Right next door to Penzey's is a place called 'Swanky's Taco Shop'. It's
*not* a chain! It's a Tex-Mex place with a create-your-own assembly-line
concept. I picked up a menu today while I was on break from class (yes, I
went back to Penzey's but I only spent $12 more!). Since I have to be out
that way again next Tuesday I'm going to give Swanky's a shot. You order in
steps.

Step one: select your base. White or wheat soft tortillas for burritos?
For (3) tacos, soft tortilla or crispy? Or are you getting a salad? If so,
what type of dressing? Or do you want a burrito bowl? (No idea what that
is, maybe one of those big tortillas fried and filled with stuff.)

Step two: what meat do you want? chicken, pork, beef, ground sirloin,
vegetarian (I can only hope it's not ground 'Boca-Burgers'!) or fajita
steak?

Step three, select the sauce: roasted chili-tomato sauce (mild) or
tomatillo sauce (medium) or roasted habenero sauce (hot).

On to step four. What do you want on your taco/burrito/meal? Choices are
black beans, cilantro, diced tomato, sour cream, veggie mix, jalapenos,
guacamole, garlic sauce, pinto beans, red onion, pico de gallo, "Mexican"
cheese, shredded lettuce, cilantro-lime rice, charred corn salsa.

They pretty much guarantee they'll have built your meal to your
specifications in 5 minutes even if the line is out the door (although the
guarantee doesn't really entitle you to anything if they don't). They have
the usual Tex-Mex appetizers and also do quesadillas and serve a 'roasted
corn & hot pepper soup' which I'll have to try. They also sell margaritas,
sangria and beer (along with the usual non-alcoholic beverages).

I think I'll order the (3) soft tacos. Tomatillo sauce, fajita steak, and
since I'm not a raw veggie person I'll have them add some black beans and
mexican cheese, maybe some sour cream. (Note: I just called to inquire
about the cheese - it's shredded Asiago.) $6.50 for a 3-taco lunch. I can
live with that

Jill

On Thu, 19 Jan 2006 18:07:41 -0600, "jmcquown"
> wrote:

>Right next door to Penzey's is a place called 'Swanky's Taco Shop'. It's
>*not* a chain! It's a Tex-Mex place with a create-your-own assembly-line
>concept. I picked up a menu today while I was on break from class (yes, I
>went back to Penzey's but I only spent $12 more!). Since I have to be out
>that way again next Tuesday I'm going to give Swanky's a shot. You order in
>steps.

There's a chain that custom makes tacos and burritos, too. It's
called Chipotle Grill (http://www.chipotle.com/). Very good food! And
I love having all those options available to me. I get a salad.
They're HUGE!

You should really enjoy your food, Jill!

Carol

Damsel in dis Dress wrote:
> On Thu, 19 Jan 2006 18:07:41 -0600, "jmcquown"
> > wrote:
>
>> Right next door to Penzey's is a place called 'Swanky's Taco Shop'.
>> It's *not* a chain! It's a Tex-Mex place with a create-your-own
>> assembly-line concept. I picked up a menu today while I was on
>> break from class (yes, I went back to Penzey's but I only spent $12
>> more!). Since I have to be out that way again next Tuesday I'm
>> going to give Swanky's a shot. You order in steps.
>
> There's a chain that custom makes tacos and burritos, too. It's
> called Chipotle Grill (http://www.chipotle.com/). Very good food! And
> I love having all those options available to me. I get a salad.
> They're HUGE!
>
> You should really enjoy your food, Jill!
>
> Carol

Yes, the options are a nice idea, aren't they? An article I read about
Swanky's says the owner loosely based the assembly-line concept on Subway
but adds later in the year there will be at-the-table ordering in the
evenings in a separate area. Perhaps they'll offer an expanded menu? I
just stopped in to pick up a menu and the place was packed so apparently
what he has going now is working

Jill

Carol wrote:

> There's a chain that custom makes tacos and burritos, too. It's
> called Chipotle Grill (http://www.chipotle.com/). Very good food! And
> I love having all those options available to me. I get a salad.
> They're HUGE!
>
> You should really enjoy your food, Jill!

Chipotle Grill review: Apparently, not all of them serve beer.
http://www.pricetool.com/content_163179892356


I prefer Qdoba (a similar chain). I don't know why; I just do:
http://qdoba.com/


Bob

"jmcquown" > wrote in
news
> Right next door to Penzey's is a place called 'Swanky's Taco Shop'.
> It's *not* a chain! It's a Tex-Mex place with a create-your-own
> assembly-line concept. I picked up a menu today while I was on break
> from class (yes, I went back to Penzey's but I only spent $12 more!).
> Since I have to be out that way again next Tuesday I'm going to give
> Swanky's a shot. You order in steps.
>
> Step one: select your base. <snipped>
>
> Step two: what meat do you want? <snipped>

> Step three, select the sauce: <snipped>

> On to step four. What do you want on your taco/burrito/meal? Choices
> are black beans, cilantro, diced tomato, sour cream, veggie mix,
> jalapenos, guacamole, garlic sauce, pinto beans, red onion, pico de
> gallo, "Mexican" cheese, shredded lettuce, cilantro-lime rice, charred
> corn salsa.

There are a few stir fry/noodle places around here that have this sort of
step by step process (there are 2 or 3 in Penrith and I at least one of
them is a chain). I think they're all similar to the one I've been to -
Step 1 - choose your noodles - Hokkien noodles, thin wheat noodles, rice
noodles, rice stick etc.
Step 2 - choose whether you want vegetarian, mixed seafood, prawn,
chicken, pork, beef
Step 3 - choose your sauce from a selection which I can't recall at the
moment. I've had satay, and I think they have a soy/garlic one, plus a
few others.


Rhonda Anderson
Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

Damsel in dis Dress wrote:
> On Thu, 19 Jan 2006 18:07:41 -0600, "jmcquown"
> > wrote:
>
>> Right next door to Penzey's is a place called 'Swanky's Taco Shop'. It's
>> *not* a chain! It's a Tex-Mex place with a create-your-own assembly-line
>> concept. I picked up a menu today while I was on break from class (yes, I
>> went back to Penzey's but I only spent $12 more!). Since I have to be out
>> that way again next Tuesday I'm going to give Swanky's a shot. You order in
>> steps.
>
> There's a chain that custom makes tacos and burritos, too. It's
> called Chipotle Grill (http://www.chipotle.com/). Very good food! And
> I love having all those options available to me. I get a salad.
> They're HUGE!
>
> You should really enjoy your food, Jill!
>
> Carol

I would kill for a Chipotle's burrito. Strangely enough, Chipotle is
owned by none other than McDonalds. Go figure.

Bob Terwilliger wrote:
> Carol wrote:
>
> > There's a chain that custom makes tacos and burritos, too. It's
> > called Chipotle Grill (http://www.chipotle.com/). Very good food! And
> > I love having all those options available to me. I get a salad.
> > They're HUGE!
> >
> > You should really enjoy your food, Jill!
>
> Chipotle Grill review: Apparently, not all of them serve beer.
> http://www.pricetool.com/content_163179892356
>
Chipotle=McDonald's
>
> I prefer Qdoba (a similar chain). I don't know why; I just do:
> http://qdoba.com/

Qdoba=Jack in the Box
>
I resent them calling their boring, bland "wraps" burritos. Neither of
those places would know a decent burrito if it kicked them in the
scrotum. Crap chain food for the masses.
They put one in (Qdoba) about 3 blocks from here. Right in front of
the Wal-Mart. How appropriate.
>
> Bob

--Bryan

BoboBonobo wrote:
> Bob Terwilliger wrote:
>> Carol wrote:
>>
>>> There's a chain that custom makes tacos and burritos, too. It's
>>> called Chipotle Grill (http://www.chipotle.com/). Very good food!
>>> And I love having all those options available to me. I get a salad.
>>> They're HUGE!
>>>
>>> You should really enjoy your food, Jill!
>>
>> Chipotle Grill review: Apparently, not all of them serve beer.
>> http://www.pricetool.com/content_163179892356
>>
> Chipotle=McDonald's
>>
>> I prefer Qdoba (a similar chain). I don't know why; I just do:
>> http://qdoba.com/
>
> Qdoba=Jack in the Box
>>
> I resent them calling their boring, bland "wraps" burritos. Neither
> of those places would know a decent burrito if it kicked them in the
> scrotum. Crap chain food for the masses.
> They put one in (Qdoba) about 3 blocks from here. Right in front of
> the Wal-Mart. How appropriate.
>>
>> Bob
>
> --Bryan

Luckily, whoever owns this particular place (Swanky's) has no affiliation
with McDonald's and is not worrying overmuch about the 'Golden Arches' nor
their bottom line. Swanky's (which, take note, I've not tried yet) is not a
chain restaurant, but if the owner is lucky he'll be able to expand.

I really don't have much against chain restaurants unless they are a place
like McD's or BK, etc. I don't care if it's done on a manufactured basis if
the food is good and the service is good. I don't *expect* healthy food
from a place like that, unless they promote it as healthy (like Subway).

One thing that bugs me is the promotion of "lettuce wraps"... as if you can
stuff a bunch of fat and cholesterol-laden stuff in a leaf of lettuce and
call it healthy. That's misinformation, IMO.

I digress. On Tuesdsay I'm eating tacos, dammit! I don't pretend this
adheres to a diet. I'll eat this and it may well be my only meal of the
day. And I'll enjoy it if it's good, or throw it away if it's not good. So
there!

Jill