Saturday, August 28, 2010

RAVE - Papito

Ignore the cruddy image ... the place looks a LOT more welcoming now that it's finally open. 

"Gourmet Burrito Restaurant" is a new classification on the food scene. In order to find out whether it's the equivalent of realtors re-naming South Central Los Angeles as South LA, or a genuine quality niche, we cut along there this evening.

"It's only 2 blocks walk" my wife says, as I reach for the car keys. The fact that it's actually 3, and they're almost vertical doesn't register as a valid complaint, so a brisk climb it was.

Papito is yet another Chez Papa venture on Potrero Hill, which explains the initial shock of hearing staff speaking French in an otherwise Mexican eatery. Perhaps "gourmet" is a little overstated, but it was definitely a cut above whatever you can get on Valencia Street.

An intimate (19 seats, inside, and a few more outside), very warm atmosphere, match the excellent tacos, burritos and quesadillo small-ish plates. Tacos are $8 for 2, and because we wanted to taste as many varieties as possible, we have 6 between the two of us. The chicken, duck confit, skirt steak, and pork were fabulous; the fish and shrimp tempura were not.

Papitos rounds out an already extensive range of great eateries on 18th St atop Potrero Hill.

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