Went to Chili's today with a few buddies of mine, and I don't think we plan on going back.

Got there, ordered drinks + an appetizer, waitress goes and puts it in. comes back with drinks, app. to follow. About 10 minutes into drinks + the app, 4 other guys come in, seperate from us, and get seated at the booth next to us, order drinks + an app. The other guys get drinks and app. and order thier food, and our app comes out. So the waitress comes with other guys food, and finally takes our order. goes and puts it in, and comes back about 25 minutes later with our food, and gets the other guys check for them, the pay up, and leave, while we were there before them. I ordered the "Chicken Crispers" which weren't that crispy at all, more on the really really soggy side. I tred the fries that came with my meal, pretty soggy too, the corn that came with the meal, also soggy. I'm not feeling to good after eating it either.

Maybe its different at other places, but I don't think I'll be going back to the one in Wakefield (Reading?) MA.

 

i dont really like chilis that much either....but yeah i hate it when places are like that.

 

the chili's around here are all good.

 

Chilis is good I'd jsut complain on the waitress...

FYI i think during happy hour if you sit at the bar seciotn you get free chips and salsa, last time i was there it was free anyways.

 

I used to love this Chili's that was down in Tampa, but it went downhill one day. The service went sloppy and the food tasted bland. I was disappointed every time I went there, and decided the whole chain was bad. I was even going to send Chili's corporate a 2 inch thick stack of old Chili's receipts I had; to tell them what kind of business they were going to lose.

Then, a new Chili's opened closer to my house. The service rocks, and the food is better than ever. My wife and I go there every time we are in the area.

Moral of the story: Things change. If you don't get good food or serice, ask for the manager. Lost business is money out of their pocket. They will respond. If not, move on to another restaurant.
Complaining about the way things "used to be" wastes time, and makes you seem old and grumpy.

 

OMG! You were like a few hundred feet from my girl's place! They just built that place. We got to listen to all the construction all summer. The bastards were in a hurry and had crews working all weekend for much of the summer.

Chili's is like any other chain place: some are just fine, others suck ***, none are excellent. Bri and I ducked in there just a few weeks ago. We too had problems. I attributed it to them all being brand new. Basically we sat there and no one waited on us period. Seems they got mixed up as to who's table we were, or something like that. I too doubt I will be going back. Funny thing is Bri's 'rents, who are usually uber picky fine diners went there and were relatively happy w/ it.

The Chili's here in Nashua sucks ***! Way way worse. I now refuse to go there. The punk-*** that served us when I did go in basically called me a dumbass because I ordered a certian brand of beer. Not sure who taught him that sort of thing! Food was pretty bad too.

Meanwhile there was a Chili's in Rochester, NH not far from where I did my first two co-ops in college. We used to hit the place for 'long lunches' every other week at least. It was always just fine. The food was what it is and the wait people were cool. Plus they had $2 drafts, which was actually the main draw for us.

Those types of places are all hit or miss.

Unfortunately there are a lot of really crappy (some far worse than you experienced) places in that Wakefield/Reading area. I am horribly unimpressed w/ the whole area, food wise. Next time go a few blocks further in to Reading and look for a chinese place on your left after you turn right onto main street. It's called 'Emperor's Choice', 530 Main, they're pretty good. Also if you're in the area for breakfast, you definitely need to hit up 'Bagel World', which is on your left if you were to head down main in the other direction at 323 Main, that's wicked good stuff, but be ready for a line that nearly runs out the door! I'm adicted to their everything bagels. They rock..

 

I kinda like the Mandarin for chinese food (I recomend the boneless spare-ribs), next time I'm up that way, I'll have to check the Emporers Choice place out.

That's wierd I was right by her place man, My brother works pretty much across the street from Chili's, and my Mom works on the other side of 128, in the Lakeside office park. A buddy of mine lives on Juniper circle, probably less then 2 miles from Bri's house. (Just a side note - an ex-girlfriend of mine had a twin sister named Brianna)

 

I like the Mushroom Jack Fajitas......

But the waitresses are ugly and they never have it on the right damn football channel.

:x

 

Like you needa worry about looking at waitresses with your woman? :finga: :p

 

Sure! How easily I forget that there's another guy from the metro-Boston area around here. Everybody seems to be from Cali, Texas, FL, or the middle atlantic states. Nice to have a fellow New Englandah around..

I vaugely know where Juniper Circle is. Bri's 'rents live in North Reading and we cut up Haverhill St all the time to get there. I'm constantly amazed at how nice North Reading is. My perception of everything between 495 and 128 is not that great, except the Ipswitch and Newburyport areas. That North Reading/Wilmington/Middleton area is pretty nice though.

Call her 'Brianna' and you'll get a pop in the gut.. ..ask me how I know! ;-)

 

So I went back there today for lunch, did some planning with my future in-laws about the upcoming "gig" if you will.

They have this new thing I guess, where you build your own burger, I say hey, why not try that out. After placing the order and waiting for it (again) it eventually came out, and I was kinda surprised that it was sorta good. I wouldn't say its OutBack's "No Rules Burger" as I was able to actually finish this, where I have left-overs of the Outback when I go there (If you can remember Colin, I'm kinda on the skinny side), but it was tasty.

I guess I'm uping my review to a "bq"

 

Or, if you're a lefty, "pd" :D

I haven't been to Chili's in over two months.....I'm slipping.

 

I LOVE CHILI'S!!!!

LOL, i order the: oldtimer, plain, well-done, with a side of chili queso. if you haven't had the chili queso then you need to. i use it with my fries and it is the best ever, they also offer it for chips and salsa if you wan't

 

Come say that here in our Chili's on-base with a bunch of amazing Asian women running around! :D

 

Bah, I'm done w/ Chili's! I have had a few very bad experiences w/ them at two seperate locations in the area. Personally I can find somewhere else to have a burger.

For chain places we're addicted to Texas Roadhouse lately. The steak isn't bad, but the ribs are simply unbelievable! I can kill a whole rack, but it's a bad idea. Better yet is get the full rack, eat half it, and bring the rest home. It re-heats well! Besides, I just love a place where you throw peanut shells on the floor.. There's a location in Methuen just across the state line on 28 if you're interested Matt. We used to hit that one up maybe 3-4 times/yr. Now that there's one in Nashua it's up to more like 1-2 times/mo!

 

Both of the ones around here are good. Not exceptional, but never problematic. One is like 20 years old and the other just opened.

 

I agree with TheForce02. I love Chilli's, and when I go, I almost always get the Oldtimer, just so dang good.

 

Chili's is really good. Skillet Queso is awesome...and its free refills on the chips and queso!!! Sit at the bar and get some skillet queso and beer!!! Can't go wrong. The old timer with cheddar is one good burger too!