Though hundreds of students live in 650 Lincoln, the complex's biggest contribution to campus may be its new Gamecock-themed Barberitos.
Columbia’s first Barberitos opened Monday, Sept. 7 next to Tropical Smoothie Café, right outside of the student living area.
Barberitos is a Southwestern grille and cantina that serves fresh, made-to-order tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos and salads, as well as beer, wine and margaritas.
“All of our products are brought in daily. We chop our own lettuce; we grill our own meat every morning,” Barberitos General Manager Chelsea Aldrich said. “We get here in the morning at 7 a.m. to make sure we are ready for services at 11 a.m. It’s a challenge, but we are committed to delivering a fresh product at a good price point.”
The restaurant has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, which isn’t abnormal for a Barberitos location. However, this Barberitos has something the other 42 Barberitos locations do not have: a convenient service window which opens onto the 650 Lincoln pool and courtyard area, making it the first Barberitos to have a service window.
“We haven’t used the window yet,” Aldrich said. “We want to be able to sell our wine, beer and margaritas through it, but we are waiting on a variance for our liquor license.”
The restaurant has a similar set up to Moe’s Southwest Grill or Chipotle. Customers pass through an assembly line and select the ingredients they want with their order; however, Aldrich stressed that Barberitos has something special other places may not.
“We have outstanding customer service,” Aldrich said. “Our motto is ‘Bigger than a Burrito.’ Not only do we want to have a good product — we want to offer people healthy food and make them feel welcomed.”
All burritos, bowls, tacos and salads are served with rice, beans, pico de gallo and veggies. Your protein options are chicken, 100 percent sirloin steak, lean ground turkey or organic tofu. Meals are served with a side of chips and your choice of salsa.
To go with your selected toppings, Barberitos has four types of tortillas: flour, wheat, chipotle and spinach. They offer a soft flour, hard corn or soft corn shell for tacos.
If you want a snack or have just been craving Southwestern-style chips, the restaurant offers nachos served with beans, your choice of protein, lettuce, olives and jalapeños, all smothered with melted cheese dip or baked with freshly shredded cheese.
Barberitos offers farm-fresh food, including options for vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free customers. It also caters, providing a taco, nachos, fajita and/or salad bar for large groups of people, and serving box lunches.
It is an ideal meal choice for tailgating, parties or just stopping by for lunch during a busy day on campus. If you enjoy Moe’s or Chipotle, you may grow to love Barberitos.