Big E’s

I had a burrito here recently. I’m a burrito guy; I take my burritos seriously, and frankly I make a mean burrito at home so my standards are high.
The chicken burrito here was good. Solidly decent. It could have used more filling, perhaps more rice if the owners need to keep costs down. It tasted good, yes. The price was high for the amount of food provided. I’m wondering how many repeat clients will pay $ 11 for a decent lunch-​size take-​out burrito, once tip is included.

I had high hopes for a new local burrito joint. Surely the vibes from the building predecessors would help?!
No.
First, let me say up front that the staff was fabulous. Friendly, polite and not pushy. It was lovely. Sadly. my compliments only go on to say their green monster sauce; a fresh lime/​cilantro is heaven.
I ordered a burrito ‘salad’. The salad came with lettuce. ½ a cup of lettuce. I ordered the pulled pork as the protein. It was Lacking in flavor but the texture was not bad. I got guacamole (yes. I’m totally ok with it being Extra.), sour cream (nothing noting that this was extra) and green monster sauce (this, was to die for!!). There was no tomato/​onion etc.
that’s it.
I gave them a $ 20 bill. I got $ 7.50ish back. Yep. Nearly $ 14 for ½c lettuce, a mediocre protein, salsa, guac and sour cream.
What. A. Joke.
The highlight? They sell Mae’s café treats. Long story short… go to Mae’s for a treat and then go down the hill to Mateo’s for a burrito that’ll cost less than $ 10.

I really wanted to enjoy this shop. The staff were all very friendly, and the food came out very quickly. My gripe is that the food was not the best, to where I would think Chipotle would be a better choice.
The portion was huge, but the chicken was a large portion of flavorless chicken. I also wasn’t impressed with the cheese used, and the salsa lacked. Everything, for whatever reason and spice combination used, tasted a bit sweet, as if sugar was added.

1. the prices are high
2. the service is friendly and a little ecliptic
3. the portions are generous, as they should be for the price
4. the food is average unless, you get he sweet potatoes add to whatever you get
5. sweet potatoes, so good. get them!

I have been here multiple times since Big E’s has opened. I have been very pleased so far! While I do not get any meat on my burrito, the lettuce and rice and beans and cheese taste fresh. The price is around $ 8.50. This is average pricing for a burrito. The people who work in this little shop are very pleasant!
I enjoy the fact that I have a «rewards card» and for every 10 burritos I buy, I get one free! This is a perk!
I foresee this burrito shop doing well on Maine Street in Brunswick and I will be returning!

I have eaten here twice since they have opened, and they have a way to go before they can eke above three stars. I really love the space of this burrito café. It has been phenomenal restaurants in the past and a pizzeria. The burrito place is a Chipotle rip off, with options of bowl, burrito, or salad, you just don’t stand in a long line and face a counter like in a cafeteria. I do agree with many others, I think the prices are a bit steep, but the world is changing, and so are prices, although, I don’t think the food meets the expectation of a ten dollar burrito bowl. So, is it fair to compare this location to another chain like Chipotle or Qdoba? Absolutely not, and that is why I rate this on its own.
They are trying, and have a good alternative to the fast lunch options of sandwiches, pizza slices, and salads. The atmosphere is quaint, a little too cute for me, its lacks edge. With a few tables inside and a few on the sidewalk, this is an eat then run type of joint.
Inside the restaurant, with lack of guidance from the staff or signage, you pick up a paper menu, which gives you the options to order. And then you pick what you want at the counter. This small space does not lend itself to this type of fast pace ordering, and I can imagine, if it becomes a hot spot, this will become a crowded menagerie of customers milling around with no place to stand while waiting. As of right now, I have only been in here on a quiet day, and there was no problem.
I tried burrito bowl both times, and liked them. I took issue with one burrito bowl though. I ordered the chicken, and it tasted like Perdue Select strips – they even looked like them with the flecked spice and color of pre-​cooked chicken. I hope that this is not the case, because if it is, and subsequently paid ten dollars for a burrito bowl with pre cooked chicken, I will never eat there again. The chicken was spongy, tasted fake, and the seasoning on the chicken did not match the Mexican flair. The rice was not that full. Everything that time seemed… instant.
Time will tell. This location just recently opened. It is a quick sit down and eat joint. They have desserts from Mae’s in Bath, Maine – I have not tried their desserts.

I so wanted this place to be «the place» for both my husband and I. My husband works late many nights and likes a quick and healthy dinner. I enjoy options In our downtown.
The location is where a small pizza joint use to reside and still holds a similar set up. They added a few portraits on the wall and a display shelf for their desserts. I quickly noticed that the old ovens were gone and replaced with a stove top with a griddle to fit their needs. Their was music bumping and when I arrived a good batch of locals and Bowdoin students eager to try out the new place. I was so excited for this new local eatery.
Unfortunately, I can not validate ever paying another $ 11.00 for a average tasting chicken burrito that included brown rice, corn salsa, and guacamole. It was not much longer than the plastic fork they gave me (picture in album) and was not at all hefty like I have seen at other quick burrito places. It also was not locally produced ingredients or organic (at least I didn’t see it advertised as such). This, I believe would have given some reason for a slight jack in price.
To further my point, I joined my husband when he went in later that night after jazz band. He ordered a chicken salad with guacamole, corn salsa, and extra chicken. He also bought a small water and a root beer for me. The bill: $ 19.00! And again the salad was not at all big. He almost asked if he could return it. He was truly shocked.
Some of you may be thinking, «didn’t you read the menu?» We did. And it’s vague. For a simple burrito it’s clear, but when you add on anything like guacamole or extra chicken tack on $ 2.00 each. Drinks: $ 2.00 each. It quickly adds up. And luckily I asked how much their small brownies were: $ 2.00 each.
I feel sad to give such a low star rating since it is also the sister restaurant to Mae’s café in Bath. I love Mae’s for all that they did for our rehearsal dinner and yummy cupcakes at our wedding reception, so I squirmed when I realized that I really needed to let people know (the owners too if they read this) that the prices are completely unreasonable. I do hope the owners read this and consider dropping some of their prices so locals can enjoy their food without breaking the bank.
I promise I will check back and update any changes because I want this place to work for so many of us locals that enjoy supporting local restaurants.

My girlfriend had one bite and threw up. True story. No guacamole at a mexican restaurant?! Very disappointed. Quality very bad