Nina’s Great Burrito Bar has opened its doors at 522 Columbus Avenue at 85th Street.
The new UWS restaurant is a collaboration between Jeremy Wladis of The Restaurant Group and Nina Guzman, the founder and owner of The Great Burrito, which previously occupied this space and before that, had a small spot on Amsterdam Ave between 79th and 80th streets.
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The Great Burrito was a neighborhood staple since 1994, but the pandemic caused the closure of its original location in 2020.
Guzman grew up in a small town in Guerrero, Mexico. While life wasn’t easy, some of her fondest memories are of watching her grandfather make fresh cheese which they would sell later that day at the local market. On some days, cheese samples would be her only meal. “On the rare occasions that her mother could afford to make her famous mole sauce from scratch, she would watch attentively and steal little bits of chocolate when her mom wasn’t looking. This laborious and complex sauce, native to her home state, would become the famous Nina’s Mole many fortunate New Yorkers would get to savor,” writes Claudia Flores, Nina’s youngest daughter.
Nina Guzman at Nina’s Great Burrito
Now open to the public, Nina’s Great Burrito Bar is a resurrection of the original, with some new menu items and a colorful atmosphere.
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Here’s the full menu, and here are some teasers (courtesy of the restaurant).
That carne asada burrito better be good for $20.
It all looks delicious!
I’ve already gotten food from there twice. There’s been a lot of turnover at the old location of Firehouse. I hope this one sticks. The tortilla soup is so delicious!
Have been a “fan” of the original Great Burrito since it opened over 25 years ago and from the very beginning felt it was (and still is) the best Mexican restaurant in town. Best wishes to Nina and her crew for continued success. Can’t wait to try some of their new dishes!