As we entered Whitey's, we expected the dreaded look of disgust from the hostess. “Great, another group of loud, obnoxious teens who will order the cheapest thing on the menu and probably tip 10%.” However, we weren't even greeted by a hostess, rather we waited alone, wishing we were carrying a flashlight to light up the dark labyrinth. After waiting what seemed like our lifetimes, we were finally taken to a table, away from the bar filled with enthusiastic, but naïve Brown's fans.
Our first impression, sitting down at the small tables pushed together, was that the restaurant was very "homey". The décor on the walls would be something you saw in perhaps your grandma's house. It was cozy, but cozy is going to be very snug when the dinner rush comes in. However, the atmosphere of the cheering/cries from the bar and the overall relaxed tone at dinner time was one we could enjoy while we waited for our waitress to come and serve us.
Glancing through the menu, we were greeted with many options, most of them with chili on top. Chili, chili fries, chili chips, and even pizza with chili on top! The theme of the restaurant was apparently chili galore. While it's great to have something you are known for, trying to shove it down your customers mouth through every meal isn't going to mask the taste of the meals you haven't perfected.
We all tried to order from different sides of the menu, covering all our bases. I decided to go for something classic, a Beer Joint: an American cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo. Tasty and fresh, the meat seemed to just melt in your mouth. No wonder why they are proud enough to put it in their name. A side of onion rings complimented the meal perfectly, while I just let the fries get cold.
A tumultuous relationship with her Biology Lab led Mint into the arms of a Taco pizza. Not even her devastated emotions could mask the fact that pizza and chili do not belong together. It just seemed to be a little too much, visually and tastefully. While the chili may have been delicious, the pizza was average and our taste buds were trying to sort all the flavors at once. By the end of the pizza, it seemed like our mouths needed a break. The other two meals we got with chili, we found to be the same scenario. Dill ordered a small bowl of Whitey's Chili, and loved it. It was tasty, not too much, but had a bit of a kick to it as well. However, when Oregano decided to order Macho Nachos, we all found it to be a bit deceiving. Sure, the chili was homemade of course, but the chips tasted as if you got them from your kitchen pantry in a Tostitos bag. So, as much as they rave about their chili, it shouldn't stray away from the bowl.
With our stomachs full, we reached for our glasses to come up dry. You could have sworn our waitress was on the third moon of Jupiter, physically and mentally. For most of our time at the restaurant, we couldn't even find her, but when she was present, she didn't even bother to take out a notebook and write our orders down (which caused for
much confusion later). A little sassy as well, we found that maybe Whitey's should train their staff a little longer before letting them go off in the wild. But, even if she was qualified to bring us back filled glasses, we wouldn't want to have to pay for the refills.
So, as we sat there, we took the time to take in the atmosphere of Whitey's. The lighting was dim, which was probably a clever strategy from the management to distract from the unfortunate dilapidation of seat covers. Despite the condition of our table, the restaurant was cozy, making you feel like you were thrown into your grandparent's kitchen, eating all your favorite comfort foods.
Our advice to you, if you're looking to go out to a place on a Friday or Saturday night, is to pick Whitey's but only if you have certain cravings. Stick to the classics. The hamburgers are delectable. Why else would they have it in their name? Ditch the fries and go for the onion rings. That's where it's at. And, sadly, we couldn't rate the alcohol, but the bar setting is friendly and inviting, great if you want to go out for some friends. Problems start to arise when you stray from what they’re known for. But hey, if you really have a craving for a salad with chili on top, this is your place.
Service: #2.0
Food: #3.0
Atmosphere: #3.5
Overall: #2.6
