🌶️ Chili’s IS the Most Mediocre Restaurant in America (Part 2) 🌶️

After 100 restaurant reviews, this was it. Chili’s officially earned the perfect 5.00 out of 10, making it the most mediocre restaurant in America — the ultimate point of comparison for every meal to come. In this episode, I’m joined by returning guest VyVy Nguyen as we review the Encino location in full detail. From booth battles and dry wings to nostalgic chips and a molten dessert that hides its magic in the middle, we break down the exact moment Chili’s became the standard of mid.

🍔 The Sliders That Carried the Triple Dipper
🌽 Corn Is Good: A Re-Discovering
🔥 Nashville Hot Wings That Were Neither Hot nor Wet
🚽 Surprisingly Clean Saturday Night Bathroom
🌶️ Booths Designed for a Quiet Turf War
😑 The Most Just-There Fries You've Ever Had
🎂 A Birthday Song False Start for the Ages

RAP MUSIC VIDEO DEBUT toward the end of the episode: "I Want My Baby Back"

💬 COMMENT BELOW: Is Chili’s your go-to for a safe, middle-of-the-road meal? Or has it slipped into soggy nostalgia?

📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
🔥 Patreon (Bonus reviews & exclusive content!): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast
💬 Discord (Chat chains & share horror stories!): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast
🔗 All links: www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast

⚖️ Like, Subscribe & Share to spread the gospel of perfect mediocrity.

Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van

👉 NEXT WEEK: A new chapter begins. The Chili’s Test is born. First up: Papa Johns. 🍕

"I Want My Baby Back"
Written & Performed by Michael Ornelas featuring VyVy Nguyen
Produced by Fresh Kils & Myer Clarity
Mixed & Mastered by Fresh Kils
Video Shot & Edited by Steven Zurita

🌶️ Chili’s: They Started in a Post Office?? 🌶️

Chili’s. For nearly 50 years, it’s been slinging margaritas, sizzling skillets, and vibes that are somehow both flirty and corporate. In this episode, actress and podcast 3-timers guest club VyVy Nguyen is back to explore the surprisingly spicy history of this chain restaurant icon with me — from its post office origins to its entanglement with The Office, N*SYNC, and the internet’s horniest Vine.

Was Chili’s always this unhinged, just waiting for us to notice?

🌮 The “Fajita Effect”: Why One Order Sets the Whole Restaurant Off
🎶 Baby Back Ribs & the Jingle That Haunts Your Soul
📬 From Post Office to Powerhouse — How Chili’s Mailed It In and Still Won America Over
🍹 Margarita Madness: 13 Swimming Pools Worth a Year
🤖 The Vine That Chili's Declared One of its Most Important Moments Ever
📺 Jim & Pam’s First Kiss Was Where?!
😳 N*SYNC Gets Crushed by a Crate (But Harmonizes First)
🍽️ Chili’s Triple Dipper: A Flight of Fried Foods for the Indecisive Diner 🍽️

💬 COMMENT BELOW: What’s your favorite Chili’s menu item? Or is it all about the vibe (and the molten lava cake)?

📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
🔥 Patreon (Bonus reviews & exclusive content!): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast
💬 Discord (Chat chains & share horror stories!): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast
🔗 All links: www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast

⚡ Like, Subscribe & Share if you crave deep dives into food, freakiness & fried mediocrity!

Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van

👉 NEXT WEEK: We review a Saturday night at Chili’s. Chaos at Encino's hottest table to try and find the perfect 5.00 out of 10.

🦞 Joe’s Crab Shack (Part 2): Heavenly Shrimp, Sloppy Lob, & Dessert Scores 11 out of 10 🦞

After diving into the shady past of Joe’s Crab Shack, it was finally time to eat. In this episode, I head to the Disney-adjacent location with friend and podcast voiceover contributor Sandy Rose to see if the crab still holds up. From shockingly great coconut shrimp to a fish filet that straight-up betrayed us, we cover every bite, every bathroom handle, and every s’more-stained moment in our quest to determine if Joe’s is truly the perfectly mediocre restaurant.

Is Joe’s Crab Shack a crustacean celebration? Or just chaos in a cowboy hat?

🍤 Jumbo Coconut Shrimp That Changed Sandy’s Life

🐟 Fried Fish So Bad It Made Us Question Reality

🍰 Campfire S'mores Dessert – Sugar, Fire, and Too Much Cake

🧼 Bathroom Handles & Sauce-Covered Soap Dispensers

🧂 Captain’s Sauce: A Flavor Bomb or Suicide Mission?

🥔 The Cajun Platter That Made One of Us Cry (Almost)

🧃 Coleslaw, Cucumber Salad & My First-Ever Hard-Boiled Egg

👯‍♀️ Where Were the Dancing Servers?!

💬 COMMENT BELOW: Is Joe's the best seafood in chain restaurant dining?

📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
🔥 Patreon (Bonus reviews & exclusive content!): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast
💬 Discord (Chat chains & share horror stories!): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast
🔗 All links: www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast

⚡ Like, Subscribe & Share if you love chaotic deep dives into fast-casual dining!

Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van

👉 NEXT WEEK: I’m hitting up the restaurant that started it all. Chili’s. Could it finally be the perfect 5.00? 🌶️