While wiping the remaining chipotle sauce off my face, Burgrito’s co-owner Darin Laby took a quick glance around his new restaurant which opened just two weeks ago.
“We’re a little off, but I like it,” he said.
Laby understands the goal of his curious menu and possesses a warmth and sense of humor which parallels the amusing featured selection on his menu: the burgrito.
No translation necessary: it’s a “mashup” of a hamburger and a burrito.
Burgrito’s original outpost is located in Bethpage, Long Island, and now brothers Darin and Lawrence Laby planted their delicious, chipotle-covered flag at 173 4th Avenue (at Degraw Street), in the former Zuzu Ramen space which closed on September 8 of last year, reported in an article I wrote for BKLYNER.
Four months later, the bright and colorful new space with the joyously odd name is serving up Burgrito’s, as well as burritos, “salad bowls”, tacos, nachos, and a kids menu. The place has a fast food quality which syncs well with the nature of their menu.
Not being a huge meat eater, I was admittedly a bit hesitant to head over. However, the menu promised a “veg-rito” ($9.99), and well, I just had to know what was going on.
The “veg-rito” is a veggie burger with lettuce, tomato, onions, and vegan chipotle sauce which are all packed into a burrito wrap with…french fries.
That’s a gaudy truth, folks. You indeed get fries with that.
I probably don’t need to share the realities of a calorie count, and I’m not sure if I’d advise eating one of these every single day, but darn if that isn’t one naughty bundle of deliciousness. I loved it. And I’ll love it again. And I’m not ashamed to say so.
So who are these Laby brothers anyway? Last month DNAinfo reported that Lawrence and Darin worked at a moving and trucking business owned by their family. After a decade of that, they bought out the original Burgrito’s owner in 2014.
“We really wanted to move to Brooklyn to be able to introduce Burgrito’s to a much larger population base,” Darin Laby told Brooklyn Pulp. “I had previously worked in Brooklyn for over 12 years in the trucking industry, and was familiar with the area and knew it would be a great fit for our company.”
And so they opened. With Barclays Center about a 10-minute walk away, the burgrito could win over a lot of customers searching for an Islanders or Nets post-victory snack. Or heck, they could mop up their agony of defeat tears with some fries.
Win-win. Lose-win. Either way.
So how’s it going so far for the Laby Brothers?
“We are thrilled with our opening week,” says Darin. “We have met so many great people already and are excited to be a part of the community!”
They’ve made it pretty easy for you to indulge — they have a Burgrito’s app for your ordering pleasure.
So you want some advice? Grab a few extra napkins because you may very well get sauce all over your face.
See you on 4th Avenue.
The Details: Burgrito’s
Where: 173 4th Avenue at Degraw Street
Phone: 718-313-0877
Hours: Mondays-Thursday, 11:30am-9:30pm; Fridays and Saturdays, 11:30am-10pm; Sundays: 11:30am-9pm
Additional Information: You can download the “Burgritos” app at the App Store or Google Play or text “Burgrito” to 33733. Vegetarian and vegan items are available.
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