Tag: restaurant review

Chili’s baby-back ribs: oh, man they’re good…the fried shrimp (what I could find of them is not).

Gwinnett County Fun, Gwinnett County Growth and Development, Recommendations, Restaurants
Half rack of Chili's Ribs
Half rack of Chili’s Ribs

For a restaurant that is not a barbeque specialist, Chili’s has some delicious ribs.  I should know since the last three times we’ve gotten take-out, I’ve ordered them.

You can get them on the $20 Dinner for Two Deal.  The official name is “Half Rack of Baby Back Ribs w/ Homestyle Fries (Choose New Honey-Chipotle, Original or Memphis Dry Rub).”  I got original sauce all three times and these rocked.  I added the Mashed Potatoes with Loaded Pepper Gravy (yes, every time) and they were very good too.

The wife got the Bacon Burger and enjoyed it. I took a bite and it was quite tasty.  The appetizer we chose was the Tostada Chips & Fire-Grilled Corn Guacamole.  It has a little kick and was so good that we ordered it every time too.  The only complaint was the chips were too thin to hold up the heavy dip.

Chili's Guacamole Dip
Chili’s Guacamole Dip

Chili's even has "to go" at The Avenue at Webb Gin

The service at the take-out was fine every time…smiles for the most part. They give you a heavy duty paper bag with plenty of napkins and utensils…and the food is packages neatly.

An no, I don’t work there or have any friends that do either.  On one of our recent trips to the same location I ordered the fried shrimp.  They may have taken it off the menu by now as I don’t see it as an option to order online.

There was no problem with the temperature but the shrimp were puny and were covered with too much batter. I’m guessing that it was about a 3:1 ratio of batter to shrimp in volume.  Anyway, it was quite a disappointing meal.
Nothing wrong with the service though.  Our waiter and server were both fans of one of my favorite bands, Led Zeppelin, as evidenced by the tattoos that they both wore.  In fact, one of the Roycrofters, a local jam band, was our waiter.  

Flowers at The Avenue at Webb Gin

If you go and walk around the outdoor mall where our Chili’s is you will probably like it.  The name is The Shoppes of Webb Gin.  The sidewalks allow plenty of room and it’s always neat and tidy around the parking lot. There’s a nice mix of stores with the Barnes and Noble bookseller being the closest merchant to the Chili’s.

I included a few photos of what The Shoppes look like.  If you go, I trust that you’ll have as much fun as I do.

John

The fountain at The Avenue at Webb Gin

Coldwater Creek's iconic wood storefront

Playful artwork adorns The Avenue at Webb Gin

John Robert Conley Atlanta restaurants

Zaxby’s – let me know if you find a better chicken joint.

Georgia, Recommendations, Restaurants

Every few months, I make the short trek to Thomson, Georgia, from Gwinnett County to meet my folks and leave one of my children for a visit to my childhood home in God’s Country, Bulloch County. We usually meet at the Zaxby’s since everybody likes the food.

When I meet my folks in Thomson, we always share a meal at the Zaxby's right next to I-20.
When I meet my folks in Thomson, we always share a meal at the Zaxby’s right next to I-20.

This past Saturday, the day was beautiful and sunny. I took my daughter to meet Mama and Dad at the appointed Zaxby’s. When we got there at noon, fifteen or twenty people were already in line…none of them were my parents.  It hadn’t been that long since I’d seen them and I think I would have recognized them.  We waited about three more minutes and they pulled up in the parking lot. By the time that we got in line, only 3 or 4 people were ahead of us. The line was really moving quickly.

Mama and my daughter wanted the House Zalads with fried chicken, Dad got the #1 Chicken Finger Plate, and I got the Grilled Sandwich Sandwich Meal.  I always get Sweet Tea and dilute it with some Unsweet just in case somebody dropped the sugar bowl in the tea pitcher (hello, Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s!)  Note to self:  buy a Zaxby’s Ice Machine…oh man, that ice is perfect!

I can’t remember anything.

Anyway, we got our order from Christian, the friendly blonde behind the counter.  Her manager was helping out.  She was very nice as well.  We didn’t talk to anybody else although I did make four trips back to the counter for the food…then ketchup that I forgot…then a Diet Coke for Dad…then a water bottle that didn’t make it on the tray.  I know one brunette that I kept walking by must have thought I was hitting on her…or either she recognized me from the “Don’t Take Checks From This Man” photo on the counter next to the cash register.

Zaxby's Tea and ICE...the ICE from Zaxby's has it's own Facebook Page!
Zaxby’s Tea and ICE…the ICE from Zaxby’s has it’s own Facebook Page!

Everybody gobbled up their food.  My sandwich was good with the perfect amount of Zax Sauce on it.  The fries were spot on…not too greasy.  Dad acted surprised that he ate all five of his chicken fingers but I don’t know who he thought he was fooling.  Mama and my lil’ girl must have enjoyed there Zalads since they didn’t leave hardly a crumb.

I checked the Men’s bathroom; it was clean and tidy.  The music was pleasant..some eighties hits.

The Final Verdict is In

This Zaxby’s I’ll give a 9.3 on a 10 scale.  The only thing that might could be improved was the room temperature.  It was too cool for some patrons who had thrown on coats…in August.

Zaxby's on Urbanspoon

John Robert Conley Atlanta restaurants