Chili's Grill & Bar

This Chilis is sometimes hit or miss, which is frustrating considering they often have great bar drink and bar menu item deals. In any case, I'll continue with my review - came here often with bf while we both attended WNEC, their service is usually sub par because you'll likely want to sit in the "bar" area (still a part of the restaurant and not just bar seating, the tables are just grouped closer to the bar and I think it actually sort of looks better over in this area) and you'll likely get ignored by your waiter at least part, if not all, of the time. Aside from that, the deal is usually good and you can take your pick of a lot of menu items at usually half off and drink standard margaritas for 3.99 and blue moon beers at 2.99.

What's good:

- bar menu/discounted chips and salsa (unlimited)
- sliders
- the standard nachos w/o meat - for some reason they don't taste as good with either chicken or beef on them, seems counterintuitive, but that's how it is (around $4 during their bar specials - which happen often! something like bar specials in the afternoon, after 9pm and all day Sundays...)
- boneless wings
- blue moon at 2.99
- fried cheese (aka mozzarella sticks) - can't really mess this up

And although I haven't had the lunch specials, I hear they're good and really cheap.

So depending on how you feel and whether or not it's late at night (Chili's is usually open later than most chain restaurants), this is a good pick because you'll enjoy cheap bar menu prices and have pretty good fried and/or greasy appetizers/entrees. And it goes without saying that Chili's is the sort of chain restaurant you go to when you want to have their type of food, aka sort of greasy and usually fried. It's all pretty much comfort food...so if you feel like healthier options, this probably isn't the best choice, though you could probably create some sort of "healthy"-esque meal, but why would you want to at a Chili's?

In sum: go if it's late, or a sunday, you want fried food and you want to take advantage of happy hour prices when it isn't happy hour anymore elsewhere. Go with patience though because as I mentioned above - the service is usually lacking and you'll have to ask more than once on occasion to get your server's attention.

On my first night in Holyoke, MA, we decided on Chili's.

It was about 8pm at night and had to wait 5 minutes for a table.  The people who work here are friendly and answered my questions with a smile.  Our section was busy, so it took our server about 5 minutes to come by and take our drink orders.  I asked a question about their 2 for $20 deal.

After our server came back with our drinks, we ordered.  We decided to share a house salad ($3.99) with citrus balsamic dressing and a full rack of baby back ribs ($17.99) original style (three styles available) with two sides (we ordered corn and french fries).

Our food came out fairly quickly (salad first) and everything was great.  Our server came back several times to make sure our food tasted good and to see if we needed anything else.

Thanks Chili's.

Xie Xie!

OK I know it's Chili's but come on! The night before Easter grab a quick bite. Restaurant nearly empty so sit us right next to a party of 15 that was I think a real estate office or some sort of sales group. As the "leader" called out names and their accomplishments the others all cheered!  Have you ever made the mistake of going to Walmart early in the morning same thing! We have now been at the table for 15 minutes and no one came over for drinks or to see if we were still alive! Go back to the hostess station, another 5 minutes finally a waitress comes by "I'm not your waitress, don't know who is your waitress but I understand you have been waiting awhile so I'll take your order". Needless to say we ordered drinks and apps right away in the fear we might not see her again. Guess what, apps come out, no drinks, she comes by "Oh you still don't have your drinks I must have left them at the bar". It's chain food I don't expect much from the food but I do expect decent service after all it's not brain surgery!