Chili's — Restaurant in Colombo

Chili's is an American restaurant/bar chain specializing in a variety of menu options strung together with a thin cord of Tex-Mex inspiration. They offer a range of cocktails, beers, mocktails, appetizers, entrees (salads and vegetarian options as well as more plentiful meat-centered dishes) and over-the-top desserts.

Despite several other places (mostly in Colombo) with similar sounding names, this is the only Chili's outlet in Colombo and is anchored in the new Western-style Galle Face Mall. The location is ideal for businesspersons and others in the nearby Fort area of Colombo, and is clearly popular with ex-pats, tourists, as well as a healthy sprinkling of locals. Prices follow accordingly. You don't go here for the cheap food and drinks, you go for the American atmosphere.

Staff is very friendly and attentive, full of smiles and accommodation. The interior could be a Chili's almost anywhere in the world (or more accurately, anywhere in America), and that's intentional.

Food menu is pretty typical for a Chili's, though most everything will have at least a hint of Sri Lankan taste sensibilities (very sweet or very spicy, in particular). Ranch and Caesar are close to American-tasting but also noticeably different. Their famous bottomless tortilla chips and salsa are good, though the salsa is basically Pace Picante Sauce out of the bottle. The chips are crisp.

Salads are iceburg lettuce and not inspiring, but that's not what Chili's is selling. They're selling an experience and a certain amount of predictability, like any restaurant chain. And they deliver that here. The quesadillas look much tastier, and the chicken tenders and corn on the cob look good as well. Burgers should be a safe bet also. All of it should be a safe bet - that's the point.

Cocktails are pretty good. Strawberry daquiris are refreshingly cold and fruity. Their margaritas, although hampered by a limited tequila selection, are otherwise acceptable if not always made with fresh ingredients. For example the Coconut Margarita has plenty of Malibu Rum in addition to tequila, but no actual coconut water/milk/flesh that I could discern. A pity in a place where actual coconuts are so plentiful!

So if you like Chili's you will no doubt find this place great. Likewise if you're looking for variations from the local fare this will be a good oasis. If you want a taste of American culture vis-avis food it's a good option. But if you're looking for really good food, stick with the local cuisine - it's fresher, more inventive...

I wish there was a negative button to express how horrible this place is! We have visited Chili’s Colombo countless times because of their excellent service and food, but our last visit on November 30th will likely be our final one. My friends and I ordered four dishes worth over 16,000 LKR and requested three warm waters and a bottle of cold water. The staff attending our table started talking about charging for the warm water—something we had never encountered in any restaurant before—but we agreed to pay for the cold water. While we received the warm water, the cold water never arrived, even after asking three times. When settling the bill, we noticed we had been charged for the cold water we never received. My friend inquired, and Rumez, the server, admitted it was a mistake and went to correct it at the cashier. This is where the story truly begins. The cashier, a female employee named Ruwini, made a shockingly unprofessional comment in Sinhala, which I’ll translate: “Do they think this place is a “saivar kadé?” (referring to roadside cheap food joints). The implication was that Chili’s is a high-end establishment and we are somehow beneath it—people who “belong” at roadside eateries. For the record, we are proud to enjoy food from anywhere that suits our preference—whether it’s a humble street-side spot, a fast food outlet, or a five-star hotel. What’s shocking is the sheer arrogance and audacity of someone in the hospitality industry to behave in such an ugly, degrading manner. The irony is, we wouldn’t have even bothered paying for a mere water bottle had they been nice and polite with the service. When we raised this with the managers, they were professional enough to apologize, but Ruwini had the nerve to escalate the situation. Instead of apologizing or, at the very least, staying silent, she countered by questioning why we wanted to know her name and if we could “prove” she was referring to our bill. The entire incident begs the question: what exactly is Chili’s recruitment policy? How are employees with such poor training and appalling attitudes retained in an industry where politeness and professionalism are key? Chili’s Colombo has completely lost our respect and patronage, and I can only hope they revisit their standards before more customers walk away with such unpleasant...

We go to a restaurant to enjoy the food and be happy, not to leave disappointed. When a customer walks away feeling dissatisfied, it makes us question the quality of such restaurants. Mistakes happen, but a sincere apology can go a long way in calming the disappointment.

Chilii's restaurant let us down big time. We specifically ordered three non-alcoholic drinks—one from 'Evolution,' one from 'Fusion,' and one from 'Bloodmary.' However, they served us an alcoholic Bloodmary instead.

To make matters worse, the drink they brought was overly salty. When we politely mentioned this to the waiter, their response was disheartening. They simply brushed it off, claiming it was the "flavor of the drink." It felt like they didn't care about our concerns or our enjoyment. We had to ask again to reduce the saltness.

Once we settled the bill, we discovered that we had been charged for the alcoholic drink we never intended to order. This added to our frustration, leaving us feeling let down yet again.

When we brought these issues to the attention of the manager, who had tattoos, their lack of concern was evident. They cited their policy, stating that changes couldn't be made once the bill was given. There was no acknowledgment of their mistake or a humble apology.

It's truly disheartening when a restaurant fails to take responsibility for their errors. We go out to eat with the hope of having a pleasant experience, but Chilii's left us feeling disappointed. Mistakes happen, but it's how they are handled that makes a difference. A simple and sincere apology can go a long way in calming the disappointment and restoring faith in the establishment.

I feel it's important to share this experience as a warning to others. Before visiting Chilii's, please be cautious. Double-check your bill to avoid any unnecessary charges, and be prepared for a lack of accountability and genuine remorse. It's truly disheartening to leave a restaurant feeling let down, especially when a humble apology could have made all...