Photo credit: britosburrito.com \ Leila Navidi / The Minnesota Star Tribune
On a summery day, two courses, steps apart, proved a double treat
Great restaurants are not hard to come by in Roseville. You can go out for dinner and dessert with no need to get on the Interstate.
This edition of Eleanor Eats Out reviews two such establishments right across the street from each other: Brito’s Burritos for dinner and Sprinkles for dessert. But no matter where you are in Roseville, your two-fer options are endless!
Brito’s Burritos fills your belly, doesn’t empty your wallet
Brito’s Burritos, recently opened in a strip mall at 1757 N. Lexington Ave., is becoming a mecca for fans of Mexican fare.
Their Roseville location is the newest among a bevy of Brito’s scattered among Twin Cities communities. The chain was founded by brothers Luis and Manuel Brito, natives of Ecuador, who previously spent 20 years working in the local food scene.
The compact shop has a few tables for dining in, but also has a robust take-out business.
Here’s how to get your meal. Approach the serving counter, tell the server what you want, and you can watch while your freshly-pressed tortilla is quickly-cooked on a giant grill, producing a robust round ready to be stuffed. Just keep saying yes to the choices of fillings, beginning with proteins— carnitas, barbacoa, chicken, shrimp— even tofu.
Then pile on the selections among lettuce, cilantro, onion, tomatoes, cheese, rice, beans, sour cream, jalapenos, lime juice and salsas such as pico de gallo. Don’t miss out on their classic guacamole, either.
The tortilla is then rolled, wrapping everything into a perfect package, ready to munch. It’ll cost you under ten bucks.
You can get the same ingredients into a burrito bowl, minus the tortilla, which was my choice. It was delicious, but I do regret declining that freshly-baked round.
I also had blinders on regarding other menu items. Because the place is called Brito’s Burritos, that was my focus. A return trip is essential (bringing my burrito-loving grandsons) to also sample quesadillas, nachos, tacos and eggy breakfast burritos. I envision many future visits.
P.S., I took my grandson to Brito’s to celebrate his 20th birthday. We both ordered burritos on delicate freshly griddled giant tortillas. My burrito bowl my first time around proved to be much neater— my wrapper split, creating a mess. Delicious, but I had to eat it with a fork. The fault was mine. I asked for nearly every filling option and some of them were juicy. It was a five-pounder! My grandson was more judicious and his meal remained intact.
Whatever you choose to stuff your tortilla, make sure to ask for guacamole and diced mango. If you want a lunker, ask for a double wrapper. You won’t need a fork.
Sprinkles brings delicious dessert dilemmas
After the entree, cool off via a quick stroll to Sprinkles, new tenant of the iconic mid-century former Dairy Queen at 1720 N. Lexington, where countless choices of icy soft-serve can complete your meal.
Sprinkles, which opened last summer, is definitely the go-to place for dessert (or any-time-of day indulgences), judging by the crowds the night my Friday dinner group visited. It was our third attempt; we were sure it would be open for the season the night we began our two-fer adventure at Brito’s. Not so. Again not-so when some of us made another trip days later.
The third time was the charm and we got into a long line at Sprinkles. If you’re waiting your turn and you have good eyesight, try to read the lengthy menu from a distance. If you can’t, once you get to the window to order, those behind you won’t be pleased if you peruse offerings too long.
Tim Hughs, who owns the nearby Maverick’s roast beef sandwich shop (you could have the first half of your two-fer there — it’s even closer) jumped on the opportunity to buy the former DQ (operating there since 1947) to continue vending icy treats. He just received an additional pair of soft-serve machines for a total of five cranking out batches constantly. And he’s ordering mix-ins from Italy for an array of gelato-like flavors. Can’t wait to sample those!
He and his forever friend and Sprinkles business partner Curtis Thompson (they grew up on the same Roseville block), oversee the complex and constantly-expanding menu, aided by a team of teens who were rehired for the second season. Hughs said he knew nothing about the soft-serve industry aside from occasionally buying a cone or sundae, but he wanted those treats to remain in Roseville “because they are a part of our community.”
Start with something simple, such as a kid’s scoop for $3 up to a trio for $8.25. Maybe not so simple— you still have to select flavors from a very long list. My speedy selection was a raspberry-dipped vanilla cone. It tasted just fine, but on a warm day, it dripped all over my fingers. Word to the wise: get it in a dish.
Fourteen shake options— plus invent your own— and 16 sundaes add to your decision dilemma. On another visit, I would be tempted by the $8 Dubai Chocolate Bowl.
If you haven’t encountered them yet, Dubai Chocolate filled with pistachio are a current sensation and the inspiration for the sundae. Toppings include pistachio cream, hot fudge and ketaifi, a mixture of shredded phyllo dough and nuts like pistachios that are baked until crispy, then blended with sweet syrup that’s a filling in Dubai Chocolate.
Actually, if I had to choose just one sundae, it would be the $7.50 Coconut Dream fashioned with coconut-almond soft serve, flaked coconut, almonds and hot fudge. I’m crazy for coconut in any format. When I was a kid, my mother had to hide her baking coconut because if I found it, I would eat it right out of the bag!
And there’s the further option of toppings, 95 cents per choice, including something called Sour Worms. The finishing touch can always be the namesake sprinkles. Gaudy but good.
Really hungry? There’s always a Banana Split, the classic with vanilla, chocolate and strawberry soft-serve plus the banana and assorted fruits. It’ll cost you $11.50. Or, for the same price, a Triple Banana Split built with soft serve in banana-peanut butter, chocolate banana pudding and banana pudding flavors. Toppings are hot fudge, peanut butter sauce, banana and — get this — graham crackers.
Before you visit Sprinkles, do your homework. Go to their website and scroll through their menu, making your selection before you get in line. Those behind you will be grateful.
