Chili’s – The Tex-Mex International Chain

Grilled tenderloin along with seasonal veggies, mashed potatoes with gravy and shrimps

Grilled tenderloin along with seasonal veggies, mashed potatoes with gravy and shrimps

We had Chili’s bookmarked since it opened its first outlet in Kolkata. But due to several reasons the plan kept postponing. Finally one fine March afternoon we entered the Quest Mall outlet for a wonderful Tex-Mex lunch.

Location

Quest Mall is on Syed Amar Ali Avenue, just before the Beckbagan crossing on your left, if you are coming from Park Circus crossing. Chili’s is on the fourth floor of the mall.

Chili's Quest Mall Decor

Chili’s Quest Mall Decor

Ambiance

Chili's Quest Mall Bar

Chili’s Quest Mall Bar

The restaurant is decorated in a cool, casual yet elegant way. Red leather sofas for larger groups while wooden chairs for smaller ones. The wooden tables along with the exposed brick walls were perfect to go with the restaurant theme. The lighting was warm and we specially loved the one over the bar. Stained glass lanterns placed on a grid, it was a beauty. The bar, with five screens showing 5 different channels, looked great too.

Chili's Quest Mall Bar top lighting

Chili’s Quest Mall Bar top lighting

Food

Classic Nachos with fajita chicken, pico de gallo and sour cream

Classic Nachos with fajita chicken, pico de gallo and sour cream

For Appetizer we ordered Classic Nachos with fajita chicken, pico de gallo and sour cream. The amount was huge for an appetizer. It can almost fill up a normal eater. The pico de gallo was fresh and the sour cream was excellent. The nachos were finger licking delicious. Loved this dish.

Classic Nachos with fajita chicken, pico de gallo and sour cream

Classic Nachos with fajita chicken, pico de gallo and sour cream

For main we ordered a grilled tenderloin along with seasonal veggies, mashed potatoes with gravy and shrimps. They also serve a garlic bread along with it. We do not like the plain boiled unseasoned veggies that are served, with mains, in most of the restaurants in Kolkata. But here the veggies were perfect and we loved them. The garlic bread was good but the mash was a bit of disappointment. It was very lumpy. We personally prefer a more smooth one.

Grilled tenderloin along with seasonal veggies, mashed potatoes with gravy and shrimps

Seasonal veggies, garlic bread, mashed potatoes with gravy and shrimps served along with the grilled tenderloin

The shrimps that were served on top of the steak were great. Juicy and full of flavours. But the main attraction, the steak, was very chewy. It was really flavourful but very hard on the jaws.

The juicy and flavourful shrimps

The juicy and flavourful shrimps

For drinks, the Sangria was good. But there were not much options for beer. Ordered the Chocolate Truffle Cake for dessert. It was a great looking dessert served in a beautiful asymmetric glass, which tasted good too.

Sangria

Sangria

Chocolate Truffle Cake

Chocolate Truffle Cake

Service

If you are charging a compulsory 10% service charge in India, you must, must provide excellent service. Anything less than that is negative as we have already paid for the best possible service. Here the service was good, friendly, quick and attentive. Everything was great until we found a hair in our mashed potato. We were almost done with the mash when we discovered the strand of hair. We called our server and brought it to his notice. He took our plate to show that to his senior. He came after a minute or so and told us –
“I was told there was a hair in your mash. If you want, we can offer you a fresh one.”
As we already completed that dish and there was nothing else left on the plate other than that little amount of mash we declined the offer. Not everyone is interested in free food, specially if it is useless. We just want what we pay for. And we definitely didn’t pay a 10% above bill for someone’s hair in our food.

Close up of the hair found in our mash

Close up of the hair found in our mash

In all a good place to visit. But the management must understand that the service charge should not be added just because they are part of an international chain, but for the service that particular outlet provides.

Rating

Ambiance – 1.5 / 2
Service – 1 / 2
Cleanliness / Hygiene – 0.5 / 2
Plating – 0.5 / 1
Food – 2.9 / 4
Value for money – 1 / 2
Menu variety – 1.9 / 2

Overall 3.1 / 5

Chili's Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato