Chili’s Reverses Decision on Queso Offerings
Chili’s is reversing a controversial decision about its queso offerings after several weeks of customer uproar erupted on social media. The chain began introducing its new Southwestern Queso at the expense of two similar menu items: the Skillet Beef and the White Skillet Queso.
The New Queso
In early October, the restaurant introduced the new dish, made with American cheese and cheddar cheese "with fire-roasted green chiles, onions and a hint of lime for a bold, delicious flavor." However, fans have been lamenting the loss for weeks, writing that Chili’s made a mistake by removing some of its most popular entrees.
Customer Backlash
Customers took to social media to express their disappointment, with one person writing, "Hey @Chilis, I’m not a big guy who complains on social media, but the fact that you took your skillet queso off the menu is a national disgrace." Another person said, "You will never be able to convince me that the new replacement is better." The backlash was so severe that one customer even declared, "I can’t forgive you, my heart is broken."
A Change of Heart
Luckily for disappointed customers, the restaurant giant responded quickly. In a humorous post, Chili’s wrote, "We tried frying but you love the pan." The post announced that the chain is working on bringing Skillet Queso back to Chili’s soon. The company stated, "Okay, we hear you, and we hate it when you all get mad at us. We are working on bringing Skillet Queso back to Chili’s soon. Stay tuned for a date."
Customer Reaction
In the comments section of the post, fans were quick to forgive the casual dining franchise. One person wrote, "Again, brilliant marketing! I knew it would never go away!" Another said, "The best news I’ve ever heard!! We can go back now!" A third Instagram user warned, "You can’t take away Skillet Queso, it’s like a staple of yours. Don’t ever do that to us again or we’ll break up forever."
What’s Next
A Chili’s spokesperson said the chain is "working to get it" back to restaurants and will provide an update as soon as possible. The official did not say whether Chili’s would bring back the White Skillet option. The spokesperson stated, "A big part of Chili’s DNA is listening to guests, and after hearing from many of our long-term guests about their love for the Original Skillet Beef Queso, we decided there was room for two quesos left on the menu."
Other Menu Changes
The quesos weren’t the only popular items Chili’s removed from its menu. Notable removals include the Kids Pepperoni Pizza and Kids Cheese Quesadillas, as well as the Mini Molten dessert. Customers have been upset about these changes, with one Reddit user saying, "Now that they’re taking out the quesadilla, they’ve taken everything my son would eat off the menu." Another user chimed in, "I won’t let my kid drink a full Molten, it’s way too much. The Mini Molten was perfect for both of us."
