Gorditos! Nachos! Happy Hour! ... Fuck!

Come on, Queen Anne. What are you doing wrong? What's the real story behind "this location is just not working too good"? In recent memory, Sapphire, Barbacoa, and now Gorditos have shut down—and for what? Some lame, perpetually deserted yet even more pretentious place called Q, a fancy French joint that never seems full to its very slim capacity, and a restaraunt to be named later. What's the fucking problem? People in the neighborhood are obviously out eating and taking in libations on a regular basis—we even get out to the Paragon once a year to see them.

Any QA-ers out there want to speculate on the nature of the lackluster establishment that replaces our favorite margarita stop, nacho spot, and giant, killer burrito haunt?

Maybe we'll get real lucky and get another fucking boutique where we can't even afford a single shirt.

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By Clint in Food, News on December 8, 2006 6:00 AM

Comments [rss]

Marc

Jak's Grill & Tom Douglas were both inquiring about the Gordito's QA space. Latest rumor is that Crow may have expressed interest as well (are they no longer doing well on lower QA?). the Gordito's owners should be alright as they own the building and seem to have a nice bidding war going for their new tenant. Sorrentino's should be ok, and possibly VERY good. However, that space (old Lumette/Firefly) seems to be cursed. I wish them well, though they're also calling themselves a pizzeria. Did they do their research? There are a lot of pizzerias on QA and Via Tribunali is getting ready to open their own space on Galer street (about 2 blocks west of the Trader Joe's).

travis

I have yet to find a decent burrito in Seattle (and not for a lack of effort). Gorditos was (is) downright blah. Barbacoa was good, but I'll take Portage any day, and it always seems mostly full to me.

Supa_dupa_fly

Don't worry, QA Mexican-food lovers! There's always World Wraps. LOL

Hot Carl

I remember hearing rumors about Gorditos coming to Queen Anne more than 2 years ago. I dismissed them as a myth, but then my wildest dreams came true when I saw that glorious yellow sign on top of the hill like a beacon of gluttony. Now, my worst nightmare has come true and it is leaving. They say that their burritos are the size of a baby and now I'm going to have to resort to eating the tortilla-wrapped babies out of all the yuppies' strollers as they peruse the shitty shops up there on Saturday afternoon.

Joe

What's wrong with you people? Gorditos is a Seattle institution. There needs to be more places that offer bargain prices for a high value meal. So what if the Burrito is bigger than my head? For 6 bucks I couldn't make a burrito that comes close to that at home!

I know I'm well below the median income in Seattle, but it was nice to have something to eat once in a while in my own neighborhood. But hey, with property prices sky-high, who could afford to live here anymore? Apparently Gorditos is having as hard a time as me.

--Average Joe

Matt the Engineer

Good burritos, friendly people, and reasonable prices. The only thing I don't like is the big yellow sign.

Kwonza

Maybe other people got a lousy case of food poisoning there, as I did? Seriously, I never saw what was good about this place.

Saxtor

I have made trips from both Anacortes and Portland JUST for Gorditos. Now that I work in downtown, the Queen Anne location has been mighty handy. I loved following the saga of the development of the QA location via the unintentionally humorous signs like the one above at the Greenwood location. For two years we got misspelled updates saying "we'll be open at QA by the end of the month." I just hope the Everett location (yes, there is one, on Hewitt across from the Everett Events Center) makes it. The closing of the QA one doesn't bode well, though.

Ronald Holden

Wait until Mama Enza opens Sorrentino's Trattoria in the old Lumette space. You'll see some tasty regional Italian fare for sure.

frank

ditto on the shrug, they did play around with their hours a fair bit. remember when they had that hawaiian bubble tea place next to gorditos? that place was never open!

I won't miss Gorditos, but I do hope something good moves into that space, pretty good location.

Chris B

I'm guessing that Gordito's had two things going against it.

First, despite the initial rush, when there were lines running out the door, after a while it became, honestly, just another ok Mexican restaurant. Hell, I used to eat there almost every other week until I just stopped and haven't been back since. It was good, the service was friendly but it dropped off my radar.

Second, I think they were catering to a non-existent late night crowd. They used to advertise that their bar would stay open until midnight with various specials, but that didn't last very long. After that there were more changes to their hours and then this.

I'm with Mark. I'm meeting this with a colossal shrug.

Mark

That place was open for like ten minutes. Save your mourning for true institutions.

Barbacoa I miss. Good food, and I didn't make it there nearly often enough. But missing Gorditos is like getting all bummed because 7-11 doesn't carry your favorite microwave burrito anymore. Get over it.