I’ve never had a bad meal at Chili’s Grill and Bar. Yet, it’s not one of the chain restaurants at the top of my head when I’m looking for a spot with a great burger.
The announcement of the Big Smasher Burger’s addition to the menu was enough to pique my interest in Chili’s again. At $13.99 with fries, is it worth it?
Chili’s Grill and Bar Restaurant
How is Chili’s The Big Smasher Burger?
There is a $10.99 3 for Me deal that includes an appetizer, main with side, and soft drink. The Big Smasher Burger is available for a limited time on the 3 for Me, so it was a go.
I choose the baked potato soup, the Big Smasher with fries, and a Coke with an optional dessert for an extra $3.99.
The Big Smasher is a wide burger, that was my first thought. It comes with Thousand Island dressing, American cheese, diced red onions, pickles, and lettuce.
Chili’s was able to achieve a nice sear, which is essential with smash burgers. It reminds me of a California-style fast food burger, and I mean that as a giant compliment.
If you find yourself at Chili’s, you should definitely try the Big Smasher Burger. My only complaint was that the toasted bottom bun disintegrated while I was eating the burger.
This may have been a random incident, but I feel I deserved it for not asking for the removal of one of my great enemies, shredded lettuce.
The fries were crispy and properly salted (pepper, too). The minute Marcela spotted them, they became hers.
Check out my friend, theendorsement‘s thoughts on the Big Smasher Burger, and give him a follow on YouTube if you haven’t already.
Back at Chili’s Bar and Grill
The potato soup arrives before the burger, and I let Marcela sneak a couple of sips. It seems like she’s enjoying it way too much, so I rip the bowl away from her.
I’m just kidding. She had eaten lunch already and accompanied me so I wouldn’t be a solo diner. Marcela did have a margarita that tasted like a Jolly Rancher, and she also tried a few of the Triple Dipper Appetizers.
I opted out of the 3 for Me deal dessert for an extra $3.99 and thought the Triple Dipper Appetizers were a better fit (but not a better price at $16.89). While the price was a little higher than I’d like to spend, it is the best way to sample three different appetizers at one time.
Initially, I was going to skip out on the starters until I saw there was a Nashville Hot Chicken Crisper option. In addition to those babies, the Southwestern egg rolls and sliders rounded out my trio.
I’m not sure why I chose the eggrolls (chicken, black beans, corn, jalapeño Jack cheese, red peppers, and spinach with avocado ranch dipping sauce) since the chain versions of these don’t do much for me usually. After one bite, I knew the fried mozzarella was a better choice.
The Big Mouth Bites come standard with bacon, American cheese, sauteed onions, and housemade ranch. These sliders are three to four-biters. They’re almost perfect little bites, but I’d swap out the ranch for yellow mustard and the bacon for pickles to keep it a little more old-school.
Nashville Hot Chicken Crispers
Chili’s Chicken Crispers are hand-breaded chicken tenders that are available in a variety of sauces. Nashville Hot sauce is the newest addition to their boneless chicken line.
The chicken crispers hit the right heat notes, but I wish the dipping sauce were a chunky blue cheese and not ranch. The housemade ranch is great but more fitting for dipping cheese fries.
Between the crispers and sliders, I’m sold on another visit to Chili’s. Now I’m wondering if a Nashville Hot chicken sandwich is in the works. Hmm…
Chili’s Grill and Bar
5363 Sheridan Street
Hollywood, FL
(954) 966-8940
Website – https://www.chilis.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/chilis
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Chilis
Monday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Saturday 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Sunday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Eating at Chili’s with the Miami Meat Machine
I had been thinking about it all day; as soon as five o’clock hits, the Miami Meat Machine and I would go to Smokey Bones. We drive up to the place, and as luck would have it, they’re closed for the day for renovations.
We were given $5 off our following visit coupon to Smokey Bones, which would have been great if we had lived nearby. However, our nearest option is Chili’s Bar and Grill in Hollywood, so we take it.
I went to Chili’s, thinking the worst. I haven’t been a fan of these types of chain restaurants since my teenage years. I’m talking about spots like T.G.I. Fridays, Applebees, and the semi-defunct Bennigan’s.
We ordered three appetizers because the Miami Meat Machine couldn’t control itself. I tell you, these guys are out of control.
We ordered the Classic Nachos, which are served on individual chips with beans, queso with a hint of seasoned beef, cheese, and jalapeños. These guys are pretty good, but there should have been more. We murdered this plate in no time.
Next was the Skillet Queso, a cheese dip with seasoned beef and tostada chips. It might have been a bit of overkill since we had the nachos, but the cheese dip was good.
I chose the Texas Cheese Fries with melted cheese, jalapeños (with seeds), applewood-smoked bacon, and jalapeño-ranch dressing. What’s not to like about these peeps?
Here Comes a Big Mouth Burger
The Smokehouse Bacon Triple Cheese Burger has extra thick-cut applewood smoked bacon with three kinds of cheese (Swiss, smoked cheddar, and provolone), sauteed onions, and jalapeño-ranch dressing. Unfortunately, this was one case where the toppings overpowered the burger.
I know some folks are all about the toppings, but for me, it’s a shame. The burger flavor got lost, yet I dug the spicy bacon. What is the moral of the story, if there is one? When in doubt, get bacon on everything.
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