Chili's (City Centre Mall)

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

Special Award: Best Fajitas in Muscat!

Every time I go to Chili's at City Centre, the place gets just a little bit better. I don't know if it's because I'm getting better at picking out what's good or whether the staff is pro-active in trying to keep the place as close to an authentic Chili's as Islamically possible. I think both are the case. Last night I had the best fajitas I've had outside the United States.

They still don't serve chili - what Chili's got it's name for. Every year they are co-sponsors for the Terlingua Chili cookoff. Yet I don't see a bowl of chili on the menu. For those outside of the US, we're talking about "Chili Con Carne" a bowl of ground beef and chili spice rich gravy (sometimes containing beans). Yet you can get Chili's skillet queso, which has chili mixed with cheeze.

The reason for not serving alcohol is understandable - different country - different customs and I won't fault them for adhering to their country's culture, but they could at least do away with the pretend bar and make room for more tables. An empty bar is just something to remind Westerners that they aren't going to get a famous Chili's margarita here.

Aside from these minor things, Chili's is a great place to get a great Southwest American meal in Muscat City Centre and it's as close to a real American Chili's restaraunt as you will find in the Middle East.