"Chipotle's proprietary “Sofritas” in the Vegan Bowl consists of shredded tofu, which I appreciate because I steer clear of sorrowful mock meats and overly processed foods that seem to mock veganism. As a hearty eater, I ordered two bowls. My first bowl was decent, although the brown rice was a bit dry, hard, and undercooked; still, everything else was quite enjoyable. I appreciated that nothing was excessively spicy, not even the two salsas.
However, my second Vegan Bowl brought an alarming surprise: a single, narrow piece of steak measuring nearly two inches long. It was unmistakable. I can understand that cross-contamination might happen if the server used the same ladle for a Keto or High Protein Bowl as for a Vegan Bowl. That would certainly show inattention or carelessness. Yet, this piece of steak was too large to have simply stuck to the ladle’s underside and was too obvious to be missed.
While I hesitate to make unfounded accusations, I can't shake the feeling that the cook intentionally added that piece of meat to my second Vegan Bowl. Who knows what else could have inadvertently made its way into my meal in less visible forms? As vegans and vegetarians, we need to be vigilant when dining out. Even if my suspicion about the deliberate addition of steak turns out to be incorrect, this incident serves as a reminder to prefer entirely vegan restaurants over those that are simply vegan-friendly. For the latter, all their items labeled as vegan should carry a warning: "Manufactured in a facility that processes animal products. May contain meat."
I want to clarify that my experience only reflects the Groton location and does not tarnish Chipotle's reputation as a whole or even the Glastonbury outlet. I might consider trying a Vegan Bowl in Middletown or Glastonbury in the future, but will definitely avoid Groton. In the meantime, I advise Glastonbury customers to be cautious of potential meat contamination in their Vegan Bowls."
