North Adams Burrito Shop Offers Alternative Fare
 Jon Delsordo
Peter Camacho chows down on a foot-long vegetarian burrito at Los Amigos. |
"It's a great deal," Camacho said before starting in on his meal. "It's a great addition to the food choices in North Adams."
His bean-and-rice-stuffed wrap appeared to live up to owner Timothy Lanfair's promise to construct "burritos as big as your head."
It's a slogan Lanfair hopes will drive customers to his establishment in the long-vacant Pizza King site at 315 Ashland St.
Lanfair has single-handedly over two months revamped the entire building inside and out, painting the walls an inviting desert orange and adding to the seating capacity that will allow 22 customers to eat-in compared to a previous 14. A new addition of outside seating has been approved by the city and should be finished by the end of the month, said Lanfair.
Los Amigos features gigantic, foot-long burritos ranging from $3 to $7 that should please any appetite. It also offers a range of assorted Mexican dishes such as quesadillas, salads, rice bowls, soups and traditional tacos.
"The locals seem to love it; I'm glad that we are here with an alternative to just pizza and Chinese food," said Lanfair, whose burritos were being consumed so fast Monday that he ran out. Luckily, a truck full of supplies arrived in time for the dinner rush.
Lanfair is no stranger to the food industry. His track record dates back to his college years, spending three years as a cook for the Water Street Grill in Williamstown. He said he also was head food and beverage director at Orchards Hotel in Williamstown and head bartender at the former Gideon's Nightery; he's still working a few shifts at Gramercy Bistro. Lanfair also operated dragonflii, a clothing store, on Eagle Street for a couple years.
With little to no advertising, Lanfair opened up shop two weeks ago, serving more than 50 people in the first six hours of operation. "I've been doing this my whole life. It's been my dream to own and run something of this nature for some time now," he said.
Featuring homemade salsas, guacamole, chili, chips and attention to fresh meat and cooking practices, Lanfair and his five employees say they are ready for the summer rush. With the burrito shop just steps away from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, the summer should be good practice before the campus is once again deluged with hungry students.
With daily specials and "99-cent Taco Tuesdays," Lanfair said his motivation is "to make people happy, satisfied and, of course, full."
Los Amigos is open Monday through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m. to midnight through the summer. The phone number is 413-664-0440. With double-dipped Oreo and cornflake-batter fried ice cream coming soon, Los Amigos will have something for everyone.
(iBerkshires gives the pulled pork burrito a 4.5 out of 5 without sour cream; a 5 with it.)
