A&E 7
thepatriot April 2014
VS Cost: 4 All entrees at Chipotle cost either $6.25 or $6.65 whether they be burritos, bur-
WINNER Cost: 4.5 The cost of a meal at Qdoba is reasonable, ranging from $6-$7 for a
rito bowls, tacos, or salads, though an additional fee is required for guacamole.
burrito, depending on the type. Even better is the student discount on Wednesdays and Thursdays that will cut the cost of an entree in half.
Atmosphere: 2 Chipotle’s ambiance was the most underwhelming part of our expe-
WINNER Atmosphere: 3 Although the look of the restaurant is not particularly spe-
rience. The metal trash cans, ceiling, and tables that are nailed to the floor create a cold, industrial atmosphere.
cial, the atmosphere is bright. The setting is casual, with generic art and decorations.
WINNER Portions: 4 The burritos at Chipotle can get pretty big, pretty fast. The
Portions: 3 The portions vary in size: sometimes the burritos are gigantic and sometimes they are just large. However, even with the inconsistency, the portions could never be described as skimpy.
huge amounts of rice, meat, and veggies in Chipotle’s burritos really give you a bang for your buck.
Service: 3 The customer service was lacking. We rarely saw the workers
WINNER Service: 5 The service is cheerful and quick, pleasingly efficient. The employ-
in the buffet-style serving line smile or engage with the customers in conversation.
ee-served buffet is similar to the style of Chipotle.
Menu & Variety: 4.5 Most impressive is the variety of the menu. While the burrito may
reign king, there are tacos, quesadillas, nachos, salads, soups, and more. Most famous at Qdoba is the queso, a melted three-cheese dipping sauce, that can be had on a burrito or with chips. Recently, the menu was updated to include two other quesos, the queso verde and diablo, exciting Qdoba fanatics.
Quality of Food: 3 The quality of the food is good, but not great. The ingredients are yum-
my but do not taste as fresh or well-seasoned as Chipotle’s. Also, they do not follow the same high-quality and morally-conscious standards in terms of mear that Chipotle does.
Ingredients and Nutrition: 3 The nutritional value of a meal at Qdoba depends mostly on what a customer chooses when customizing their burrito. With such large portions, and toppings like queso, the calories add up quickly, with an average of more than 1,000 calories per burrito.
WINNER Menu & Variety: 5 Chipotle offers a fairly wide range of options, and many other deli-
cious options to add into your feast, best of all being the guacamole, seasoned to perfection. Additionally, Chipotle offers a vegan option, a spicy tofu called sofritas, which Qdoba does not have on their menu.
Rating Guide Each category was rated from 1-5, with five being the highest score.
WINNER Quality of Food: 5 Even more inspiring than the variety of burrito toppings is the quality
of the food and morals of the company. Chipotle advertises “Food with Integrity,” meaning the ingredients are all sustainably-raised.
WINNER Ingredients & Nutrition: 5 Don’t feel too bad about eating all that delicious food, because every-
thing in the burritos, well, besides the cheese and steak, is healthy and natural. If you’re wondering how many calories are sitting in front of you, you can check the menu online or in store.
Conclusion Chipotle offers delicious, reasonably priced food in a less-than-appetizing atmosphere.
53%
Chipotle
Qdoba has good service, a wide variety of food, and some unique elements that keep customers returning, but the quality and taste simply cannot measure up to that of Chipotle. Overall, Chipotle is better for your stomach, but Qdoba is better for your feelings.
of students like or love
47%
of students like or love Qdoba
For more survey responses check out jcpatriot.com. In an online survey of the student body on March 21, The Patriot recieved 113 responses. The margin of error is +/- 4%.
OVERALL WINNER Reviewed by: Madison Meyer and Kaley Martin