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I like chili's eggrolls, boneless chicken "wings", and their battered chicken. yum.
we don't go that often, but it's not like they brought about the end of the world or anything. They're not overly expensive. In cities where they have a no smoking law, it's pleasant to go and chill out there - inexpensive, decent food and fun. In cities where smoking is allowed, then frankly, it's hell trying to sit there and breathe. But I guess that has nothing to do w/ the chain other than they should really separate the spaces more.
The downfall of Chili's is their horrendous rice and beans. I ordered rice and beans once, with my fajitas. It is one of my favorite things to order at "Mexican" restaurants. The monstrosity that the server brought out was not anything that should be served to humans.
Also, the chicken strips that we bought my child were the best tasting thing on the table. Weird.
When I was in my '20s, I lived about 3 blocks away from the very first Chili's restaurant at the corner of Meadow Road and Greenville Avenue in Dallas. It was a hugely popular restaurant from the very start - long lines out the door every evening. Their menu was simple - about 4 or 5 burgers, fries, soft tacos, and chili - the real thing. I even got to know one of the owners and he would usually buy my party a round of beer.
It started going downhill when he sold out to Norman Brinker (also a Dallas guy who started Steak 'N Ale). The final straw for me was when they stopped selling their original "bowl of red" Texas chili. Sacrilege at the very least. So much that I wrote to corporate offices complaining and I even visitied with a local franchise owner about it. He agreed with me.
Probably by coincidence, about 2 or 3 months later, the original "bowl of red" Texas chili was back. I will go there for that, and maybe a few other items, but it's not the same.
In small towns and suburbs the world over, everybody raves about Chili's. It is a popular social/hangout spot among other things, and you'll usually wait an hour or more to get in if it's a weekend night. However, I don't see what all the fuss is about. As a bar/hangout there are better options and the food is virtually identical to places like Applebees, Friday's, Bennigan's, etc which is really just pre-packaged food as you would find at KFC, McDonalds, Taco Bell, etc. Why not just go to McDonalds and get the same burger for $1 instead of $10? In addition, its my opinion that Chili's is a poster child for the homogenization that has overtaken every aspect of American life. Is there something I am not seeing? If I had to grade Chili's it would get a solid F. From an objective standpoint, the food is not horrible but it is still FAST FOOD and should be priced like it.
Nothing special at all about Chili's now and frankly between there and Applebee's, the food is horrible. I remember when going to Chili's back in the late 80s the food was a lot better then.
I will give Ruby's a thumb's up on their burgers and other fare.
If other people enjoy them, I'm happy for them, but I've never had a meal I enjoyed at Chili's so to me it is a mystery. Also, not great service. I would say maybe they were having a bad day, but it's happened a few times.
Olive Garden is another heat it up place, but their adverts try to make it sound like they have chefs back there. Not bloody likely.
I too prefer Applebees. I like their steak a lot better than any of the other "equivalent" restaurants.
Edited: WAIT! Somebody mentioned Ruby Tuesdays. I really like their food the best. But it's smaller portions for greater cost, so we don't go as often.
what about Outbacks? is it the same as those, I agree that Olive Garden falls into the category, but I still like to eat there... are they all prepackaged?
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