When Hotel school grad Jeffery Mayer, MMH ’05, opened That Burrito Place in Collegetown in January 2007, it offered Cornellians another meal-on-the-run option beyond the ubiquitous sub shops, Chinese restaurants, and pizza places found on every campus. The fairly inexpensive burritos (prices start at $5.99) can be filled with chicken, beef, or the Ithacan essential “vegetarian special,” along with a score of toppings. TBP is a clean, well lit, small, and sparsely decorated take-out place; nothing extravagant, just big burritos.
Recently, a second TBP opened on the Ithaca Commons downtown. In an area known for its abundance of restaurants and ever-changing storefronts, I found myself wondering how the simple place could stake its claim. With the offer of a Cornell Alumni Magazine-subsidized burrito, I gladly made the short trek from my intern desk to TBP.
The storefront’s large windows revealed little more than a sales counter and TBP’s black-and-yellow logo over the doorway. I went in and placed an order for a spicy shredded beef burrito topped with Spanish rice, black beans, and mild salsa. A warm, thick, soft, tin-foil-clad package was plopped into my hand; surprised at its weight, I wondered how I would fit it into my mouth.
I climbed the stairs to the second-floor dining room, munching as I went. I wandered to a window seat and watched the Commons’ denizens below, going about their daily tasks. I’m not sure whether TBP’s new location will draw as many customers as the Collegetown original—but at the very least, it has a better view.