Posted on 09/08/2017 12:20:14 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Chili’s, a restaurant chain that’s part of Brinker International Inc. EAT, +3.68% , said Friday that on Sept. 18, menus nationwide will be reduced to 75 items, down from 125 appetizers, entrees, cocktails and more, the total reached in January. The chain launched in 1975 with a 25-item menu that included burgers, beer and margaritas. The new, reduced menu will give the chain the room to focus on its core menu of burgers, ribs and fajitas, the company said.
“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,” Chili’s said in a statement.
The restaurant industry has been in a slump, most recently recording its sixth consecutive quarter of traffic declines according to data from The NPD Group. Traffic at casual dining restaurants is down 3% for the year ending June 2017.
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Experts also agree that the menu reduction is a way to cut costs and reduce food waste.
“With large variability in the cost of various proteins and the difficulty of raising prices to your customers in this low-inflation environment, it makes sense for restaurant groups to refocus their menus on higher margin, more popular items,” said Greg Wank, partner and leader of Anchin, Block & Anchin’s food and beverage industry practice.
(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...
“The restaurant industry has been in a slump,”
I can’t afford to go anymore.
I haven’t been in a Chili’s since 2002...too many good mom and pop places here in south Louisiana. Our Chili’s tend to be located near hotels and if it weren’t for people from out of town, I’m guessing they’d be shuttered.
My favorite restaurants all have about 5 main entree items and a similar number of appetizers and salads
Of course, they are not chains.
it shows the chef is really concerned about doing a few things very well.
Ours is almost always crowded, but that’s only because we lack a lot of places to eat.
We lost Logan’s and a couple of others that went bankrupt.
That was my favorite place to eat, and it was always full. I don’t know why they went under................
Our 80% unconstitutional federal government screws up our economy so badly, has done so since the early 1900’s, and and we are certainly not in low inflation. Inflation has actually been raging since FDR implemented most of the huge unconstitutional portion of the feds.
It will take a miracle to undo all this crap but that’s exactly what I hope and pry for - a miraculous restoration of our Free Constitutional Republic.
I like Chili’s, but Iv’e noticed their portions are getting smaller and their prices are getting higher. But everytime I go there they are busy and the wait staff is running their behinds off.
-PJ
One of my favorite places to get food is called Raising Canes. It’s menu consists of fried chicken tenderloins, fries, Texas toast, and coleslaw. All the combos are different combinations of those items. Takes 10 seconds to order and it’s always fast and hot. Every site is always packed.
We noticed the same thing with Panda Express, the Asian fast food chain. They raised their prices AND went to a smaller size takeout container......................
Well, I hope they didn’t remove the chicken fajita nachos from the menu, those are downright tasty...
Have eaten there twice a decade ago. Horrid food. Pizza on pita bread? Nope, never again.
I haven’t eaten at a Chili’s in about 5 years, since my youngest daughter left college and we’d stop in the one near her college for supper when I brought her back from a weekend at home. That one was good on food and service. I will admit that I’ve been miffed for the 2 decades or so that the conglomerate owner began closing their Chesapeake Bay Seafood Houses and replacing them with Chili’s. We use to go to Chesapeake Bay a couple of times a month...loved the snow crab legs.
Their fajita offerings have gotten tiny. Last time I ordered the steak it was about 8 thin strips of meat.
There is a local Chinese place that has done OK as far as I can tell on price and quantity/quality.
I’d like to hope for less MSG and aspartame.
Smashburger is pretty good.
If McD’s would go back to the 70s and 80s ingredients, I’d go back.
Local Chinese and Mexican food restaurant are waaaay better than the big chains.
A local Chinese takeout place here gives you twice the amount of food that Panda Express does and it tastes waaaay better!..................
MSG doesn’t bother me, but hardly anyone uses it anymore.
Most chain restaurants food sucks anyways...................
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