We won't lie to you. We miss Espresso Royale. It was so utterly Charlottesville, the way that the true intellectuals flocked there for a latte, a much different crowd than the gotta-go Starbucks. And we can't forget those Espresso Royale pizzas -- for only $5.95 on your choice of regular or herb dough, you could have your very own personal brick oven pizza.
But those days are over ... and the replacement almost made us forget what used to be.
Introducing Qdoba, better late than never, the latest chain to find a home on the elite University Corner. With its 79th store nationally, Qdoba brings more of Mexico to an already chips-and-salsa-rich region.
It's a can't-miss for any passerby, as the green and yellow storefront is sure to stop all who fall into the malaise of the usual red brick and white columns. Inside a friendly staff awaits, ready to serve up a fast casual meal to anyone on the run or wanting to sit down for a quick bite.
Titled a Mexican Grill, Qdoba is best known for its burritos, which it claims are not just big in size, but also big in flavor. And if you want to be known as a regular at Qdoba, you need to know how to order like one too.
It's a simple four step process: pick a burrito, choose your type of beans, decide on a salsa and finish with a topping of either cheese or sour cream.
In all, Qdoba offers 11 different burritos, both its signature (original flavors you won't find anywhere else) and traditional, so there's the perfect fit for steak, chicken, cheese and veggie lovers alike. In addition, all burritos range from $4.99 to $5.89, depending on your choice of filling.
Upon recommendation, we decided to try the Chicken Mole Burrito, consisting of marinated grilled chicken topped with a rich and slightly spicy Mole sauce. We chose black beans, pico de gallo and we splurged for both cheese and sour cream. The chicken was excellent -- tender, juicy and grilled to perfection. The spicy Mole sauceadded flavor, not hotness, and the tortilla was of the perfect texture, not too hard and not too brittle.
Our only complaint with the dish was that each bite included an overwhelming amount of rice. We suggest asking your burrito-maker to go easy in that area. One final note regarding portion size: Qdoba holds nothing back in this area. The Chicken Mole Burrito was the perfect size to share for two people and could easily be saved for a second meal when eating for one -- not a bad deal.
Qdoba also offers all 11 of its burritos in naked form, served in a bowl with an optional tortilla on the side. Whether you are on a low-carb diet or you just want something a bit lighter, Qdoba lets you choose ... forks or fingers.
And whichever utensil you do choose, Qdoba has numerous other items on its menu for your eating pleasure -- quesadillas, tacos (soft and hard), taco salads, three-cheese nachos, soups and chips and dips. We tried the steak quesadilla ($5.99), a vegetarian taco ($1.49) and the chips and warm 3-cheese queso ($2.69).
The quesadilla was by far our favorite item, a must-order to any first time Qdoba-goers. After coming out of the Queso-press piping hot, it was a mouth-watering blend of juicy marinated grilled steak, warm melted cheese and a fresh pico de gallo with a mild kick at the end. Plus, the outer shell of the quesadilla was of just the right crispiness, adding that final exclamation point to each bite. The Qdoba quesadilla must be ordered.
Served on a crunchy corn tortilla with grilled veggies, lettuce, salsa and sour cream or cheese, the taco was of the typical breed. Much better than Taco Bell, but it seemed somewhat boring and a far cry from the many other more authentic items served at Qdoba. Plus, the tacos were small, definitely not enough for a meal, unless you order the three-taco combo.
Perhaps the best surprise was the chips and warm three-cheese queso ($2.69). This dish came with a large plate of homemade salted tortilla chips ready for eating plain or dipped and smothered in the three-cheese queso. Imagine Tostitos' salsa con queso, although this time it's not bright orange and it lacks the nasty cheese film that forms after microwaving. Our only complaint was that we wished we could have salted our own tortilla chips. It would have made our drinks last longer.
Again, this hefty portion could certainly be saved for later and is great to share, although it is worth asking for more dip, because they are rather stingy in that area.
Overall, Qdoba is a welcome addition to an already Mexican-full Corner. It's polished, it's cheap, it's quick, it's feeding, but most importantly the quality of food will send people back again and again. And for those frequent customers, don't forget to get the Qdoba Q Card, a frequent buyer card. After five punches you get a free chips and salsa, and after 10 you get a free entrée of your choice.
So add another must-go to the Take It Aways and the Little Johns of the Corner, but don't forget to pay respects to the fallen Espresso.
Read More
It’s okay not to be okay
By Mai Hukuoka | 2 days agoWhether 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 | 4 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.
