Johnston’s restaurant menu has yet another new offering.
Mayor Joseph Polisena led a delegation of town and state officials to last Friday’s unique “soft opening” and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Chipotle Mexican Grill, located in the corner unit of 1386 Atwood Ave. next to Ruby Tuesday’s.
Chipotle, which opened its first restaurant in 1993 and is headquartered in New York, invited a number of Johnstonians to the 81-seat eatery to sample a variety of foods. General manager Johanna Croteau said the establishment’s motto is “everything fresh every day.”
Dozens of people – including Polisena and Town Council members Stephanie Manzi, David Santilli and Richard DelFino III – enjoyed an early evening dinner. After sampling and giving a “thumbs up” about a number of different foods, Polisena and company gave a small “welcome to Johnston” greeting as a number of guests looked on.
“As mayor, it is always an honor to welcome a new business to the town of Johnston,” Polisena told Croteau, who was joined by assistant general manager Lauryn Willinger. “Representing all the citizens within the town, it is with great pleasure to welcome Chipotle Mexican Grill to our business community. Please accept our heartfelt wishes for success and prosperity now and in the years to come.”
With the addition of Chipotle to Johnston’s ever-expanding roster of restaurants have come 30 new full- and part-time positions.
Moreover, the new restaurant – which features an industrial-like interior – is the company’s way of presenting fast food that doesn’t have to be a “fast-food” experience.
“We use high-quality raw ingredients, classic cooking techniques and distinctive interior designs in all Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants,” said Croteau, who comes to Johnston by way of her home state of New Hampshire and Johnson & Wales University School of Culinary Arts. “The company brings features from the realm of fine dining to the world of quick-service restaurants.”
Chipotle, Croteau went on, “has a devotion to find the best ingredients possible, with respect for animals, farmers and the environment is shown through our Food With Integrity commitment.”
Chipotle also has another interesting and unique system called the Harvest Program. At the end of each day, no foods are thrown away or disposed of. Instead, through the Harvest Program, foods that were not used during the 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. shift are donated to area soup kitchens such as the Providence Rescue Mission.
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