I've been hurt by mac-and-cheese ever since I went to a really expensive steakhouse, spent $9 on the 3 bites of mac and cheese, and threw it up later. It might have been the 5 beers I drank earlier but I digress...
Ever since then, I've been on a voyage to find good mac and cheese. Low and behold, I think Slim's is that place! I had the Po-boy and the jalapeno mac and cheese. The Po-boy is decent but I would make a trek out to Georgetown everyday just for that mac and cheese. I also had a bite of my friend's chili which had a nice spice to it. I'm personally not a huge fan of chili but I could see it being delicious for those chili connoisseurs.
Would have been 5 stars had the bartender not been a bit rude when I tried to add cornbread to my meal. Also, an Asian guy came up to me and my friend and asked, "Did you notice that we're the only Asians in this place?" He was probably waiting to say that for like an hour.
Lazy day off with the husband and we decided to drive to SODO to check this place out. It was featured in Food Channel's  Diners, Drive-ins and Dives so it was worth a place to check out and get some grub at the same time.  We ordered the red chili dog and added some extra toppings. I'm not a chilli dog fan but I really enjoyed it here. Great ambiance. At night they probably have a live band playing. There was  stage. There is street parking or a small lot in the back and some outdoor seating as well.
Review Source:I checked out Slim's because I heard how great the chili was. I decided to go for happy hour and had a great time. The place was more of a hole in the wall bar that served food than it was a restaurant. I definitely wasn't run down, it just wasn't a fancy place by any means. It seems like its a regular stop for bikers. That said, I had a great time, the servers were friendly and everyone in the place seemed to be in a good mood. It also had a cool outdoor seating area for when it's nice outside.
I came here for the chili and was not disappointed! The Chili verde was delicious! It was flavorful and hardy; I've been craving it since I went. The jalapeno mac and cheese was also very good. They have 4 different types of chili and I look forward to trying all of them. They have a full bar and a good selection of microbrews on tap. The happy hour was alright, they had a few chili related items on happy hour price, like a frijto pie, which I didn't try. They also had discounted beer prices which was nice.
The prices were a little high for chili, but the chili was awesome! Overall I give it 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys hole in wall type environments and great chili.
Service is why they received three stars. Otherwise, for the price, the food is overpriced, and while it's good, it's nothing special. Additionally, the menu is limited. Lastly, this is a bar. You must be over 21 to eat. My 18 old son got carded and we found out the hard way...
Fortunately, the server told us to go next store to the BBQ restaurant which is owned by the same people. They allowed us to order from the menu from Slim's. Both servers were very friendly and accommodating.
First Triple D place that we wouldn't go back. With only 4-5 versions of chilli's and needing to be over 21, it just doesn't cut it for us.
Look. You just have to come here. You're being mean to yourself if you don't try this place.
You have four chilis to choose from. You put it on grits. You put it on Jalapeno Mac. You put it on cornbread. You choose toppings, like cheese, roasted peppers, sour cream.
Then you eat it. And you are SO happy.
They have sandwiches too. And chili fries. And hot dogs.
I shouldn't have to tell you anything else, but I will. I can't believe you aren't there already.
There's a pool table. They have live music sometimes. The waitresses are all tatted up. They accommodate big groups well. They serve beer in mason jars.
Green tomatillo chili is really good. Great tang and slow simmered tender pork. I ordered a side of jalapeno mac/cheese that went well with the chili. The cheesy grits are good, too, but I'm not sure what they go well with. The red chili with beans was not my favorite. The beef was not very tender and the sauce tasted like it had beer in it, which in itself is not a bad thing, but something about it didn't work for me. I went on a Saturday at 1pm and they have outdoor seating, which is very nice on a sunny day. Service was fast and friendly.
Review Source:There is something unnerving about eating an $10+ bowl of chili. When it comes to food in general, I usually don't mind throwing down any amount, as long as the food delivers. There is also the whole thing about eating food that is notorious for causing...disagreeable digestive issues later. But hey, I've never let that stop me before.
With that said, I've got to say that the Turkey and White Bean Chili was really good. Just shy of 4 stars. I chose to have mine on top of mac and cheese, which was a mistake as it turns out that night, as they scraped the last dry, 'leavings bits' from their mac and cheese pan and used that to set my chili on. But I don't hold grudges, Slim! I may try the mac and cheese alone on the side the next time I'm there, and when I do the Turkey chili again (not a red meat eater) I'll opt for grits--which I love anyways.
The husband-type fellow that I hang out with had the Chili Cheese Kobe dog with the works. It was exactly what he wanted to eat, he said; but also said that the hot dog was not earth-shatteringingly different than any other quality hot dog. He also ordered the corn bread, which was pretty good too.
The live music was great here! Interesting covers of popular music--I wish I could remember his name--I would watch him perform again. Good, mellow energy throughout the restaurant, which is why the 4-star rating stands.
And I don't know if it's true about the other chilis there, but I didn't have any tummy troubles after ;)
Slim's is a real gem in our fair city. Â I've been there about 6 times now, and each time have brought a different friend or relative. Â They all like it as much as I do. Â Their chili, the burgers, the fries are all good. Â My daughter loved this place. Â The two of us were having some burgers and beer and they had a medley of Allman Brothers tunes playing. Â It doesn't get any better than that.
In fact after I turned my cousin on to Slim's, he brought all his coaching cohorts here to have their informal meetings. It became their go-to-place
Want a place to enjoy good music, a tasty beer and some amazing chili? Slim's is the place for you, then. I am a fan of their chili verde and white bean turkey chili-- on corn bread of course! And their hand cut fries.... I would go here *just* for the fries.
I have not been here for a live performance yet. Â It's on my bucket list, though. I love the bluesy tunes they play over their system, and always enjoy some old favorites along with hearing something new. It's so nice to go here when it's not too packed, hang out with friends over a hearty bowl of chili and shared basket of fries, and enjoy the music.
The place is not fancy, just wooden tables and benches, a pool table, bar stools at the bar. When it's warmer out they roll up a garage door and there's outside seating. Â The waitstaff is efficient, although sometimes it does take a little while to get your chili order. It's worth the wait, in my opinion. Even though the digs aren't fancy, the food is not cheap. Recent dinner for 3 was $43 before tip, but that was for two bowls and one cup of chili, all with extra toppings, a large basket of fries and three drinks. To repeat myself, I think it's worth the price.
I also follow Slim's  on Facebook, and was really impressed when they were using a variety of outlets to help recover a standup bass stolen from their place on a live performance night.  The bass was recovered and they shared the details with their fans.  Their page is a good way to keep track of who will be playing there, and what nights to avoid stopping in  if you want a more relaxed dining experience. Â
PS I haven't ever seen the D,D&D episode Slim's was featured in. Â A friend who is even more into the blues than I am suggested my husband and I check the place out.
No frills magic in a bowl. I see places like this on popular t.v. shows but never thought of going until one of my friends who I was on a road trip with suggested we eat there before leaving town. I'm glad we did.
The chili was great. The cornbread was great. Chili cheese fries, great.
A bit out of the way but worth the trip for sure!
so i saw this place on foodnetwork and decided to try this out. i met up with my cousin here on his lunch break. lol, he wore a really nice suit and a vest and ordered the chili dog. anyway, i ordered the green chili. it was good. i think its super over hyped from tv, but i suppose it was worth trying.
service was really slow and it seemed like the server/bartender was more interested in gossiping with the regular bar flies than serving the customers who were sitting at the tables.
pretty pricey for a bowl of chili and a hotdog... i may come back if i ever have a craving for chili
Texas red Chilli is $8.75 for a bowl. Comes with maco and cheese or white cheddar grits. Â Add. $2.75 for the works and $3.25 for the cornbread with honey butter.
The chili was packed with flavor with strong spices. Almost a bit too spicy and I do like spicy. My nose couldn't stop sweating and running. The guy sitting next to me kept asking if I was ok because I was gasping for air to cool off my tongue. Also, I didn't like the fact it wasn't served warmer. It was served at moderate temperature. The Mac and cheese was my favorite. After I noticed I was missing the Mac and cheese she brought out a scoop their last one.
Overall, the chili was ok. The cornbread and Mac and cheese I really enjoyed more.
After hearing about this place on TV, Yelp, and everywhere else, I left feeling disappointed. Â We went on a weekday evening and there was live music, which was the only highlight. Â We weren't sure if we placed our orders at the table or the bar, but eventually a bartender came over and we ordered - a bowl of brisket and bean with the works and a bowl of Texas red with mac and cheese underneath.
The chili was lackluster, and I felt like the portion of brisket and bean was measly under the toppings. Â Also, I'm not sure if I got what I ordered, because it tasted too acidic and not thick enough to be a "brisket and bean" chili. Â It was so dark, I couldn't see the food, and I still don't know what I actually got. Â There were only a few bites of mac and cheese under the Texas red.
Maybe we went on an off-night, but that first visit did not persuade me to return.
Visiting from Austin, TX. Â I saw this place on DDD. Â You can watch it on Youtube if you search for it. Â
Amazing chili. Â Talk about great flavor. Â I got a bowl of the new mexico green chili and it was off the hook. Â Got mine with the jalapeno mac & cheese at the bottom. Â Added peppers and tortilla strips to mine. Â Just great flavor. Â You taste the well smoked pork, the amazing NM green chili and just a variety of spices. Â I liked it so much I ordered a to go. Â Friend got the hotdog with the texas red chili. Â They also have burgers you can order it with. Â
Venue is simple. Â Large bar, several round tables, and an outdoor patio. Â Location is on SW side of downtown near all the shipping ports. Â
Its just hands down some awesome chili. Â Just awesome. Â Simple venue but cool staff.
Best chili I have ever had. Â Went there with my dad and a couple buddies because my dad had seen a great rating on Zagat. Â I had the chili verde which was to die for. Â You have a lot of options in terms of things to add (onions, cheese, crispy things, sour cream etc) and we all got "the works" which is all toppings. Â
The spice builds but was never overwhelming. Â The flavors were all over the place. Â This is the first time I have ever said this with a straight face: "it's like a party in my mouth". I said that as I ate and still think it's accurate. Â My dad had the classic chili and another had the turkey and white bean. Â I think mine was the best but everyone was thrilled with theirs.
 I wish the chili was about 25% larger, I was perfectly full at the end, but I could have stuffed myself ;).  It's a great funky bar, we didn't imbibe because we had just beer tasted at Emerald City Beer Co. And we all had to drive.  In any case, I will definitely go back for the chili.  Maybe next time I go to a cold-weather Seahawks game I will stop there first.
The chili is not cheap (around $15 for: a bowl + all toppings + a side  of cornbread + tax...ie our bill was $62 total), but is more than worth the price.  It is one of the best things I've eaten in a while.
Can't believe it has been almost 3 years since I was here last. Â Seems like 2 max!
Anyhoo, not quite as enamored as I was the first time. Â Brought hubby here this time. Â DDD showed the rerun of Guy's visit last night & hubs wanted to go today!!!
Got there at about 5pm. Â The bar was full but there were plenty of tables open. Â Scored a nice parking spot on the side street. Â The parking lot in the back had some large puddles & mud & gravel.
Hubby loves Po Boys so we split the crawfish po boy first. Â Not impressed. Â Too saucy & not very big. Â Good fries though. Â Hubs ordered a bowl of the Texas Red with a dollop of sour cream & chives. Â I tried a couple of bites. Â I know if I ate the whole thing I'd have heartburn for days! Â It was crying for some plain saltine crackers, cheese & onions. Â I think it's a little crazy to pay $8.25 for a small bowl of chili & then have to pay an extra $1 for a little shredded cheese. Â :( Â I got the HH $3.50 Frito Pie. Â I had it with the turkey chili. Â Not enough chili to make a judgment on it. Â :( Â Plenty of fritos though. Â I very easily could have ordered another one but did not. Â
Service was good enough. Â A little slow but not horrible. Â Thank God for the free peanuts to snack on.
I only eat here for lunch when I am in the area so I can't really opine on what happens when the sun goes down but it sure feels like a lot of places that I used to frequent in my distant past. Â That cloying smell of chlorine in the background masking undesirable smells is like perfume to me.
I guess that is why I like this place. Â It's nostalgic in a sense and the chance that I get stabbed in the middle of day is very slight.
.......and the food is good. Â Chili, chili, chili in all of its glory but what I really enjoy eating here is the crawfish po boy with extra peppers. Â Reminds me of New Orleans.
My second favorite is the chile cheese burger with the works. Â A different taste in every bite.
Yeah....I am a condiment slut.
This is one of my favorite places. Awesome outdoor deck and bar has been great this summer. Â They have a limited but extremely tasty menu. Â Last night I had their jalapeno mac & cheese and I was in heaven. Â Also, the staff is great and friendly. Â I love the clubs in G-town, but frankly so often the staff acts like they are doing you a big frickin' favor by getting you a drink, but not here. Â And they music is always stellar. Â
Tom
When you think of a bar with a name like "Last Chance" dont you just think of vultures and tumbleweed and lots of cactus? Well the only "vultures" are the well endowed servers perched ready to assist at the nimblest nod. No tumbleweed, but the dirt parking lot lets in a little puff of dust now and again that frankly added to the atmosphere. And the only cactus comes in a shot glass.
True to the name, this is virtually the last place to grab a bite on 1st ave south prior to the viaduct. The building is shared with Pig Iron-a fairly good BBQ spot (closes at 4pm weekdays-thus this review)
Now to the food:
Can you imagine a 100% Kobe Beef hot dog? MMMM, They have craw fish po'boy sandwiches, hand cut-thick cut french frys and huge "last chance burgers". Each of these items live up to the price-around $10 with frys though the burger, though recommended by one of the "pretty birds", was the least complementary item consumed.
The craw fish po'boy had great flavors rich with hot sauce spiced mayo. Even though the sandwich was falling out of the bread I wanted more craw fish. The Fry's were great-throw on a little more salt and some hot sauce and away you go-transported to the 'ol west.
If youve got to choose something, make sure you get the cornbread. It is exceptional.
Come Hungry
This place is the definition of "poser". Â I was expecting a chili-slinging dive-bar with beer flowing and real "characters" hanging around. Â It's like it wants to be that, but not at the expense of possibly offending anyone. Â Their rule of not allowing anyone under 21 is completely unnecessary except to keep annoying, screaming children out.
This is where the hipsters and Gen "Y"ers can come and think they're at some road-side rough dive bar. Â I've never seen so many messenger bags or so many slacker-cool haircuts with ironic pun shirts at any dive bar. Â Nor have I seen that many blazer/sweater combos at any bar of any type. Â There were guys getting out of Volkswagons with cowboy hats and cowboy boots and stylish cowboy shirts. Â Not something that happens at a "dive" bar.
The band that was playing last night was a band that kept saying "are you ready to rock?!" to a bunch of older people that you would have considered the "cool" english-lit professors from UW and rebel-without-a-clue 70s babies. Â Which definitely fit the band as they wrote all their songs every song to be about a different novel that they read. Â I wouldn't even classify them as nerd-core. Â Not really fitting the "dive-bar" feel.
The identity crisis continues in the food. Â I had the Brisket and Beans chili. Â Not bad, not the best I've ever had, but not bad. Â I also got the cornbread which was respectable. Â I wasn't expecting culinary gold, in fact I was expecting some cubed beef stewed with beans, rice and hot peppers. Â Instead I got a feeble attempt at "gourmet chili". Â It was in the middle, completely forgettable. Â In a dive-bar you're either shocked that the food is awesome, or the food is simply greasy fuel that is part of the "experience". Â Also, explain to me how they have different chilis and also hamburgers, but no chili-burgers. Â I saw a man want a chili-burger and they told him they didn't do that. Â Excuse me, Â but how is this place in any way above putting chili on a hamburger?
This is the "Applebees" of "dive" bars. Â Meaning it's completely safe, like Applebees, but looks like a seedy bar. Â The decor is like a dive bar, rough wood liquor shelves, industrial looking bar, neon signs and Dia de los Muertos style paintings. Â But with all the hipsters and the literature-centric band, and a demographic that looks like a cross section of UW's English department, it adds up to just a mess of juxtaposition.
5 Stars. As good as it gets!
1st time, I ordered the chili cheese dog and it was delicious. Didn't feel the best afterwards bc it was just a little too much food. Couldn't stop myself at the time bc it was so delicious.
2nd time I had the BEST chili i've ever had. Turkey and White bean chili over mac n cheese with shredded cheese and tortilla strips on top. You can also get it over corn bread which soaks up the chili nicely. The mac n cheese takes it to a whole nother level tho. Damn.
Moved here from the east coast and fell in love with the food here in Seattle. One evening, I am reading my issue of Bon Appetit and there is this article on the 10 top chili places in the US. Â And Seattle is probably not even the top 20 that would come to mind for chili. Â Behold! Â Slims Last Chance!
Please, don't let the biker bar look fool you. Â Yeah, those are real tattoos on the girls that are both bartenders and servers. Â But all are the nicest gals one could ask for. Â Yeah, I would bring them home to mom! Â
When my wife and I were there that bright and unusually sunny day in Seattle, we noticed the clientele spanned from grandma and grandpa to young 20 something band members getting refreshed.
Onto the food!  Slims offers 4 chilis, Texas red (no beans), beef and beans, verde and a turkey chili.  You can get it in cup size or in a bowl.  Then get it with the works which is a seared jalapeño, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, fried tortilla and onions (or you can ask for these toppings individually). THEN, add your chili over top of white cheddar grits or Mac and cheese with jalapeño.
My wife ordered the verde, and I being the traditionalist ordered the Texas red. Â The verde came out in this wonderful green goodness with perfectly braised pork. Â Just the right amount of spice and perfect compliment to the Mac. Â The Texas red was glistening crimson of pure beef brisket down to perfection. Â
It was tempting to order more. Â But we did order a side of corn bread with honey butter and fries. Â Eh, the corn bread was dry. Â Though the butter was good. Â I am sure that if you decided to have the chili over corn bread, this would be just as good despite the dryness. Â
The fries were perfect. These are hand cut (the fry cutter is mounted on the wall). If you think the perfect fry is crisp on the outside and potato soft starchyness on the inside, this is exactly what you will get at Slims.
Slims does offer other food items such as burgers, wings, a crawfish po'boy and Kobe hot dog. Â Go here for the chili! Â You will not be disappointed.
Liquids at Slims? Â Stick with iced tea, beer and Alabama Slammers. Cosmo's just doesn't seem right in this place.
This review is for the service. The food is divine.
I have been to this place three times now. Each time I have been happy with the food but the last time I ordered takeout and over the phone the waitress was very confusing. I felt there should be a better way to explain what was the best way to order food for two people. I ended up ordering 65 dollars worth of food. If I buy two quarts of chili you cant throw in some cheese and sour cream for free?
When I got there the same waitress who took my order on the phone was rude. When I realized how much the total was I asked for the managers name. At that point she got hostile. I tried to explain to her that I just wanted to make a suggestion to the manager about how they could go about training their staff to explain takeout ordering better. Her response I anwsered all your questions and felt I did my best. This is what she said after huffing and puffing around the bar making a scene and making me feel like an ass for even asking.
Look I work in customer service. One people are going to complain and I was trying to do it nicely. And two when they complain you dont become even more hostile to them. I wish this wouldnt have even taken place. I didnt mind paying what I did, I didnt mind getting lots of food. What I did mind was having a poor explanation of how to order the right amount and then getting treated like crap for asking to voice my concerns.
Instea I will voice them here.
I went here on a Friday night (3-9 )to go see a band. Â It was very crowded and not very large. Â Seems the band I was seeing was quite popular as after they left stage, so did all the other patrons. Â
I first go into the bathroom and see a mason jar on the urinal. Â For some reason mentally, I thought "ewwwww gross" but I have seen many a pint glass on urinals at other dive bars and not really made that connection. Â So needless to say I think mason jars should be used for canning fruits and vegetables so I just ordered bottled beer. Â The bartender was good and cracked my beer for me in a timely manner.
So that doesn't really sound like a one star..............
When I arrived I said hello to some other friends that I knew. Â One friend was complaining that the sound guy "yelled" at her. Â Apparently she had asked to turn up the vocals and he freaked out. Â (I couldn't hear the vocals all night.) Â
So later on in the night, I am buying beer for me and my girlfriend at the bar. Â She is standing next to the sound guy by 5 of my other friends. Â there wasn't much room to stand anywhere else.
Without warning this older, greying, Â rounded man (the "soundman")said, "EXCUSE ME" and SHOVED my girlfriend. Â My girlfriend was about to say "OH sorry, Ill move" but he shoved her right as he said excuse me. Â So I get back to the group of friends and they are telling me he 'shoved' her. Â I said "pushed her a little?" Â My friends all said that no, he "shoved" her.
I have too much to lose so decided to let it go and not confront him. Â I hope their management or owner can control this guy. Â That was absolutely out of line! Â And Im sure that wasn't the first time he has misbehaved.
Saw that some friends had checked in her last week on Facebook and we decided to give it a go for lunch since we were in Georgetown.
Great ambiance- doesn't take itself seriously at all. It's kitschy without running to tackiness which isn't easy to achieve. But lets be honest, we were there for the chili, not the decor.
I ordered a bowl of the Texas Red served over a piece of cornbread with a few toppings such as cheddar cheese, sour cream and fried tortilla chips. The flavor of the chili was amazing. Spicy without being overpowering which is a good thing for 11am on a Saturday. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars? The chili was lukewarm at best. As we were the first customers, I'm guessing that they had just put it on to cook and hadn't let it warm up all the way. My husband's dish was also at the same temp. We probably could have sent it back, but we were hungry and it still tasted great.
We'll give it another try for dinner and hopefully I can give Slim's the star I reserved this time.
If you are into tattoos, good beer and tattooed ladies this is your place. One of the few places in the greater Georgetown/SODO area with outdoor seating this is a great place anytime of year. A group of co-workers and I made haste to Slim's last week when the sun made a brief appearance. I commandeered the flatbed truck/stage in the back as it was the only remaining sunny spot. It was quite nice wearing my down jacket and sipping a beer until the wind kicked up.
They generally have Hank III or someone similar playing, Shiner Bock on tap and chili with mac & cheese available. It is a great dive.
This place is probably one of the last place that I would go to in Seattle. Your typical dive bar but with great food!!
You probably would not catch me coming here regularly since I don't really drink. Another place that my brother found in Seattle that is supposedly known for their chili. We had the chili verde and the texas red chili. Â The texas red (is really red) and really good!! I thought it was going to be a spicy chili but it wasn't at all. This is one of those places where if you have heartburn, make sure you take tums or some sort of antacid before you go. Its a very hearty chili that I couldn't even finish myself. Even though this place isn't one of those places I would go to hangout, I def would want to come back for chili!!! They have a couple other types of chili that I am looking forward to try.
The waitress there during the afternoon was really nice which is a plus. Probably because it wasn't busy in the afternoon.
Tip #1 Get chili
Tip #2 Get chili
Tip #3 Get chili!!!
WTF, Man I don't know. Some friends(2) and I went there after a cold,hard Saturday of working(collecting cans,wire,food,etc.). There was parking out front for our carts. We parked along side the motorcycles at the curb. My cart looked better than the Yuppie Harleys there.
To me,the place trys to look like something it's not. Anyways,we walked on in,sat at the bar,and waited to get served. Waited to get served,waited to get served,waited to get served,waited to get served. You get the picture.
The place was maybe 1/3 full. And no one was at the bar except us three. Tried to flag down waitresses. Who all had tattoos and were dressed like Daisy Duke. For reals! Finally one says "Yea?" We order drinks,they pour, then split like we're the plague or homeless or something? We tried to pay. No Dice. It was hard to get the girls attention to pay for the drinks they gave us.
We weren't leering at them either. Trust me on this. I ordered a round of Jameson shots. Maybe it was because of how we were dressed. Or the fact the we rolled up with carts instead of "Harleys" but man, I think there was maybe a cap full of whiskey in the glass. $20 for nothing. Thanks girls.
It took us 90 min to get 3 drinks from them. I kid you not. We were gonna eat,but decided to to leave and to eat what we had found earlier in the day from the Jack in the Box dumpster on 1st. ave.
Before I forget. Whenever we did get served. We left a tip after every drink. And after 3 drinks,the tip was still there. They didn't even want that from us. Add it up. 3 guys. 3 drinks each. 3 guys leaving a tip after every drink. So,3 x 3 = 9 tips of $2-$3 each. WTF?
Before we left, we pointed out the fact that the money was for them. The "Older" one just looked at it and walked away.
So we scooped it up. walked out the door to the Chevron on 1st & E. Marginal Way and bought booze and headed for the nearest bridge
We weren't loud,obnoxious,leering,none of that. They just don't like someone that's not as fortunate as them. Or not a Harley rider.
Slim's was Hatin' on Thrill!
This place is NOT Thrill Killer approved. Stay AAAWWWAAAYYY!!!
I heard about the mac and cheese here at Slim's and my only regret after finally making it there a week ago was that I didn't get an entire bowl of JUST the mac and cheese.
Anyway, we stopped in after an afternoon of beers nearby at the Two Beers Brewery. We were definitely hungry. As we looked over the menu, the bartender came over quickly and ordered our drinks. It was clear from the menu that you should definitely get a chili bowl layered on top of their Jalapeno Mac and Cheese. Most of us ordered the Brisket n' Bean which included pig Iron slow smoked brisket, ground Angus beef,
fire roasted tomatoes & red beans. We also got the "works" on top which included necessary toppings to enjoy the chili bowl.
It was amazing. Period.
Went here with my dad today for lunch. Definitely a fun place. Man, they sure do work hard to sell you the ol' outlaw American biker/horse thief watering hole vibe. It's kinda cute, actually. When we got there, while my dad was putting his sunglasses away, I put my Teva up on the back bumper of my fuel-efficient mini-SUV, bonged a spittoon with a hunk of chaw, and said "never for the law to ride, ya hear?" No one was there, but it helped me get in character for the joint.
Seriously, they have chairs made out of whiskey barrels, they have racks of old pistols up above the bar (presumably with firing pins taken out), the toilet stalls are walled with corrugated steel...you get the idea. Mexican folk art pounded tin signs, modern Nashville and some good music bumping on the PA. OK, I already said you get the idea. Garage door rolls up onto the porch. It rolled down when the deluge started this afternoon, and stayed down.
They definitely honor the neighborhood; I think Georgetown Brewing had half their taps (about 4 out of about 8 IIRC). That's A-OK with me both for the beer's sake and for the neighborhood's sake.
Service was awesome. My dad was kinda flustered by all the tattoos on our waitresses, but, then, that's my dad. They were both really good--knew how to work the floor, how to check in, how to stay unobtrusive but keep an eye on us. OTOH, it wasn't really busy, but they were both super nice and obviously knew what they were doing.
The main thing, other than live music and the whole, uh, outlaw attitude, is the chili. It's really good. Good seasoning, not too hot, several varieties, and a whole matrix of toppings for you to pick among. Simple menu but good food. It's worth youtubing up the Food Network thing where they make the chili on tv--the guy fills a whole tilt skillet with ingredients and puts together a batch that just looks incredible. Comes out a little oily but not troublingly so at all. My dad had the Brisket & Bean, which was great, and I the Texas Red (on a dog), which was equally good.
Had the jalapeno mac & cheese aside. "Jalapeno" was too strong a word for this stuff; there was maybe one tiny little diced chunk in my little cup. The M&C itself was ok; definitely house-made but not enough to get me jumping up and down.
Overall, very fun in a theme restaurant kind of way, except it's a theme restaurant that doesn't get on your nerves.
Valentina V: "Dad, which was you favorite place in Seattle?"
Valentina V's Dad: "Are you talking about food?"
Valentina V: "Yes, Dad"
Valentina V's Dad: "Oh, oh, the chili place! Â Yes! Â The chili place!" (almost clapped).
Any place that makes Valentina V's Dad this happy, deserves 5 stars. Â This man has eaten in most major capitals around the world (he's an avid traveler like his child), and lives and dines in Caracas, known as one of the top gastronomic cities of South America. Â So when it comes to my Dad's "Oh, this is incredible!"...it IS good!
This is also a gentlemen who previously dined at Canlis, El Gaucho and Le Gourmand.
He and his son-in-law (a.k.a The Dude) enjoyed the Brisket n' Bean Chili (Pig Iron slow smoked brisket, ground angus beef, fire roasted tomatoes & red beans) to a point where they almost licked their plates (hey, not on my watch though!). Â I had my usual cuppa of their wonderful Turkey & White Bean Chili (ground turkey, white beans, and serrano chilies simmered in a hearty broth), with a side of warm corn bread and honey butter (delightful!).
Mac n' cheese at Slims is pretty perfect. Â After living in Atlanta for 5 years and smothering my face with Mac n' cheese on a regular basis, I'm always in the quest for, at least, a good imitation. Â This one, my lovelies, is the real deal (take that, Beecher's!).
Their music selection ain't my cup of tea but...you know what? Â There's a place and space for all music lovers. Â They also function as a music venue and have free pool on Mondays.
Oh man, and if I could bring them bottles to get some of their "Mother's Milk" Cocktail (Horchata & Vodka) to go, they would have a couple of rotating cases with my name on them around. Â It is glorious libation!
Very funny, my Dad (who is 72) was digging the bartender/waiters gals tattoos. Â He's not used to see them, so he asked the lady taking care of us to show him her awesome skin art. Â She showed him, big smile on her face. So, what could be kind of weird, was actually cute!
¡Salud, Slim's!  No wonder why your chili has been praised on national level.  Thanks for making my Dad a happy camper during his visit to Seattle.
My dear good Texas friends, being the chili experts they are, invited me to check this place out. They wanted to find out if Seattle chili could compare to Texas chili plus a Texas beer they were fans of was served there.
On a Tuesday night we met at Slim's. My dad soon joined us. Upon hearing there was a chili shack he absolutely had to go. There were about six other people there besides us. The interior reminds me of a truck stop in the middle of nowhere on Route 66. You've got a bar, a seating area, a small stage (they have concerts on the weekend), a pool table, and the tiny corner kitchen in the back. Despite the weather being so so, the roll up doors were opened which created a cool airy space. There was a kitchy factor but who can't appreciate the pistols and velvet paintings or the huge bear used for soda advertisments back in the day?
The waitress greeted us with a smile and took our drink order. While waiting we took a look at the menu. Beef or chicken chili. Chili on hotdogs or on burgers. Nothing for the non-meat eater besides a wedge salad which came with bacon bits. Scrolling further down I spotted sides which included cheese grits and jalapeno mac and cheese.
The waitress returned with our drinks and I asked if there was any vegetarian chili. No such luck. I ordered myself a side of corn bread and cheese grits. My friend ordered the chili and the other got a chili burger and both ordered the chili cheese fries for an appetizer. My dad got himself and my mom the Texas Red chili and then ordered a whopping six extra corn breads. What can I say? This is a southern man who likes his corn bread.
My dad bid us adieu and our food arrived within a reasonable amount of time. Steaming plates of chili were set in front of my friends while I was reduced to a tiny cup of grits and corn bread. The corn bread was a tiny loaf which I found so adorable. It came with honey butter. I dug into the grits and was a but underwhelmed. They were cheesy alright but just didn't hit the spot. The corn bread loaf was good and with the addition of the butter made it ever more tasty. Its not as good as the Jiffy corn bread my mom made but it'll do. My friend's said their food was not bad.
After finishing our meals we continued to drink and chat. I was not even close to feeling satisfied so I ordered a side of fries and asked if it was possible to get cheese on them. No problem at all. My fries were thick cut with the skins still attached, crunchy and even black on some parts. Yummy.
My friends and I enjoyed our time at Slim's. The food was satisfactory but not a great option for vegetarians that want to leave full, unless you want to order a dozen of the sides.
I'm a chili novice, but I'm always up for an adventure, and that's what we had at Slim's. This is a rustic, low key roadhouse bar with a come-as-you-are vibe. Â We came for the chili and will definitely return soon. Service was prompt and no-frills once a member of our group located a server at the bar.
There are 4 chili varieties, as well as the usual options for toppings (cheese, jalapenos, etc.). You can also get your chili over mac and cheese or jalapeno grits.  Being a chili noob, I went with a cup of turkey & white bean chili, no toppings. The flavors blended together well, without any one ingredient overpowering the others. I do wish it had been a little spicier -- this was probably about a 2 out of 5, and could be pushed up to 3 or 4 to give it some real zing. There are some hot sauces on the tables, but  as one of our companions pointed out, the problem with those sauces is the vinegar. Perhaps Slim could set out some pepper flakes or cayenne on the table?
I'm glad I ordered a cup, as it's actually the equivalent of a small bowl. Â Go for the bowl if you're really hungry or in need of a meat fix. And no chili is complete without a side of corn bread. Slim's corn bread is moist, even without the tasty, delicate honey butter. Â But do indulge - it's worth it!
Slim's has live music later in the evenings, and there is an outdoor patio that looks very promising for those long summer nights. One chili down, three more to go...
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