Editor’s Note:
Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”.
Food Quality: 4
Service: 5
Business Meeting: 4
Value: 4
Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5
If I was going to open any kind of restaurant in this area, I think a build-your-own-burrito shop would be my absolute last choice. The market seems saturated; off the very top of my head, I can think of at least three chains with this offering.
So, when I saw a billboard for Surchero’s while driving down Washington Road, my first thought was, “Really?” But after a stop-in for lunch, this newest “fresh Mex” spot may have what it takes to compete in a crowded field.
Surchero’s has a prime location and a pretty large space next to Jason’s Deli in front of Home Goods. When you walk in, the space just feels lighter, with white finishes and bright lighting at the service line. The ordering station looks similar to all other restaurants of this type, but they do have a few more options on the toppings station to give them a slight edge. This includes two less traditional types of tortilla (jalapeno cheddar and chipotle) as well as additional toppings like mushrooms and three types of onion.
I did the cheddar tortilla and they even offered to grill my mushrooms and onions, which was a nice touch. Plus, the burritos are grilled after they are wrapped, giving them just a little something extra.
My picky dining companion opted for a bowl in this post-eating holiday week but was very pleased that green onions were one of the options. They were also happy with additional selections that you don’t always see.
The chips and cheese dip were similar to other restaurants, with the chips on the thinner, crispier side and the cheese dip tasty but without anything making it stand apart.
I believe it was the owner or at least the general manager that greeted us in the line and began the preparation of our food. I did get fresh steak as opposed to him scraping the bottom of the container for me, which was much appreciated. He was also very friendly and helpful, which has not always been my experience with the folks who sling the rice, meat, and beans at other area chains.
With a little further research, I found that this is a chain from Douglas, Ga., which aims to offer a bit more personal service and community orientation. It’s something I could feel on this first visit, and hope it’s a permanent feature, rather than a requirement just for the initial opening months as they try to catch a foothold.
The cons? Well, additional offerings and better service mean it takes a bit longer to get through the line. It wasn’t slow, but it also wasn’t particularly busy when we dined. I hope it’s a service that is scalable as more people find out about this new location. And by the end, my burrito was a bit watery, meaning I didn’t want to pick it up any longer and was happy to just fork out the good bits.
The prices also seem to be a tad higher than the other guys, but it could be a product of opening in an inflationary environment as opposed to truly valuing the product more. We were right at $15 per person, which feels more and more standard for lunch these days.
However, the fresh Mex labeled doesn’t seem to be simply marketing. My dining companion, who is never shy with his opinions, says he definitely felt better about going into the afternoon post-meal, as opposed to other places who can leave you feeling rather heavy after your meal of Latin flavors.
I agree, and Surchero’s will definitely shoot up my list of places to stop for a quick taco or burrito. Give it a try and let us know where it ranks in your local list!
