Being a foodie means having the itch for tasty and savory meals. This could be an exquisite four-course meal or a mighty $10 burrito at Burrito Xpress, also known as El Patio, found at 408 Water St, Eau Claire, Wis.
With a darker ambiance, El Patio brings out the semi-calmness after a hectic late-night adventure throughout downtown Eau Claire.
Customers have the freedom of choosing between various burrito options and the level of spice they would like to experience when devouring their food. It could be a chill, mild level that gives an ease to the taste buds or a hot and intense spice that can bring tears to the eyes.
Entering the restaurant after bar-close, you are greeted with the scrumptious smell of Mexican cuisine. With the top greatest hits playing through the speakers, you enter into a crowd of college students either waiting to order their own burrito or conversing with their friends.
Hand-in-hand with a friend while walking the short distance from the entrance to where the burrito is ordered, there is a sense of excitement for what is to come.
After placing an order, paying and receiving a burrito, customers are sent on their way to give their taste buds a mouthwatering experience.
There are times when finding a spot to sit can be difficult. In these cases, walking or driving home responsibly will still bring out the magical flavors of the burrito. However, if customers can find a spot in the restaurant, take full advantage of it as the experience is blissful.
The first bite of an El Patio burrito is an eye-rolling, toe-curling, mind-altering moment where the whole world will slow down, focusing on the exact moment of flavors bursting through the taste buds like a supernova.
Followed by the psychological response of a content sigh, the world begins to cycle back into motion with the movement of bodies and sounds of conversation returning, with the mind being brought out of an immersive, otherworldly state and thrust back into reality.
Leveling out into the normal timeline of the universe, customers are brought to discuss their burritos with friends and enjoy the last hour of a night out on Water Street. Mingling amongst one another, patrons devour their burritos held up like the holy grail.
My favorite part of visiting El Patio is talking about side quests that occurred throughout the night. The craziness of the She-nannigans dancefloor or the saltiness of The Pickle’s popcorn. Many conversations are shared during the consumption of burritos.
After the last bite, friends shuffle out of El Patio’s doors, saying their goodbyes to one another and embarking on the journey home to where a bed awaits the arrival of its owner.
With the lingering flavor of ingredients from the burrito, customers walk or ride home reflecting on the night behind them. Filing memories into sections of the brain to be reintroduced the next morning for a debrief with friends.
And with this journey home comes the anticipation of the next luscious taste of an El Patio burrito during the next nightly adventure.
Soderlund can be reached at soderlml0539@uwec.edu.
