Joe and John Lanni are betting that American appetites for burritos are going to get bigger.
The brothers created the Currito chain of restaurants several years ago with two in the Cincinnati area, one in Cleveland and 11 more in major cities across the U.S. At least two new locations in the Cincinnati area are set to open in the next six months, and over several years the Lannis will open numerous new stores in other cities.
Currito takes the concept of the made-to-order “fresh mex” burrito that diners are familiar with from popular chains like Chipotle, and adds flavors and ingredients from international cuisines. In a Currito restaurant, a customer can order a “Bangkok” burrito with Thai ingredients, or a “Mediterranean” burrito with hummus, tomato and feta cheese, among many others.
“We like to call them burritos without borders,” says Joe Lanni. “Currito is the evolution of the burrito. The large national chains like Chipotle have taught everyone to eat them. Now we want to offer a new twist.”