Lindy's Chili

Chili tamale for lunch.  My tamale was slightly warm and the chili was cold. The cheese on top didn't melt.  The bartender is probably a nice person but today she was severely lacking in the people skills department.  If it was closer I would give it another try but after I factor in the drive..I won't be back.

Lindy's Chili & Gertie's ice cream and I go way back, all the way back to McKinley Park and the 80's, yes I'm going to mention the Chili Bar on Archer by the Park because It was a great place to woof down some chili and ice cream after baseball at McKinley Park, sure the decor isn't that of a fancy Italian restaurant but someone is still keeping the delicious chili coming (I like mine with the elbow pasta) and that isn't easy to do in this day and age or especially on the South Side, so props to the owners for keeping Lindy's afloat and I can say without hesitation It's the exact same as it was 30+ years ago, and I have consumed enough chili over the years to fill the 55 gallon drum on your menu more than once I'm sure, so keep the brand going another 50 years so my kid's and grandkid's have something other than Dunkin Donuts as a ice cream option and Wendy's as our only Chili option.

Come for the ice cream, stay for the hair in your food!

Went out for a chili and ice cream with my wife and daughter on Friday.  I had an idea that it was not going to be a good experience, when we pulled into the parking lot and thought we had pulled into the wrong place,  it looked like a bar ... In fact it was ... the Chili Bar.  Turns out that this place is connected to a dive ... I should have known better when the parking lot looked like the cast from the movie Bar Fly ... only not as good looking.

We went in anyway ... the place was shabby ... dark green carpet that had seen better days, but I thought ... How bad can it be, they are an Ice Cream place. Big mistake, after we ordered (chili for me, banana split and sundae for my wife and daughter) a bar fly came in through the restaurant, you know the type mid 30's but looks 50, 6 months pregnant and reeking of cigarettes.  Why would she come into an ice cream parlor?  It turns out that This place has a direct connection to the dive next door.  Of course, the door was propped open so we could clearly hear the drunks next door drop F bombs left and right. After I heard the swearing, I asked the waitress, 16ish, not too bright, to close the door.  She did.

So I finished my chili, which was no better than Hormel, and decide to try the banana split.  I dig in put a spoonful in my mouth then feel something strange .... Wait ... That feels like a .... It can't be ... It was ... A friggin hair!!!!!!

I Spit it out with my Ice cream.  I rinse with water like there is no tomorrow.

I gag for a sec and show my wife ... She suggests we leave.  I call the waitress over and show her the hair.  The clueless dimwit proceeds to ask me if I am going to finish my banana split.  I felt like asking her to pack it and the hair for me.  I also told her that I obviously was not paying for it.  I took her a few second to process that and told me that she had to talk to the manager.  

We got the bill minus the charge for the banana split and the hair.  I drop a $10 bill and we take off for home so I can brush my teeth.

DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE!!! It is disgusting.