The Great Debate: Best burrito in Athens

Athens, Ohio and Ohio University are known for many things. The cobblestone streets, rolling hills, Colonial-style brick buildings, and annual Halloween celebration are all things that define Athens. But, did you know Athens is also known for their awesome burritos? OK, so maybe they're not nationally recognized or anything, but any OU student will tell you that Athens is the place to be if you're in the hunt for a burrito.

The traditional Burrito Buggy has been around for over a quarter of a century. Big Mamma's Burritos came in sometime after that and stole the hearts of many OU students with their late hours and unique menu. Then, two years ago when I was a freshman, big, bad Chipotle barged into town and threatened to monopolize the burrito business. Ultimately, that did not happen and all three have been able to coexist relatively well for the past two years. The big question, however, is which place has the best burrito. Traditionalists will say the Burrito Buggy. Non-traditionalists will say Big Mamma's. As for Chipotle, well let's face it; it's almost like a cult for some people.

This won't be the first time this has been debated either. The best burrito in Athens seems to be a hot topic for OU students.



My goal is to analyze each restaurant, get some feedback from students, and then ultimately decide for myself which restaurant has the best burrito.

(Photo credit: www.athenshub.com, The Burrito Buggy)

The Burrito Buggy

PROS:
The Burrito Buggy has many things that make it great. It's been an Athens staple for over 25 years. By supporting the Burrito Buggy, you are supporting local business. The Burrito Buggy is closer to campus for those living in the dorms and stays open much later than Chipotle. They always have fresh ingredients and always give you more meat then needed. All burritos are under $5.

CONS:
The Burrito Buggy closes during winter quarter. Their menu doesn't have much variety. You can get a beef burrito, bean burrito, or veggie burrito. Outside of those three base ingredients, there's not much else.

WHAT THE STUDENTS THINK:
"Burrito Buggy is the best because it's a different meat then the other two," junior Ronnie Corey said. "They give you a lot of cheese, you don't get a bunch of unwanted rice, it's cheap, and it's fast."

"I love Chipotle, but Burrito Buggy is awesome," sophomore Chris Barkley said. "Burrito Buggy gives you so much meat. The seasoned beef is awesome, it's cheap, and I can get it quickly in between classes."

VERDICT:
The Burrito Buggy delivers an authentic, Mexican-style burrito. I don't get that sense when eating the others. The burrito has a fresh taste, but I should have ordered mine with rice. That's my fault. I'll give The Burrito Buggy props though. In my opinion, a burrito without rice usually lacks substance, but Burrito Buggy makes up for that by loading your burrito up with seasoned beef, veggies, and sour cream. Overall, a very solid burrito.

(Photo credit: www.consumer.discoverohio.com, Big Mamma's Burritos)

Big Mamma's Burritos

PROS:
Big Mamma's has the widest variety on their menu than any of the other two places and the longest hours as well. You can order a burrito with Skyline chili, buffalo chicken, bacon, and even marinara sauce. They also offer cheeseburgers and Philly cheesesteaks in the form of burritos. You can order your burrito in a baby size for only $3.75, too. Oh and I forgot to mention, there are five different salsas that you can put on your burrito, which leads me to the biggest pro of all. The mango salsa, enough said.

CONS:
A regular-sized burrito is $6, and no bigger than a Burrito Buggy burrito which costs much less. It also gets crowded with drunken kids late at night, which isn't their fault. Big Mamma's doesn't give me that authentic Mexican taste like Burrito Buggy either, even when ordering a "normal" burrito.

WHAT THE STUDENTS THINK:
"I used to be obsessed with Chipotle, but after coming here, I realize that I go to Big Mamma's way more often," senior Melissa Droske said. "They have way more options and it's cheaper."

"The Chipotle Ranch with the mango salsa is the best burrito in Athens hands down," junior Greg Wilhelm said. "If you don't get the mango salsa, you're just doing yourself a disservice."

"Big Mamma's is definitely the best," senior Andrew Kahan said. "I like that they offer alternative styles of burritos."

"Burritos come down to three things: quality, selection, and of course quantity," junior Matt Razzante said. "I have yet to try every burrito on Big Mamma's menu, which I think I did in the first week at Chipotle. Not to mention, Big Mamma's is home to the most delicious burrito of all time, the Chicken Chipotle Ranch. Enough said."

VERDICT:
I love going to Big Mamma's because I can get something different. The Chipotle Ranch Mamma with the mango salsa is incredible. The Buffalo Mamma is also a great twist to your traditional burrito. It also helps that I'm a buffalo chicken fanatic. I also like that I can get a baby-sized burrito, which you can't do at any of the other places. Sometimes I really don't feel like downing an entire 24-ounce burrito.

(Photo credit: www.bestofathensrentals.com, Chipotle)

Chipotle

PROS:
Well for starters, their burritos are definitely the biggest of the bunch. They're practically the size of footballs. They have a lot of different types of meat to choose from on their menu. You can get chicken, steak, carnitas (Mexican-seasoned shredded pork), or my favorite, barbacoa (spiced, braised beef). They offer four salsas that you can put on your burrito as well. Fresh tomato is the mildest. You can also get sweet corn, green chili salsa, or red chili salsa, which is the hottest. Also, while this has nothing to do with their burritos, the chips and guacamole are awesome. There isn't much else to say. Chipotle is simply amazing.

CONS:
Chipotle, while their burritos are the biggest, is the most expensive of the three. If I go there, I always get the barbacoa burrito, which is $6.25, and I always have to get guacamole on it, which is another $1.25. After getting a drink, my bill is almost $10. Also, double meat costs extra, where as Burrito Buggy just gives you more meat for much less.

WHAT THE STUDENTS THINK:
"It all really depends on what mood I'm in," sophomore Katie Chilcoat said. "If I'm really hungry, I'll go to Chipotle. If I'm not that hungry, I'll go to Big Mamma's and get the baby. If I don't want to walk far, I'll get Burrito Buggy. Chipotle, I would say is the best, though."

"Big Mamma's is great because it's open late, but Chipotle is definitely the best," senior Vanessa Oster said. "If I really wanted to, I think I could eat two Chipotle burritos in one sitting."

"Chipotle just tastes better," junior Nate Slany said. "It's overall better quality. Big Mamma's tastes like cheap Mexican food."

"I feel that Chipotle has a lot fresher taste to it," junior Joey Hurless said. "I feel like I could make a Big Mamma's burrito if I went to Kroger and bought the ingredients."

"Chipotle is the best by far," junior Matt Snow said. "I went to Chipotle once or twice a week for lunch in high school. Nothing will ever top Chipotle."

"I can't think of a particular reason as to why Chipotle is the best," junior Nick Wetzel said. "It just tastes better."

VERDICT:
I'm not going to lie, I love Chipotle, and I don't think I've ever met anyone who didn't like it. The burritos are filling and they're delicious. Anytime friends and I, or even my parents for that matter, go out to lunch back home, Chipotle is always an option near the top of the list. Their guacamole is incredible, but it angers me that I end up paying $1.25 extra every single time because I've got to have it on my burrito.

The point I'm trying to make is that everybody will have his or her own opinions on which is better. It's just like Pizza in Chicago. Some people like Gino's East, others like Giordano's, and others are Lou Malnati's fans. Burritos in Athens are the same way. No matter what I say or anybody else says, each place will still have their die-hard fans and loyal customers, which I think is the biggest reason that all three have been able to coexist so well.

Now for my decision. Everybody roots for the underdog. Chipotle, the overwhelming favorite going in, has been upended by Big Mamma's Burritos. Big Mamma's is cheaper and it's still a ton of food even if you order a baby. I like the ability to order a bunch of different types of things, rather than be restricted at Burrito Buggy or Chipotle. Don't get me wrong, all three are great, but Big Mamma's has emerged as my new favorite. What can I say, I guess I'm just a sucker for that damn mango salsa.

Buggies, buggies, and more buggies

The Burrito Buggy is an Athens tradition. The buggy, which has been around for over 25 years, is one of the first things you hear about upon setting foot on Ohio University's campus. I'll never forget visiting OU as a high school senior just three years ago. It seems like just yesterday, but the girl who was giving my campus tour told us we had to do two things before graduating OU: eat at Burrito Buggy and climb the rock-climbing wall at Ping Center. I'm not much for rock climbing, but I love food, and it's sad that three years later I have yet to do either of those things. I decided this needed to change and after my classmate, Anne Culhane, suggested I do a post on all of the buggies by college gate, I finally had a reason to give it a try.

(Photo credit: http://www.burritobuggy.com/, The Burrito Buggy)

While Burrito Buggy is the original and most recognizeable buggy uptown, a few new ones have recently burst onto the scene. Ali Baba's, Bagel Buggy, Zaanti, and A-Town Pies and Fries have all taken up residence in "Buggyville" by college gate. The unique thing about all of these buggies is that they all offer much different cuisine.

Burrito Buggy offers a wide variety of burritos. You can get bean, beef, or veggie buritos. On my first ever trip to Burrito Buggy, I ordered the Beef Supreme. It was loaded with beef, cheese, lettuce, tomato, olives, jalapenos, and sour cream. Because I'm a guacamole fiend, I ordered it with guacamole for $0.75 extra. Needless to say, for $5.25, I was absolutely stuffed.

"Burrito Buggy is awesome, especially late at night," junior Ronnie Corey said. "I go through withdrawals when it goes away for winter quarter."

Ali Baba's is known primarily for their gyros. The gyros come in three sizes: econo, regular, and supreme. I've had the regular and it's absolutely delicious, and a ton of food. I don't even want to know what the supreme looks like. A variety of other Mediterranean items are available on the menu such as falavel, baba ganoush, and hummus. There is also a variety of baked goods from cookies to baklava that you can order as well. The majority of the ingredients are purchased at the Athens Farmer's Market and are always fresh. You can also sample some of the items on the menu that you may not be familiar with. Ali Baba's has quickly become an Athens favorite among students.

"I go to Burrito Buggy or Ali Baba's about once a week," sophomore Chris Barkley said. "They hook you up. Burrito Buggy loads the burritos up with more than enough meet. At Ali Baba's, I always get the supreme size. I guarantee you will be stuffed after eating one of those and it's so good, too."

Bagel Buggy offers bagel sandwiches that are much different than the one's you would find at Bagel Street Deli. The bagel buggy offers many generic sandwiches in the form of a bagel sandwich. You can get a pizza bagel, ham and cheese, or even a hot dog bagel.

Zaanti is another one of the unique buggies uptown. "Zaanti" is the Sanskrit word for "peace." Zaanti offers Indian cuisine. According to an article in The Post, "[Zaanti] serves two curries with rice and salad for $5.50, and customers can add a piece of flat bread or a drink for $1 and soup for $2.50." While I've never been to Zaanti, I do enjoy curry and plan on giving it a try sometime. The thing about this blog is, there's so much to try, but so little time and money. Hopefully I get around to trying it at some point in the near future.

A-Town Pies and Fries specializes in essentially what its name suggests. This cart provides customers with slices of pizza and french fries. Although I've never had the pizza or fries, they've gotten good reviews from people around campus.

All of Athens' buggies are locally owned and operated and are some of the many interesting things that make Athens unique. Give the buggies a try, they're cheap, different, and delicious. Who knows what new buggy will surface on your next trip to "Buggyville."

Miller's Chicken: An Athens classic

It seems like everybody in Athens has been to Miller's Chicken. Except me. That all changed when my two friends, Ronnie Corey and Greg Wilhelm, and I went there Saturday morning before Palmer Fest. Upon arriving at the small brick building, we noticed there were no parking spots available. All of these cars couldn't possibly have been for Miller's Chicken, could they? Apparently, I was unaware of how big of a deal Miller's Chicken is in this community.

(Photo credit: Miller's Chicken Facebook profile, Miller's Chicken)

The line was out the door, so my friends and I had to wait outside for a while on an unusually chilly spring day in Athens. Before going in, I already knew what I was going to order. I told my buddy, Mason Rabbitt, who is a big Miller's Chicken aficionado, that I was going there on Saturday for my blog. He told me that I had to order the Super Chicken, which is supposedly the greatest chicken sandwich on this planet.

After ordering the sandwich with a side of cole slaw, Ronnie, Greg, and I took a seat and waited patiently. I took this time to survey my surroundings. I was amazed at how many people could fit in such a tiny place. I was also amazed at how many of the locals knew each other. Maybe it was some sort of Saturday ritual, where everyone meets at Miller's Chicken for lunch, but each person that poured in was greeted by somebody that they knew. I felt like I was immersed in the Miller's Chicken community within the Athens community; a separate society of sorts. All of the old pictures of chickens and farms on the wall gave the place a sort of nostalgic feel. I started to understand why everybody always said that Miller's Chicken truly embodied Athens.

(Photo credit: Matt Street, Miller's Chicken menu and cashier)

When my order was called, we grabbed our food and sped home because the smell of the food was killing us. I sat down on my couch, ripped open the bag and pulled out my sandwich. I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into the so-called greatest chicken sandwich on the planet. I would ultimately be the judge of that. As I took my first bite, I realized the flavor and the seasoning were unlike any other chicken sandwich I had ever had. The chicken looked like real chicken, too, not that stringy, fatty crap they give you at fast food restaurants. This is mainly because Miller's raises their own chickens. As I wolfed down the sandwich it became apparent that I actually was indeed eating the greatest chicken sandwich on the planet. My roomates and other bloggers agreed, too.

"The chicken is so much better than any other chicken I've ever had," Ronnie said. "There's no point in going to KFC anymore. You get better and more food at Miller's for the same price. I wanted to go back for more this morning but it's closed on Sundays."

Another great thing about Miller's is the price. The price is extremely generous for college students, and the menu has a wide variety of items outside of just chicken. They offer seafood like haddock, perch, or even oysters. They also have a wide variety of homemade sides from macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, and potato salad. You can check out my interactive map post for more information on Miller's prices.

"I love seafood, so I'm definitely going back for some oysters or a fish sandwich sometime," Greg said. "The only other place in Athens that has seafood is probably Long John Silver's."

Miller's really is an Athens classic. Everything I heard about it was true and then some. It's tough to really describe how good it actually is. I guess you'll have to go in and see for yourself, and I recommend you do so because it's only place where you can order the best chicken sandwich on the planet. What can I say; Miller's lived up to the hype.

Q & A with Boss Hog champion Greg Wilhelm

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about in a previous post about my Boss Hog Challenge experience at Kiser's BBQ Shack. I wasn't kidding when I said it was one of the most grueling experiences of my life. The pain that I felt was unlike any other pain that I felt throughout 15 years of ice hockey and numerous years playing baseball and football. At the halfway point, I really wanted to throw in the towel, but my pride and feeling that I would be sick regardless of finishing pushed me to the end. Thankfully, I didn't go into this venture alone. My partner in crime, Greg Wilhelm, tackled the Boss Hog Challenge, too. He finished six seconds after me, and was also crowned a Boss Hog champion. I've given you an insight into my experiences, and now I'd like to fill you in on Greg's experience as well.

(Photo credit: Matt Snow, Greg Wilhelm: Boss Hog Champion, 29:54)

Matt Schuldt: How did you prepare for the Boss Hog Challenge? Did you alter your eating habits or do anything else to prepare yourself mentally?

Greg Wilhelm: My eating habits changed slightly. I decided to kickstart my metabolism with a granola bar in the morning. I didn't eat for the rest of the day. I figured if my metabolism started going, it would help, but the granola bar alone wouldn't fill me up.

MS: You've seen the Boss Hog Challenge on paper. But when the referee brings it out and you see the beast in person, what is going through your mind? Were you intimidated?

GW: It looked a lot bigger than I thought it would be. The fries in particular looked like a lot. The sandwich didn't do itself justice. It didn't look bad but there was a lot more than what I expected.

MS: Did you have a strategy when doing the Boss Hog Challenge, or did you just dig in and wing it?

GW: My first strategy was to keep the fries for last, but I developed another strategy while doing it. I began to swallow each chunk of food with a gulp of water. The water made the bites go down easier.

MS: At any point during the challenge did you feel that you would be unable to finish?

GW: Multiple times. I honestly didn't think I would finish until the last 10 seconds.

MS: How did you feel during the challenge? Were you feeling sick at all?

GW: It was the most pain my body has ever been through. It felt like I was trying to stuff two pounds worth of stuff into a bag that only fit one pound. It felt impossible. I felt like my stomach was going to burst open.

MS: Upon finishing the challenge, what went through your mind?

GW: I was extremely happy and proud, but I still felt absolutely terrible.

MS: How does it feel to be a Boss Hog champion?

GW: It's the greatest honor that could ever be bestowed upon me.

It appears that Greg and I share many of the same sentiments about our Boss Hog experience. Greg and I agree that it was an experience that we're glad we had, but it's something that we'd never do again. Your self-esteem drops for a bit, and you apologize to your body for subjecting it to such intense pain. I'm just glad that Greg was there to experience it with me so that I didn't have to go through it alone. Thanks Greg for being there with me during one of the lowest points in my life.

Greg has even become a national hero in Sweden for his Boss Hog efforts.

(Disclaimer: The video in the above link is entirely a joke. It is, however, very funny and worth a watch even though it takes 100 seconds to load.)

Great places to eat in Athens for $5 and under

The majority of students at Ohio University are on tight budgets. I'm one of them. Food, however, is a necessity for all of us. Let's face it, sometimes we simply don't have the time to go to WalMart and buy food, or have the time to cook up a meal in between classes.

(Photo credit: krad77, www.panoramio.com, Court St.)

Athens, OH prides itself on local business. While national franchises like McDonald's and Burger King may have dollar menus, they're not always the healthiest choice. You can still get an assortment of great meals for $5 and under at many of the fantastic local establishments in Athens. For example, next time you've got a craving for one of those disgusting Double Down sandwiches from KFC, go to Miller's Chicken instead. It doesn't hurt to once in a while give your business to the many amazing people that make Athens such a great place. The goal of the map below is to show you all of the great places that you can pick up a quick, affordable meal at Ohio University.

View Good meals at OU for $5 and under in a larger map

Get uptown for Uptown Grill

Uptown Grill, Athens' newest food establishment, opened a week and a half ago in the building that was formerly occupied by Grade A Notes. The walk-up window restaurant, which is right next to Buffalo Wild Wings, offers fantastic grilled items at affordable prices. According to an article in The Post, the restaurant was started by Stacy McClain, the owner of Copy Catz. The article notes that McClain and his girlfriend raise Angus cattle and he saw the vacancy next door as an opportunity to expand his business. Being that it's brand new and relatively unknown, I thought I'd check it out and give you guys a heads up.

(Photo credit: Stacy McClain, Uptown Grill)

My roommate, Ronnie Corey, had originally told me about it last week. Ronnie's from Philadelphia, and on his way to work one day, he noticed the place and saw that they had Philly cheesesteaks on the menu. Being from Philadelphia, Ronnie is as fanatical about Philly cheesesteaks as I am with my Chicago-style pizza. Ronnie, who hadn't had a Philly cheesesteak since he went home for winter break, was dying to get one so he, our buddy Greg Wilhelm, and I went earlier today for lunch to check it out.

As I mentioned earlier, it's only a walk-up window, like O'Betty's but without the inside portion. Immediately, we noticed how relatively inexpensive it was. The menu includes Angus burgers, Italian sausage, Philly cheesesteaks, chicken fajitas, grilled chicken breast sandwiches, veggie-burgers, and a banger, which is a type of bratwurst. All of these items are between $4.50 and $5. The only item that is over $5 is the Rancher's Delight, which is $8. The Rancher's Delight is a half-pound Angus burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and cheese. Chips and drinks are also available for purchase.

Ronnie, without hesitation, ordered the Philly cheesesteak. I also ordered a Philly cheesesteak, and Greg ordered the banger. Inside the window, we saw the grill, where all of our food was made fresh right in front of us. We waited impatiently as the smell of the food and grill began to make us even hungrier. After receiving our food, we walked back to Greg's apartment to watch some TV and take our first bites of an Uptown Grill sandwich.

The food turned out to be delicious! I thought the Philly cheesesteak was great, however, Ronnie was quick to assure me that it was nothing like the real thing at Geno's or Pat's in Philadelphia. Despite lacking true Philadelphia authenticity, Ronnie did enjoy his sandwich.

"This Philly cheesesteak is really good, but it's nothing like Geno's or Pat's back home," he said. "At least I finally found a place in Athens where I can get one, and it's cheap, too."

Greg enjoyed his banger as well. We were all in agreement that Uptown Grill is definitely a cheap, affordable alternative to a Buffalo Wild Wings or Red Brick sandwich. It's also relatively fast if you're looking for a quick meal in between classes. If you're ever in the area and in need of a quick meal, I'd definitely check it out.

For more information, you can also check out their official Facebook fan page.

The Boss Hog Challenge at Kiser's BBQ Shack

106 people have attempted the Boss Hog Challenge at Kiser's BBQ Shack. Only 31 have left victorious. I've always had a curiosity about food challenges and wondered what it would be like to do one. My roommates, Matt Snow and Ronnie Corey, and my buddy, Greg Wilhelm, and I all went up to Kiser's on Thursday night so that I could attempt to tame this beast. Greg had been wanting to do the Boss Hog Challenge for a while, so he threw his name into the hat as well. As for Matt and Ronnie, they were there to heckle us and watch in pure amazement as Greg and I tried to eat what seemed to be the equivalent of three Thanksgiving dinners in under 30 minutes.

The Boss Hog Challenge consists of two half-pound angus burgers, three pieces of bacon, four ounces of cheese, a half pound of chopped pork, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, four ounces of barbecue sauce, and finally one pound of fries. All of this must be eaten in under 30 minutes. If you win, you receive a $10 gift certificate, a t-shirt, your picture on the wall in the restaurant, and ultimate glory. If you lose, you go home with nothing but a bad case of heartburn and indigestion. Having never done a food challenge before, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. After playing hockey for 15 years, I had never subjected my body to the intense pain that would eventually be brought on by the Boss Hog Challenge. But once that clock started ticking, there was no turning back.

Below is a picture slide show, revealing the worst 30 minutes of my life. All photos are courtesy of Matt Snow.