The California-Mexico coast style flows throughout the entire restaurant, from the red and pink umbrellas on the porch and the giant mural on the wall facing Memorial Boulevard to the Volkswagen beetle on the inside that is painted with the American flag on one side and the Mexican flag on the other.
Beach umbrellas, surf boards and vivid colors aren’t the only thing that make Blue Coast Burrito unique, they have a range of toppings and sauces for their burritos, tacos and salads.
One specialty in particular are the fish tacos, which include battered, fried white fish with special white sauce, cabbage and roasted tomato salsa wrapped in a soft corn tortilla.
Not big on eating meat? Don’t worry because Blue Coast Burrito is predominantly vegan, with a wide array of beans, rice, olives, pico de gallo and many specially-made sauces to go along with your meal.
It’s the sauces, friendliness of staff and the fact that everything is hand made and cooked in the store that keeps customers like Murfreesboro Police Officers Greg Dotson and Carney Miller coming back often, even multiple times a week.
’I’d eat here every day of the week and twice on Sunday before I’d eat at the other burrito places. Moe’s is a distant second to this place,’ Officer Dotson explains as he finishes up his chicken burrito. ’The food is real good, it’s reasonably priced, and the atmosphere are why I like it.’
The atmosphere is not only provided by the d’cor of the restaurant but also by the smiling faces and helpful staff, who are quick to ask if you need anything else, prepare the food for you right before your eyes, and send you off with a smile and a thank you.
Shanda Kruse, an employee with Blue Coast for over eight months says she likes working with the company for that reason.
’I like interacting with customers; you actually get to know people,’ she said.
Head of operation support for the company, Mark Beuerman, says it’s this aura that makes the place unique.
’It’s fun, festive and funky. We’re going to make a living, but we are going to have fun while we are doing it too,’ Beuerman said. ’Compared to fast-food restaurants we are a small step up in price, but six times the taste, and 14 times the funkiness.’
It is obvious the owners and staff are there to make your eating investment worthwhile. Owner Bruce Pittman, has obviously put time into his restaurant to make it a significant part of the Baja Burrito franchise. The franchise, started by Troy Smith, currently has three stores in the middle Tennessee area, one in Memphis, one in Arkansas, and two more coming soon in Collierville, Tenn., and Chattanooga.
The only drawbacks to Blue Coast burrito are that parking is a bit tight on the small corner lot. Beer is not served at the restaurant yet, but the owners claim to be working on getting a beer license and say that it should be very soon.
Also, if you are hungry on Sundays you’ll have to wait until summertime because Blue Coast is closed through the winter months on Sundays.
Overall, the dining experience at Blue Coast Burrito is a delight. From the largest mural in Murfreesboro, to the Cali-Mex ambiance inside, and the delicious food, the restaurant is definitely one of the ’Boro’s top eatery choices.
