About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

The Great Burrito offers delicious, freshly prepared authentic Mexican food in a simple setting, most appropriate for groups of 2-4 guests. Begin your meal with tasty chips and your choice of salsa (mild, medium or hot) and enjoy a taste of Mexico on the Upper West Side while you wait for delicious, generously portioned burritos or enchiladas to arrive.

Pros

• Authentic Mexican food
• Convenient to American Museum of Natural History

• Affordable, quick option in the neighborhood

Cons

• No liquor
• Limited number of tables
• Best for small groups

Description

• The Great Burrito is located at 405 Amsterdam Avenue.
• Closest subway to The Great Burrito: 1/9 to 79th Street; B/C to 81st Street
• The Great Burrito Restaurant Cross Street: 79th and 80th Streets
• The Great Burrito Phone: 212-724-5151
• The Great Burrito Hours: lunch and dinner daily
• The Great Burrito Payment: Cash only
• The Great Burrito offers take-out, which is a good choice for a picnic in Central Park.
  

Guide Review - The Great Burrito: Restaurant Review

Blue window decals make it difficult to see inside The Great Burrito, but don't let that dissuade you from pursuing the delicious food inside. Simple, yet cheerful decorations make dining at The Great Burrito pleasant, despite the small space and limited seating. A spicy tomatillo salsa (we chose medium salsa, though mild and hot are also available) and housemade chips were delivered by our waitress while we purused the menu. The salsa was tangy and fresh tasting, with enough heat to keep even my spice-loving companion sated without burning my more sensitive palate.

We chose enchiladas de mole($9.95) and a pork tinga burrito($8.25) for our late afternoon lunch (though there were also soups, tacos, and quesadillas available). The enchiladas de mole arrived, accompanied by a small serving of seasoned rice and pinto beans. The smokey, rich mole sauce coated the enchiladas filled with shredded chicken and topped with shredded queso fresco. Unlike overly cheese-ridden Tex-Mex cuisine which is common in New York City, the mole sauce was the focus with these enchiladas -- so much so, that I used some chips to make sure none of the sauce went to waste. The burrito featured a large flour tortilla filled with pinto beans, rice, pico de gallo and stewed pork. Again, avoiding the cliche of oozing cheese, the generous bites of pork in this burrito were flavorful and moist. We had no room for dessert, but the homemade flan ($3.25) in the cooler was tempting.