If you're like me you couldn't wait when Chipotle announced that they were testing queso to serve in all their stores, as if it could get any better. You may have even considered driving to New York just to be one of the first to try it before it hit the rest of the restaurants.
If you're also like me, you unfortunately, were underwhelmed by the queso option and Chipotle, especially following so much hype. Let me walk you through some of my main issues with what claimed to be queso.
First off, we all know that no 2 visits to Chipotle are the same. Your experience can be made or broken by a multitude of factors like your mood of the day, how much time you have, how long the line is, who you're standing next to, are they out of your protein, the list goes on.
So I tried my best to setup a good experiment for myself to try this melted cheese, which was no easy feat considering I didn't even believe they would stick to the release date in my hometown of Tallahassee because of hurricane Irma.
All that aside i woke up, called the store to double check and made sure I was in no rush. It was a beautiful day, there was a breeze, I didn't even consider the Chipotle closest to campus. (You can see my thoughts about that article in my article Chipotle Is Overrated) I walked in the store, held the door open for a couple in front of me, noticed there was no line, when through with my usual order, which do difficulties might I add.
For me the first problem came at the register. I knew I was getting away with a deal and I knew that I would need more than a side to fully experience the queso. I didn't know that it would require 6 of my dollars. They-chips-are-extra thing is also almost a deal breaker.
I took my food to-go because I was by myself and knew me well enough to know I wouldn't be able to go on a full flavor journey sitting alone in the store so I planned on eating it at home.
Well that didn't take to well, i couldn't resist and took my first bites in my car.
I instantly noticed the consistency on the chip. It wasn't soupy, or stringy like some quesos, she wasn't chunky but she was thicc.
The man at the resister also promised me a "kick" so I was prepared for that but I kept waiting for it and it sadly never came.
I kept thinking that it would make a really good beer cheese dipping sauce for something called a "fiesta pretzel" but a queso at a Mexican grill it was not.
It's not to say that it is gross or tasteless but that if a Mexican restaurant promises queso there are certain expectations that come along with that, expectations that can be met while still being original and authentic to the brand.
I know that there were a lot of positive reactions to the new dip as well and just from my conversations with people a lot of judgments made off of the opinions of other so I leave you with this: much like politics, you must try it yourself to get the full effect.