cross street: Washington
ph. 415/359-1212
Map Visits: 1
The Russian Hill companion to La Parrilla’s North Beach, Mission, and Ingleside shops features five (5) flat-screen televisions, an ostentatious bar, real nice tiled floors, and an intangibly breezy vibe that seems to beckon, Come enjoy a really adequate burrito in our pleasant dining room. The fork-and-knife-averse will want to request a foil wrap. Credit cards accepted. Breakfast, outdoor seating, beer, and wine all available.
Shrug: size (7); meat (7); vegetables (7); rice (6); beans (6); cheese (6); ingredient mix (6)
Clang: sauciness (5)
Intangibility bonus: 2 (of 2)
Our judges panel is still scratching their heads as to how the debut effort from this La Parrilla location eked out the maximum two-mustache bonus for intangibility. Along more palpable lines, the short, but chubby enough burrito boasted the telltale signs of a smartly constructed slab: a sharply grilled tortilla, a parade of hot bites, and exactly zero cleaves and drips. Clearly, several of the basics were nailed...so why the unremarkable OMR? The creeping overabundance of rice – showcased by the otherwise flattering ingredient mix – was a significant strike against, as was the ominous lack of La Parrilla’s strangely carbonated-looking salsa. The refried beans could have been major contenders, had they not been stacked at each end. The melted grates of cheddar were appreciated, but were ultimately too low-profile to make a dent in the slab-at-large. Jalapeño slices offered a surprising brand of kick, while the inoffensive, but unmemorable pork seemed more like carnitas than pastor. On the surface, a very fine lunch...it just suffered some in the details.