Neo Burrito — Restaurant in Asheville

I used to love this place and stopped going when COVID hit. I remember trying it once since then and deciding it wasn't my jam, but it had been a couple of years and I thought I'd try again since it's so close to where I live. But I remember now why I don't go there anymore!

First of all, I want to acknowledge that this has no negativity intended for the young man who started my order. He seemed to be new and in training and my heart went out to him for the way he was being treated.

I'd ordered the half nachos after specifically asking the difference in portion size between half and full. While the young man helping me was in the process of adding the queso to my nachos, the woman he was working with snapped at him and told him not to give me any more. He'd given me 1/2 scoop and was going back for another 1/2 because the queso was gelled up in the spoon and he was simply making sure there was a decent amount on the nachos. The woman rudely told him "ONLY ONE SCOOP!" and he replied with "yes, I know. I only did 1/2 scoop and was going back for another 1/2". She then took over and turned to me and said "if you want another 1/2 scoop, it's $1 more. You only get one scoop." (She was NOT hearing it that he had only done half of that). I went ahead and paid it because the amount of queso presently on the nachos was laughable and in no way would service even half the chips.

The family in front of us also returned extra tortillas after she charged them for them as they didn't know they were being charged for them until they got to the register. They DEFINITELY give the vibe that they are all about the money. Charging for every tiny thing, after being told by the other employee that it was fine. Maybe he needs more training, but having worked in food, you never make the customer pay for kitchen mistakes.

They also do not take cash payments anymore because "cash often contains traces of cocaine"...but they do have a cash drop to put cash in to pay...it's weird. And it should also be noted that there was not a (visible) way to receive change after putting money in.

Once we paid and left, we were also just not impressed with the food. The chips were VERY stale. Like the kind of stale that doesn't break when you take a bite (with or without toppings). My husband's burrito was also lackluster, but he did say the only saving grace was the chipotle sauce.

The experience just left me feeling like a transaction and not a customer and the food is simply not worth the price. Not to mention, I genuinely felt SO bad for the young man trying to do his job and getting scolded left and right, in front of customers. Not professional. I'll either go to Moe's next time or choose a different...

Asheville native, first of all. I remember when this restaurant was great. I wish I could put more blame on the pandemic, but they were headed to this before then. We’ve tried to go several times in the last 5 years just to get there and realize they’re out of too many things and don’t even have the ingredients to make our food. We’ve walked out more times in the last 5 years than we’ve actually gotten food from there. Today it was just the catfish they didn’t have so we went ahead and put an order in. Two burritos $13/$17, one large queso $8, fountain drink $2.50. Total was $43. The kicker for me, and what prompted me to leave this review, is that they wanted to charge me $1 more for adding lettuce to the burrito. Considering that these burritos are mostly filled with beans and rice, very little meat and other fillings, there should be a wide enough profit margin for little add ons like this. I understand charging extra for guacamole, queso, pico de gallo, or even sour cream (like my husbands had the additional $1 charge for this). But lettuce? I imagine this is the least expensive ingredient they serve. I just declined the lettuce and chuckled a little at the ridiculousness of it. Ambiance is totally off here too, it’s like they definitely don’t want you to stay and eat. We got to go and knew we were taking out but I don’t think we would’ve stayed either way. I can go to a restaurant, where my hubs and I both order soda, get cheese dip, and be waited on for less than $43, including tip. I simply don’t see us going back. I also get that the sustainability, or the illusion of it, is important to them but it’s pricing them out of their intended market and it’s hardly a restaurant when they don’t have the ingredients to...

Greedy Capitalists pretending to be hippies! Let's get one thing perfectly clear, the owners of this business are doing it for one reason and one reason only: to make as much money as they can! All the environmental extras they do are for show. They want you to see and know about every little thing they do so you will feel good about them, they are playing to your eco guilt. The owners actually bought a wind power generator without doing any research to see if they had sufficient wind to use it, turns out they didn't and so they hung it up as a decoration. They don't actually care about the environment they just care that you think they do! Don't believe me? why does adding an extra veggie turn your $7.50 burrito into a $10 burrito? Any minor changes result in huge expense! Did you want extra chips? Oh that'll cost you. Every time I eat there it ends up being between $12 and $15 for no more food than I get at Moe's for half that! Moe's gives extra veggies and extra chips without charge or hesitation. Sure, Moe's is a greedy capitalist corporation - but at least they aren't wolves in sheep's clothes, pretending to be hippies who care but are demanding that you only get 2oz of chips or else you have to pay extra! for what Neo charges, I can take a date to Papas and Beer and get waited on - oh, and all the free...