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FOODIE
There’s Nothing
Crazy About Burrito Loco
By Pete & Will / foodie@longislandernews.com
Despite having a pair of singing jalapenos in Sombreros for
a logo and a wildly colorful interior, there’s nothing
crazy about Burrito Loco. Located in a storefront in the Meat
Farms shopping center on Commack Road, Burrito Loco is about
freshly prepared Mexican specialties served in a jiffy.
The place has become a favorite among locals for value-priced
meals that don’t skimp on flavor or freshness. If there’s
a drawback, it’s that everything is served in plastic
takeout containers. While that makes packing up leftovers
to go a snap, it doesn’t add much to an otherwise
good dining experience.
Offerings at Burrito Loco don’t stray far from traditional
Tex-Mex menus and they’re skillfully handled so there’s
little waiting for a fresh-cooked meal. Still, it doesn’t
hurt to enjoy the obligatory Nachos ($5.99) – corn chips
topped with guacamole, sour cream, cheese and tomato salsa
– to take the edge off your appetite while your meal
is prepared. Adventurers might try the Jalapeno Poppers ($4.99),
a mouth-popping jolt of hot peppers stuffed with cheddar and
served with cooling sour cream; more conservative tastes can
find a similar dish without the heat in the Fried Cheese appetizer
($5.99), consisting of Jack cheese wedges, double breaded,
deep fried and served with guacamole.
Burrito Loco’s Mexi-Chili ($4.59), a rich and tomato-ey
chili with ground beef and beans, has a spicy bite but isn’t
too fiery, which is a good thing considering that on our recent
visit they left off the sour cream. Served with corn chips,
it’s almost enough for a light meal. The Black Bean Soup
is a flavorful mix of black beans, onions, avocado and peppers
with hints of garlic and lime.
For the main meal, portions are generous. Enchiladas ($7.99)
feature marinated steak or chicken with onions in a green
tomatillo sauce wrapped in soft flour tortillas and topped
with melted Jack cheese. Served with rice and black beans
on the side, the dish makes a hearty meal that could almost
be shared by light eaters.
Taco Pescadero ($2.59), Loco’s version of the tasty fish
taco that’s only a surprise if you haven’t tried
one before, is a flavorful one with breaded Snapper, tomato
salsa and cabbage topped with a slightly sweet dressing in
a soft corn tortilla. Other taco offerings include the classic
Taco Crispy ($1.59), chili meat, shredded cheese and lettuce,
tomato salsa and sour cream; and Taco Gamba ($2.50), a fresh-tasting
combo of shrimp flavored with cilantro in a soft corn tortilla.
The Taco Perfecto ($5.99) plate pairs a pair of chicken, steak
or chili soft-tortilla tacos with guacamole, salsa and black
or pinto beans.
Among specialty dishes, the Fajita Platter ($8.99) is a made-to-order
combo of grilled chicken or steak with peppers, onions, mushrooms
and tomatoes, served with rice and beans on the side, and
a tortilla. Rollo ($6.49) is an Americanized sandwich of grilled
chicken or steak on a toasted roll with guacamole, sour cream
and tomato salsa. We didn’t try it or the Shrimp Platter
($9.59), but will do so on a return visit.Likewise, we’ll
return to try the burritos, which range from the simple Bean
and Cheese Burrito ($4.89) to a tempting Burrito Gamba ($8.69),
combining shrimp, cheese, onions, cabbage, tomato salsa and
avocado.
All dishes are prepared before your eyes in Burrito Loco’s
open-air kitchen, and service is generally fast. With only
a handful of tables and a half-dozen stools at a windowfront
counter, much of the eatery’s business is take out. And
judging from the traffic during our recent visits, the locals
have discovered, there’s nothing crazy about value-priced,
fresh-cooked meals.
Burrito
Loco
Commack, NY 11725-3404
631-462-3030
Cuisine:
Tex-Mex
Atmosphere: Paper-plate casual
Price
Range: Inexpensive
Hours: Breakfast: 9 a.m.-noon;
Lunch, daily, noon-4 p.m.;
Dinner, Mon-Sat, noon-10 p.m.,
Sun, noon-9 p.m.
Main
Menu
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