Disco tunes blast as Mick opens the door to Granny’s Burritos on 420 Fore St. We are no longer in 2003, dressed casually in jeans and sweaters, but 1973. Mick is wearing a cream leisure suit with a cherry red polyester shirt. He holds the door for me and says, “Come on in, little lady.” I shimmy past him in my wavy, twirling periwinkle dress and white gardenia nestled in my hair. We hustle our way through the hungry lunch crowd to the counter.
The upstairs, which houses tables clustered around the dining room, is not open at lunchtime. Though this date does not have the intimacy of a dim-lit venue, nonetheless I am content spending my lunch with Mick and his charm. Mick says he would be willing to quit his day job and wear a burrito costume outside of Granny’s. (He’s a big fan.) Little did Mick know that before Granny’s moved to Fore Street, owner Christopher Godin worked from a vending cart selling burritos in the Old Port.
The cooks and counter people are busy, dicing and whirling around the cluttered kitchen. The friendly counter folks make patrons of Granny’s feel right at home as they harmonize to the disco beats. The menu is displayed above the counter and offers simple Mexican delights such as nachos, quesadillas, burritos, and beans and rice. The menu even gives directions on how to order, similar to a fast-food style restaurant. But I know our lunch will be better than the talking chihuahua’s favorite eatery.
The counter service is friendly and helpful, prompting me when there is a choice of wrap and beans. But my attention is on Mick’s new shoes, so shiny and cute. I decide to try a basil wrap with mixed beans– black and pinto. Pine picnic tables shaped like rectangles, octagons and squares are wrapped in red, green and blue gingham plastic picnic cloths and are located around the edge of the room.
Mick scans the room for open seats. He plops his sweetened iced tea on a rectangular table. He looks at me to see if the table he chooses is okay. Mick didn’t know that in high school, I was a square. So it’s refreshing to convene at the rectangle table. The walls are coated with a neutral cream color and are home to vibrant local art by Thomas S. Cook. The eating area is accommodating to all. Whether you’re solo or with a group of friends, there is a connection between communities. Not only do I enjoy the company of Mick while we wait those few moments before our meals are ready, but I have an opportunity to glance at the engaging paintings. Those pauses last milliseconds, and our chatting begins as if we are stopped at a red light that bursts into green. We almost didn’t hear the counterperson announce in his brawny voice, “Mick!” The tantalizing scents circulating in the room remind us of why we came to Granny’s.
The chicken mango burrito ($5.75) is colossal. I eye the burrito to see if I can find an easy way to begin my meal. The wrap is neatly folded and flecked with basil. I begin to devise a game plan at which side or angle I should attack, but Mick is two steps ahead of me and hands me a plastic fork. I plunge into the burrito to find a treasure of white rice and mixed pinto and black beans. Soon chunks of chewy chicken and mango salsa tango in my mouth. The spicy concoction is cooled off with sips of peach lemonade from Nantucket Nectars. Mick enjoys a chicken quesadilla ($4.75) in a cilantro chipotle wrap.
Cilantro, best known for its pungent odor, could be compared to that quirky characteristic one discovers his or her date possesses. This might be talking with a mouthful, complaining, fishing for compliments or prancing when you should be walking. Cilantro, a member of the carrot family, can sometimes be just too much to handle (like that annoying idiosyncrasy). In that case, try something different. However, if the quirk can be overlooked, go for it. Cilantro does have the ability to mix well with other spices to create delight.
Mick’s quesadilla is toasted with spots of light brown, and inside there is an explosion of cheeses, peppers and onions. He opts not to have the beans; I hope it is a gesture that he is planning ahead. When it comes to eating, Mick is fast. “There’s just something about this quesadilla,” he said. I notice his quesadilla has disappeared. There are just tortilla chips and salsa left.
I hope he takes his time in “other” places.
If you have a hankering for casual and inexpensive delicious Mexican fare, Granny Burritos is it! Located at 420 Fore St., Granny’s is open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p. m., Friday 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 12 a. m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.