By Shannon Harts
April 1st isn’t just a day for pranks—It’s also a day to enjoy a delicious dish that was likely invented in Northwestern Mexico: the burrito. Yes, this means April 1st is National Burrito Day! (And it’s no joke). Thankfully, there are plenty of places around the Finger Lakes where you can find this celebrated tortilla-wrapped culinary creation. We’ve listed a few of our top destinations!
El Rancho, Watkins Glen: El Rancho is conveniently located on North Franklin Street in Watkins Glen. It’s only around a mile down the road from Watkins Glen State Park, so you can build up your hunger hiking before digging into their tantalizing menu of tasty Mexican-American offerings! These of course include the El Rancho Burrito, which is a red pepper tortilla stuffed with rice, beans, peppers, onions, tomatoes, chicken or steak and topped with lettuce, sour cream, and cheese.
Char Burrito Bar, Geneva: This eatery on Castle Street in Geneva is a great option for those who like a highly customizable burrito. It offers the option of a white or whole-grain tortilla that can be filled with the base protein of chicken, beef, pork, tofu, or veggies. Then visitors have a long list of other tasty filling options including rice, pinto beans, black beans, peppers, onions, pico de gallo, a variety of salsas, and more! Char Burrito Bar also offers the option of building three tacos, a salad with chopped Romaine, or a burrito bowl.
Alto Cinco, Syracuse: Alto Cinco is a favorite of many Syracuse University students thanks to its convenient location on Westcott Street near University Hill—and the appeal of its massive burritos! A crowd favorite is the fried catfish burrito which features cabbage, pickled red onions, chipotle mayo, and fresh lime. Right now due to COVID-19 Alto Cinco is only open for pickup and delivery.
Little Boomers’ Burrito Bar, Corning: This eatery on Corning’s historic Market Street is run by a family with a history in the restaurant business. According to its website, “Karen Cleary and the late Fran ‘Boomer’ Cleary owned former Corning eateries Boomer’s, Boomer’s Bistro and Boomer’s Catering.” Andrew and Nicole Cleary, the children of Karen and Fran, opened Little Boomers’ Burrito Bar at 30 W. Market St. Little Boomer’s burrito protein filling options include chicken, steak, ground beef, pork, vegetarian, and braised brisket. Pico de gallo, sour cream, black and pinto beans, and of course guac are among other burrito filling options. Little Boomers also offers tacos, salads, nachos, quesadillas, and rice bowls.
