Masa - South End

Masa is the sort of restaurant that suits the mission of Dine or Death: affordable, nice decor and well-prepared food. It's a restaurant that you can utilize. Want something good on the cheap side? Go for brunch and get an entree for less than $10. Need to find a place to eat on a formal date that won't totally kill your wallet? Head over for dinner and splurge a little, but not a ton. Plus, finding restaurants with a formal South Western theme is rare in Boston.

I attended brunch at Masa and was confronted by the "Ultimate Breakfast Burrito." The concept of an ultimate burrito tantalized me with idealistic images of burritos that had somehow gained fame and grandeur through epic sequences of events that somehow brought them to my plate. I scoffed at the idea of such a godly meal, but decided to entertain the idea.

Ultimate? Probably not, but good nonetheless. A brick-sized burrito with a generous dollop of sour cream was laid before with rice, beans and salsa. Inside was a mixture of enticing things: scrambled eggs, spring vegetables, Monterey Jack cheese, chorizo and home fries. Home fries in my burrito? Delicious. The medley of ingredients created a thick and delightful combination of flavors: the soft eggs coupled with the firm vegetables and smooth sour cream made for an exciting texture.

I ask that you come and test the mettle of this potentially ultimate burrito for yourself. Make your own judgments of its claim and create your own fantasies from which it originated.

439 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116, 617 338 8884, www.masarestaurant.com