Blue Coast Burrito is Open!

Posted on March 25, 2011 Written by 4 Comments
Open for Business – Blue Coast Burrito, Knoxville, March 24, 2011

In what promises to be a season of full of openings, Blue Coast Burrito became the first new business to open its doors. It’s an exciting new opening on the square and continues a trend of Latin-themed restaurants on the west side of Market Square. It joins Soccer Taco, Cocoa Moon, La Costa and Sangria’s. Ironically, given the large number of what you might expect to be similar menus, each place has its own twist on the theme and the prices cover quite a range. For Blue Coast Burrito the spot on that range is at the lower end, which is nice. I love the restaurants on Market Square, but it is difficult for two people to eat dinner for much under $30 and you can easily spend much more. It’s pretty easy at Blue Coast Burrito.

The tiny notice that Blue Coast Burrito might open today.

It seemed as if the desire was for a low-key opening. The only indication they would open today that I saw was two small computer-printed notices in the window yesterday. Even the wording left some question in my mind. It said, ”Please visit us on Thursday, March 24″ in very small font beneath a notification that training was in progress. I thought maybe this was a second open-house, but we went there on hopes it was a quiet opening and it was.

Christy very helpfully explains the process and the menu

We were met at the door by Christy who explained how to order and gave suggestions and explanations of the menu. Everyone was exceptionally friendly and keen to see that we had a good experience. I chose two steak tacos in corn tortillas while Urban Woman tried a latinga chicken burrito. The service through the line was great, though folks are obviously still learning. The meal with drinks, food and tax came to just over $16. That’s hard to beat downtown.

An Urban Woman makes her selections in the food line.

We took our food upstairs to the Margarita Room, which is cozy and features a nice view from the big windows beside each table. A bar is located upstairs which served only beer for the first day because the paperwork had not come through to serve mixed drinks, though we were told margaritas would be served starting tomorrow.

Seating area on the first floor, Blue Coast Burrito, Knoxville

How was the food? One small problem presented itself: the burrito was cold. I’m not sure how that happened since we watched them make it, but when it was pointed out to the staff, we were immediately given another one which, after being put together, was steamed. I’d recommend that you ask for that. After that small glitch we enjoyed each of our dishes very much. The burrito was spicy, which we love and the corn tortillas (you can have flour if you prefer) were very tasty and the steak also was very good.

Upstairs view from the rear – Bar and seating – Blue Coast Burrito

I also liked the fact that, with the structure of the food preparation, you can get your food, eat and get out quickly, yet it also seems like the kind of place (particularly upstairs) you wouldn’t mind lingering. There are televisions mounted on the walls, which I realize is the expectation in a casual dining situation in 2011, but which I do not like. Still, and those of you who read this blog regularly know this would be important to me, the sound on the televisions is muted in favor of excellent music playing at a perfect volume over the sound system. It was loud enough to listen to if you are so inclined, and low enough to hold a conversation without shouting at the people across the table.

Cozy nook in the front of upstairs – Oldest facade on Market Square in clear view.

I think they fill a void in terms of price for the quality of food and I’m quite certain we’ll be back. I’d encourage you to give it a chance the next time you are downtown. I’d bet you’ll enjoy it.

Filed Under: 30 Market Square, Blue Coast Burrito, Food, Grand Opening

Who could not love Mardi Growl?

Posted on March 6, 2011 Written by 4 Comments

A crowd of around 500 dogs was expected, plus a few humans tethered to their leashes for the annual Mardi Growl celebration to raise money for the Young-Williams Animal Center. Despite the rain, they came out in droves or herds or packs – that’s it packs, right? Some of them even had real-live Mardi Gras floats in which they cruised through the parade.

Unfortunately, this day was a work day for me, so I missed it, but my good friend and reader-of-my-blog-beyond-all-reasonable-expectations, Kevin, was kind enough to brave the rain with his camera just so I could give you an idea of what the event is like. In addition to a parade from the Dog Park to Market Square, booths were set up to give out treats and to promote canine-related services and the Old City Buskers provided a festive ragtime beat.

Not only did dogs get into the festive theme, many people dressed up in their best Mardi Gras attire, as well. I’m not naming photographs for this statement, but let me just say that the old idea about the owner and the pet resembling really resonates for me in one of these pictures. Which human do you think most resembles his or her canine companion?

I know it is a larger number than I usually post, but I figured animal lovers can’t get too much of this kind of thing  – thanks, again, to Kevin.

Filed Under: 30 Market Square, Dogs, Downtown Knoxville, Downtown Knoxville Blog, Mardi Gras, Mardi Growl, Pets

30 Market Square: So, what’s up with that?

Posted on February 8, 2011 Written by Leave a Comment
Market Square now has very few vacancies. I count two: 15 Market Square, which housed Abode until just before the end of the year and 30 Market Square. Hopefully, 15 will be occupied soon enough, but 30 is an odd exception on the square.

Obviously 36 and 37 Market Square are momentarily vacant, but they are both under massive construction. 37 seems likely to be finished the spring and we already know that Blue Coast Burrito is coming soon to that location. I am a bit concerned that nothing has seemed to happen at 36 for a long time. Last July Josh Flory at Property Scope published a new architectural rendering provided by the address’ Facebook page, but it appears, unless I missed it, the Facebook page has disappeared. That corner is so important to link the north end of the square with Gay Street. Does anybody want to give us more recent information?

A couple of guys pass the afternoon in front of 30 Market Square.
It’s 30 Market Square that seems a mystery, to me. It’s a great location, directly beside Preservation Pub and part or all of it is in use by Weeks, Ambrose and McDonald, Inc. If all of it is in use, then why the boarded up facade? It seems ironic that an architectural firm, of all things, would want such an ugly front. I can’t imagine help would not be provided by CBID to improve it. As the last ugly spot on Market Square, how could they say, “no?”

As I searched around the Internet, I found that WATE did a story about 30 Market Square last summer. According to their investigation, it is owned by William Ambrose of the firm and no permit had been requested to improve the building. He would not talk to their reporter. I don’t get it. It seems bad for their image to be the last boarded up store-front on the square – particularly given that they are an architecural firm and the money should be free or matched from CBID, so what’s up?

If you follow the link above, you can view the report from WATE from last summer and you can see what they did. It seems like they gave Mr. Ambrose plenty of chances to respond.

Does anyone know Mr. Ambrose? Is there a reason I can’t see that he would not want to do this for himself or his community? When the story was posted on WATE, the only response it elicited was from the property rights folks who maintained it was his business and no one elses. Is that what you guys think?

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Filed Under: 30 Market Square, WATE-TV, William Ambrose
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