Daisy Ellis, Grilled Cheese Burrito–Taco Bell: The grilled cheese burrito is filled with beef, seasoned rice, nacho cheese sauce, three different cheeses, crunchy purple tortilla bits, chipotle sauce, and reduced fat sour cream inside a flour tortilla.
Alice’s opinion (5.5/10): There’s too many different ingredients and not enough balance between them. The sauce lacked flavor, aside from a mild spice, and didn’t pair well with the cheese, which is supposed to be the most important element of the burrito. Amongst the bland meat, excessive plethora of sauces, and out of place crunch of the tortilla bits, the cheese felt like an after thought. Overall, the burrito was edible, but it’s not the most pleasant mix of flavors and textures. The ‘Grilled Cheese’ burrito could benefit from a redirection towards more traditional grilled cheese flavors or a rebranding away from grilled cheese entirely; the cheese either needs to be the actual star of the show or taken down a few notches.
Betsy’s opinion (6.5/10): The concept for this burrito was promising, but the actual taste was underwhelming. The cheese and meat did not mix well and the other add-ins, like the sour cream, were not helpful to the overall taste. Some positives were the tortilla chips which at least added a crunch and gave it a better texture. I think removing the sour cream and other extras would give it a more defined flavor.
Luke Smith, 8 piece nugget meal–Chick Fil A: The order consists of an 8 piece fried nugget, a medium fry, Polynesian sauce, coke, and a fork. Smith uses the fork to pierce the nuggets and put them in the Polynesian sauce without getting his hands sticky.
Alice’s opinion (8/10): The base of the order is solid, but being a classic Chick Fil A order, it’s not that intriguing on its own. However, the Polynesian sauce really took this order to a new level. The sweetness of the sauce paired with the saltiness of the fries and the already semi-sweet, tangy breading on the nuggets are delightful combos. It made the meal feel akin to chicken and waffles. The fork trick is also somewhat smart, but it kinda just feels unneeded unless you’re really trying to drown your nuggets in sauce.
Betsy’s opinion (7.5/10): The nuggets had their normal tangy taste and a thicker bread coating. The Polynesian sauce had a hint of jam as well as barbeque, which went surprisingly well with the chicken. Using a fork was a great hack to prevent your fingers from getting greasy from the nuggets. The waffle fries were the perfect texture, even though they were on the larger side, and also went well with the sauce but less so with the nuggets. Overall it was a perfectly sweet and savory combo.
Kierra Newsome, Box combo–Raisin Canes (9/10): Newsome’s order is a Cane’s “Box Combo,” which includes 4 chicken tenders, fries, a slice of Texas toast, coleslaw, and the signature Canes sauce. She orders it with no coleslaw and sweet tea.
Alice’s opinion (9/10): The chicken tenders were phenomenal for a fast food place, very tender, juicy, and the breading wasn’t too intense. The toast was perfectly buttered, soft bread with a delightfully crunchy exterior. Extra sauce is a top notch addition–it’s addictively tangy, enhances the other salty and savory flavors, and really elevates the experience in general. The fries were salty and delicious. My only complaint is the sweet tea, which had no flavor aside from its overpowering sweetness.
Betsy’s opinion (8.5/10): Everything in the box combo was perfectly cooked. The bread was soft and buttery. The chicken tenders were very tender and the breading was light and fluffy. The crinkle cut fries were the perfect texture and perfectly salted. The sweet tea was way too sweet for its flavor. It left a bad aftertaste and did not pair well with the food. The extra sauce was a good choice because of how well it goes with both the chicken and the fries.
