Tuesday, Nov. 30
November 30, 2010
HPD reaches out to area’s needy with food boxes
December 2, 2010
The holiday season always brings friends together. The question is where do you eat where you can eat, imbibe and enjoy good conversation.
For our crew, it was Chili’s Bar & Grill in Houma.
Normally, chain restaurants earn a bad reputation for being the same all over the U.S. But that’s not always a bad thing, especially if the eatery is known for delivering tasty, diverse dishes at a reasonable price in a friendly environment. And Chili’s n in Houma, Thibodaux or anywhere U.S.A. n has a handle on consistent quality.
Honestly, it was the $20 Dinner for Two deal that attracted our party. Each pair was able to share an appetizer and two full-size entrees for the $20 asking price.
My friend and I opted for the Bottomless Tostada Chips (normally $2.99) and Skillet Queso ($4.99). The others in our party were more daring, choosing Fire-Grilled Corn Guacamole ($5.29) and a Triple Dipper ($10.49), three picks from a smattering of items: Big Mouth Bites, Boneless Buffalo Wings, Southwestern Eggrolls, Chicken Crispers, Wings Over Buffalo, Fried Cheese and Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip.
I’ve long been a fan of Chili’s Queso. With just the right blend of cheese and beef, the skillet can hold its own against anyone’s. As for the Triple Dipper choices at the table, the chicken, buffalo wings with bleu cheese dressing and mini-burgers were a hit.
For our entrees, my guest went with the Memphis Dry Rub Baby Back Ribs ($16.99 for a full rack, $9.99 for a half rack), while I enjoyed a Country-Fried Steak ($11.29). The steak, smothered in black pepper gravy just like grandma made, came served with mashed potatoes and an ear of corn on the cob. A hearty meal, expect to ask for a box; this is at least a two-day meal.
A bit of a rib connoisseur, my friend brags on Chili’s dry rub. They’re enough of a reminder of the real deal in Memphis and slow smoked over pecan wood so they have that same fall-off-the-bone tenderness to make it a wise choice. Steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes rounded out the dish.
Again, Chili’s is notorious for its ample servings, which means leftovers are almost always part of the deal.
On previous trips, I’ve usually eaten lighter, opting for soup and salad. Chili’s has a Bottomless Express Lunch deal for $6.89 that includes a house or Caesar salad, chips and salsa and your choice of soups: Terlingua Chili, Chicken & Green Chile Soup, Sweet Corn Soup, Chicken Enchilada and Potato Soup.
It’s a filling bargain. The chili and enchilada soups are spicy enough to leave their mark but not overbearing.
One of the guests at our table selected my favorite salad: the Caribbean ($8.99). A blend of pineapple, mandarin oranges, dried cherries, green onions, cilantro and sesame seeds topped with Chili’s honey-lime dressing, the salad was topped with grilled chicken. Grilled shrimp is another option ($9.99).
Too stuffed on country-fried steak, I opted out of dessert. The braver among us ended the meal with the White Chocolate Molten Cake ($6.59). A tribute to decadence, the dessert consists of chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream under a white chocolate shell. It looked delicious, and the younger set at the table vouched for its tastiness.
Chili’s pub-like, casual atmosphere is what makes the restaurant a hit locally. Fashioned after a Dallas burger joint, the bar and grill has found the winning combination n a place where friends and families out on the town can find good food, a wide selection, warm hospitality and management that embraces the community spirit.
It’s what keeps locals coming back, I’m sure.
Chili’s also has an operation at 620 N. Canal Blvd. The restaurant is open the same hours as the Houma site. To reach the Thibodaux location, call (985) 447-8144.
In the meantime, find yourself a partner and take full advantage of the $20 Dinner for Two offer. There are plenty of choices and you can’t beat the deal at $10 each.
Chili’s Bar & Grill 1539 Martin Luther King Blvd. Houma, La. (985) 580-0810 Restaurant Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
