Not that my expectations were very high for LJ’s chili, but upon learning the drink special was $3 Captains, I did get pretty excited. Captains on special have proven to be an indicator of some solid chili (See Briqhouse review). We got in a little before 9:00pm and the place was pretty empty except for a few regulars at the bar. I couldn’t tell if these gentlemen were upset or not that we made the bartender put the Iowa State game on the big TV. Then again they may have been a little too preoccupied with some TruTv show on a side TV to notice.

Our chili came out almost immediately after ordering it. Now some may think it’s great to get your food so quick. However when it comes out so fast and it’s piping hot this late at night, it’s usually a sign it may have been on high in the crockpot for the last 9 hours. It was so hot when it came out that you couldn’t eat it. (Of course I did anyway but I get excited when a new bowl of chili is in front of me.) Due to the heat I couldn’t get a good feel for the taste but I could tell it wasn’t anything special. The meat was so fine it was like eating the crumbs out of the bottom of bag of chips. I decided to let it cool off thinking the flavor might come out once it was at a safe temperature. But honestly it only got worse. It was just a plain Jane bowl of chili after the heat lifted. It was very boring with little flavor and gritty ingredients.

This chili wasn’t on the menu. So when one asks and receives the response, “Yes, and we make it ourselves”, don’t get your hopes up. At least if they don’t make it themselves you’re going to get a Wendy’s quality chili. You know what you are in for but at least it takes a stance! At LJ’s I think they think making it themselves works by googling chili ingredients and throw those 5 staples in the pot to sit all day long. You know, if it looks like a bowl of chili and smells like a bowl of chili, you can sure as hell call it a bowl of chili to your customers. “If you fight for your limitations you get to keep them … I promise you, you lift your head up, take a breath, there’s a lot of great possibilities out there.” Name that movie – anyone?

Official Breggie Score= 6.15