Big Mamma's Burritos — Restaurant in Athens

I have to edit this review. It pains me terribly but here goes. You can read my original review below from a year ago and it was legit from the first burrito I tried over eleven years ago to that day even just a few months ago but much has changed and not for the better.

It seems new ownership has rebranded so to speak with a new look. This change is welcomed and looks good. Inside kind of takes away from the hole in the wall burrito place but I was excited to see growth so many more people could enjoy Big Mamma's.

I was angry at the Columbus opening because I didn't want to see it spread up north and was simply selfish to want to only have it in Athens.

Then I tried a burrito after the new ownership and disappointment set in. The burrito was smaller with less volume of ingredients and the price went up. I was upset but thought it was just a bad night as Big Mamma's was known as having the best burrito at the best price and it was even too big for some to eat in one sitting.

I have gone back several times in hopes it was a fluke but it seems that it is not. The regular mamma is not much bigger than what used to be called the baby mamma and now it costs two dollars more than it used to cost to order the burrito the way I like it.

They even skimped on the chipotle ranch to the point that I couldn't even tell it was on there and I order a chipotle ranch mamma. Some used to tell them to lighten up on it because it was too much but it was perfect to me. I feel I have to ask for extra now to taste it but fear it will now be a $10 burrito if I do.

What was so great about Big Mamma's was the town, the people and environment but the excess was what made it special. The size, ingredients and taste was always plentiful and amazing especially at an great price. I would seriously drive over an hour away to get one in the middle of the night because it was that good and worth every penny. It saddens me to say that this is no longer the case and I'll just stay in my town and get a burrito from Qdoba for the same price but get almost a third as much more food.

Please go back to your roots Big Mamma's. I don't even mind paying the extra money to keep the business going but you just aren't giving as much at that extra cost. Pour on the ranch and toppings. Fill that tortilla up and go back to the way it used to be.

My life is a little less full after what you have become.

Make Big Mamma's Great Again!

Here is my original five star review from almost a year ago:

I consistently drive over an hour one way any time I get a craving for Big Momma's and that is pretty often. Try a Chipotle Ranch Mamma with pork, no veggies and add bacon. It's my own special request every time and I haven't found anything that comes close anywhere....

Went in to pick up a DoorDash order and order a burrito for myself yesterday. Much to my disappointment, when I get home all I find is a bowl filled with my burrito ingredients. I also had the same issue with my DoorDash I picked up. I call back and to ask about my order and the guy just says “yeah we don’t have large tortillas”. The employee claimed to have tried to call to tell me about the DoorDash order but there were literally no missed calls to be found as well as the fact that he can’t refund me since it was through DoorDash. So I think okay that’s fine, I’ll just take it back and get a refund for the other burrito I ordered inside at least. The guy gives me attitude and says we’ll if you ordered at the kiosk there’s a big note that says we’re out of large tortillas right on it. Yeah sure thing buddy, as I look to see a tiny post it note that says only small burritos. Then he proceeds to tell me there’s an issue on his side trying to refund me and he’ll have to email a representative to get my money back tomorrow. I didn’t even keep the food, I gave it back to the guy when he was trying to refund me. No refund has been issued. Tried to call back today and they are closed for the next two days. Big mama’s has made my list of places I won’t be returning and I highly suggest nobody else eats...

Oh no, I really can’t believe I’m writing this, but my experience at Big Mamas was so different than before. The prices have gone up yet again, but the burritos got smaller? I swear a full sized mama was hard for me to eat before! Definitely smaller portions now. Also, I have been eating Big Mamas for almost a decade and never gotten anything besides the Philly Mama sub steak for black beans. I know what is usually tastes like and unfortunately it just really missed the mark now. Tater tots don’t taste like the old way the potatoes did— i remember they’d put the potatoes and beans together and warm them up before scraping them into the burrito? I don’t know, it just made me sad. I know change can be good, and it’s wild to see the updates and new varieties and vegan options for protein, but I was really hoping the taste would be as dynamite as I recall and it just wasn’t. I am sure for new college kids who only this big mamas, it’s great. And had all the plant based options been around when I was 18, maybe I would’ve gotten more than the philly with black beans. But it is what it is, i’m getting old and things are changing and sometimes things just don’t hit the same, or taste the same...