Chipotle Putting Mi Nidito Out of Business (And Their $5 Burrito Isn’t Helping)
For years a number of Midtown Lunchers have talked about how much they like Mi Nidito, the sit down Mexican restaurant on 8th Ave. btw 51+52nd. And for years I’ve been avoiding it. Partly because their lunch specials were over $10, but mostly because I couldn’t imagine the place was that good. I’d rather get $2.50 tongue tacos at the El Rey del Sabor cart, than a plate of chicken or beef tacos with refried beans and rice for $11. That’s the kind of Mexican food I’m into.
Well, last month I discovered that Mi Nidito is actually owned by the same guy who owns Bombay Grill, home of the infamous Indian pizza. Points for or against? I can’t decide. Not surprisingly the place is getting killed since Chipotle moved in next door, so to respond they recently lowered some of lunch specials to $9.95, and even introduced a take out burrito option for $5. Five bucks!? Well, that I’ve got to try.
I had pretty low expectations for the “burrito”, and it certainly lived down to them. I knew for $5 it was going to be small, and probably not have sour cream (and certainly not guacamole)- but I at least expected the rice and beans to be *in* the burrito. For $5 it’s a good amount of food, and the shredded chicken was flavorful, but it’s not anything I would refer to as a “burrito” (and certainly not a good burrito.)
It’s not really fair to judge a place on a $5 take out lunch special, and now that some of the real lunch specials are $10 maybe I’ll go again. But on first impression I could see it being a better happy hour spot, than a Midtown Lunch. And based on the $5 burrito, I’d probably chose Chipotle (and that’s saying a lot for me.)
Fans of Mi Nidito should know that the owner is trying to get rid of the lease (which he can’t afford), in which case he would move the Mexican food from Mi Nidito into Bombay Eats around the corner… making it an Indian Buffet/Pizza/Mexican restaurant. Hilariously disgusting hybrid, or just another great Midtown Lunch option? Only time will tell… (but I’m leaning towards the former.) Anybody had anything really good at Mi Nidito? Let us know in the comments.
Mi Nidito, 852 8th Ave (btw. 51+52nd), 212-265-0022
Posted by Zach Brooks at 10:00 am, December 22nd, 2009 under Mi Nidito.
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17 Comments
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Man, any post that praises chipotle saddens me and my digestive tract. That stuff just isn’t food. It’s the one place I’ve consistently had trouble digesting my meal. I’ve never been sick from a streetcart, but chipotle on the other hand wasn’t fun…
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Unless you’ve never eaten mexican food outside of the south/southwest, then that’s hard to believe. Mi Nidito is no better/worse than every other generic NYC mexican restaurant. The first time I had guac was at Mi Nidito (and I liked it), though it took the pitcher of margaritas my friend and I shared for me to get over the guacaphobia.
I like the sound of an Indian Buffet/Pizza/Mexican mashup.