RESTAURANT REVIEW: Qdoba Grille
Qdoba Grille sizzles with attitude
James Fluhler - Restaurant Reviewer
Issue date: 3/13/03 Section: Entertainment
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Qdoba is a place to eat where the food tastes expensive, but is really a bargain buy! I went to Qdoba this past Tuesday; it had the standard look of a Grille from the outside. As I exited my car, the thought flashed through my mind, "Why not just eat at Taco Bell and save the money." But then I opened the door to Qdoba, and the aroma of the food convinced me to give this place a try.
Qdoba opened for business in August and is a truly unique place to eat Mexican food. As soon as you enter the restaurant, you proceed to your right to the ordering line. The menu is posted above the ordering area, as well as, on hand-held menu cards. The menu is simple and also includes Vegetarian entrees. The order process is simple: tell them what you want and exactly how you want it. The food is custom-made to your taste, while you direct the preparation of it, as you move along side the glass partition on the order line. I decided to watch as they prepared the order of the man in front of me. The meats, cheeses, beans, salsas (they offer four choices), lettuce, olives, and veggies all looked great.
Although the meats had already been prepared minutes before, on the grill located behind the food assembly bar, it was all still steaming and smelled wonderful. I quickly decided to order three chicken tacos. I watched them make each of my tacos as I specified the ingredients I wanted. I began to get very hungry just admiring the many fresh ingredients to choose from. Two of my friends that went along with me also tried Tacos, but with some of the other various toppings and salsas. They ordered the Chips and Warm 3-Cheese Queso for $2.50, as well. We each ordered fountain drinks for $1.39 (free refills) They have bottled fruit drinks and water too. Our total cost for all of us was a little over $18.00. All of us thought our food was excellent! Each item was prepared exactly the way we wanted it and had wonderful flavor!
After we began to eat, the General Manager, Scott Waggoner, came over and introduced himself to us. We asked him a few questions about Qdoba and he willingly answered all of them, even though this was a busy time of day. Unlike many managers I have observed, he was very busy working (cleaning counters, tables and chairs, greeting guests). Although Qdoba did not have any "specials" for students and faculty, Mr. Waggoner quickly decided on one. His generous "special" for UAH students is that for only $5.00 + tax, you can have any one entree and a large drink. This is a great value, but be sure to bring your Charger Card, as it is the only way you can get the "special". Mr. Waggoner also gave me a several coupons for "one free (enormous) burrito or entree of choice".
Qdoba opened for business in August and is a truly unique place to eat Mexican food. As soon as you enter the restaurant, you proceed to your right to the ordering line. The menu is posted above the ordering area, as well as, on hand-held menu cards. The menu is simple and also includes Vegetarian entrees. The order process is simple: tell them what you want and exactly how you want it. The food is custom-made to your taste, while you direct the preparation of it, as you move along side the glass partition on the order line. I decided to watch as they prepared the order of the man in front of me. The meats, cheeses, beans, salsas (they offer four choices), lettuce, olives, and veggies all looked great.
Although the meats had already been prepared minutes before, on the grill located behind the food assembly bar, it was all still steaming and smelled wonderful. I quickly decided to order three chicken tacos. I watched them make each of my tacos as I specified the ingredients I wanted. I began to get very hungry just admiring the many fresh ingredients to choose from. Two of my friends that went along with me also tried Tacos, but with some of the other various toppings and salsas. They ordered the Chips and Warm 3-Cheese Queso for $2.50, as well. We each ordered fountain drinks for $1.39 (free refills) They have bottled fruit drinks and water too. Our total cost for all of us was a little over $18.00. All of us thought our food was excellent! Each item was prepared exactly the way we wanted it and had wonderful flavor!
After we began to eat, the General Manager, Scott Waggoner, came over and introduced himself to us. We asked him a few questions about Qdoba and he willingly answered all of them, even though this was a busy time of day. Unlike many managers I have observed, he was very busy working (cleaning counters, tables and chairs, greeting guests). Although Qdoba did not have any "specials" for students and faculty, Mr. Waggoner quickly decided on one. His generous "special" for UAH students is that for only $5.00 + tax, you can have any one entree and a large drink. This is a great value, but be sure to bring your Charger Card, as it is the only way you can get the "special". Mr. Waggoner also gave me a several coupons for "one free (enormous) burrito or entree of choice".