Blue Coast Burrito Grille opens on Market Square; The Blue Streak heads there for research purposes

Alan does research in the Margarita Loft.

Alan does research in the Margarita Loft.

Blue Coast Burrito Grille, the new restaurant in the renovated historic space that used to be Gus’s restaurant (and Perry’s and Peroulas and the Gold Sun, among others, before that) opened last week with just a brief little notice on Twitter. Of course, Alan and I, who are all about everything downtown, headed over to 37 Market Square to check it out. We’ve already  been there twice.

We love the cheerful colors. The upstairs, which is called The Margarita Loft, features a warm fireplace and also beer, wine and many varieties of margaritas. We love the staff who are friendly and outgoing. We love the margaritas themselves, which still are being perfected — and which we got to sample and offer opinions on. The food, like that in most new restaurants, is still somewhat a work in progress, though. And everything is super casual: your food is served in red plastic baskets and even the margaritas are in plastic glasses.

Our advice: if you want to be part of the development process — if you like to experiment and offer your own input — head on over there. If you’d rather have a fully developed dining experience, give it a few weeks.

There are a lot of lizards.

There are a lot of lizards in the decor.

The concept is “build-it-yourself” — kind of like a Subway sandwich shop — where you tell someone what items to put on your burrito or fish taco or salad as you go through a line. Or, like us, you can opt to go upstairs, order a margarita, fill out a little sheet telling what you want on your order, and a server will bring it. Either is fine.

There are a lot of Mexican/Latin/Spanish options on Market Square (which is good by me as it’s one of my favorite kinds of food). But let’s put it his way: you aren’t going to confuse the food at Blue Coast Burrito with that of Soccer Taco, which tends toward the more authentic side. This, instead, is billed as “West Coast-style Mexican food” — think California rather than Mexico itself. I doubt there’s any lard in the house (unlike, I’d imagine, Soccer Taco), so it may be a little healthier. But you shouldn’t have to ask the server for napkins or utensils after you get your food. Our order didn’t have everything in the burrito we had marked on the sheet. And the food could have been a little warmer, temperature-wise.

But, as I said, it’s the first week. We are confident they’ll get it nailed down soon. They always can seek advice from one of the some 15 Blue Coasts in Tennessee and Arkansas. And, until they do, the Blue Coast Burrito Grille on Market Square — and especially its Margarita Loft — still has a lot to recommend it.

The patio is welcoming.

The patio is welcoming.

This is the colorful downstairs dining room.

This is the colorful downstairs dining room.

A salsa bar is in the center of the dining room.

A salsa bar is in the center of the dining room.

I love the painted tables.

I love the painted tables.

Or, you can choose a window seat.

Or, you can choose a window seat.

There are kids' meals.

There are kids' meals.

Take our advice: follow this sign!

Take our advice: follow this sign!

This working fireplace threw out some welcome heat on a chilly, rainy Saturday afternoon.

This working fireplace threw out some welcome heat on a chilly, rainy Saturday afternoon.

The decor features surf boards.

The decor features surf boards.

And beer signs!

And beer signs!

Feel like shopping? Buy a t-shirt.

Feel like shopping? Buy a t-shirt.

Filed under: Business, Downtown, Historic preservation, Knoxville. Bookmark the permalink.

14 Responses to Blue Coast Burrito Grille opens on Market Square; The Blue Streak heads there for research purposes

  1. Gay Lyons, on March 27th, 2011 at 1:02 pm said:

    Can’t wait to try it! Thanks for the early research.

  2. Cynthia Moxley, on March 27th, 2011 at 1:05 pm said:

    Gay: The Blue Streak is happy to go all out for its loyal readers — even if it means giving serious study to a few margaritas!

  3. The Modern Gal, on March 27th, 2011 at 1:30 pm said:

    I try to give all restaurants a little time to work out the kinks. The Modern Fiance isn’t as inclined to try it since he thinks its like Moe’s or Salsarita’s or Chipotle (none of which he’s a big fan of — Soccer Taco is his kind of place). Aside from the margaritas, is there anything different between Blue Coast and the other build-your-own-burrito joints?

  4. Cynthia Moxley, on March 27th, 2011 at 1:49 pm said:

    Anybody know the answer to this excellent question? I’ve never been to Moe’s or Salsarita’s or Chipolte. My favorite of the California-style Mexican places is Chez Guevara, formerly La Paz, of course (aka known as Chez Paz, among some of us).

  5. Alan Carmichael, on March 27th, 2011 at 6:00 pm said:

    Research is a tough business.

  6. Gavin Baker, on March 28th, 2011 at 1:24 pm said:

    Just had lunch there today (it was packed). Of the three, it reminds me most of Moe’s. I’ll certainly be back.

  7. Scott Bird, on March 28th, 2011 at 3:10 pm said:

    Had lunch at Blue Coast today. The ordering process was a little frenetic for my liking (too Moe’s-ish for me), but the food was tasty. I probably will not be a regular diner there, though an evening try of the margarita loft is imminent.

  8. Cynthia Moxley, on March 28th, 2011 at 10:48 pm said:

    Thanks, Gavin and Scott, for your addition to the research. Anyone else, please feel free to post your impressions here. A few folks are posting on the Moxley Carmicahael Facebook page as well.

  9. Shaun Fulco, on March 29th, 2011 at 9:53 am said:

    Had lunch at Blue Coast yesterday. The ordering process downstairs is stressful. I think it’s the “greeter” at the front door that makes it seem more complicated than it truly is. It’s noisy downstairs making it difficult for the staff to hear your order. I thought about the Blue Streak’s advice when I spotted the “Margarita Loft” sign at the stairs, and wish I would have followed it! I’ll be back but only upstairs for me. I like the idea of placing my order with a server and having a margarita while I wait.

  10. Bill Pittman, on March 29th, 2011 at 9:20 pm said:

    Cynthia,
    First and foremost, I just found BlueStreak…awesome blog; thanks to you and silent partner Alan! Looking forward to trying your recommendations!
    All the best,
    Bill Pittman

  11. Cynthia Moxley, on March 29th, 2011 at 9:29 pm said:

    Thanks, Bill! You all have been on The Blue Streak several times!

  12. Gay lyons, on March 30th, 2011 at 10:07 am said:

    I am not a fan of fast casual dining, but I like Baja California cuisine, so I will give Blue Coast a try. Thanks for all the additional research. Has anyone tried the fish tacos yet?

  13. Emily Tello, on March 30th, 2011 at 11:37 am said:

    I ate at Blue Coast on Monday. I actually live in Nashville but was in Knoxville for business. I frequent the Blue Coast in Nashville for lunch but my eyes POPPED open when I saw they had added a margarita loft to this new location in Knoxville! I can agree that the ordering process was a little frantic, however I have to attest that it’s never like that at the one I go to in Nashville so I’m thinking it must just be the new staff who is still training. I would expect it to be a well oiled machine soon. Gay, you MUST try the fish tacos! I am addicted! Not the lowest calorie treat on the menu, but oh are they good!

    I have one word to describe how I feel about the margarita loft — JEALOUS. I had the jalepeno marg and it was awesome! To be honest my expectations weren’t incredibly high, but it was absolutely delicious. Never had a margarita like it before. Please, please, please Blue Coast if you can hear me… PUT A MARGARITA LOFT IN NASHVILLE!!!

  14. Cynthia Moxley, on April 11th, 2011 at 12:19 am said:

    Thank you, Emily, for your comment. I hope they are listening!

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