In maybe the most important piece of news this calendar year, Chipotle finally moved to the Mamaroneck community, opening in September next to Duck Donuts and Speedway. For many like myself, this was a great reprieve in the hellscape that has been 2020. For too long, if anyone in Larchmont or Mamaroneck wanted Chipotle, they would have to get on the I-95 and take it all the way to Rye just for the fake-Mexican food everyone loves so dearly. Finally, there’s now a Chipotle just a short trip away from most people’s doorsteps.

Unfortunately, reviews have not been positive. The few reviews up on google complain of inadequately cooked meat and rude hospitality, and many students I’ve talked to have real problems with their portion sizes (I can attest to this one as well; the “serving” of guacamole in my burrito was absolutely paltry).

Still though, we can’t really complain, right? There’s finally a Chipotle in Mamaroneck, and we don’t have to drive for miles and miles like we used to.

Don’t you kind of miss this? 

Going to Chipotle used to be an event. You’d pile into one car with your friends, blast music, and enjoy the good vibes along your 25-30 minute drive to Rye Ridge Shopping Center. As the famous prophet Mr. Duignan always said, “The journey is the reward.” Chipotle may be one of the most widely enjoyed fast food chains among students, but the best part about the Chipotle experience was never the burritos or tacos, it was the memories made along the way. The funny jokes cracked while waiting at the light off of I-287 W and the interesting conversations had along the way stick with me far more than whatever I threw into my stomach once we got to Rye Ridge.

The convenience of a much closer Chipotle dilutes that experience entirely. The process has now been streamlined to driving for a maximum of ten minutes, picking up food with meager portions, then leaving. Where is the fun in that?

On top of the experience of going to Chipotle becoming duller, the food itself has also lost its luster as it’s more readily available. For most people, those Chipotle trips to Rye Ridge were not happening often, and as a result, the food felt a little more like a treat. I know students who now say that they get Chipotle once a week, and they’ve soured on how much they enjoy it. A nice treat has just become the same fast food meal over and over again (and also a meal with worse portion sizes. Again, can’t stress this enough).

For many, a Chipotle is a Chipotle, and a Chipotle closer to home is a nice addition to Mamaroneck. For me, this Chipotle is signaling the end of a small yet cherished experience you could share with friends. The journey is the reward, after all, and there isn’t much that’s rewarding about this new Chipotle.