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Sunday, January 24, 2010
Nuvo Burrito
Nashville is simply overrun with fast food burrito chains. Am I saying this food is no good? Do I just not enjoy the assimilated Mexican cafeteria line? Not at all. Admittedly it’s all simple, quick, and filling, but West End alone has at least 3 chains that come to mind where I can get essentially the same thing. A lot of hype has recently been given to Chipotle’s arrival last year, which obviously already had an loyal following in town. All of these restaurants feature the same format – construct your burrito from a standard set of ingredients. Luckily in Nashville, we have a more inspired alternative, Nuvo Burrito.
The style is overflowing from this place. Everything seems about the restaurant seems to have careful creative thought behind it from the simple eye-catching logo, the metallic tables, and the interesting cycle of videos running beside the pick-up window highlighting different aspects of the menu. The dining area is somewhat small with at least one mounted flat panel TV within eye’s view of every seat.
The menu is very well rounded with a wide range of ingredients. On the beer side, there is no Corona to be found. Instead there is a unique selection of beers including Dale’s Pale Ale and La Fin du Monde. Clever titles populate the menu such as the Plymouth (ground turkey burrito) and the Over the River and Thru the Hood ques-idea (don’t try to pronounce that last word in Spanish).
There are both traditional options if you don’t want to stray to far from your habits (Lonestar or Ozark) and the more imaginative Heart of Dixie with sweet potatoes, caramelized onions, and bacon. The Lonestar has chock full of juicy shredded beef and all the traditional fillings as well as those with that Nuvo premium touch like the sliced jalapeños. The overt sweetness and smooth texture of the Heart of Dixie may turn some off, but the pop of bacon and crunch of coleslaw make this a well-rounded wrap. It was at last year’s sweaty Tomato Art Festival that I enjoyed this gem and really became enthusiastic about Nuvo.
Are there any drawbacks? The dining space is somewhat cramped and at busier times it can be difficult to navigate through the madness to get beverage refills. Also, since each item is made to order, there is no instant gratification of food delivery upon paying as with chain restaurants. Yet, the service has always been efficient, even at busy times. Tortilla chips are free with entrees but there is a charge for salsa.
On my visit this weekend, Nuvo was obviously thriving. Half the restaurant was booked for a birthday party. I had my first ques-idea. This of course is not a quesadilla, as in bland meat covered in cheese between two tortillas. This is Nuvo’s version of a sandwich style entreé. The tortillas are crispy and freshly pressed like a panini. The OTRATTH is a grown-up B.L.T ques-idea in a satisfying portion size full of crunch romaine and flavorful tomatoes. It has motivated me to move toward the middle of the menu upon returning.
Megan had a special brunch burrito, the Santa Monica, which had eggs, roasted red pepper, onion, black beans, and hash browns. She happily dug in to the well presented burrito, but was turned off by spicy the potatoes were. It seemed they were cooked in chili sauce that added a strong kick. I found it all quite tolerable, but then again, I always make good use of the hot sauce wall. It would still be nice to have a warning on the product description.
I really recommend this place as it is an oasis for burrito lovers. But watch out for that pesky $79.99 rebasketing fee.
Nuvo Burrito
1000 Main St. #103
Nashville, TN 37206
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Holly — January 31, 2010 @ 10:55 am
Erg. I have to disagree on this one. I'm a lover of good Mexican food and the one time I went here and ordered a pork taco it was if they added no salt, oregano, or chili of any kind to the meat. It was so plain and nasty! I'll take Chipotle or Baja Burrito over Nuvo any day (and I live in East Nashville!).
Joltin' Django — January 31, 2010 @ 3:14 pm
Any restaurant that serves Le Fin du Monde beer can't be all bad.
Speaking of this fine, fine beer, check this out:
http://nashville-eats.blogspot.com/2008/08/beer-at-molecular-level.html
Linda Manstadt — February 9, 2010 @ 5:46 pm
Now I am a NashvilleFoodies blog fan, cause of Nuevo Burrito. Your review is spot on. You are right on the money about the best points of this new discovery. The menu names are wacky, but the burritos are gourmet. I’m glad someone told me about the foodies blog snce it lead me to Nuevo Burrito. Gracias