Although the new Chili's doesn't necessarily stand out when you are driving by, I'm sure that there are plenty of others like me who watched eagerly to see what was being built there and who were thrilled when they realized it was a Chili's. I was actually surprised that they were building a new location so close to the other location on Mason Road, but I'm not complaining. It has obviously "caught on" quickly because both times we have visited, we have gone early (in an effort to beat the dinner crowds), and it has still been relatively busy.
Although it looks small from the outside, there is really quite a bit of seating available inside. This Chili's lcoation has a very "open" concept, which I liked. While most locations have a bar and a smoking area, the bar is typically fairly small (with a few tables) and closed off from everything else. In this location, the bar and smoking area are all together. There is a wall that is probably 3-4 feet high with glass from the top to the ceiling the separates the smoking and non-smoking areas so you can still see into the bar/smoking area, but you don't have to worry about the smell. This location seems to have more booths than it does tables, so if you are bringing a large group, it may be difficult to find seating to accommodate the entire group (and you'd likely have to wait awhile to do so).
The service we have received both times has been impressive. At the location on Mason Road, it seems like our servers are always rushing us through our meal so that they can move on to the next customer and that was not our experience here. Even though they have been very busy on both of our visits, they managed to keep our drinks filled and also checked on us frequently. I felt like we had just placed our order and our food was already arriving. Everything was exactly as we requested.
One of the great things about Chili's is that their menu is very diverse ranging from salads and pasta to chicken, shrimp, and even steak, so there is something for everyone. I have tried several of their appetizers and have never been disappointed. My two "favorites" are the Southwestern Eggrolls and the Skillet Queso. This location has all of the same "favorites" as the other locations.
This location also offers "call ahead seating." Basically, you can call in advance and get your name on the list so that you can be seated quickly when you arrive. This is a great option, especially if you have children.
If you don't feel like dining in, you can also place a "To go" order. You can order any items from the menu and go in and pick them up. They have special "to go" parking and a "to go" counter so it is basically hassle free.
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