Chili’s: FREE Chips & Queso (with Entree Purchase)
Yum! If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for the Chili’s email club! Just for signing up, you’ll score a coupon valid for FREE Chips & Queso (cheese dip with seasoned beef, served with warm tostada chips and homemade salsa) with the purchase of any entree! So yummy!
In fact, my hubby and I recently went out to dinner at Chili’s with this coupon in tow (and of course, with my MacBook in tow, as you can see from the pic 😉 ). And let me tell you, the portion of Chips and Queso they serve is quite large, so we opted to split an entree. Not only is this the budget-friendly way to go… but honestly, when the appetizer is so huge, one entree is definitely enough for 2 people.
We decided to go with a burger and french fries, as that’s what we both were craving and Chili’s sure makes delicious ones! We also opted for water as our beverage since it’s FREE! The burgers are priced from $7.09 to $8.79 and come with fries… so you could split this with a friend AND get the huge serving of Chips and Queso for as low as $7.09 (+ tax) and TIP! Not too shabby!
And doesn’t that look so darn good?! 😀
Colin-
Love the blog! I wondered how you avoided chips and salsa during your Paleo-diet… 😉 Guess we all have our guilty pleasures!
Yep.. gotta indulge occasionally! 😀
We love Chili’s and my hubs especially loves their burgers. We do this quite often, share and split the entree. I like your thinking and it doesn’t hit the pocketbook as bad either. Great minds think alike!
Please remind your H2S fans that you should tip on water because it is just as much work for your waitstaff as any other beverage. I am going to split this similar meal with a co-worker….so we are looking at about $15…so $7.50 EACH. Not bad for half a HUGE burger and yummy cheese dip! Thank you for reminding me….and posting that pic so early in the morning.
Did you make your own lemonade? 🙂 As a long time H2S reader I couldn’t resist.
@Rae I’m sure Colin is a very generous tipper.
LOL! You’ve been following Hip2Save for quite a while, haven’t you?! 😉
I have to tell you that you are of course welcome to do what you want, but people who work in restaurants hate when people do that. Lemons and sweetener/sugar cost money and they have lemonade on the menu for a reason. Honestly not trying to be mean, but its the truth.
This is a joke and this discussion has already gone round and round on this blog. Do a search on lemons and you will probably find it.
I honestly didn’t know that, thanks Ashley! 🙂 I didn’t mean to be a jerk, its just that its such a pet peeve of so many people. I should have know that would have already come up! 🙂
No problem 🙂 It was quite the debate 🙂
Pretty much, 99% of the time I order water with a slice of lemon, cause I like it. I’ve never considered this to be “making” lemonade at the table! I guess I learn something new everyday.
I am like a camel during meals, not much to drink. Most of the time, I get water, even at higher end restaurants. If it comes with lemon, bonus! Plus, I prefer not to take in calories in a liquid form. A lot of times, the server’s attention/attitude takes a turn after the non-alcoholic drink orders. I know beverages are a big money maker for the restaurants, but keep in mind that it’s a restaurant and patron’s preferences are not there for your approval/disdain.
I always order water with lemon because carbonated beverages make me feel too full with a meal. I sometimes add sweetener not to make lemonade but because I like a little flavor in my water. I also tip extra because I know it took the same effort to bring the water as it would a $3 drink. I’m not trying to be cheap because I’m a very generous tipper….it’s just what I like to drink.
Not only that, but I would NEVER order lemons or put them in my drink after working as a server. I was so grossed out that many workers would cut up the next day’s lemons with completely dirty hands after clearing away old tables and old plates (this is often the last thing servers do before they go home for the night)–old food + random people’s germs from their mouths and hands on the next day’s lemons just grosses me out! Be aware people–yuck!
Amanda
“I have to tell you that you are of course welcome to do what you want, but people who work in restaurants hate when people do that. Lemons and sweetener/sugar cost money and they have lemonade on the menu for a reason. Honestly not trying to be mean, but its the truth.”
Wouldn’t you rather have that $5 more in your tip than to have 2 people pay $5 to the restaurant? YOU ARE STUPID, YOU REALLY ARE!! If they want to shop smartly by taking advantage of the free stuff, WHY NOT?That doesn’t mean they won’t tip well.
I don’t do this, but I do stock up on free bread at places such as I will ask for an extra helping to take home, it’s free, WHY NOT? Seriously, anyone is stupid that doesn’t take what they can for free from the restaurant. That’s more money they have to tip their server with. I bet you didn’t think of that, did you?
what happened to eating paleo?
I am still doing so… I just let myself cheat occasionally! 🙂
not trying to be a smartass, but what is the value $$ wise of water? Same as a beverage like coke? 🙂
That’s how I calculate it. If my husband and I both get water, I figure the server “lost” out on about $5 towards the tip (since the bill would have been around $5 higher had we gotten soda). So I usually add an extra dollar to whatever tip we were planning to leave if we drank water. We still save $5 by not getting the soda 🙂
p.s. I pretty much always tip 20% as long as service is avg or better than avg 🙂
Right with Collin.
I eat low-carb vegetarian all week but on Saturday’s, I indulge at my fav Italian restaurant for all the mouth-watering, yeasty rolls floating in melted butter, salad & pasta I can eat!
Works great for me-I do run daily too 🙂
In a situation like this, 20% on a $7 bill (so around $1 and some change!!!) for serving two people an app, an entree and two drinks is a horrible tip. If I’m being cheap with myself, I still never short the server. So I’d tip 20% of what the server would normally get for a table of 2 who ordered 2 entrees, 2 drinks and an app, so 20% of around $25, or at least a $5 tip. Otherwise, the poor unlucky server loses out big time, but basically does the same amount of work as for any table of 2. Good manners always dictate that you tip on the value of a meal BEFORE any discounts, coupons, freebies, etc are applied plus it’s a nice courtesy to further make up for any splitting or extra cheap orders. Many/most semi decent or better restaurants are going to no splitting or a split entree charge because people are abusing it — tip nicely and it’ll hang around longer.
I hope a lot of people think like you or are inspired by what you said, Emily! 🙂 I’m sure you are appreciated!!
Collin has often reminded us to tip before coupons, but I am curious as to why splitting an entree would be considered an abuse. Obviously with bottomless fries, salad bar, etc people cannot split, but if it is a meal that is going to be too large for one person to eat, why not split? Often leftover food gets wasted or people overeat because of huge portions being served. Splitting can help in both cases. Isn’t tipping based on the prices of food being served? So, yes tip for the freebies, but if, for example, you didn’t order an appetizer, why do you need to tip based on that? I’m not trying to be cheap, 90% of the time I tip more than 20% (I round up), but I am just wondering why you suggest it would be shorting the server to do otherwise.
I think maybe her point was that a $1.50 tip would not be very much for serving people drinks, chips, and a hamburger, although it may legitimately be 20% of the bill. I think this is a very “charged” topic 😉 so what I take away from this discussion is that even if I get a bargain on a meal, I should still give the server a decent tip. $1.50 is not a good tip, even if your meal was only $7.50.
that makes no sense. why would you be tipping for food you’re not ordering… if that’s all you want to eat there’s nothing wrong with that and yes, it is less work for the server than buying two entrees. if you were going out for just an appetizer would you tip as if you bought two entrees as well?
This is all so true Emily. I am a server myself, and alot of people do not respect that the only way we make our money is by tips. We only make $2.13 an hour and it makes for a bad night if people run you all over and don’t tip for it. I don’t mind when people are thrifty, as I try to be when I go out, but I always am good to the server. 🙂
it depends on what state you live in. many servers make minimum wage.
Not true Amber it was 2.13 before 2005 Than in 2005 it was raised to 3.13
In my state it went back down to $2.13 a couple years ago. Not sure why, but that is what we make. Either way, it isn’t alot of money. I don’t think people should have to tip on things they don’t order, but if you get a discount or use a coupon, you should tip on the amount before the discount.
To me, I don’t see a problem with ordering an appetizer and splitting an entree. What is the difference if we ordered two burgers and no appetizer? Same cost and same tip in my book.
I’m sure that’s fine! I think maybe the OP’s point was that a $1.50 tip is not very good for a couple who is eating dinner, even if the bill is only about $7.50 (the cost of the hamburger). If I get a bargain I will usually try to remember that the server could have waited on a couple who was ordering a lot more, and I’ll push my tip up past the usual 20%.
On a random side note- has your hair grown out Colin? Love the rockin’ side pony tail!
You are so Fabulous Collin! I love their buffalo chicken sandwich! Me and my Fiance are up for a lunch date-it will be a frugal lunch date lol. And don’t worry everyone-I have friends and family who are waitress and waiters, bartenders etc. I know my tips lol.
when I use a coupon for free items or BOGO meals I always tip on the full bill amount before the discount. I am curious what is the value of a glass of water?????
I would guess around $2 b/c that is how much a soda is (I think…I never get one.)
I agree; I look at the price of a soda and calculate the tip based on that. To make it easier I usually just add an extra $1 to the tip if my husband and I both get water, figuring that’s 20% of $5, and 2 sodas cost around $5 depending on the restaurant.
They also have a free appetizer coupon out that expires tomorrow. I often go and get the southwest egg rolls – it is like a meal anyway, and then my husband gets a burger.
Love Chili’s but anxiously awaiting your next paleo recipe!!!
that looks so good i’m thinking of running out right now!
Many restaurants are now stating on the coupon that you have to buy 2 drinks and 1 entree to use a b1 entree get 1 free coupon because of situations like this where people are ordering water to lessen their bill. I have also seen on menus “no splitting 1 entree between 2 people.
I’m just wondering why you brought your laptop out to dinner Collin? 🙂