Chili's Bar & Grill

Chili's Bar & Grill, the South-Western and Tex-Mex casual dining restaurant has opened up on Airport Road, bringing their popular burgers, fajitas, wings and margaritas to the bustling neighborhood which already has Pappa John's, Domino's and Hyderabadi Biriyani right next door.

But what sets Chili's apart from the joints next door is their vibrant ambience, colorful decor, and friendly staff. We were quickly given a spot close to the bar, with a neat table that had a mosaic tiled pattern on it. Being close to the bar had its benefits, with a game in progress on the TV.

We started off with a bowl of their traditional chili (slow cooked with peppers, chilis and topped with cheese). It wasn't too bad, and had plenty of zing. A few others grabbed a bowl of nachos and tortillas and seemed quite happy.

A meal at Chili's wouldn't be complete without trying their Presidente Margarita (P.S: Grab the recipe here if you'd like to try it at home), so be sure to bring a designated driver along.

We went overboard with the main course items, trying out the fajitas, burgers, tandoori sandwich and pasta. Overall, the food was pretty good, although beef and pork were notably missing from the menu. Upon enquiring, we were informed that these would be available soon. It sounds Chili's may have chosen to play it safe at launch time to avoid ruffling any sensitive feathers. Their menu has a number of vegetarian options - soups, fajitas and pastas, and so the place is well suited for a family outing.

Since we were quite stuffed by this point, we didn't get around to trying their desserts, but word has it that their molten cake is quite popular. There were a couple of birthday parties going on that night, and there was a fun, boisterous crowd. You would likely want to make reservations on weekend nights since the Total Mall shoppers tend to end up here. The traffic in the area near Total Mall is pretty bad, but Chili's valet service is conveniently located. If you choose to self park, head down the gully by the side and you ought to find a paid parking spot at the end.

Cost: Rs 400-1000 per person
Cleanliness: Excellent
Quality: Very Good
Service: Excellent
Ambience: Very Good
Bottomline: TGIF is passé. Head to Chili's!

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