29 replies to this topic

[eating out]

What's the word on this place? Read a blurb about it in Washingtonian - anyone a regular? How do you order your burrito (heard there was a special way, kinda like In-N-Out Double Double Animal Style)? How does it compare to Mixtec (which, IMHO, is the best take-out burrito in the city)?

Apologies if there is a post about this somewhere, didn't find one... Thanks!

[dag556]

What's the word on this place? Read a blurb about it in Washingtonian - anyone a regular? How do you order your burrito (heard there was a special way, kinda like In-N-Out Double Double Animal Style)? How does it compare to Mixtec (which, IMHO, is the best take-out burrito in the city)?

Apologies if there is a post about this somewhere, didn't find one... Thanks!

My boss is OBSESSED with Pedro and Vinny's and goes as often as he can manage. I've only tried them once, and I thought the burritos were good but not out of this world. The guy (who is named neither Pedro nor Vinny) offers a range of sauces -- rated from 1 to 10 for heat -- as well as a special mango sauce in a Grey Goose bottle, which is very tasty. I haven't been in a while, so I forget the ordering procedure, but it goes something like: order your tortilla while still in line, along with what size, then when you get to the window you say what else you want (black and tan beans, guac, sour cream, etc etc etc). But I'm rusty. Anyone else remember?

[lackadaisi]

I've only gone a couple times, but I have liked it when I have been. The guy is super-nice. The process is a bit intimidating, but the line is usually long enough for you to figure it out while you are there. Oh, and it is vegetarian, so if you are in the mood for meat, this would be the wrong place to be.

[synaesthesia]

What's the word on this place? Read a blurb about it in Washingtonian - anyone a regular? How do you order your burrito (heard there was a special way, kinda like In-N-Out Double Double Animal Style)? How does it compare to Mixtec (which, IMHO, is the best take-out burrito in the city)?

Apologies if there is a post about this somewhere, didn't find one... Thanks!

Not quite a regular, but my experience was pretty decent. Basically you choose from a few different flavors of tortilla. You have options of cheese or no cheese. Type of bean - pinto or black or you can half and half. Different types of salsa and hot sauce. It's not transcendent, and you can only do so much with beans. There's a review from burrito folks here http://www.burritobl...c/pedro_vinnys/ There's also another cart on K St. closer to Connecticut Ave.

[Gus]

While in line, you have to be prepared to say what kind of tortilla you want, and whether you want cheese. The "small" burrito comes without any rice, which can get messy to eat, especially if you opt for black beans. The complaint that I've heard is that there isn't any meat available, but (not caring about that factor) I like this place, especially since lunch options around McPherson Square are fairly limited.

I've never tried Mixtec, so I'm no help in the comparison department.

[cheezepowder]

Is it open on weekends?

[synaesthesia]

Is it open on weekends?

Dunno.. but he lists when he is open or closed on here http://www.pedroandvinnys.com/ He doesn't have a consistent schedule.

[synaesthesia]

My friend and I stopped by here this afternoon. It's the perfect place to get something and then sit in the square and enjoy the weather.

I got a black and tan with cheese on whole wheat, no rice with guac, sour cream, salsa, the mango sauce and hot sauce. If you combine the slightly vegetal fruityness with hot sauce (I got my favorite, Nando's Peri-Peri) it's much better than just the mango sauce. And the way I sort of see burritos is that there has gotta be a strong goosh factor. This definitely had it going on. No undercooked beans, no overcooked beans. Moist and tasty.

[demandalicious]

BURRITO CART!!! It is truly the best thing ever. It puts McMexican like Shitpolte, and even smaller spots like the Well Dressed Burrito to shame, IMO.

I haven't seen it open on the weekends. In fact, the whole MacPherson/Golden Triangle area is pretty dead on Sat/Sun.

As for the Mixtec comparison, I'd say that they are both good, but in different ways. A burrito cart burrito is fressssh and grease-free, and the rito-innards are more squishy than at Mixtec, if that makes sense. Also, it is worth mentioning that I have avoided my beloved Mixtec since I saw this.

[eating out]

Finally made my way to Pedro & Vinny's. Initial impression? above average.

Ingredients are solid - but the refried beans are a little sweet for my tastes, and there were too many of them on the burrito (I got a medium black & tan on tomato/chili w/ cheese). Plus, for me, I like my burrito to be tight and easy to take bites out of - it can be huge, but I generally appreciate it more when it isn't oozing out from all sides - I like it to have some shape. And this was a messy burrito. Definitely a sitting-down-at-table-to-eat varietal (for me at least).

So, too much moosh/beans to rice, and it wasn't proportionate - if possible, I like to have a little of everything on each bite. Now, I know this is coming across critical and picky, but I do think it is a burrito worth trying (definitely better than Chipotle), and it was tasty, and it is a great deal for $5 - it's huge! The mango hot sauce is delish as is my all time favorite Cholula. The fresh salsa was good, the cheese and tortilla's are good. I'll be back, and the next time I might ask for light on the tan and see if that helps the over-stuffed situation.

Thanks to everyone who posted! For me, Mixtec is still the best burrito in town...

[synaesthesia]

I'm not usually a self-promoter, but our editor wants more traffic... Pedro and Vinny's chef change and move. I hope this doesn't make the lines at the little yellow Korean cart longer, but then again I'd be happy to see them get more business.

[Pat]

I'm not usually a self-promoter, but our editor wants more traffic... Pedro and Vinny's chef change and move. I hope this doesn't make the lines at the little yellow Korean cart longer, but then again I'd be happy to see them get more business.

Given the article in today's Post, that deal must haven fallen through. He's retiring but without a buyer for the cart.

[synaesthesia]

Given the article in today's Post, that deal must haven fallen through. He's retiring but without a buyer for the cart.

We did a little extra reporting today... he seemed all set to go, but the other guy disappeared. So it looks like shutters for sure on the 20th.

[synaesthesia]

Looks like Rider is back in town. Short version. Only slightly longer version.

[DonRocks]

Looks like Rider is back in town. Short version. Only slightly longer version.

"I'm bored, I'm broke, and I'm back."

-- John R.

[DonRocks]

I managed to create a really ugly flavor combination today: Black & Tan (black beans and spiced refried pintos) on a large flour tortilla, with cheese, guacamole, salsa, and a mixture of the mango-based "Goose" sauce and hot green-chile sauce.

This burrito was all over the map, and kitchen-sinking it was a bad idea. Next time, I'll stick with simple black beans, medium-hot green sauce, and hopefully something resembling jack cheese (I still don't know if the cheese today was yellow or orange). As much as I want to like the Goose sauce, it works for me only on paper.

A word of caution about Pedro and Vinny's: John Rider works like an octopus on cocaine, but he still manages to crank out only about one burrito per minute. During prime time, the line can easily stretch to 30-40 customers. At 11:40 today, I waited 30 minutes for my burrito, and the line was longer still when I left. Budget one minute per customer, and you'll know approximately how long the wait is.

Cheers,
Rocks.

[wolverine]

Next time, I'll stick with simple black beans, medium-hot green sauce, and hopefully something resembling jack cheese (I still don't know if the cheese today was yellow or orange). As much as I want to like the Goose sauce, it works for me only on paper.

Today I had the black blean burrito in a chili tortilla with fresh salsa and the goose sauce at level 8. I agree that the guacamole and sour cream can be too much, but I really like the sweetness the goose sauce provides. Maybe have him try a different hot sauce with the goose sauce next time. And man, Rider works hard.

Anybody go later in the afternoon and see a smaller line (15 people or less)? Just trying to time it right so that the wait isn't 45 min to an hour.

[DPop]

Anyone been recently? I want to go today but it didn't look like he was there the other day.

ETA I walked over to 15th and K today and P&V's is no longer there. Not sure if he has moved, but I have been working in this area for about 3 months and I have not seen him once.

[AllisonW]

Anyone been recently? I want to go today but it didn't look like he was there the other day.

ETA I walked over to 15th and K today and P&V's is no longer there. Not sure if he has moved, but I have been working in this area for about 3 months and I have not seen him once.

He was there last Friday and, amazingly, there was no line around 12:30. I've been there a few times in the last few months.

[DPop]

He was there last Friday and, amazingly, there was no line around 12:30. I've been there a few times in the last few months.

I checked the website and it announced that he was open yesterday, so either he closed up shop before 1PM or the site hasn't been updated.

[goodeats]

ETA I walked over to 15th and K today and P&V's is no longer there. Not sure if he has moved, but I have been working in this area for about 3 months and I have not seen him once.

I checked the website and it announced that he was open yesterday, so either he closed up shop before 1PM or the site hasn't been updated.

Stopped by at 1:58pm at the cart in front of CVS at 15th & K and John was most certainly there with 2 people ahead of me and a few more people streaming up. Now that the weather's warmer, perhaps he'll stay open later or will be more frequent.... I don't know why, but I found the new shading umbrella kind of cute and quaint; I'm sure John would not want to hear that. A small black & tan with cheese on a flour tortilla, no salsa, but with the special mango sauce was a nice welcome back to town.

[squidsdc]

19th & L just outside of Staples--Pedro and Vinny's Burrito Cart will be there from 11-2 M-F. His daughter is running this cart, and today is her first day. No one is on line right now if anyone is nearby and has a hankerin'....

[goodeats]

Both carts will be on vacation from Monday, September 7 until September 14. John now has a self-serve punch card too.

[goodeats]

Didn't see anymore punch cards, but John has an official sign and a larger umbrella.

It was a weird walk down K Street today with the Fojol Bros. truck, Sauca truck and then here.

Longish line, but as always, efficient. And satisfying.

[goodeats]

Whoa - how come no one posted about this news? (Per ArlNow.com)

(Cool beans. haha)

[DonRocks]

What does it mean when their 'Are We Open Today?' page alternates blinking OPEN and CLOSED?

[SeanMike]

What does it mean when their 'Are We Open Today?' page alternates blinking OPEN and CLOSED?

THAT. IS. AWESOME.

[DonRocks]

If anyone's out there, this is what you get back when you try to put yourself on their email list:

This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.

A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its
recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:

<with the "caffejohn" email address noted as having no recipient.>

[qwertyy]

What does it mean when their 'Are We Open Today?' page alternates blinking OPEN and CLOSED?

Tribute?

[Michael Landrum]

Tribute?

Maybe if they got it to blink with those same awesome polyrhythms with syncopation on the down beats...