If there still is some cash left in your bank account from your summer job, even after buying your textbooks for the semester, save that money and schedule a visit to Baja Bean.
Located on the Corner at the intersection of West Main St. and 14th St., Baja Bean is within reasonable walking distance for any University student. Although its prices are a little more expensive than those at your local McDonald's, most students will discover the bill to be more than reasonable for the amount of food you receive.
From the paintings of singing, dancing frijoles on the walls to the hammock on the ceiling with oversized novelty bottles of Corona, the atmosphere at Baja Bean is decidedly laid back. While not the best location to propose to your fiancee, Baja Bean is ideal for dinner with a group of friends.
The service at Baja Bean is excellent. Immediately after we were seated, the waitress brought out a complementary basket of tortilla chips and some salsa. The menu advertises the salsa as made fresh daily, and one bite will verify this claim. During the entire dinner, our waitress made sure the chips and salsa was continually replenished.
While taking our drink orders, our waitress was very helpful in offering a few suggestions. Her choice -- a peach-strawberry margarita -- did not disappoint, although at $6, it was a tad expensive.
The appetizer menu offered a variety of items to whet your appetite while waiting, such as the taquitos ($2.75) or guacamole dip ($3.95). Our recommendation is the quesadilla platter. At only $3.50, you get a very tasty dish consisting of flour tortillas stuffed with Monterey jack cheese and either jalape
os or black beans. The jalape
o dish was a little spicy but mixed very well with the sweet honey diablo sauce.
Baja Bean does not disappoint in its menu selection for entrees, either. Almost all dinners were under $10; however, it would be folly to mistake the low prices for a lack of food.
The burro doble, for example, even comes with a warning at the end of its menu description: muy grande!!! (very big!!!). Future patrons to Baja Bean should heed this warning; the meal easily could have satisfied two people.
Consisting of two burritos wrapped together with chicken fajitas, this dish, although appetizing, will put up a fight with anyone attempting to finish it.
A more reasonable dish for those less-hungry consumers would be any one of the chimichanga dishes. The shredded beef and cheddar chimichanga ($6.25), served with beans and rice, was not nearly as intimidating as the burro doble, but still was filling.
For those desiring something even smaller, Baja Bean also has a side menu, where one can order a single taco or burrito ($1.75 each), or single serving plates of rice or baja beans ($0.99 each).
Dessert was the menu's most lackluster component, consisting of only four choices. Flan ($2.95), a traditional Mexican custard dish, and fried ice cream ($2.95), top the list.
On some evenings, Baja Bean runs specials in addition to the regular menu. Patrons can enjoy dollar night every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., where $1 will buy a taco and $3 will get you a strawberry daiquiri. Fajita lovers should check out All-You-Can-Eat Fajitas ($9.95) on Tuesday nights from 5 to 9 p.m.
Our waitress once again was very speedy and courteous when it was time to pay.
While waiting, the television sets that line the restaurant's ceiling entertained us.
It's doubtful too many people leave Baja Bean unsatisfied. You've got the extra time and cash right now. Save those late-night McDonald's runs for finals week.
Read More
It’s okay not to be okay
By Mai Hukuoka | YesterdayWhether talking to a friend, a loved one or a professional, it is so necessary, and human, to need more than you can provide for yourself.
Taking a break at Tangerines Kitchen
By Charley Thomas | 3 days agoWhat the restaurant somewhat lacks in ambiance, it compensates for in tasty dishes and prompt service.
Virginia Policy Lab — a hub for student-led policy action
By Katherine Haden | December 9, 2024Students propose their own projects and collaborate with other members to research their issues of interest, brainstorm solutions and write policy proposals.
