Chiquitos - Hot or Not? Hot! (Chiquito)

Member Name: Palmer89

Product:	Chiquito
Date:	23/06/09 (149 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Food, Service, Atmostphere

Disadvantages: Price, Asks for tips

Similar as in my review of Nandos I had never been to Chiquitos until I went for a mates birthday about 2 years back now, since going for that first time I have been numerous times with various people, where I live now there is a Chiquitos in a shopping center we always go to when going to see a film or going around the shops.

Enough of that, onto what really matter, the place itself, the place is decked out in a mexican style (no surprise there really), from what I have seen all Chiquitos have a similar look to them with regards to seating and toilets, I have had the pleasure if visiting 4 different chiqutos including the one in Leicester square which was a bit busy for my liking.


**Food**

When it comes to the food i'm not a master of Chiquitos, the numerous times I have been I have pretty much got the same thing on the menu, the bbq ribs and chicken which is absulotley delicious, I never really liked barbecue sauce before hand the this is gorgeous, it costs £12.95, and to be honest I think over the many times i've ordered it I have only ever been able to finish it once, comes with a large chicken breast, a rack of about 5 ribs and a large number of fries as well as Pico De Galo, which is a maxican salad which I don't like...but I don't like much of that sort, onions, tomatos, we don't get on.

I have also had the 10oz Rump Steak which was also very nice, but as far as the main meals go I won't stray much further than that chicken and ribs, it's extremley filling and a challenge to finisdh which I usually fail, my friends often get the Fajitas which I am told are also delicious, the fajitas are served on a platter which I think is pretty cool, maybe i'm just simple though.

There are mexican chilli style dishes as well as starters and shares, salads and vegetarian dishes are also available to buy although I haven't triend any of these yet, I may have a starter of chicken wings next time or perhaps a platter to share with someone as a starter, might be no need for a main course!

As for puddings there's the usual that you would expect, ice cream, chocolate fudge cake and cheesecake are just some of the puddings on offer for a fairly nice price of under £4, I have been unable to try a pudding yet thanks to my main course, well I have tried my partners pudding a little but I didn't go back for a 2nd bite, she got a brownie fudge sundae, which after a big meal is not really that necessary.

**Drinks**

There is a wide selection of drinks to purchase at chiquitos from your usual soft drinks, to a variety of alcohol beverages such as beer, larger, special mexican varieties and even wine is on the menu.

Since I don't drink I suually go for the mineral water which is fairly expensive, although the lemonade and coke is extremley refreshing if it's a hot day, there's not really much to say about the drinks, there's a big choice of drinks which is a plus, champange is available if it's a special occasion!


**Price**

Now lets get onto price, the price isn't too extreme, it's a fairly average price, probably verging on the higher end mainly due to the high quality, large quantities and good atmostphere, I have compared this place to nandos before and this is where they differ a little, other than the meals of course.

Nandos is a little cheaper, it is possible to get drinks and 2 meals for under £20, here it'll cost a little over £35, the dishes are a little more expensive but there is wider choice, the drinks are around the same price as at nandos but again with a wider choice, the main difference in price I feel though is with the atmostphere, going to Chiquitos feels like a proper meal and day out, Nandos feels like a night out and a meal out but not to the same extent, nandos feels a little inbetween a fast food and a main restaurant whereas chiquitos is verging on being a main restaurant, in fact it is.

The main courses as Chiquitos are around about £5/6 a head more expensive than at nandos, the drinks aren't bottomless and a wider choice of more expensive drinks so this is also likely to be more expensive.

The only thing I don't really like about Chiquios is when paying, you are given the handheld card reader and asked if you want to pay a tip, if you want to pay a tip you shouldn't have to be asked, I did duely pay a £5 tip although I wish I hadn't, it's hardly a voluntary thing.

**Overall**

I think Chiquitos is a lovely place, the food is delicious and filling, the atmostphere is brilliant and you feel as if iot's a real event/night out and don't get bored with it, the meals have a variety as do the drinks and the customer service is usually perfect.

We go to Chiquitos if we're out of the way of anywhere else at a shopping center miles from town or going to a certain cinema, it's more expensive than nandos but more of a treat I feel, I couldn't go to chiquitos as much as I go to Nandos

As far as restaurants go this is great if you like mexican/hot style foods and are with a group of friends, it's not your restaurant to propse at or to go for a real special occasion, those occasions should be left for the brassiere Blancs of this world, but this is a great little place to eat.

Summary: Chiquitos is great for a casual meal