the number of establishments specializing in burritos, I can name only two that consistently get them right - Chilango and Chipotle.
In an attempt to get out of my Burrito rut and check out The Boyfriend's new neighbourhood we tried Benito's Hat.
A good burrito requires two things:
Firstly, good components.
Secondly, love for the burrito by the person putting it together.
Most places get the first right but fail at the second hurdle. Benito's hat was one of the few places that really seemed to care about pretty dismal ingredients.
I had a chicken burrito. It wasn't great. You know when you have dinner on an airplane? And you go for the chicken dish, thats supposed to be a curry but its really watery and the chicken is on the dry side and not all that spicy and the rice is also really watery? Imagine that curry and rice, in a wrap, with some nicely sauteed vegetables, cheddar, salsa and sour cream. It wasn't great. I've had worse burritos but it didn't even come close to Chilango or Chipotle.
It was strange in a way, because Chipotle and Chilango aren't real restaurants, more like takeaway venues with some seating whereas Benito's Hat feels like a real burrito restaurant. Its done in a lovely way, all bright and colourful with a bar serving a selection of margharitas in the corner. Its a place you could meet up with a bunch of friends or have a date if they food was good, but it wasn't.
It was similar value to its competition, at around £6.00 a burrito (with free tortilla chips) but I think next time I'm craving a burrito I'd prefer to walk the extra ten minutes to Tottenham Court Road instead.
Benito's Hat
19 New Row
Covent Garden
In an attempt to get out of my Burrito rut and check out The Boyfriend's new neighbourhood we tried Benito's Hat.
A good burrito requires two things:
Firstly, good components.
Secondly, love for the burrito by the person putting it together.
Most places get the first right but fail at the second hurdle. Benito's hat was one of the few places that really seemed to care about pretty dismal ingredients.
I had a chicken burrito. It wasn't great. You know when you have dinner on an airplane? And you go for the chicken dish, thats supposed to be a curry but its really watery and the chicken is on the dry side and not all that spicy and the rice is also really watery? Imagine that curry and rice, in a wrap, with some nicely sauteed vegetables, cheddar, salsa and sour cream. It wasn't great. I've had worse burritos but it didn't even come close to Chilango or Chipotle.
It was strange in a way, because Chipotle and Chilango aren't real restaurants, more like takeaway venues with some seating whereas Benito's Hat feels like a real burrito restaurant. Its done in a lovely way, all bright and colourful with a bar serving a selection of margharitas in the corner. Its a place you could meet up with a bunch of friends or have a date if they food was good, but it wasn't.
It was similar value to its competition, at around £6.00 a burrito (with free tortilla chips) but I think next time I'm craving a burrito I'd prefer to walk the extra ten minutes to Tottenham Court Road instead.
Benito's Hat
19 New Row
Covent Garden
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