Chili's Grill & Bar — Restaurant in Livonia

Started with a waitress that finished her serving shift, and was doing her cleaning and side work. Regrettably I don't recall her name as she was far better than my actual waiter. She was being polite while the waiter, Dajuan, got punched in, and setup instead of making us wait for coming in right at shift change. She took our drink order, and even our appetizer and meal order before the waiter was ready. She also ended up bringing our appetizer out before we saw any sign of the waiter.

When he did show up with our entrees, he didn't bring our salads that we ordered as part of the 2 for 25 meal. We had to catch the waitress as she was finishing up to get them as the waiter barely circulated around the area to watch his tables. Without hesitation she apologized for oversight and had both salads out in a few minutes. Food was decent, but not spectacular, and I am betting on the fact that my steak was the six ounce portion, and not the ten ounce I ordered and paid for, he claimed it was the ten ounce.

Overall, the waiter seemed pretty much lost and unprepared compared to the waitress that was helping him out as she finished her shift and he started his. He didn't even know what we had ordered for desert as part of the meal deal, yet had rang in our order when the waitress gave him the notes on our order. When he spoke it often seemed like he was second guessing himself. When I went to settle the bill, it seemed like he felt the need to baby me and hold my hand through the process of using the on table payment terminal. I finally had to be some what short with him to allow me to handle things without being treated like a four-year old. He did get the point though and left, not returning until the payment terminal failed to print the receipt.

Had we had the waitress instead of him, I would have left about double the tip, and at least another star. She was very polite, and let us know she was only helping out due to doing her side work and it being shift change. She was far more engaging and attentive then our waiter was, and seemed a great deal more confident and knowledgeable about the offerings. She was right on getting me a refill when she saw my glass was almost empty, where as the waiter never even asked if my dining companion or I wanted a refill, even when he could visually see our drinks were pretty much empty while standing at our table.

In closing, don't let the above experience sway you too much. I have been to this location a few other times and had impeccable service and good food. Usually I am sitting in the bar area and not the other side. Most of the wait staff seen to favor the old way of doing things, in that they greet you politely and handle your order efficiently, all without being pushy or in your face / interrupting your meal and conversation every few minutes just to see how your doing. Most of the time they will see your drink is nearly gone and offer a refill before you need to ask for it. Raise your hand or wave / gesture for them and they are right there to take care of what you need without being all in your face.

Call me old fashioned but I like it when for the most part the wait staff is seen and not heard. A few pleasantries in greeting and general getting the order then leaving me be tends to earn a waitress or waiter a far bigger tip from me then asking me how is everything when I am just starting to cut into my meal and every 5 or 6 minutes after that. One bad experience won't stop me from going here for a meal, but I will be a little more observant of where I sit and try to avoid a certain waiter in favor of the ones I have had good service from...

I had a truly BAD dining experience here on Veteran's Day in the evening - they were short staffed AND the MGR had to be the cook this night and probably had been for some time now. I had arrived and told it would be 30 minutes to be able to place an order - and they weren't very busy but didn't have enough workers. So I left for 30 minutes and after returning, was seated but then waited for quite a while to be serviced.

My order was finally taken but 20 minutes later I asked and was told it would be awhile as the Mgr was doing the cooking. Twenty minutes later I asked again and it took 10 minutes for the staffer to return and tell me it hadn't even been started. I changed the order to be a simple burger and figured it should be no more than 10 minutes BUT NO, it was 25 minutes more, so, along with the 30 minute leave and return, almost 1 hour and 50 minutes for my meal to arrive. The burger and fries had NO seasoning and was overcooked. The burger / fries were so bland that I couldn't enjoy it so I threw it all out.

I returned a few days later to complain. Spoke with the newly hired Asst Mgr that was just hired by the District Mgr (who's now responsible to turn this Chili's location around). He listened and related his understanding of mine and other's complaints and indicated the focus of the replacement Mgr and this Asst Mgr is to fix this restaurant to make it stand out. I have returned now a week later during his evening shift to evaluate it.

I was seated right away, no shortage of staff and there were plenty of them to take drink requests and food orders. My order arrived around 12 minutes after seating and staff followed up several times to check on my needs. The food was properly cooked and flavor-able - very satisfying. The Asst Mgr was actively overseeing and even assisting staff - something I recognize that bad mgrs rarely do.

This change could represent the focus that the previous Mgr lacked or had lost his dedication to manage the store and the new team may now make this Chili's a place where you will be treated promptly and should expect to receive a good tasting meal.

I hate having to complain but will do so when needed. How a customer's complaint is handled (especially when it involves more than just a single food or one meal mistake) is indicative of how they operate. If they acknowledge and indicate how they appreciate your identifying the issue and they state that it will be addressed to prevent the issue from reoccurring then that's a hopeful sign. But if they offer an excuse for the issues and no promise of correction then it indicates it's a place to avoid that doesn't care if customer's will be returning customers...

I think this Chili's has found the proper management and is intent on giving customers prompt consistent service so that you won't hesitate to consider it as a good choice to get a good meal in a...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Chili’s Bar and Grill - A Rare Gem Among Chain Restaurants

I visited the Chili’s on Middlebelt, and I have to say, this location is hands-down the best Chili’s I’ve ever been to. From the moment we walked in, everything about the experience was impressive.

Parking & Location

Parking is fantastic—plenty of space, and it’s conveniently located in the outlet area with Target and Walmart nearby. While it’s not a standalone Chili’s, the smaller size doesn’t take away from the experience.

Service & Atmosphere

This Chili’s has a team dynamic that’s truly rare for chain restaurants. Every staff member was polite, courteous, and working together seamlessly. You could see them helping each other out, not just sticking to “their sections.” The managers were attentive, involved, and clearly keeping everything running smoothly. It’s obvious this team takes pride in their work, and whoever is training and managing this location deserves major credit.

Our server, Nevaeh, was absolutely fantastic. She was cheerful, attentive, and made great suggestions without ever making us feel rushed. She really stood out—it was clear she enjoys her job and is treated well. There was no drama, no forced smiles, just genuinely great service.

The Food

I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting much from the food because chain restaurants like Chili’s can be hit or miss, but this location blew me away. • Triple Dipper Appetizer: Vegetarian options at Chili’s are limited, but the Nashville Hot Mozzarella Sticks were absolutely divine—crispy, cheesy, and packed with flavor. • Elote (Mexican Corn): This was Nevaeh’s recommendation, and she didn’t steer us wrong. The corn on the cob was so flavorful and perfectly seasoned—a total standout dish. • Drinks: We ordered soft drinks, which were refilled promptly and served with a smile.

The food was fresh, flavorful, and far exceeded expectations for a chain restaurant.

Cleanliness & Maintenance

This location feels new, and they’ve done an amazing job keeping it clean and well-maintained. It’s refreshing to dine at a restaurant that’s spotless and inviting, especially one in a strip mall setting.

Final Thoughts

This Chili’s is a rare gem. The teamwork, friendly atmosphere, and fantastic food made this visit a standout experience. Whoever owns or manages this location has done an impeccable job, and it shows in every aspect of the operation.

Whether you’re here for a casual meal or a quick bite, this Chili’s will exceed your expectations. I can’t recommend this location enough—chef’s kiss to the...