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I hate to do this to you on Friday, but we have a duty to keep our readers informed when a story may affect them.
Chili’s is cutting roughly 40% of its menu. It appears the move is a response to millennial scum diners preferring quicker service. In its current form, the traditional Chili’s menu features 125 items which include apps, desserts, cocktails and add-ons.
Here is the official news release from Brinker International, Chili’s parent company:
DALLAS, Sept. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — More than forty-two years ago, Chili’s® Grill & Bar changed the food industry and helped introduce a way of eating – casual dining. Guests could enjoy burgers and margaritas while dining out in a fun, casual environment. Over the years, like many bar and grill chains, Chili’s chased consumer trends, expanded the menu and tried to be all things to all Guests, therefore compromising execution and resulting in a fuzzy food reputation. On Sept.18, Chili’s is going back to its roots. The brand will cut its menu by 40 percent and invest millions to improve the food quality and value of its core menu items that first made the brand famous – burgers, ribs and fajitas.
“We value every Guest and we know that cutting even one entrée like Mango Chili Tilapia, or a delicious appetizer like Crispy Asparagus could disappoint a Guest who loves that dish,” said Kelli Valade, president of Chili’s. “But, Guests have also told us they know that today no restaurant can be everything to everyone. So, by eliminating 40 percent of our menu, we’ve reinvested in meatier burgers, ribs and fajitas – the items that we’ve always been known for. We apologize to any Guest who misses a departed dish, but with this bold move we commit to all Guests to do a better job of serving our famous food on every visit, in every restaurant.”
What’s Staying? Burgers, ribs and fajitas. Three of the four big dogs aren’t going anywhere. The fate of the fourth and most important, chicken crispers, remains unknown. I assume they will remain as they are a staple of Chili’s and vital to their existence, but they were not mentioned. Pretty reckless to not even mention them, IMO.
What’s Going? Fried cauliflower, mango tilapia, kale – basically anything that never had any business appearing on a Chili’s menu in the first place.
Dance with the girl who brought you, Chili’s. Quinoa sounds cool in theory, but this country was built on your chips and salsa and crispers, not quinoa. I was there when you rolled the big mouth burgers, and even though I’m generally not a restaurant burger guy, I gave it a shot. Hell, I’ll still mess around with the cajun chicken pasta when I’m feeling like a bayou bad boy. Just keep it simple.
We will keep you posted of any further developments. .
[via USA Today]
Image via B Brown / Shutterstock.com
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Dave
Lawyer. Writer. Dude doing business. I'm the meatloaf guy from tv.
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What about Southwestern Egg Rolls?????!!!! I NEED TO KNOW MY AIRPORT BITES ARE SAFE
Chili’s Friday happy hour is a very underrated play.
Honey chipotle crispers to get a good base for the night and wash it down with a $5 el presidente or two to loosen up. Oh yeah, baby.
Brinker’s International is going to be dealing with a full scale riot if they dump the Chocolate Molten Lava cake.
“Chili’s is the new golf course.” -Michael Scott
Went to Chilis for my birthday… it was litty.
?!@L$%&! What am I going to do with the $600 in Chili’s gift cards from cashing out my Amtrak points?!
As long as their chili queso doesn’t go anywhere, that’s fine by me.
While going to a store near a Chili’s one evening, two people were screaming at each other in the parking lot of Chili’s about a parking space or something. My 5y/o asked what the problem was, and I simply told her “those are just the kinds of people who eat at a Chili’s, that’s how they are”.
Downvote me, you know it’s trash food for trash people.
If eating at Chili’s makes me trash, you can call me Oscar the Grouch
A+ response
I would never call it “good”. But Chili’s is far and away the #1 “we’ve been out all day running errands and I need to eat” restaurant.
100% agree with you Mr. Incredible… I hope I never have to step foot in another chili in my life.
Was brought up on Chili’s. Zero shame.
Please tell me the Chicken Crispers are safe! Nothing better than skillet queso, chicken Crispers, and far to many El Presidente margs after a shitty day at work.
Huge forward thinking move by Chili’s here.
Why the hell did Kyle get added to our ghost shit list?
He must have spoken out against he-who-must-not-be-named at some point.
Christ Lord Voldemort, the guy has a kid. You can’t just let him be?
Lord Vagimort
Apart from the child in the fanfic known as The Cursed Child?