Occasionally, that perfect customer comes through and makes it super easy for the Chipotle employees. However, you're probably not one of those perfect customers. It's possible you do things that irritate them without even knowing. Here are some examples.
"Bowl to go."
This one hurts. The employee says, "Hello, how are you doing today?" and the customer responds with, "Yeah, I need a burrito" or "chicken bowl." The employee took the time to ask how you were, and you heard it yet ignored it. Why? You can't be in such a hurry if you came to Chipotle, where the line is always out the door. Talk to the workers! They're humans, not robots.
"Oh yeah, can I get fajitas on that?"
You order a bowl with white rice and chicken. Then when you get to the salsa person and they ask, "Would you like any mild, medium, hot, or corn salsa?" You respond with, "Oh yeah, can I get fajitas on that?" Then the salsa person has to step out of their assigned area to scoot down to the tortilla area and grab the peppers and onions, place them on your bowl, and listen to you ask for more. Do the employees and yourself a favor: Ask for them when you order your rice, beans, and chicken.
"Umm..."
You had 20 minutes waiting in line to decide what you want. Please don't tell me you don't know what you want. Please. Chipotle employees are expected to help each customer from start to finish in 22 seconds. Don't be the reason they don't accomplish that.
"Cream cheese." "Mayo." "The white stuff."
I think it's important that we recognize how much of the American population does not know the name for sour cream. It's not milk, mayo, cream cheese, cottage cheese, ranch, whipped cream, white stuff, or marshmallow sauce. It's sour cream, people! Learn the name. Please.
Oh, and while we're on this topic, the correct name for the "dough," "flour," "burrito," "shell," "thing" is tortilla. Pronounced tor-tee-uh, not tor-till-a.
"Veggie bowl with chicken, please."
Let's get this one straight once and for all. A veggie bowl does not mean a bowl with fajitas (the peppers and onions) on it. A veggie bowl is a vegetarian bowl that does not have meat or protein. It is strictly a bowl with anything except meat. Side note: Guac comes free with your veggie bowl. Please stop ordering veggie bowls with extra steak.
Examples below:
The picture above is not a veggie burrito. Although it does have vegetables, the chicken makes it a chicken burrito.
The picture above is a veggie bowl solely because it contains anything but meat/protein.
Reaching over the glass.
I know this may seem crazy, but the sneeze guard is indeed see through. That means that you can point to the mild tomatoes through the glass and the employee will still be able to see what you are pointing to. But did you know that employees are required to tell you not to reach over the glass every time you do it? Please, save them from having to repeat themselves and save yourself from a little embarrassment of being told not to do it in front of the other customers. But it's OK because I guess President Obama doesn't even know that rule.
Enormous burrito: Single wrap.
You're probably going to get an eye roll or two if you order a burrito with extra rice, both beans, double meat, two scoops of mild, extra sour cream, guac, extra cheese, lettuce and, oh, you forgot to add hot sauce so now it's running down your pile of food on a single tortilla. Then your poor little tortilla can't handle the mountain of food and it rips. But you don't want it double wrapped. It must be re-wrapped. The burrito roller tries again. And again. Then someone from the back comes to the line to help roll your burrito. He/She rolls it, but it doesn't close and needs four or five foils just to cover it. They place your newborn child-sized burrito in the bag and sigh very loudly afterwords. Why not double wrap? Why not get a bowl? Why not get two burritos? Why not get sides?
There are so many more to mention, but these are a few of the most occurring. Make your experience (and the employees') more enjoyable by avoiding this little things. If you must, then I understand. Chipotle is pretty darn amazing. Keep on keeping on. Enjoy your Chipotle.
