Chipotle Mexican Grill - Millbrae

This restaurant can be quite inconsistent, largely depending on the staff. During my visit today, the woman serving the salsa, guacamole, and other items seemed disinterested and carelessly piled everything on my plate without draining the excess water from the pico de gallo or corn, despite my polite request. When I asked for a small amount of cheese, she gave me a large handful. I then requested that some of the cheese be removed, and I was met with a glare that felt quite unfriendly.

I typically go easy on reviews and only post negative ones when absolutely necessary, and today is one of those days. This isn’t the first time I’ve had a disappointing experience at this restaurant, but today was the last straw. I was overcharged and ended up paying $16 for something I had just paid $7 for a few days ago. Everyone has their own idea of portion sizes, and in my bowl, I only received three ingredients: shredded cheese, guacamole, and sour cream. The portions were tiny, and it seemed like the staff didn’t realize I was ordering a meal. Previously, other staff members had given me generous servings. When I asked for a bit more, they charged me for three separate portions! The inconsistency is frustrating; it’s not fair to pay double on a different day for the same meal. Even the cashier was surprised, though he seemed unable to do anything about it and apologized. From now on, I will choose to go to the location down the street. I doubt they will care about my review, but I felt it was important to share my experience. The service here has generally been good, but the inconsistency in portions and pricing is disappointing.

During my first visit, I noticed that the online pickup shelf is located inside the kitchen. While I understand the need for security due to potential theft, I ended up waiting for five minutes before a staff member came to retrieve my order. On my second visit, wanting to avoid that delay, I tried to grab my order myself since the shelf was clearly marked for online pickups. I was asked to step back—not in a rude manner, but without much explanation. Unfortunately, the Guajillo steak I received was extremely dry, which is disappointing for such a premium item; it seemed like it had been sitting in the keep-warm bins for far too long. I also ordered double protein, but it clearly wasn't reflected in my meal. While the order was accurate and the restaurant was clean, I left feeling less than satisfied with the overall experience.

The food was good, and the bathroom was clean. However, I deducted a star because I was uncomfortable witnessing the manager yelling at one of the employees to prepare my food more quickly while I was ordering. The employee was doing her job at a reasonable pace, and it's inappropriate for a manager to treat their staff that way, especially in front of customers. Employees deserve respect, and what happened left a negative impression on my experience.

Chipotle is one of my favorite spots for Mexican food. It consistently delivers great taste, although the portion sizes can vary from one location to another.