Did not give us the 10% Yelp check-in discount even though we asked before we ordered
(2)
Stellz L.
OK, It's probably really good if you have a bunch of kids and you're worried about if it's ok to take them to a restaurant. Definitely family friendly. Prices are right, pretty huge portions. No problem with sharing a plate. Just a loud spot with not bad food. My brisket was drowning in BBQ sauce tho, ask for sauce on the side if you like it dryer. (*But if you bring your kids, ask them not to kick the walls and scream for 30 minutes straight. Talking to you, family that sat behind us, can't the fit happen outside?*)
(3)
Robert P.
If you have seen the show, you gotta stop. We had Apple pie with Ice Cream, just a snack as we had ate a big breakfast on Sedona. Pie was good, service fine, other Patrons said good things about the food they were eating.
(4)
Wendy I.
This is a wonderful destination for a gorgeous desert drive from Phoenix. Today my little one and I enjoyed another visit to Chilleen's. Initially, about a year ago, curiosity drove us there having of course seen their story on Bar Rescue. Our first visit was splendid and perfect in every way. That visit, we got to meet the owners and their daughter. Everything was fantastic. But what stood out was the chicken wings we ordered as an appetizer. Being from Buffalo NY, you would have to know their very simple sauce of hot sauce and butter. A beloved, thin yet delicious sauce style. Myself and my friend, also from Buffalo, both were wowed.... That this sauce, was the first and closet wing sauce in AZ comparable to the Buffalo sauce we are use to. This is coming from my friend, who often brings his own Buffalo wing sauce to restaurants! We stated many times we would return for the wings alone... And sadly that thought has been forgotten for too long. As stated, today I finally got my butt in gear to enjoy a nice drive for lunch and returned to Chilleen's. We ordered the wings and a BLT. The BLT is a simple sandwich of course but can be ruined with the wrong processed freezer bacon. This BLT had the YUMMY home style bacon!!! Very refreshing sandwich. Fries were steaming hot! And of course.... tHE WINGs! I ordered them again and was so delighted that my memory was correct and their style of sauce was the same as last time. Delighted enough to grab a to-go order for later tonight too :) You have to appreciate the extra plate served with dressing, ample napkins and hand wipes to boot! This place just has a country style vibe and ambiance that I have enjoyed both times. Relaxed, welcoming and comfortable. Impeccable service by Michelle too! Very sweet and attentive woman. I am sure that we will return again sooner. And many compliments to the owners for being open to change and keeping it up wonderfully! See ya'll next time :)
(5)
Emmy S.
Yes - we went because of Bar Rescue. I would imagine most people go for that reason. Do they go back is the question. I know we won't. We were greeted with "Sit anywhere" and it went down hill from there. Hubby went to the restroom, then stepped outside for a phone call. When he got back - about 10 minutes later, the waitress finally showed up with a glass of water. She took our order - burger for me, brisket sandwich for him. Then the wait began. We waited. And waited. And waited. Somewhere in there, 2 glasses of old tea showed up which were sent back. 35 minutes later, the food arrived. It was pretty bad. So bad that I spent the first 2 days of a convention hoping the bathroom was free. The waitress was MIA but we saw 2 little girls - maybe 10 or 11 years old - cleaning off tables, bringing out drinks and giving out checks. We never had anyone come back by to see how things were, if we wanted anything else to drink...you know, the usual stuff waitresses are supposed to do. When it came time for the check...same old, same old. Hubby had to go find someone to pay. For a restaurant to have someone like Jon Taffer come in and completely redo their business, this was embarrassing and a waste of his time. If I were him, I'd send them a cease and desist order, barring them from using his likeness.
(1)
Kevin G.
I really liked the place! The food tasted good, I had the western burger and we also had the Friday fish day, the server was very friendly and came by often. I would definitely come back here on my next trip up north. I would come hungry because the potions can big too. Also very easy to park
(5)
Brad W.
Go for the Jon Taffner cardboard cutout or a $1.75 draft beer, but don't go for the food. The bar might have been rescued, but the kitchen needs a rescue now. The menu states you can ask for the brisket to be lean, but when our two $9 sandwiches arrived, the waitress said both were lean. Not sure if Chilleen's has hired a blind chef, but my sandwich was inedible and sent back due to extreme fattiness. I never bothered to order something else because the two burgers also on the table looked pretty sad and we all had over greasy frozen fries served with the entree. The highlight of your stop will be the photo opportunity with Tafner, but he hasn't been here in 2 years, so even he would be embarrassed about what happened to the food since the show was filmed.
(1)
Shari G.
On the way back from Sedona, we finally had the chance to check out Chilleen's on 17. We haven't seen the "Bar Rescue" episode from 2013, but I have passed the place so many times, seeing it from the highway. It's easy from Interstate 17, exit 244. Once inside, the sign said to choose our own seat. I like that! Within 30 seconds we were greeted by Lisa with a big smiling welcome and menus. I asked her what the $5 lunch special was and it turned out to be bbq ribs with potato salad. That's what I got! How can you beat that!? Betty got a pulled pork sandwich w/ fries and loved it. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and the bbq. (Many folks are picky about the bbq flavor wherever they go... I don't have a preference, I just know what I like when I taste it!) The portion was 4 pork ribs, with a dry rub with a little cup of bbq sauce. It was the perfect amount of sauce for the four delicious ribs. Lisa mentioned the desserts... holy cow, she was enthusiastic about the choices! Loving enthusiasm, especially when it comes to food, we decided we had to try the Strawberry Shortcake to share. OMG it was fantastic!!! Usually, shortcake is dry and lacking in sweetness/flavor... oh heck no, not at Chilleen's!!! It was sooooo good! Lisa was perfect in her service; friendly, helpful, quick and attentive. It was fun reading the flip cards on the table which answer all your questions about their experience with Bar Rescue and John Taffer. I'd go back anytime.
(4)
Shamar J.
My friend and I was on I 17 going south back to phx , when we both wanted some food . My friend told me she saw this place at the next exit. I was like what the hell let's try it . The ppl was soooo nice and the food was great . I got a sandwich that was on point and my friend got a pork sandwich. I'm going to come back just to try that . I would tell my friends and family about this place and if you pass by you have to stop bye . When we gone to tell them to half the check the just ran the card and they did not no how to fix it . That's was a pain but hey the food was on Point tho
(3)
Michael C.
Always stop here for dinner on the way home from Sedona! As usual pork ribs were absolutely delicious! Wife had burger, and my son had chicken strips. They loved their orders as well! But best part was Brenda our waitress! She was super friendly, very prompt and helpful! Will always stop here when ever we can! Thank you for the great experience!
(5)
Nikki S.
Open for breakfast? Apparently not. 10am on a Sunday???? All the billboards along 17 say breakfast......
(1)
Steven M.
I live in Prescott Valley and try not to go to Phoenix for any reason, if I can avoid it. Had to go down there today and convinced my buddy that we need to try this place on the way back home. Not being a TV addict, I wasn't even aware of the notoriety of the restaurant thanks to the "Bar Rescue" episode, Season 3, Episode 9, btw. The place is dark as others on this and Google Reviews have noted, but not so dark that we couldn't read the menu. The waitress was young, perky, attractive and very attentive. The food was delicious and came very quickly to the table. I had the Philly Steak Sandwich and my buddy had the pork ribs. My fries were large, crunchy and hot. My buddy liked his beans and cole slaw but I thought his side portions were a bit too small, served in small plastic cups. The prices were acceptable and the waitress offered to pour us new drinks in to-go cups which was very classy. As an added bonus, they have a side-room featuring their time on TV and also a large glass terrarium with a real-live, genuinely pissed-off Diamondback Rattlesnake!!!
(4)
Cheryl R.
Meh, the food was not fantastic but it was not bad. It is bar food. The fire water was good though. The blue berries have been sitting in moonshine! Not bad!
(4)
Ln K.
Best restaurant ever. I love this place. Food and Service and Atmosphere Excellent.
(5)
Jeremy S.
Came after seeing it on Bar Rescue; it was only about 30 minute drive from the house, so I figured why not. I was impressed that a couple years after the show, scott and donna kept it up. The whole family is working there now! They're doing well and are still very grateful for the bar rescue. Staff was happy to chat about it, and there was a small Taffer shrine at the front of the bar as well as a painting of him on the wall lol The place is clean and the atmosphere is great. The food was good -- nothing to write home about, but it was definitely good and didn't taste like shortcuts were taken. For the price I paid, I'd say it was great! I ordered the brisket plate and a firewater punch. The brisket was good, the sauce was great. Baked beans were outstanding. We also got the fried shrooms and zuccs as our waitress suggested. They were good. They didn't taste like the oil was a year old. The slaw tasted fresh and not overbearing like the normal slaw you'd expect to get. My drink was made well. It was strong (duh, it was moonshine) but not in a bad way. I kept thinking it was gonna be harsh on every sip, but it wasn't, my brain was just messing with me. The service I got was outstanding. The only bartender on shift at the time, I believe was the owners' son and he was killin it, to be honest. Outstanding attitude. We hung out for a while and discovered that they have a large back room and a back yard with a hoedown hut with a stage that they didn't show on bar rescue. I'm not sure if that was added later, but it was branded just the same. Doesn't look like they've made use of it in a while though, if at all. Aside from the abandoned bar in the back yard, it was still well maintained. To be perfectly honest, I was happy to see that everyone (and more) is still there and things look to be going well. All things considered, I have no complaints. I will likely make it a point to come back from time to time.
(4)
Marshall D.
Went here yesterday because I'd passed it on I-17 numerous times and was curious. Came in at about 6:30pm on a Monday night. I couldn't care less about bar rescue so I won't discuss any aspect of that, aside from, the fact that there is a huge cutout of Taffer when you walk in. Atmosphere: This place gets a 10/10 as far as character. What a fun wild west/cowboy type atmosphere. Service: Service was good, once we figured out we had to show our faces. It seemed understaffed with only one server who said she was new. She was attentive and did a great job once she realized we were there. Food: Foot was hit or miss. My friend ordered a steak sandwich cooked medium. It came out more well than medium, however, he said it tasted great. I ordered a chicken and pork rib dinner with steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes (one dish). The sides were horrendous. The potatoes were cold. The broccoli though well seasoned, was highly dehydrated and tasted overly microwaved. In their defense, I asked for it double steamed. The pork ribs were honestly some of the best I've ever had, but cold. The chicken was also very good and had a lovely smokey flavor. Overall, I thought the price was a bit high, however, if the sides had been better, I'd agree they could charge the same price as any place else. Will I be back? I'll give them another chance, the atmosphere was great but I wasn't wowed by the food.
(3)
Jessica R.
This place is hysterical. It's a totally run-of-the-mill, highway-side restaurant, complete with fries that obvious came out of a bag and clearly nothing that is homemade (our waitress even mentioned that the apple pie came frozen). Still, we had a great time. They're just so excited about the Bar Rescue thing that it makes the entire experience kind of silly. So while the food is a 2-star experience, the overall experience is higher just because this place is so damn funny.
(3)
Stephanie L.
We have always wanted to eat here even before the renovations. We stopped once for a drink and the next time for food. Not impressed with their bbq. We order a pulled pork sandwich and brisket. I did not believe their "bad ass bbq" now "award winning bbq" was neither bad ass or award winning! The bar has a great atmosphere and good specials the staff is very friendly but I wouldn't go there for the bbq.
(3)
Peter O.
My dad (chef) and I have been passing by this place for a couple years. We have wanted to stop everytime due to the great signage they have along the highway "award winning BBQ" never knew about the show. We were greeted by a friendly waitress saying sit wherever you would like. Atmosphere was okay we sat in a booth outside the bar. It was very dark the only room with light was the room they have displaying the show they were on called bar rescue. Well our opinion it needs to be rescued again. We wanted a BBQ platter for 2. It came with 4 ribs 2 small slices of brisket one chicken thigh and two very small sides of beans and coleslaw. We were hoping for some type of potato or bread option but we had to add it as an additional item. The meat was so so but the sauce was good. The beans were odd and thin and tasted like chili powder. The mashed potatoes were the bottom of the pan, The gravy was absolutely terrible and should not be on potatoes. Sent it back and got plain but hot potatoes. The plate cost about 8 dollars to send out and we paid 25 for it. We will not be recommending it but we hope they will step it up it has the potential. -chefs daughter
(1)
Brian S.
Love the show Bar Rescue watching John Taffer rebuild bars and restraints from the ground up. It was a pleasure to finally go to see our first one in person and they are awesome. Service was great food was awesome and the drinks where great too
(4)
Carrie K.
We've passed by this place many times and finally got around to trying it. It was awful, but at least it was expensive. My husband ordered a cup of French onion soup and a Caesar salad. The cup was tiny and he complained that it was too salty. This is a man who drinks pickle brine from the jar... I had the blackened Cajun chicken Caesar salad. I got the "blackened" part, but the "Cajun" part was non-existant. I'm pretty sure it was green leaf lettuce and not romaine. Either way, the pieces of lettuce were so big I had to cut my salad with a knife. Service was slow and we were never asked how our food was, just if we wanted anything else. 2 iced teas and the above with tip set us back $28.50.
(1)
Brian M.
My family came here for "the last time" about 3.5 years ago. That was before the make over. On that last visit the place was a mess, the only bright spot was our waitress whom I found out later was the owner's daughter. Since the place was redone we decided to give it another shot on our way up to Montezuma Castle. I am really glade we did. My younger daughter had The Ultimate Salad and raved about it. My wife and older daughter has the burger and really enjoyed it. The fries were a hit but could use a touch more salt. My son's chicken tenders tasted great. I had a brisket sandwich and it is in the running for the best brisket I have had. It was moist and juicy with well rendered fat and just a the right hint of BBQ sauce. I can definitively say it is the best I have had in AZ. The service wasn't fabulous but it is was good. It is great to see a favorite location brought back to life.
(4)
Mabel R.
Heading back from a weekend in Flagstaff and stopped here for lunch. The place is very clean (especially the bathroooms) which is important to me. The decor and vibe are impressive. The hubby and I ordered the Chile en Chips as an appetizer. The green chile con carne was delicious! For our meals, I ordered the Top Sirloin (medium well) with a baked potato and broccoli. I was concerned my steak would be served too dry but was actually very juicy, tender, and flavorful! The baked potato was moist and hot which allowed their butter to blend in perfectly. The broccoli was cooked properly with the right color and amount of crunch. The hubby had the Torpedo Burger and he claims it was the right combo of juicyness, cheese, as well as chiles. He loved it! I tried his fries and they were yummy. We look forward ro eating here again.
(5)
Jerry E.
Did not check this place out on Yelp before dropping by for a snack en route Phoenix to Flagstaff so might have given it a miss. Shared a BLT so did not experience any serious food. Expressed curiosity about white stuff scattered over floor and discovered it was sawdust no doubt to brighten dingy decor and provide an authentic saloon touch. From all the reviews it seems to be 'hit and miss'. This is not a Michelin rated establishment contrary to one report. My BLT was surprisingly good, the fries not authentic. Make sure you are seriously hungry. Friendly staff......wish I had known about the TV program....
(3)
Sinda S.
Okay, so my husband of five years has been coming in here for years before me. When he started dragging me here, I originally politely kept my mouth shut about how much I hated it. I felt t was dirty, the food inconsistent, the service almost nonexistent and it irritated me that on more than one occasion, my husband was told that they had whiskey but no bourbon. One time I left furious because after telling me for 20 AFTER we got our food that she would make me a second drink, I finally had to give up. Now this was long before Bar Rescue came into the picture. And to my husband and I, it will always be Bad Ass Barbecue. Now I want to clarify that we always went in the late morning or afternoon, for the most part, on our way back to Phoenix. We had never seen or met Donna, Scott or Aleah. The place was usually pretty much empty when we came in, kind of like crawling into a slightly musty cave. And we were well aware of the attempts to raise money to save the place. So, the John brought his magical Bar Rescue to Bad Ass. It's hard to tell how much was truth and how much was fiction, but the episode was definitely entertaining! My husband taped it and still watches it occasionally. So, of course we had to go back and check the place out. What we first noticed? The giraffe is gone. :( No, it made no sense in front of a barbecue joint or any where else, for that matter, except perhaps a zoo, but so what? It was interesting. It was unique and funny and periodically we would take our picture with it. Come n, John. You should have lightened up a bit and left the giraffe!!! Inside, it was bustling, an early Saturday evening. We sat at the bar, talked a little to Donna and Aleah. Apparently I was remembered for a less than kind review I had left once. :O I immediately was hooked on the firewater punch with the moonshine soaked blue berries.It was a fun evening. Aleah is as funny, smart and nice as she appeared n television and a kick ass bartender, as well. We went to dinner one Sunday afternoon and brought another couple with us that had seen the show. Ironically, my friend is a bartender and got a kick out of the waitress not knowing that bourbon WAS whiskey. Alas, the food was disappointing, the brisket dried out. Still, we have also been in where the brisket was delicious. The point of this review is Bad Ass Barbecue AKA Chilleen's has grown on me. I know we will continue to stop there on our way in or out of town. We probably won't eat anything but appetizers (The fried green chilis are delish!), but it would be hard to resist coming in occasionally for one of Aleah's fire punch and to test the rest of the staff on their knowledge of bourbon! JUST KIDDING!!! LOL So, we'll be seeing ya!
(4)
Kristi S.
Excellent drinks!!! The Firewater and the Berry Long Island Shiner were delicious! And the food was pretty yummy too; we really enjoyed the Green Chili Dip!
(4)
John M.
Authentic! In a world where franchises have replaced the local meal experience Chilleen's stands out as a real deal. Everything here came from the creativity of a real person instead of a corporate committee. And that's damn refreshing! Shout out to our waitress Jordan, who shared her pride and enthusiasm with an entertaining spirit. We're glad we made the stop on our road adventure!
(4)
Marco L.
Admittedly, I'm not super hard to please. My steak was really good, and the kids all liked their burgers, etc. My other family was a little less impressed with their chicken and steak. Really cool ambience.
(3)
Dave H.
Been there before and after the rescue. Should be put out of its misery. Friend and I stopped by today for lunch on the way back to the Chino Valley area. Why? I don't know. Food is over priced and sucked!! I had the steak sandwich, which was tough and over priced. I was only able to get through half of it. Friend had a Ruben that he said was flavorless. We each had a side of fries that were just okay. I also had a side of beans that probably came out of a can. The waitress brought our drinks, took our order, delivered order, brought check. Never checked back. In her defense when clearing the table she said I should have said something. I would have had she checked on us. If you're traveling though Black Canyon City drive through it as fast as you can and find a Mcdonalds
(1)
BRian M.
Last time I ate here was 2004. The sign on the place said "Bad Ass BBQ", instead of "Award Winning BBQ". At that time, I ate some bbq chicken that was basically a pre frozen chicken breast thrown on a grill and slapped with barbecue sauce... At that time (2004) it sucked. However, I visited about 2 days ago and had the Chile Verde (with tortillas)... Wow, what a difference. Absolutely delicious green chile. Perfectly cooked and spiced. And the tortillas seemed very fresh and are served piping hot.
(5)
S P.
I love to support the locals instead of chain restaurants when I travel. This was a good stop on our drive to Phoenix after leaving Sedona. We had bookmarked it when planning our Arizona trip after seeing it featured on Bar Rescue. A great diverse menu-something for everyone. We had the honey mustard chicken sandwich. It was a generous tender grilled chicken fillet, with golden french fries. Fresh ice tea for our beverage. There is a covered patio to dine outside, with your dog if you like. Service is relaxed so don't expect a dine and dash experience. Easy to find, right off I17 - just follow the signs. Looks like it is doing fine and there are some other shops popping up at this site, including Pink Adventure tours. We will stop again the next time we are in this area!
(4)
Levon A.
Beware of there hot wings they serve em' raw wings!!! Raw chicken wings, that's right. He made us pay for it. Pretty young blonde boy, bartender (thru my wife's eyes, lol) demanded for us to pay for it. So we did & got out of there. If I were alone I would've tell em to make it right & not charge us. Very bad when comes to closing time. Drive on thru if it's late or close to closing time. Seems like that's the excuse. Very bad customer service, Rescue Bar needs to comeback & review some these employees!!!!
(1)
Stanley V.
We planned our rendezvous at Chilleen's On 17; and that went okay. Mothers' Day and our fam started with with two Firewater Punches for tasting. There should be just a splash more alcohol in their punch since it has an ingredient of moonshine. The Coors draft 32 oz. for $4 was delicious and ice-cold. The 5 dinners arrived reasonably soon as other Mothers' Day celebrations were evident. A half rack of St. Louis Style Pork Ribs arrived meaty with minimal fat and sufficient pork for the price of $15. Maybe they could have been just a little heavier handed with the BBQ sauce recipe preparation. Lots of BBQ sauce was included in a cup. Sides of coleslaw and BBQ beans were good. Two orders of ground sirloin steak made both diners happy and full. The guest of honor had a portion left-over for the doggie bag. Their sides were okay they said. 1 order of adult chicken fingers seemed well received and large enough supply of not-greasy chicken w/ Ranch dressing and 2 sides. Lastly, my son had the $18 "all you can eat" BBQ beef ribs. He chowed down 2 platefuls and declined the third due to everybody else being finished eating earlier. His sides were coleslaw and BBQ beans. The standard groans were given when asked for desserts. Next time, It might be a good idea just to order dessert first with coffee and see about dinner, afterwards? Our waitress, Tracy, was outstanding and very attentive. We will go back, for sure..
(4)
Philip B.
Ordered my food, asked the waitress after 15 or so minutes. And she completely forgot my order. This place was featured on Bar Rescue. They may need another rescue with this horrible service.
(1)
Brandon Z.
Stopped in on a Sunday afternoon after driving by this place numerous times....I think the "Bar Rescue" bug finally bit us. Much improved, and not nearly as tacky as it previously was, on the outside. Inside was clean and appealing to the eye. Our service was prompt, though I did find it a bit odd that there was a sign upon entering that told us to seat ourselves. We got our drinks shortly after ordering them - my mixed drink (one of the special cocktails on their drink menu) was made very well and went down smoothly. My wife had the blackened chicken, I had a bbq brisket sandwich. Both were very tasty and prepared well. Bun on the sandwich was a bit soggy, but nothing that a fork couldn't solve. Donna (the owner) was out and about, handing out flowers to the mothers for Mothers Day. Thought that was a nice touch. After walking through the bar, I have to say the atmosphere (in comparison to the pre-Bar Rescue pics) was appealing, clean, and inviting. We'd return on our next trip through the area. If what they quote on their menu is true (sales are up 43%) then this is for sure a Bar Rescue success story.
Interesting little place we thought we would tried. Onion rings for appetizers were spot on. I had the ribeye, baked pot, and corn. The Ribeye was a little chewy and fatty. The flavor was good and cooked perfect, just needs to be a better cut. I would for sure go back. It was my first bar rescue visit.
(3)
Caleb V.
I have been driving by for several years, and hadn't stopped since the remodel. Soooooooo glad we stopped in again. Had the all you can eat beef ribs and they were delicious!! They start you with 3 large beef ribs and send two more if you would like when ready and keep going from there if one so desires! :-) I had 5 and was very pleased with all of them. Great portion size! I am very picky about my coleslaw and there slaw is excellent..as well as their baked beans. My girlfriend had a BBQ chicken sandwich with fries. The chicken was cooked just right and was juicy. The sauce was not heavy at all. If you enjoy good BBQ, burgers, and steaks this is a definite must stop of you are heading North out of the Valley our heading in our just simply passing by! I will for sure be back again. We sat in the car area which is very roomy. It is a country style comfortable atmosphere, and has a separated family dining area of you would prefer that. Our server was Scott and was very friendly, attentive, and prompt with beverages and anything else. Great service and great food!
(5)
Greg G.
As a BBQ Connoisseur, I was curious about this place when it was Kid Chilleen's Kick Ass BBQ. I wanted to go, but I couldn't convince the family to make the trip (33 miles door to door). BUT! After John Taffer paid them a visit the whole famn damily wanted to go, so we did. Soooo Glad We Waited! Worth every bit of the drive up. The atmosphere is a beautifully causal, cowboy come as you are type of restaurant. The booths are comfy and there is a GREAT view out almost any window. The food was great. We ate a variety of burgers, sandwiches and fixin's. Both beef and pork. It was all tender and juicy the way it should be with out a heavily over-smoked flavor that a lot of restaurants seem to pride themselves on (for reason's I'll never know). Now lets talk about the important part. I can find a pretty background and I can make some killer good BBQ, so while that is important, it isn't why I dine out. I go for the SERVICE. I go because I want someone to do those things I could do myself. In this department Chilleen's knocks it out of the park. We had the daughter (I forget her name) as our server and she was fantastic. She seemed to read the customers needs before they happened. All of our food showed up on time, fresh and hot. We felt so welcome and appreciated, like we were at a family members house for a meal. While we were there, a football game was on. The bar area looked like the PERFECT place to catch a game! Based on food alone I can't list this in the Top-BBQ list, but add in the factors of environment and service and it easily becomes a favorite family destination that we all love to visit. I'm going to put this in my Best-BBQ and Best-Outdoor lists
(4)
Jerry M.
Come to Drink and when you are feeling good then try the food. Place is clearly made more for partying and drinking rather than dining. Food is just average at best and service needs a lot of improving. Tried it once because of Bar Rescue, but will probably never return.
(2)
Viktor P.
I was worried about coming here on account of the bad reviews but am quite glad I came anyway. The best part was the service, which was extremely good. We came on Christmas Eve, but they were open and service was still prompt, extremely courteous, and helpful. The food was good, maybe 4/5, but nothing wrong sufficient to bring the restaurant down from 5 stars. Prices were reasonable. It is conveniently located off I-17. If you are in the area, I would recommend it.
(5)
Mike A.
I read a few reviews on here and was skeptical, stopped by anyways because there was bad traffic and nowhere else to go. The food was perfect, generous portions and everything was delicious, an the staff was very quick and friendly. The only thing I could see people could complain about is maybe the looks of the place but GUESS WHAT-it's supposed to look like an old western saloon! We sat in the bar and they had a few TVs which is more than enough. I would definitely stop in again sometime.
(5)
Doug H.
It's a lot of fun.. great food.. they have recreated it and kept the great atmosphere and the historic feel... did I mention great bbq? I had the all you can eat ribs... great flavors. ..
(5)
Bob W.
I like the place. Food is good (big ass meaty beef ribs) Beer is better (always cold) and Jim Beam's the BEST! (plentiful & powerful) But responsible. These guys are always friendly and willing to please. I especially like the kick back Patio out back. Attended several out back parties which are always a hoot! The views from the back are stunning to say the least. Only downfall is the owner is a Raiders fan! Well, cant will 'em all.. Or as they say THIS SEASON, can't we win just one?
(4)
KellieAnn R.
Stopped for lunch during a Sunday drive. Sat outside on the covered patio with our dogs. Server was very pleasant and attentive. The steaks were prepared precisely as ordered, and the portions were quite large. We look forward to trying the barbeque on our next trip!
(4)
Pedro S.
I go here every time I go up I-17 at a meal time, which isn't that often (sadly). This place has probably the best blackened chicken in Arizona. There are only 2-3 other places that I've even seen here that make it, but this one is the best. My one recommendation would be that they use a little less of the blackening spices. (You should actually be able to see the chicken, fish, etc. under the spice--look at Paul Prudhomme photos on Google for reference.) All in all, a pretty good place.
(4)
Regina L.
Hey!!! I really like this place! !! I love in Prescott Ave was meeting my son from phoenix, thought this would be a great spot. .. I was right. I've been to other bar rescue bars and this one is the most friendly
(4)
Justice A.
My pregnant wife and I each found this place a different way. I'm a professional driver who spotted the place off of I-17 during my constant travels and my wife found this place on Yelp! A fortunate turn of events a few days ago made it possible for us to finally have dinner there and this is what we think. The atmosphere is warm and rustic and their bathrooms were clean, a huge plus for any bar. The service was great. The young lady who served us started off by cleaning off a dirty table for us because that was the one we wanted. She was then constantly attentive to us throughout our evening with helpful information to our questions. The food, smashing! Delicious starter of Green chilli cheese fries and a brisket sandwich that was amazing. There was so much chilli cheese on the starter that I was able to eat half my side fries with it too! My wife and I had a wonderful dinner and an excellent evening. Unfortunately, we can't go more often because we live 40 minutes away but we plan on going back every few months as a treat to ourselves. Keep up the hard work!
(5)
Carol M.
Previous glowing reviewers may have upped my expectations a bit. Returning from Sedona, in the mood for BBQ and this place is literally just off I-17 (you can see the sign & billboards from the Northbound lanes). Never heard of Bar Rescue so that had no influence on our stop. We just wanted BBQ. So we made a late lunch of pulled pork sandwiches. I thought the food was okay and reasonably priced. Fries were typical - ordered well done and arrived barely cooked. I am happy to see that this place survived after all they seem to have been through. I didn't see much of the place except the dining area and the bathroom. Both seemed okay to me. Sawdust on the floor - obviously part of the area "charm". Service was pleasant, a bit slow but we weren't in a rush so that wasn't a real problem. Decent experience but not really a WOW for me. Don't think I'll be in a hurry to rush back. If I go again, I'd like to try the brisket sandwich.
(3)
Mari D.
Glad we stopped in to try the BBQ -- had the SW Brisket - tender & tasty. Beans, awesome! Staff and clientele more than 'neighborhood friendly' - felt at home and at ease. Drinks were good and we'll be back next time we're in the area! See y'all soon.
(5)
Chuck B.
I had to stop by and check out the place after seeing it on Bar Rescue. I'd driven by it a million times going up to northern AZ, but never had any reason to stop in. It didn't look like much from the road, so I just drove on by. I decided to stop in today just out of curiosity. Around 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon, and the parking lot was pretty full - a good sign. The dining room was pretty full, the bar was pretty empty, and the game room and outdoor areas were deserted. We decided to grab a little food at the bar, so we grabbed a Caesar salad and a pulled pork BBQ sandwich. We also tried their Firewater Punch, which is a mix of moonshine (store bought, not the backyard still kind, which I've also had before - ugh), honey, lemon juice, and tea. I was expecting to hate it. I didn't. Damn good. The salad was above average, and I would definitely order the BBQ pork sandwich again. The staff was pretty attentive, and the place, although very dark inside, looked good enough. It's a cowboy theme, with wood shavings on the floor, bull riding on the TV, and cow-patterned seats. Overall, pretty good. I'll stop by sometime and try out one of their steaks. And I'll have that Firewater Punch again for sure.
(4)
Nancy C.
This was a very welcome surprise right off of 17. We stopped on a spur of the moment. BBQ chicken and brisket were very good and smoky tasting. If we're ever back in the area, we would come back.
(4)
Kat S.
Hubby had the torpedo burger. He loved it! I had the BBQ brisket. The beef was well trimmed and it was a decent sandwich. We ordered fried shrooms and zucchini and they were excellent. Good place to have lunch!
(4)
Franni G.
So after seeing this bar on Bar Rescue, we decided yo check it out. It was easy to find and we weren't the only one's who were standing outside taking pictures of this place. We went in and had the Bbq beef sandwich and 2 Firewater Punch drinks. WOW! !! GREAT DRINKS and Food! Atmosphere was fun and we were told to stop back on by for the Luau they were having that night. We will be back next month. I'll be starting out my bday celebrating there before o do the whiskey row crawl. Great job guys! !!!
(4)
Adam S.
Stopped in on my way from PHX to Prescott. When the sign says "Award winning BBQ" you just have to stop in and try it! Well, needless to say I can see they serve up to the expectation. Great place for lunch. I had the BBQ pork sandwich and it was great! I'll definitely be back for more! Friendly atmosphere!
(5)
Len B.
Had the BBQ brisket It was ok. Didn't have any run or flavor. The bartender was great. And so was the ambience. They have a rattlesnake in the restaurant in a cage
(3)
Breven C.
The worst ribs are the kind that take a steak knife to carve the meat off the bone. Tonight I ate every bit of rib meat, which fell clean off the bone nearly on its own. Chilleen's delivered and all around perfect BBQ meal. Baked beans were excellent, cole slaw was good too. Service was excellent. Great place, glad I stopped by.
(5)
Brittany D.
I stopped by here driving back from Sedona to Phoenix. The food came out quick, it was juicy, and full of flavor! Our waitress was very nice and took great care of us. The decor is adorable and southwestern themed. Thanks for the food!!!
(4)
Brad M.
Service was slow but she was friendly. The fries appeared to be store bought out of a bag. The burger was between a store bought sesame seed bun and the meat was burnt (I asked for medium/well). The Pepsi I ordered came in a cup that had an odd smell. At the end I asked for my check and she came back to give me a check in a folder with somebody else's AmEx inside.... That is not cool! What if I weren't honest?? I won't be returning here again.
(2)
Amanda M.
I saw this place on bar rescue so I had to stop and try it. I sadly have to say that I was disappointed. We walked in to an almost empty dining room and since there are so many entrances I think maybe we came in the wrong way. We weren't sure to seat ourselves or not. After a bit we just sat since no one came to greet us. The ice tea tasted like water. I then ordered the 17 sweet tea which was the best thing we had. Their famous Chile con carne was so salty we couldn't enjoy it. The fried green chilies were so hot that when I bit into it hot oil burned my tongue. They had no flavor. I ordered the brisket sandwich. It was tender but even with the bbq sauce (which I almost didn't notice because there was barely any on it) it was bland. My brother had the torpedo burger which was good. My daughter had the sirloin. It was tough and like everything else had no flavor. After seeing the episode I thought we would get good barbeque, but instead of award winning bbq (which they advertise on every sign) we got flavorless meat. The dining room seemed dirty and run down. I know we won't stop again. It was clear that they didn't keep up the food that we saw on bar rescue.
(2)
John N.
It's really cool. The Firewater Punch tastes great! Definitely recommend!
(5)
Jeanette Z.
The BBQ was good. The service was not good. The presentation of the food could be better. However the food was tasty. The portions were pretty good (for lunch) I wish the place was a little more livelier. Atmosphere was a little awkward. Lol. I'm sure I'll be craving their pulled pork sandwich and baked beans pretty soon and although the service was eh, the food is worth it I suppose. Two lunch meals (pulled pork and French fries, ribs and chicken plate) were $25. Can't complain :)
(3)
Morris K.
I saw this place on Bar Rescue and have wanted to visit it ever since. This is a quaint little out-of-the way place right on I-17 about 30 minutes from where I live. To night I went there for dinner with my wife Carol, my grandson Michael and my sister Mindy who was visiting from Rhode Island. Chillen's on 17 is an absolute gem of an establishment, it is definitely unique. Our server was Melissa. She was prompt, attentive, and met every request with a smile. My wife and I both ordered the rib eye steak, my sister got the 1/2 BBQ chicken and my grandson ordered the BBQ brisket. My sister said the BBQ chicken was just ok nothing special. My grandson thought the brisket was a little tough but devoured it within minutes. The brisket is their specialty so I'm guessing he liked it.. My wife and I both thought the rib eye steak was excellent. I mean who doesn't love a good steak? But sometimes a good Steak is few and far between. So when I have a good one its only right to let everyone know and both of us thought our steaks were excellent and well the 21.95 price. They were cooked exactly as we requested them (medium). They were most tender and not over-seasoned, no random chewy strand in the middle, and it had great flavor dispersed throughout and not a bunch of thick fat to cut around. As if we weren't ready to be rolled out of the place in a wheel barrel - we opt'd to share a piece of their apple pie and strawberry shortcake both with a scoop of ice cream on top. I tried a bite of the apple pie, it was delicious. When the strawberry shortcake came out it came in a huge bowl with several scoops of ice cream and wipe cream on top. I had several bites which dissolved in my mouth as did my sister but Michael did the most damage to it. FOOD: Reasonable portion sizes. I left stuffed and took home a doggie bag as did my sister. Our steaks were cooked just right as was my sisters BBQ. Everyone's entrees were delivered in a timely manner. SERVICE: Our server fantastic! PRICE: The price was in line with other BBQ restaurants /steakhouses when you consider it comes with sides - broccoli and a loaded of potato CONCLUSION: Overall it was a very good steak dinner, and I'm really glad I chose not to go to some of the other well-known steak places that I am familiar with, but instead to enjoy a more "local" establishment. RETURN FACTOR 100%. ************************* What does my OVERALL rating mean?************************* 5 stars -Highly recommended. I would be willing to drive out of my way to this business. It is that good. This place represents their industry or cuisine very well! 4 stars - Highly Recommended. I would frequent this business. 3 stars - Not that good but not that bad. Just average. I wouldn't mind going again. 2 stars - I would not recommend this establishment to friends or family. 1 stars - DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DO NOT patronize this business. I would RUN AWAY from this place and you should too! DON'T WAST YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT
(4)
Billy B.
Got here kind of late and sat in front restaurant area, so maybe that was our mistake. It seemed lively in the back with a live band and bar section. Food was decent. Average side-of-the-highway joint. Service was slightly above average. Green chile cheese fries were yummy :)
(3)
Valentin D.
Today is a three.... The only thing that I enjoyed eating was the green chile bowl. That bad boy was tasty. But that wasn't our main course. The main course for the lil lady was the chicken special which was a lonely piece of burnt, dry chicken leg quarter and a side of coleslaw that was missing the tangy flavor from red wine vinegar. For myself I had the BBQ pork sandwich with fries and the only good side was the sauce as the pork was dry and the fries left a bad after taste like the fry oil hasn't been changed in who knows when. I also tried a side of potato salad that smelled as it was premade, then packaged, frozen and later defrosted after it obtaining freezer burn. The booth was utterly uncomfortable, the booth seat was to high and the table was too low, which made the eating portion unbearable. Sadly for us this meal experience had our hopes high but left us sad that we always wanted to try this place and for us it was not award winning by any means. These left overs will be given our dogs.
(2)
Priscilla E.
We had burgers, they were great! I didn't have there steak or BBQ. Our family did enjoy the appetizers as well. The onion rings are a must have. The only complaint I would have is that our server did not act like she even wanted to be there, she did however check to make sure we didn't need anything else. I also didn't like the snake they have in the front when you walk in. (I am terrified of them) but most people loved it.
(4)
Bill S.
A very good experience the green chillie fried were great. My sirloin was cooked perfectly.
(4)
Michelle D.
We stopped in last minute... On our vacation trip after remembering it was on bar rescue. It was such a fun place... Food was amazing... We had the BBQ pork sandwich and the BBQ brisket sandwich all I can say is "Amazing"!!! It was clean, great decor, and it had that I'm a great BBQ smell. I will be back soon!
(5)
Edward D.
We seen this place on our way to Flagstaff, told wife we might try it out on the way back. SO! here is my mixed review. I loved the place, guess they were on some kind of show on TV? Chilleen's is pretty dark inside, making it look like a old western saloon? I had no problem with this place, with the food anyway. My wife did not like it at all! I had their ribs, with coleslaw, and beans. Wife had their pulled pork sandwich, with fries. She took one bite of her sandwich and put it down! She also tried the beans and coleslaw. she did not like it, Only thing she liked was the our appetizer. It was their chips with chili verde, and she also liked the hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream. I however enjoyed the ribs, and later in the night I enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich. Will we ever comeback here again? Not if my wife is with me, Now this place claims to be an award winning BBQ restaurant? There are much better BBQ places around. Now there service was really fast, kinda scary when you get your food that fast. Makes you wonder how the food is prepared? So this is a mixed review, some good, and some bad. But I am glad we tried it.
(3)
Van R.
Great food and awesome staff, always a good time here and the bartendress Aleah always makes amazing drinks! This place is definitely great for group events
(5)
John T.
Have passed by Chilleen's a hundred times driving from PHX to Prescott Valley. Should have made it a hundred and one. Noon on Sunday. As with most BBQ places I've tried in AZ, the menu looks almost as if BBQ is an afterthought. Do what you do and do it well. I ordered a brisket sandwich, my "go to" in testing a new BBQ place. Sandwich arrived with a plentiful serving of brisket, soaked in sauce, on a sesame seed burger bun. The menu makes no mention of sauce on the sandwich (it should ALWAYS be on the side). Waitress promptly took it back to get me a sauceless version. When delivered, it was tough to tell the difference. The brisket is the fattiest, greasiest I've ever been served. Just awful. The bun was soaked orange/red with grease, and there were as many pieces of fat as beef. I ate less than half of the meat and none of the grease-soaked bread. At one point the waitress sped past our table with an "Is everything delicious?", not waiting for a reply. When she came to clear the table, she made no mention of the fact that I didn't eat my meal. A good wait staff asks if there was a problem, or at least if you want a take out. Not that I wanted any more of that awful mess. As she cleared our plates we declined dessert or drink refills and asked for the check. She then proceeded to seat two tables and serve food to one while we waited. There were ample servers and few tables. To that point, my issue had been with the lousy food. Now the service had dropped to that level as well. KT had the green chile fries which she said were "good... but they're fries with some green chile on them". Certainly nothing that will ever inspire us to try again. Sad to say that Honey Bear's in PHX, which is overpriced and has zero special going for it, remains my best AZ BBQ experience.
(1)
John L.
I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to food but "award winning", "world famous", BBQ -- no way. Not what my wife and I experienced at least. Sysco does a better job. Not worth pulling off the freeway.
(1)
Cynthia K.
We saw this bar on the TV program Bar Rescue and had to stop in on our way home from Sedona. It was still early in the day so there was not much of a crowd so the service was spot on. However, the bar looked NOTHING like the renovations made on the show which was somewhat disappointing. But that's TV... The food was ok...I had the brisket which was a little flavorless to my liking. The fries were nothing spectacular and in fact a little lack luster; McDonalds does a better job at fries and I'm not a fan of McDs. My boyfriend had a Reuben and he seemed to enjoy it, although he said he has had better. The bar could use a broom or two and maybe a could cleaning of the tables and chairs. I mean it was unsanitary, but it needed a once over. It's quite a bit out of our way to make this a place we would frequent, but we may stop in again on our way to / from Sedona.
(3)
Sherry D.
Food was awesome!!!! Had the smoked brisket dinner and I can honestly say the best barbeque I have ever had!!!! Also had the Firewater punch and it was terrific! Went here after watching the bar being featured on Bar Rescue and will definitely being going back!~!! Only thing I could see that probably hasn't been kept up to standards was the cleanliness. It looked kind of messy in certain areas and doors were left open to some places that should have been closed (closet/storage areas). The restrooms were very dusty.
(5)
Kirsten N.
Stopped in for an early dinner on our way up north for the weekend. After being featured on Bar Rescue and now offering a Groupon, we had to check it out. Try: Brisket- great quality, good smoky flavor, great sauce BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich- very good flavor, perfect amount of meat- not falling out but stuffed full- just right! Firewater Punch- delicious, fairly strong but smooth, and not super sweet Pass: Beans- lacking for flavor Fries- classic boring "diner" fries Needs: some background music overhead during slower times when the usual eating clatter doesn't contribute to ambiance. Server: Lindsey- very friendly but a little shy/awkward. Very attentive though.
(4)
Kevin S.
We got caught in a severe traffic jam on the way back to our hotel in Phoenix, and decided to hop off of 17 in search of food. We stumbled in grumpy as hell, and it turns out horrible traffic can actually be a good thing. After all, if it hadn't been for the traffic, we never would have found this gem! Great food, and our waitress (Lindsey) was fantastic! Will definitely be back whenever we are in town!
(5)
Mona D.
My husband and I stopped by this place on our way to Flagstaff to grab some dinner. We have driven past this place like a million times, but to be honest, we thought it was either shut down or not very good because there were never many cars there. This time it looked like they had done some sort of remodel and were definitely open because there were cars in the parking lot. On the inside, the decor is really country, sort of down home feeling. We decided to just get main courses and opted not to get appetizers so I can only comment on our entrees. I ordered the BBQ chicken and my husband ordered the steak. My chicken was juicy and delicious, I could taste the deep smokey flavor, it seemed like real, authentic BBQ, not the fake BBQ that most restaurants try to pass off as BBQ. In my opinion it is the best BBQ around and it was easily the best BBQ I have had in years. My husband's said his steak was excellent but it was a little under-cooked. He ordered it medium rare but it was a little closer to rare than medium rare but all in all, not too bad. He is a very picky eater and normally sends back a steak that is not perfect but this time he ate it so it wasn't too far away from medium rare or he would not have eaten it. The service was great and our server was very friendly. He was attentive to our needs and we never had to look around for him to get things like refills on our drinks, he had them ready for us without asking. I think he was a little in the weeds though because there were several tables seated and he is the only server that I noticed on the floor. We will more than likely go back again. We live about an hour away but we travel to Flagstaff frequently and we will be stopping by on our next trip there. I would have given this place 5 stars because I really think that it deserves 5 stars but for some reason, it seems when you make a 5 star review, it gets filtered like all the ones below and nobody ever sees it.
(4)
Chris B.
WOW.....That is some of the BEST food we have had in a long time.. Our Food at the table was a couple of Torpedo Burgers, St Louis Ribs, Chicken Sandwich, and Half Chicken... My family and I are Huge Bar Rescue and Jon Taffer Fans... We just went for Mothers Day 2013. Our Experience was AMAZING..... I know that previously the place was not good at all just like you saw on the show.... But I can assure you that the family has learned a lot about what they really want out of their place. They are very friendly, and they have great attention to detail. Their moonshine drinks called FIRE WATER was so Delicious. A Strawberry Shortcake and Triple Chunk Warm Brownie Desert was our finishing touch. I Am so glad to see a family Change and have a chance to rebuild their Business. Thanks to the Family and Jon Taffer for an OFF THE Charts Experience. Love from the Chris Birkett Family Scottsdale AZ
(5)
Qa'ed M.
A great place to stop by on a Phoenix-Flagstaff commute. It's nice and homey and the food's all right. Sometimes I've found myself really licking my lips, and other times I'm forced to revisit memories of eating erasers in kindergarten. They've changed cooks a few times in the time I've eaten here. If you're lucky, you'll be there while one of the good cooks are in. The best thing I've ever had here was their strawberry shortcake, which was a perfect blend of a piping hot cake and fluffy ice cream. It wasn't as good the last few times, though.
(3)
Joe C.
Stopped by and ordered the western burger. Came with crusty BBQ sauce and was well done. Too bad I ordered it medium. Service was good otherwise. Apple pie was no good either. Had better pie from Costco.
(2)
Jacqueline S.
Pretty good food. The atmosphere was fun, staff was friendly. The bathrooms were not that clean thou. The torpedo burger was pretty good. All on all a good experience.
(4)
Yvonne W.
Pleasantly surprised! We've been wanting to check it out since Bar Rescue. I was a little nervous when we walked in because it wasn't as clean as I expected. Plus, it was a Saturday night and hardly anyone was there. We were seated quicky and received our drinks quickly.The menu wasn't anything exciting. So, I had the plain ol' chicken sandwich and the rest of the family had the plain cheeseburger, kids ribs, and pork sandwich. The food came out really fast! And, it was fresh, hot and good! Everyone in the family was happy. We had to end with the Strawberry Shortcake. I never see this offered anywhere. My son was moping because he wanted the Death by Chocolate, so the owner brought him a little personal dish of ice cream with chocolate! What a nice touch! The strawberry shortcake was delicious. The service was excellent! Pleasantly surprised!
(4)
Justin L.
Stopped by for some chips & salsa along with iced tea. Salsa and chips were yumms in me tumms. 17Sweet Tea could have been better, didn't need that much cinnamonzz. Loved the rattlesnake in the front and the story about that one ep. Better than bad. Thanks for the wonderful membories. Staff was very friendly. Chips were warm. Would consider returning. Thank you.
(4)
Fred P.
This is a "local" place. You can tell that the people on the bar stools come here frequently. But we came for dinner and so we sat in the dining area. The BBQ was pretty good. Rub vs Sauce is always the debate in BBQ circles. That said, this was not saucy enough for my taste. I'm looking for ear to ear sauce on my face when the Q is served and not from a container of cold sauce served on the plate. But he waitress service was attentive and the beverages and beer served fast. But here's my real complaint: I shouldn't have to smell bathrooms when I'm sitting in the dining area. Clean them and/or vent them!
(2)
Dog D.
Not a bad option if you are looking for rustic feel but their renovation didn't help much with their service or consistency. They do have live music from time to time but it gets very loud and not the most pleasant of places to sit down for dinner. Check out some other options in Black Canyon if you can.
(2)
Mike S.
After seeing on Bar Rescue we always like see help the business get back on its feet. So we drove from Surprise to have a horrible lunch. I had the $17.99 all u can eat beef ribs and chicken. I've had beef ribs before but these were reheated from the night before.. The chicken was too gamely and almost tasted spoiled. Gave some to my wife to try and she thought the same. So I figured I just got a bad order of ribs and did a reorder. I got 1 freakn' rib! WTF! Wife had the pulled pork sandwich. Fair at best... World Famous??? Why does every owner of a business feel it's necessary to say World Famous... I got it, their food is crappy and no one would come if not for the curiosity factor... If you sit near the bathrooms there is a stench that if the smell doesn't make you hurl, THE FOOD WILL! Stay away this place it reeks!
(1)
John V.
Stopped here on the way back from Prescott. I had a rib-eye that was priced 5 or 6 bucks over what Outback charges. The steak was a little tough and unremarkable... for the price I would expect it to exceed most of the restaurant chains that serve similar fare. This meal was pricey but pretty mediocre. The decor is rustic but pleasant... but I didn't go there for the scenery and if you're really looking for a good rib-eye, I would suggest you keep looking.
(3)
Michael C.
Honestly, I was extremely disappointed. With all the hoopla from being on bar rescue and seeing their reviews I was real excited to be coming here, but in the end the meat was dry, the beans were canned and the coleslaw was mostly cabbage and very dry. I think it needs another rescue. However, service was great!
(2)
Lawrence J.
Bar Rescue Didn't Rescue Chilleens on 17 I was eager about visiting a place that was recently featured on the show Bar Rescue. I've caught a few episodes and was impressed at how the bars were revamped into something really worth spending time and money in exploring. I would say that Chilleens on 17 was one that should have hit the editing room floor. After the long drive to this long-time family establishment north of Phoenix I was anticipating something to make the drive well worth it. Upon arriving around 8 pm on a Saturday night, my friend and I were surprised by a relatively empty parking lot. A horse corralled nearby promised some legitimate cowboy fare and I was in a mood to get my grill on. The disappointment started to settle in quick. There was no one to greet us when we entered so we wandered about looking for the dining room or even a sign saying "seat yourself." The few patrons seemed to be eating in the bar so we helped ourselves to a booth. Fortunately there were menus in the tables, so we looked through the straightforward menu. Some of the drink specials sounded interesting, but overloaded with alcohol and sugar. The specialty of the house appeared to be flavored Moonshine mixed with flavored vodkas and flavored rums. Now I consider flavored vodkas a crime against nature, so I decided to pass and planned on trying a microbrew on tap while my friend was going to experiment with a stylized bourbon sour. Since no one had even said hello to us yet, despite the small number of people, we even had time to decide what to try off the menu. My friend opted for a grilled chicken sandwich with bacon, cheese and a honey mustard sauce with fries. I was sticking with the grill and chose St. Louis style BBQ pork ribs with baked bean and coleslaw. Still no waiter. I finally got up and asked the bartender if he would send us a waiter. While she seemed nice enough when she finally arrived, I got the impression that she really couldn't have cared less. And when the food arrived I could see why. Now my friend's sandwich was actually pretty tasty; much like what you would find anywhere though. The fries even tasted homemade. The rest was a mess. The ribs were rather bland, not what I expect from something that was obviously not cooked in the lackluster sauce. The sauce tasted like it came from a jar, and I've had better jars. The baked beans were obviously canned (confirmed by the wait person when I asked) an had an after taste that could only be described as "bug spray." The coleslaw was a perfect match to meal. It was essentially water and cabbage with no flavor or spice. I was happy to hit the trail after chowing down at this chuck wagon establishment. Maybe it was a bad night. Maybe it was a bad cook. Maybe, maybe, maybe, but bottom line I will leave to others to discover that. I won't be returning. Oh, and the beer was small and too hoppy and the whiskey sour was as lackluster as the rest of the experience. Want my advice? I'd keep on the trail and fun another place to satisfy your desire for good ol' cooking.
(1)
Chris V.
Steak was over twenty dollars and was very small and had a lot of fat and ligaments. Due to the size of the steak, instead of it coming to the table medium rare, it came well done. I would not recommend this restaurant for a steak dinner.
(1)
Keith C.
NOT GOOD. Nice portion but the flavor was just not there. The BBQ sauce didn't make up for it. Don't drive here if you don't have too. Outstanding service!
(2)
Paige F.
Visited here on a little day trip north and we were pretty hungry. Its right off the highway and the place is a bit of a dive. Had no idea it was featured on Bar Rescue until we sat down and it was on the menu. I ordered the stuffed burger and my husband ordered their BBQ Brisket. We started out with their fried green chilies - holy moly these were GREAT! This was the BEST part of our meal. Then came the entrees. My burger - juicy but the cheese that was stuffed inside like disappeared - not sure if it soaked into the meat but it was gone so my burger had hot grease stored inside it. Oh not good eats. My husband's brisket - sadly it was dry like a piece of wood thats been in the desert for years. Their moonshine drinks look good on the menu but we were driving so we had to pass on those. I might try them again since it is right off the highway and I really LOVED those fried green chilies. Till we meet again.
(3)
Matthew S.
I'm in love with the fire water punch. I had a bad craving for it, so I drove up here all the way from Tolleson just to have 2 drinks. The service was great and I really enjoyed being there. I will definitely be coming back whenever I get a chance.
(5)
Chukki S.
Interesting little bar in the middle of nowhere sorta. First off, it is a bit hard to find coming from the north on the I-17. I missed the tiny sign and drove right by the entrance. My GPS only took me so far. It's a bit hard to see in the dark. Jon Taffer was right about it being very dark here. He did fix some of the lighting in the parking lot, but it's still dark getting in there as there no streetlights. So of course we came here after seeing the Bar Rescue episode. While there were no horses or motorcycles in the bar, it was by far the rowdiest bar I have ever been in. Lots of loud profanity, females being groped, yelling, shots being taken, etc. Granted this was later at night (10-11pm) and it didn't bother me, but it is noteworthy. We RUSHED to get here before 10 because we were told that's when they stopped serving food. We got there at 9:52pm so figured we have enough time. We sat down in the bar so the server could go home. But I soon realized after about 10 minutes no one was going to serve us. Finally, we sat at the bar and got food and drinks. We both got the Firewater Punch, which was good, but actually a little different than the recipe on TV. The cherries looked different and I think another ingredient might be diffferent. It was a pretty good drink though. I reccomend trying it. The food was terrible, but that could be because it was close to closing time. I'd reccomend getting here early to get fresh food or if you come late just have drinks. The bartender (the owner from the show) was real nice and answered all our questions about Bar Rescue and even posed for a picture with us. I'll come back but next time I'll try something else on the menu (pulled pork sandwich and chicken sandwich weren't good) and I'll get here much earlier.
(3)
Fales M.
Food was great, The drinks are very good (Firewater Punch) is a must! Price for me was really good. I will be going back soon.
(5)
Tabbitha M.
After seeing this on Bar Rescue, my friends and I had to try this out on our way back to Phoenix after camping last week in Prescott. Overall, it was a good experience. We came on a Friday during lunchtime. We wandered in the front door and, since there was no greeter, we saw a sign that told us to seat ourselves. The waitress was nice, but clearly the only one working with floor and bar with at least 8 other tables. It took a long time to get our food, but it was worth it! I had the Melt in Your Mouth Steak Sandwich with fries which was around $11, plus an appetizer of fried zucchini and mushrooms. I also tasted my friends chicken ribs, pork ribs, baked beans, and chicken fingers. I love the sandwich! It was delicious. The ribs were a little too "smokey" flavored for me, but they were extremely moist, fall-off-the-bone perfectly cooked. All in all, I give 5 stars for food but only 3 for service and 4 for portion size.
(4)
Kris N.
Driving up the I-17 going North to Prescott, we stopped at Chileens on 17 for lunch and was very surprised at the new look and feel of the restaurant! LOVE IT! Our food was not only delivered to us fast but it was really good! Ordered ribs and walked away fat and happy. Well, you know what I mean. Looking forward to trying the steak next time! OH FOR YOU NONALCOHOLIC ICE TEA DRINKERS, TRY THE NEW POMEGRANATE-ORANGE ICE TEA. YUMMY! I think the next time we go North from Phoenix, we will pick up lunch to go from Chilleen's on 17. No cooking for me!
(5)
Jeff W.
I saw Chilleens on Bar Rescue earlier in the year. I happened to be on a trip from the L.A. area that took me right past Chileen's at lunch time, so my friend and I decided to stop in and give them a try. I was a little confused as to exactly where the entrance was as there were several doors that I could have picked to go thru but none had "entrance" labeled on the door. We entered the door adjacent to the parking lot and there was nobody in the part of the restaurant we entered (probably because they had only been open for about 5 minutes). I don't know if there was anybody in the bar area of the restaurant. But the waitress heard the bell ring on the door and came out and seated us promptly. She took our drink order and brought the drinks out quickly. She asked if we were ready to order and we placed our order. I ordered the Torpedo Burger and my friend ordered the BBQ pulled pork sandwich. The food came out quickly and was prepared as ordered. My burger was cooked medium-rare and was hot and juicy. My friend's pulled pork sandwich looked very appetizing. She said it was very good. Fries accompanied our sandwiches and were prepared fine. My experience at Chileens was a good one and I have recommended them to my friends that live in the area!
(4)
Meg L.
My husband and I were in town visiting his grandpa. After being hung up on by a staff member at Benis Pizza for asking what time they closed, we decided to come here. SO glad we did! We were welcomed as soon as we walked in, a waitress came over right away to take our drink order. Our food and drinks were brought out to us quickly and our server was very nice and friendly. She also happened to be from where my husband and I live. Good food, good drinks (we had the moonshine drinks), FRIENDLY and fast service.
(5)
Cory S.
Good atmosphere, food is tasty. Firewater tea needs a little kick considering it says it has moonshine in it. Overall nice place, decent food. Good place to stop on a road trip.
(4)
Taylor C.
As bar rescue fans and having grabbed a $20 for $10 coupon on yelp we were excited to give this place a try. Food was really good and service was great too. Our server was on staff during the bar rescue filming but not on air. We had a great conversation about the filming and she was happy to oblige with going over all the details with us...I can only guess how many times she has been asked about it. Anyway, we each had a sandwich and a drink. I had a half pint beer, she had a signature drink. Ended up out the door for $20 (with yelp discount). It wasn't the best bbq I have had in my life but I would definitely eat it again. Only cons were bathroom was a little dirty but probably comparable to most bars and the server could show me a "half jug of beer" but couldn't give me the ounces on it.
(4)
David L.
Used a Groupon here a couple of months ago as an excuse to head north. We went right around the start of lunch time. Location: The outside is deceptively small, as the inside is actually quite large. Very divey decor, but that was expected. Only downside really was that my girlfriend and I both felt the bathrooms were a tad gross/needed some remodeling. Food: I had the brisket with coleslaw and baked beans while my gf had the ribs and some sides I can't recall anymore. I've had a lot of brisket in my lifetime and have liked most of it. This was by far the worst brisket I've ever had. It was tough, dried out, and literally tasted like wood (not "too much apple/hickory/mesquite smoke" woody but quite literally "cutting a board with a saw and inhaling some of the sawdust" woody). I figured I could work my way through it with enough sauce, but the sauce tasted more like liquid smoke than anything. My beans tasted like they were straight out of a can without any added flavoring on their part. My coleslaw was actually pretty good. My girlfriend thought her sides were okay but shared my thoughts on the sauce. She also had the ribs and wasn't a fan due to them not really tasting like they'd been seasoned. I tried one and agreed- they were mildly smokey without much other flavor. Beverages: Drink deals are actually decent here. You can get a ~20oz Blue Moon for $5, which is what you'd pay for only a pint at most places in the valley. Some of their mixed drinks also sounded good, but we had a bit of a drive ahead of us and decided not to try any of them. Service: The owners' daughter was our waitress and she was excellent. Very attentive and friendly. Summary: Their other food may be better, but we won't go back to try any of it based on our impression with the barbecue. If it were closer, we both agreed it would be a great dive-bar for a few drinks with friends and would likely use it as such.
(2)
Matt B.
Saw it on bar rescue. It was a good atmosphere. The food was meh I guess. I got some bbq thing and it was semi warm. My friends got a burger. Everything was kinda small in portion to most restaurants. The drinks we had were awesome though. Firewater punch was tasty. I guess if you're passing thru it's a good stop but not worth the hour drive up from Phoenix.
(2)
Britany K.
My boyfriend and I went there before Bar Rescue. The service was horrible, food disgusting, and there was a wandering cat around the restaurant. We tried it again after Bar Rescue. It was A LOT BETTER! Worth the stop! Scott was our bartender. The moonshine drinks are good, but I personally loved the sweet tea!
(5)
Peter B.
This was not the best BBQ I have ever had, but it was hardly the worst either. We went during a low time and the place was pretty empty. We were greeted right away and seated quickly. The service was quick and solid. I went with the pulled pork sandwich, and the lady went with brisket. I thought the sandwich was good, not great. The bun was toasted which I really liked, as most BBQ sandwiches suffer from that spongey bread syndrome. The fries that came with it were fine. The lady liked the brisket. I am used to big slices of brisket, but this was more shredded, and I don't think I liked it as much but I am not a giant fan of BBQ brisket anyway. I had the firewater punch, and the lady had the sweet tea. Both were good. I am not a huge expert on mixed drinks, so take my opinion with a grain of salt but I liked it. The sweet tea was good as well. One thing I really noticed was that the portions were not overly huge. A lot of times I either leave a BBQ place too stuffed, or I have leftovers. Well if you are on I17 in Black Canyon City, you are in the midst of a journey, right? And I don't think being overly stuffed or lugging leftovers is desirable, so I appreciated the reasonable size of the portions. I wouldn't drive a half hour out of my way just to go back, but if you are on the road and hungry for some lunch, you could certainly do a whole lot worse.
(3)
Greg C.
I would have given Chilleen's a 5 star, but after we ate, we hit the bar for a few drinks... I can't wait to see this episode on Bar Rescue to hear it from the point of view of Taffer. We came in to eat and everything was perfect until we went to the bar and had a seat. For the next 15 minutes I heard nothing but complaining about how Bar Rescue f*&d everything up for you. Nothing was right. The lady bartender had a real bad attitude her and the older women never stopped complaining about the crew that fixed their place up. My girl ordered one of the new drinks and the bartender was offended and it showed. It drove me out of the place. Ladies, you only have one thing to fix...your attitudes!!! Everything else was perfect, the food, the remodel, the waitress was so kind. Why aren't you grateful for the things you have in your life, including that rescue! And why would you bitch and moan about all the mistakes they made in front of your customers? Let me reiterate that the food and service in the restaurant area were superb.
(3)
Barret H.
For where this place is on the map (in the sticks), it is pretty good! I come from Phoenix with unlimited dining options, so no this wasn't the best barbeque in Arizona. That said, the food was good and my family had fun here and we left happy. I do watch Bar Rescue so we tried the sweet tea and the barbeque entrees featured on that show. I would give the drink a 9 out of 10 and the food a 7 out of 10. The brisket and baby backs were a little tough but flavor was good. I really liked the fried green chile appetizer. My kids liked seeing the live rattle snake they have on display. The beer prices were very reasonable so this looks like a place that would be a lot of fun at night! For a place out in Black Canyon city, it is worth a stop to give it a try!
(4)
Debi R.
We went to visit friends & family in March and decided to get a group together at Chilleen' s. The food was awesome and priced fair and the drinks were perfect. The staff is fun, atmosphere inviting, and a all around great experience. I suggest you make a trip to Black Canyon City or stop in while passing through. You won't regret it!!!
(5)
J B.
We stop and eat here every time we go up to Sedona. The food and drinks have always been delicious, but since they've revamped the drink list and menu items, it's now a can't miss. I'm especially a fan of the Chicken and Pork Rib Combo, but it's hard to argue with the burgers, too. The waitstaff and bartenders always provide great service, and you'll feel like part of the family by the time you leave.
(4)
Carrie E.
So we went back for a second visit so we could try something else on the menu. I had the chix and pork rib combo and the ribs were so tender and delicious. We had fried mushrooms for an appetizer and they were so good and they were very generous with the serving. We also had a burger and fries and just as delicious. I look forward to our next visit to try the Philly steak sandwich!
(5)
Mark W.
Roadside BBQ on the way to Flagstaff from Phoenix. Locally owned, operated with a mix of locals and tourists. Complete Bar. Good burgers, BBQ. Interesting story of redemption by a "Save This Bar". Television series. Good lace for an intermediate stop. Service is pleasant and helpful. Looks like an upscale biker joint from outside, but family friendly. Authentic food, service and atmosphere.
(4)
Brad W.
Go for the Jon Taffner cardboard cutout or a $1.75 draft beer, but don't go for the food. The bar might have been rescued, but the kitchen needs a rescue now. The menu states you can ask for the brisket to be lean, but when our two $9 sandwiches arrived, the waitress said both were lean. Not sure if Chilleen's has hired a blind chef, but my sandwich was inedible and sent back due to extreme fattiness. I never bothered to order something else because the two burgers also on the table looked pretty sad and we all had over greasy frozen fries served with the entree. The highlight of your stop will be the photo opportunity with Tafner, but he hasn't been here in 2 years, so even he would be embarrassed about what happened to the food since the show was filmed.
(1)
Kevin G.
I really liked the place! The food tasted good, I had the western burger and we also had the Friday fish day, the server was very friendly and came by often. I would definitely come back here on my next trip up north. I would come hungry because the potions can big too. Also very easy to park
(5)
Shari G.
On the way back from Sedona, we finally had the chance to check out Chilleen's on 17. We haven't seen the "Bar Rescue" episode from 2013, but I have passed the place so many times, seeing it from the highway. It's easy from Interstate 17, exit 244. Once inside, the sign said to choose our own seat. I like that! Within 30 seconds we were greeted by Lisa with a big smiling welcome and menus. I asked her what the $5 lunch special was and it turned out to be bbq ribs with potato salad. That's what I got! How can you beat that!? Betty got a pulled pork sandwich w/ fries and loved it. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and the bbq. (Many folks are picky about the bbq flavor wherever they go... I don't have a preference, I just know what I like when I taste it!) The portion was 4 pork ribs, with a dry rub with a little cup of bbq sauce. It was the perfect amount of sauce for the four delicious ribs. Lisa mentioned the desserts... holy cow, she was enthusiastic about the choices! Loving enthusiasm, especially when it comes to food, we decided we had to try the Strawberry Shortcake to share. OMG it was fantastic!!! Usually, shortcake is dry and lacking in sweetness/flavor... oh heck no, not at Chilleen's!!! It was sooooo good! Lisa was perfect in her service; friendly, helpful, quick and attentive. It was fun reading the flip cards on the table which answer all your questions about their experience with Bar Rescue and John Taffer. I'd go back anytime.
(4)
Shamar J.
My friend and I was on I 17 going south back to phx , when we both wanted some food . My friend told me she saw this place at the next exit. I was like what the hell let's try it . The ppl was soooo nice and the food was great . I got a sandwich that was on point and my friend got a pork sandwich. I'm going to come back just to try that . I would tell my friends and family about this place and if you pass by you have to stop bye . When we gone to tell them to half the check the just ran the card and they did not no how to fix it . That's was a pain but hey the food was on Point tho
(3)
Michael C.
Always stop here for dinner on the way home from Sedona! As usual pork ribs were absolutely delicious! Wife had burger, and my son had chicken strips. They loved their orders as well! But best part was Brenda our waitress! She was super friendly, very prompt and helpful! Will always stop here when ever we can! Thank you for the great experience!
(5)
Nikki S.
Open for breakfast? Apparently not. 10am on a Sunday???? All the billboards along 17 say breakfast......
(1)
Fiona F.
Did not give us the 10% Yelp check-in discount even though we asked before we ordered
(2)
Stellz L.
OK, It's probably really good if you have a bunch of kids and you're worried about if it's ok to take them to a restaurant. Definitely family friendly. Prices are right, pretty huge portions. No problem with sharing a plate. Just a loud spot with not bad food. My brisket was drowning in BBQ sauce tho, ask for sauce on the side if you like it dryer. (*But if you bring your kids, ask them not to kick the walls and scream for 30 minutes straight. Talking to you, family that sat behind us, can't the fit happen outside?*)
(3)
Steven M.
I live in Prescott Valley and try not to go to Phoenix for any reason, if I can avoid it. Had to go down there today and convinced my buddy that we need to try this place on the way back home. Not being a TV addict, I wasn't even aware of the notoriety of the restaurant thanks to the "Bar Rescue" episode, Season 3, Episode 9, btw. The place is dark as others on this and Google Reviews have noted, but not so dark that we couldn't read the menu. The waitress was young, perky, attractive and very attentive. The food was delicious and came very quickly to the table. I had the Philly Steak Sandwich and my buddy had the pork ribs. My fries were large, crunchy and hot. My buddy liked his beans and cole slaw but I thought his side portions were a bit too small, served in small plastic cups. The prices were acceptable and the waitress offered to pour us new drinks in to-go cups which was very classy. As an added bonus, they have a side-room featuring their time on TV and also a large glass terrarium with a real-live, genuinely pissed-off Diamondback Rattlesnake!!!
(4)
Cheryl R.
Meh, the food was not fantastic but it was not bad. It is bar food. The fire water was good though. The blue berries have been sitting in moonshine! Not bad!
(4)
Jeremy S.
Came after seeing it on Bar Rescue; it was only about 30 minute drive from the house, so I figured why not. I was impressed that a couple years after the show, scott and donna kept it up. The whole family is working there now! They're doing well and are still very grateful for the bar rescue. Staff was happy to chat about it, and there was a small Taffer shrine at the front of the bar as well as a painting of him on the wall lol The place is clean and the atmosphere is great. The food was good -- nothing to write home about, but it was definitely good and didn't taste like shortcuts were taken. For the price I paid, I'd say it was great! I ordered the brisket plate and a firewater punch. The brisket was good, the sauce was great. Baked beans were outstanding. We also got the fried shrooms and zuccs as our waitress suggested. They were good. They didn't taste like the oil was a year old. The slaw tasted fresh and not overbearing like the normal slaw you'd expect to get. My drink was made well. It was strong (duh, it was moonshine) but not in a bad way. I kept thinking it was gonna be harsh on every sip, but it wasn't, my brain was just messing with me. The service I got was outstanding. The only bartender on shift at the time, I believe was the owners' son and he was killin it, to be honest. Outstanding attitude. We hung out for a while and discovered that they have a large back room and a back yard with a hoedown hut with a stage that they didn't show on bar rescue. I'm not sure if that was added later, but it was branded just the same. Doesn't look like they've made use of it in a while though, if at all. Aside from the abandoned bar in the back yard, it was still well maintained. To be perfectly honest, I was happy to see that everyone (and more) is still there and things look to be going well. All things considered, I have no complaints. I will likely make it a point to come back from time to time.
(4)
Marshall D.
Went here yesterday because I'd passed it on I-17 numerous times and was curious. Came in at about 6:30pm on a Monday night. I couldn't care less about bar rescue so I won't discuss any aspect of that, aside from, the fact that there is a huge cutout of Taffer when you walk in. Atmosphere: This place gets a 10/10 as far as character. What a fun wild west/cowboy type atmosphere. Service: Service was good, once we figured out we had to show our faces. It seemed understaffed with only one server who said she was new. She was attentive and did a great job once she realized we were there. Food: Foot was hit or miss. My friend ordered a steak sandwich cooked medium. It came out more well than medium, however, he said it tasted great. I ordered a chicken and pork rib dinner with steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes (one dish). The sides were horrendous. The potatoes were cold. The broccoli though well seasoned, was highly dehydrated and tasted overly microwaved. In their defense, I asked for it double steamed. The pork ribs were honestly some of the best I've ever had, but cold. The chicken was also very good and had a lovely smokey flavor. Overall, I thought the price was a bit high, however, if the sides had been better, I'd agree they could charge the same price as any place else. Will I be back? I'll give them another chance, the atmosphere was great but I wasn't wowed by the food.
(3)
Jessica R.
This place is hysterical. It's a totally run-of-the-mill, highway-side restaurant, complete with fries that obvious came out of a bag and clearly nothing that is homemade (our waitress even mentioned that the apple pie came frozen). Still, we had a great time. They're just so excited about the Bar Rescue thing that it makes the entire experience kind of silly. So while the food is a 2-star experience, the overall experience is higher just because this place is so damn funny.
(3)
Ln K.
Best restaurant ever. I love this place. Food and Service and Atmosphere Excellent.
(5)
Stephanie L.
We have always wanted to eat here even before the renovations. We stopped once for a drink and the next time for food. Not impressed with their bbq. We order a pulled pork sandwich and brisket. I did not believe their "bad ass bbq" now "award winning bbq" was neither bad ass or award winning! The bar has a great atmosphere and good specials the staff is very friendly but I wouldn't go there for the bbq.
(3)
Peter O.
My dad (chef) and I have been passing by this place for a couple years. We have wanted to stop everytime due to the great signage they have along the highway "award winning BBQ" never knew about the show. We were greeted by a friendly waitress saying sit wherever you would like. Atmosphere was okay we sat in a booth outside the bar. It was very dark the only room with light was the room they have displaying the show they were on called bar rescue. Well our opinion it needs to be rescued again. We wanted a BBQ platter for 2. It came with 4 ribs 2 small slices of brisket one chicken thigh and two very small sides of beans and coleslaw. We were hoping for some type of potato or bread option but we had to add it as an additional item. The meat was so so but the sauce was good. The beans were odd and thin and tasted like chili powder. The mashed potatoes were the bottom of the pan, The gravy was absolutely terrible and should not be on potatoes. Sent it back and got plain but hot potatoes. The plate cost about 8 dollars to send out and we paid 25 for it. We will not be recommending it but we hope they will step it up it has the potential. -chefs daughter
(1)
Brian S.
Love the show Bar Rescue watching John Taffer rebuild bars and restraints from the ground up. It was a pleasure to finally go to see our first one in person and they are awesome. Service was great food was awesome and the drinks where great too
(4)
Carrie K.
We've passed by this place many times and finally got around to trying it. It was awful, but at least it was expensive. My husband ordered a cup of French onion soup and a Caesar salad. The cup was tiny and he complained that it was too salty. This is a man who drinks pickle brine from the jar... I had the blackened Cajun chicken Caesar salad. I got the "blackened" part, but the "Cajun" part was non-existant. I'm pretty sure it was green leaf lettuce and not romaine. Either way, the pieces of lettuce were so big I had to cut my salad with a knife. Service was slow and we were never asked how our food was, just if we wanted anything else. 2 iced teas and the above with tip set us back $28.50.
(1)
Sinda S.
Okay, so my husband of five years has been coming in here for years before me. When he started dragging me here, I originally politely kept my mouth shut about how much I hated it. I felt t was dirty, the food inconsistent, the service almost nonexistent and it irritated me that on more than one occasion, my husband was told that they had whiskey but no bourbon. One time I left furious because after telling me for 20 AFTER we got our food that she would make me a second drink, I finally had to give up. Now this was long before Bar Rescue came into the picture. And to my husband and I, it will always be Bad Ass Barbecue. Now I want to clarify that we always went in the late morning or afternoon, for the most part, on our way back to Phoenix. We had never seen or met Donna, Scott or Aleah. The place was usually pretty much empty when we came in, kind of like crawling into a slightly musty cave. And we were well aware of the attempts to raise money to save the place. So, the John brought his magical Bar Rescue to Bad Ass. It's hard to tell how much was truth and how much was fiction, but the episode was definitely entertaining! My husband taped it and still watches it occasionally. So, of course we had to go back and check the place out. What we first noticed? The giraffe is gone. :( No, it made no sense in front of a barbecue joint or any where else, for that matter, except perhaps a zoo, but so what? It was interesting. It was unique and funny and periodically we would take our picture with it. Come n, John. You should have lightened up a bit and left the giraffe!!! Inside, it was bustling, an early Saturday evening. We sat at the bar, talked a little to Donna and Aleah. Apparently I was remembered for a less than kind review I had left once. :O I immediately was hooked on the firewater punch with the moonshine soaked blue berries.It was a fun evening. Aleah is as funny, smart and nice as she appeared n television and a kick ass bartender, as well. We went to dinner one Sunday afternoon and brought another couple with us that had seen the show. Ironically, my friend is a bartender and got a kick out of the waitress not knowing that bourbon WAS whiskey. Alas, the food was disappointing, the brisket dried out. Still, we have also been in where the brisket was delicious. The point of this review is Bad Ass Barbecue AKA Chilleen's has grown on me. I know we will continue to stop there on our way in or out of town. We probably won't eat anything but appetizers (The fried green chilis are delish!), but it would be hard to resist coming in occasionally for one of Aleah's fire punch and to test the rest of the staff on their knowledge of bourbon! JUST KIDDING!!! LOL So, we'll be seeing ya!
(4)
Kristi S.
Excellent drinks!!! The Firewater and the Berry Long Island Shiner were delicious! And the food was pretty yummy too; we really enjoyed the Green Chili Dip!
(4)
John M.
Authentic! In a world where franchises have replaced the local meal experience Chilleen's stands out as a real deal. Everything here came from the creativity of a real person instead of a corporate committee. And that's damn refreshing! Shout out to our waitress Jordan, who shared her pride and enthusiasm with an entertaining spirit. We're glad we made the stop on our road adventure!
(4)
Tasser O.
Simply put "Awesome Endless Beef Ribs"! They were smoked to perfection and accompanied by your choice of two sides. Definitely, worth $17.99 and a trip back next time I'm passing through
(5)
Brian M.
My family came here for "the last time" about 3.5 years ago. That was before the make over. On that last visit the place was a mess, the only bright spot was our waitress whom I found out later was the owner's daughter. Since the place was redone we decided to give it another shot on our way up to Montezuma Castle. I am really glade we did. My younger daughter had The Ultimate Salad and raved about it. My wife and older daughter has the burger and really enjoyed it. The fries were a hit but could use a touch more salt. My son's chicken tenders tasted great. I had a brisket sandwich and it is in the running for the best brisket I have had. It was moist and juicy with well rendered fat and just a the right hint of BBQ sauce. I can definitively say it is the best I have had in AZ. The service wasn't fabulous but it is was good. It is great to see a favorite location brought back to life.
(4)
Mabel R.
Heading back from a weekend in Flagstaff and stopped here for lunch. The place is very clean (especially the bathroooms) which is important to me. The decor and vibe are impressive. The hubby and I ordered the Chile en Chips as an appetizer. The green chile con carne was delicious! For our meals, I ordered the Top Sirloin (medium well) with a baked potato and broccoli. I was concerned my steak would be served too dry but was actually very juicy, tender, and flavorful! The baked potato was moist and hot which allowed their butter to blend in perfectly. The broccoli was cooked properly with the right color and amount of crunch. The hubby had the Torpedo Burger and he claims it was the right combo of juicyness, cheese, as well as chiles. He loved it! I tried his fries and they were yummy. We look forward ro eating here again.
(5)
Jerry E.
Did not check this place out on Yelp before dropping by for a snack en route Phoenix to Flagstaff so might have given it a miss. Shared a BLT so did not experience any serious food. Expressed curiosity about white stuff scattered over floor and discovered it was sawdust no doubt to brighten dingy decor and provide an authentic saloon touch. From all the reviews it seems to be 'hit and miss'. This is not a Michelin rated establishment contrary to one report. My BLT was surprisingly good, the fries not authentic. Make sure you are seriously hungry. Friendly staff......wish I had known about the TV program....
(3)
Dave H.
Been there before and after the rescue. Should be put out of its misery. Friend and I stopped by today for lunch on the way back to the Chino Valley area. Why? I don't know. Food is over priced and sucked!! I had the steak sandwich, which was tough and over priced. I was only able to get through half of it. Friend had a Ruben that he said was flavorless. We each had a side of fries that were just okay. I also had a side of beans that probably came out of a can. The waitress brought our drinks, took our order, delivered order, brought check. Never checked back. In her defense when clearing the table she said I should have said something. I would have had she checked on us. If you're traveling though Black Canyon City drive through it as fast as you can and find a Mcdonalds
(1)
Marco L.
Admittedly, I'm not super hard to please. My steak was really good, and the kids all liked their burgers, etc. My other family was a little less impressed with their chicken and steak. Really cool ambience.
(3)
BRian M.
Last time I ate here was 2004. The sign on the place said "Bad Ass BBQ", instead of "Award Winning BBQ". At that time, I ate some bbq chicken that was basically a pre frozen chicken breast thrown on a grill and slapped with barbecue sauce... At that time (2004) it sucked. However, I visited about 2 days ago and had the Chile Verde (with tortillas)... Wow, what a difference. Absolutely delicious green chile. Perfectly cooked and spiced. And the tortillas seemed very fresh and are served piping hot.
(5)
S P.
I love to support the locals instead of chain restaurants when I travel. This was a good stop on our drive to Phoenix after leaving Sedona. We had bookmarked it when planning our Arizona trip after seeing it featured on Bar Rescue. A great diverse menu-something for everyone. We had the honey mustard chicken sandwich. It was a generous tender grilled chicken fillet, with golden french fries. Fresh ice tea for our beverage. There is a covered patio to dine outside, with your dog if you like. Service is relaxed so don't expect a dine and dash experience. Easy to find, right off I17 - just follow the signs. Looks like it is doing fine and there are some other shops popping up at this site, including Pink Adventure tours. We will stop again the next time we are in this area!
(4)
Levon A.
Beware of there hot wings they serve em' raw wings!!! Raw chicken wings, that's right. He made us pay for it. Pretty young blonde boy, bartender (thru my wife's eyes, lol) demanded for us to pay for it. So we did & got out of there. If I were alone I would've tell em to make it right & not charge us. Very bad when comes to closing time. Drive on thru if it's late or close to closing time. Seems like that's the excuse. Very bad customer service, Rescue Bar needs to comeback & review some these employees!!!!
(1)
Stanley V.
We planned our rendezvous at Chilleen's On 17; and that went okay. Mothers' Day and our fam started with with two Firewater Punches for tasting. There should be just a splash more alcohol in their punch since it has an ingredient of moonshine. The Coors draft 32 oz. for $4 was delicious and ice-cold. The 5 dinners arrived reasonably soon as other Mothers' Day celebrations were evident. A half rack of St. Louis Style Pork Ribs arrived meaty with minimal fat and sufficient pork for the price of $15. Maybe they could have been just a little heavier handed with the BBQ sauce recipe preparation. Lots of BBQ sauce was included in a cup. Sides of coleslaw and BBQ beans were good. Two orders of ground sirloin steak made both diners happy and full. The guest of honor had a portion left-over for the doggie bag. Their sides were okay they said. 1 order of adult chicken fingers seemed well received and large enough supply of not-greasy chicken w/ Ranch dressing and 2 sides. Lastly, my son had the $18 "all you can eat" BBQ beef ribs. He chowed down 2 platefuls and declined the third due to everybody else being finished eating earlier. His sides were coleslaw and BBQ beans. The standard groans were given when asked for desserts. Next time, It might be a good idea just to order dessert first with coffee and see about dinner, afterwards? Our waitress, Tracy, was outstanding and very attentive. We will go back, for sure..
(4)
Philip B.
Ordered my food, asked the waitress after 15 or so minutes. And she completely forgot my order. This place was featured on Bar Rescue. They may need another rescue with this horrible service.
(1)
Brandon Z.
Stopped in on a Sunday afternoon after driving by this place numerous times....I think the "Bar Rescue" bug finally bit us. Much improved, and not nearly as tacky as it previously was, on the outside. Inside was clean and appealing to the eye. Our service was prompt, though I did find it a bit odd that there was a sign upon entering that told us to seat ourselves. We got our drinks shortly after ordering them - my mixed drink (one of the special cocktails on their drink menu) was made very well and went down smoothly. My wife had the blackened chicken, I had a bbq brisket sandwich. Both were very tasty and prepared well. Bun on the sandwich was a bit soggy, but nothing that a fork couldn't solve. Donna (the owner) was out and about, handing out flowers to the mothers for Mothers Day. Thought that was a nice touch. After walking through the bar, I have to say the atmosphere (in comparison to the pre-Bar Rescue pics) was appealing, clean, and inviting. We'd return on our next trip through the area. If what they quote on their menu is true (sales are up 43%) then this is for sure a Bar Rescue success story.
I have been driving by for several years, and hadn't stopped since the remodel. Soooooooo glad we stopped in again. Had the all you can eat beef ribs and they were delicious!! They start you with 3 large beef ribs and send two more if you would like when ready and keep going from there if one so desires! :-) I had 5 and was very pleased with all of them. Great portion size! I am very picky about my coleslaw and there slaw is excellent..as well as their baked beans. My girlfriend had a BBQ chicken sandwich with fries. The chicken was cooked just right and was juicy. The sauce was not heavy at all. If you enjoy good BBQ, burgers, and steaks this is a definite must stop of you are heading North out of the Valley our heading in our just simply passing by! I will for sure be back again. We sat in the car area which is very roomy. It is a country style comfortable atmosphere, and has a separated family dining area of you would prefer that. Our server was Scott and was very friendly, attentive, and prompt with beverages and anything else. Great service and great food!
(5)
James S.
Interesting little place we thought we would tried. Onion rings for appetizers were spot on. I had the ribeye, baked pot, and corn. The Ribeye was a little chewy and fatty. The flavor was good and cooked perfect, just needs to be a better cut. I would for sure go back. It was my first bar rescue visit.
(3)
Greg G.
As a BBQ Connoisseur, I was curious about this place when it was Kid Chilleen's Kick Ass BBQ. I wanted to go, but I couldn't convince the family to make the trip (33 miles door to door). BUT! After John Taffer paid them a visit the whole famn damily wanted to go, so we did. Soooo Glad We Waited! Worth every bit of the drive up. The atmosphere is a beautifully causal, cowboy come as you are type of restaurant. The booths are comfy and there is a GREAT view out almost any window. The food was great. We ate a variety of burgers, sandwiches and fixin's. Both beef and pork. It was all tender and juicy the way it should be with out a heavily over-smoked flavor that a lot of restaurants seem to pride themselves on (for reason's I'll never know). Now lets talk about the important part. I can find a pretty background and I can make some killer good BBQ, so while that is important, it isn't why I dine out. I go for the SERVICE. I go because I want someone to do those things I could do myself. In this department Chilleen's knocks it out of the park. We had the daughter (I forget her name) as our server and she was fantastic. She seemed to read the customers needs before they happened. All of our food showed up on time, fresh and hot. We felt so welcome and appreciated, like we were at a family members house for a meal. While we were there, a football game was on. The bar area looked like the PERFECT place to catch a game! Based on food alone I can't list this in the Top-BBQ list, but add in the factors of environment and service and it easily becomes a favorite family destination that we all love to visit. I'm going to put this in my Best-BBQ and Best-Outdoor lists
(4)
Jerry M.
Come to Drink and when you are feeling good then try the food. Place is clearly made more for partying and drinking rather than dining. Food is just average at best and service needs a lot of improving. Tried it once because of Bar Rescue, but will probably never return.
(2)
Viktor P.
I was worried about coming here on account of the bad reviews but am quite glad I came anyway. The best part was the service, which was extremely good. We came on Christmas Eve, but they were open and service was still prompt, extremely courteous, and helpful. The food was good, maybe 4/5, but nothing wrong sufficient to bring the restaurant down from 5 stars. Prices were reasonable. It is conveniently located off I-17. If you are in the area, I would recommend it.
(5)
Mike A.
I read a few reviews on here and was skeptical, stopped by anyways because there was bad traffic and nowhere else to go. The food was perfect, generous portions and everything was delicious, an the staff was very quick and friendly. The only thing I could see people could complain about is maybe the looks of the place but GUESS WHAT-it's supposed to look like an old western saloon! We sat in the bar and they had a few TVs which is more than enough. I would definitely stop in again sometime.
(5)
Doug H.
It's a lot of fun.. great food.. they have recreated it and kept the great atmosphere and the historic feel... did I mention great bbq? I had the all you can eat ribs... great flavors. ..
(5)
Bob W.
I like the place. Food is good (big ass meaty beef ribs) Beer is better (always cold) and Jim Beam's the BEST! (plentiful & powerful) But responsible. These guys are always friendly and willing to please. I especially like the kick back Patio out back. Attended several out back parties which are always a hoot! The views from the back are stunning to say the least. Only downfall is the owner is a Raiders fan! Well, cant will 'em all.. Or as they say THIS SEASON, can't we win just one?
(4)
KellieAnn R.
Stopped for lunch during a Sunday drive. Sat outside on the covered patio with our dogs. Server was very pleasant and attentive. The steaks were prepared precisely as ordered, and the portions were quite large. We look forward to trying the barbeque on our next trip!
(4)
Pedro S.
I go here every time I go up I-17 at a meal time, which isn't that often (sadly). This place has probably the best blackened chicken in Arizona. There are only 2-3 other places that I've even seen here that make it, but this one is the best. My one recommendation would be that they use a little less of the blackening spices. (You should actually be able to see the chicken, fish, etc. under the spice--look at Paul Prudhomme photos on Google for reference.) All in all, a pretty good place.
(4)
Regina L.
Hey!!! I really like this place! !! I love in Prescott Ave was meeting my son from phoenix, thought this would be a great spot. .. I was right. I've been to other bar rescue bars and this one is the most friendly
(4)
Carol M.
Previous glowing reviewers may have upped my expectations a bit. Returning from Sedona, in the mood for BBQ and this place is literally just off I-17 (you can see the sign & billboards from the Northbound lanes). Never heard of Bar Rescue so that had no influence on our stop. We just wanted BBQ. So we made a late lunch of pulled pork sandwiches. I thought the food was okay and reasonably priced. Fries were typical - ordered well done and arrived barely cooked. I am happy to see that this place survived after all they seem to have been through. I didn't see much of the place except the dining area and the bathroom. Both seemed okay to me. Sawdust on the floor - obviously part of the area "charm". Service was pleasant, a bit slow but we weren't in a rush so that wasn't a real problem. Decent experience but not really a WOW for me. Don't think I'll be in a hurry to rush back. If I go again, I'd like to try the brisket sandwich.
(3)
Franni G.
So after seeing this bar on Bar Rescue, we decided yo check it out. It was easy to find and we weren't the only one's who were standing outside taking pictures of this place. We went in and had the Bbq beef sandwich and 2 Firewater Punch drinks. WOW! !! GREAT DRINKS and Food! Atmosphere was fun and we were told to stop back on by for the Luau they were having that night. We will be back next month. I'll be starting out my bday celebrating there before o do the whiskey row crawl. Great job guys! !!!
(4)
Justice A.
My pregnant wife and I each found this place a different way. I'm a professional driver who spotted the place off of I-17 during my constant travels and my wife found this place on Yelp! A fortunate turn of events a few days ago made it possible for us to finally have dinner there and this is what we think. The atmosphere is warm and rustic and their bathrooms were clean, a huge plus for any bar. The service was great. The young lady who served us started off by cleaning off a dirty table for us because that was the one we wanted. She was then constantly attentive to us throughout our evening with helpful information to our questions. The food, smashing! Delicious starter of Green chilli cheese fries and a brisket sandwich that was amazing. There was so much chilli cheese on the starter that I was able to eat half my side fries with it too! My wife and I had a wonderful dinner and an excellent evening. Unfortunately, we can't go more often because we live 40 minutes away but we plan on going back every few months as a treat to ourselves. Keep up the hard work!
(5)
Mari D.
Glad we stopped in to try the BBQ -- had the SW Brisket - tender & tasty. Beans, awesome! Staff and clientele more than 'neighborhood friendly' - felt at home and at ease. Drinks were good and we'll be back next time we're in the area! See y'all soon.
(5)
Chuck B.
I had to stop by and check out the place after seeing it on Bar Rescue. I'd driven by it a million times going up to northern AZ, but never had any reason to stop in. It didn't look like much from the road, so I just drove on by. I decided to stop in today just out of curiosity. Around 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon, and the parking lot was pretty full - a good sign. The dining room was pretty full, the bar was pretty empty, and the game room and outdoor areas were deserted. We decided to grab a little food at the bar, so we grabbed a Caesar salad and a pulled pork BBQ sandwich. We also tried their Firewater Punch, which is a mix of moonshine (store bought, not the backyard still kind, which I've also had before - ugh), honey, lemon juice, and tea. I was expecting to hate it. I didn't. Damn good. The salad was above average, and I would definitely order the BBQ pork sandwich again. The staff was pretty attentive, and the place, although very dark inside, looked good enough. It's a cowboy theme, with wood shavings on the floor, bull riding on the TV, and cow-patterned seats. Overall, pretty good. I'll stop by sometime and try out one of their steaks. And I'll have that Firewater Punch again for sure.
(4)
Nancy C.
This was a very welcome surprise right off of 17. We stopped on a spur of the moment. BBQ chicken and brisket were very good and smoky tasting. If we're ever back in the area, we would come back.
(4)
Kat S.
Hubby had the torpedo burger. He loved it! I had the BBQ brisket. The beef was well trimmed and it was a decent sandwich. We ordered fried shrooms and zucchini and they were excellent. Good place to have lunch!
(4)
Adam S.
Stopped in on my way from PHX to Prescott. When the sign says "Award winning BBQ" you just have to stop in and try it! Well, needless to say I can see they serve up to the expectation. Great place for lunch. I had the BBQ pork sandwich and it was great! I'll definitely be back for more! Friendly atmosphere!
(5)
Len B.
Had the BBQ brisket It was ok. Didn't have any run or flavor. The bartender was great. And so was the ambience. They have a rattlesnake in the restaurant in a cage
(3)
Breven C.
The worst ribs are the kind that take a steak knife to carve the meat off the bone. Tonight I ate every bit of rib meat, which fell clean off the bone nearly on its own. Chilleen's delivered and all around perfect BBQ meal. Baked beans were excellent, cole slaw was good too. Service was excellent. Great place, glad I stopped by.
(5)
Brittany D.
I stopped by here driving back from Sedona to Phoenix. The food came out quick, it was juicy, and full of flavor! Our waitress was very nice and took great care of us. The decor is adorable and southwestern themed. Thanks for the food!!!
(4)
Brad M.
Service was slow but she was friendly. The fries appeared to be store bought out of a bag. The burger was between a store bought sesame seed bun and the meat was burnt (I asked for medium/well). The Pepsi I ordered came in a cup that had an odd smell. At the end I asked for my check and she came back to give me a check in a folder with somebody else's AmEx inside.... That is not cool! What if I weren't honest?? I won't be returning here again.
(2)
John N.
It's really cool. The Firewater Punch tastes great! Definitely recommend!
(5)
Amanda M.
I saw this place on bar rescue so I had to stop and try it. I sadly have to say that I was disappointed. We walked in to an almost empty dining room and since there are so many entrances I think maybe we came in the wrong way. We weren't sure to seat ourselves or not. After a bit we just sat since no one came to greet us. The ice tea tasted like water. I then ordered the 17 sweet tea which was the best thing we had. Their famous Chile con carne was so salty we couldn't enjoy it. The fried green chilies were so hot that when I bit into it hot oil burned my tongue. They had no flavor. I ordered the brisket sandwich. It was tender but even with the bbq sauce (which I almost didn't notice because there was barely any on it) it was bland. My brother had the torpedo burger which was good. My daughter had the sirloin. It was tough and like everything else had no flavor. After seeing the episode I thought we would get good barbeque, but instead of award winning bbq (which they advertise on every sign) we got flavorless meat. The dining room seemed dirty and run down. I know we won't stop again. It was clear that they didn't keep up the food that we saw on bar rescue.
(2)
Morris K.
I saw this place on Bar Rescue and have wanted to visit it ever since. This is a quaint little out-of-the way place right on I-17 about 30 minutes from where I live. To night I went there for dinner with my wife Carol, my grandson Michael and my sister Mindy who was visiting from Rhode Island. Chillen's on 17 is an absolute gem of an establishment, it is definitely unique. Our server was Melissa. She was prompt, attentive, and met every request with a smile. My wife and I both ordered the rib eye steak, my sister got the 1/2 BBQ chicken and my grandson ordered the BBQ brisket. My sister said the BBQ chicken was just ok nothing special. My grandson thought the brisket was a little tough but devoured it within minutes. The brisket is their specialty so I'm guessing he liked it.. My wife and I both thought the rib eye steak was excellent. I mean who doesn't love a good steak? But sometimes a good Steak is few and far between. So when I have a good one its only right to let everyone know and both of us thought our steaks were excellent and well the 21.95 price. They were cooked exactly as we requested them (medium). They were most tender and not over-seasoned, no random chewy strand in the middle, and it had great flavor dispersed throughout and not a bunch of thick fat to cut around. As if we weren't ready to be rolled out of the place in a wheel barrel - we opt'd to share a piece of their apple pie and strawberry shortcake both with a scoop of ice cream on top. I tried a bite of the apple pie, it was delicious. When the strawberry shortcake came out it came in a huge bowl with several scoops of ice cream and wipe cream on top. I had several bites which dissolved in my mouth as did my sister but Michael did the most damage to it. FOOD: Reasonable portion sizes. I left stuffed and took home a doggie bag as did my sister. Our steaks were cooked just right as was my sisters BBQ. Everyone's entrees were delivered in a timely manner. SERVICE: Our server fantastic! PRICE: The price was in line with other BBQ restaurants /steakhouses when you consider it comes with sides - broccoli and a loaded of potato CONCLUSION: Overall it was a very good steak dinner, and I'm really glad I chose not to go to some of the other well-known steak places that I am familiar with, but instead to enjoy a more "local" establishment. RETURN FACTOR 100%. ************************* What does my OVERALL rating mean?************************* 5 stars -Highly recommended. I would be willing to drive out of my way to this business. It is that good. This place represents their industry or cuisine very well! 4 stars - Highly Recommended. I would frequent this business. 3 stars - Not that good but not that bad. Just average. I wouldn't mind going again. 2 stars - I would not recommend this establishment to friends or family. 1 stars - DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DO NOT patronize this business. I would RUN AWAY from this place and you should too! DON'T WAST YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT
(4)
Billy B.
Got here kind of late and sat in front restaurant area, so maybe that was our mistake. It seemed lively in the back with a live band and bar section. Food was decent. Average side-of-the-highway joint. Service was slightly above average. Green chile cheese fries were yummy :)
(3)
Valentin D.
Today is a three.... The only thing that I enjoyed eating was the green chile bowl. That bad boy was tasty. But that wasn't our main course. The main course for the lil lady was the chicken special which was a lonely piece of burnt, dry chicken leg quarter and a side of coleslaw that was missing the tangy flavor from red wine vinegar. For myself I had the BBQ pork sandwich with fries and the only good side was the sauce as the pork was dry and the fries left a bad after taste like the fry oil hasn't been changed in who knows when. I also tried a side of potato salad that smelled as it was premade, then packaged, frozen and later defrosted after it obtaining freezer burn. The booth was utterly uncomfortable, the booth seat was to high and the table was too low, which made the eating portion unbearable. Sadly for us this meal experience had our hopes high but left us sad that we always wanted to try this place and for us it was not award winning by any means. These left overs will be given our dogs.
(2)
Priscilla E.
We had burgers, they were great! I didn't have there steak or BBQ. Our family did enjoy the appetizers as well. The onion rings are a must have. The only complaint I would have is that our server did not act like she even wanted to be there, she did however check to make sure we didn't need anything else. I also didn't like the snake they have in the front when you walk in. (I am terrified of them) but most people loved it.
(4)
Bill S.
A very good experience the green chillie fried were great. My sirloin was cooked perfectly.
(4)
Michelle D.
We stopped in last minute... On our vacation trip after remembering it was on bar rescue. It was such a fun place... Food was amazing... We had the BBQ pork sandwich and the BBQ brisket sandwich all I can say is "Amazing"!!! It was clean, great decor, and it had that I'm a great BBQ smell. I will be back soon!
(5)
Edward D.
We seen this place on our way to Flagstaff, told wife we might try it out on the way back. SO! here is my mixed review. I loved the place, guess they were on some kind of show on TV? Chilleen's is pretty dark inside, making it look like a old western saloon? I had no problem with this place, with the food anyway. My wife did not like it at all! I had their ribs, with coleslaw, and beans. Wife had their pulled pork sandwich, with fries. She took one bite of her sandwich and put it down! She also tried the beans and coleslaw. she did not like it, Only thing she liked was the our appetizer. It was their chips with chili verde, and she also liked the hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream. I however enjoyed the ribs, and later in the night I enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich. Will we ever comeback here again? Not if my wife is with me, Now this place claims to be an award winning BBQ restaurant? There are much better BBQ places around. Now there service was really fast, kinda scary when you get your food that fast. Makes you wonder how the food is prepared? So this is a mixed review, some good, and some bad. But I am glad we tried it.
(3)
Van R.
Great food and awesome staff, always a good time here and the bartendress Aleah always makes amazing drinks! This place is definitely great for group events
(5)
John T.
Have passed by Chilleen's a hundred times driving from PHX to Prescott Valley. Should have made it a hundred and one. Noon on Sunday. As with most BBQ places I've tried in AZ, the menu looks almost as if BBQ is an afterthought. Do what you do and do it well. I ordered a brisket sandwich, my "go to" in testing a new BBQ place. Sandwich arrived with a plentiful serving of brisket, soaked in sauce, on a sesame seed burger bun. The menu makes no mention of sauce on the sandwich (it should ALWAYS be on the side). Waitress promptly took it back to get me a sauceless version. When delivered, it was tough to tell the difference. The brisket is the fattiest, greasiest I've ever been served. Just awful. The bun was soaked orange/red with grease, and there were as many pieces of fat as beef. I ate less than half of the meat and none of the grease-soaked bread. At one point the waitress sped past our table with an "Is everything delicious?", not waiting for a reply. When she came to clear the table, she made no mention of the fact that I didn't eat my meal. A good wait staff asks if there was a problem, or at least if you want a take out. Not that I wanted any more of that awful mess. As she cleared our plates we declined dessert or drink refills and asked for the check. She then proceeded to seat two tables and serve food to one while we waited. There were ample servers and few tables. To that point, my issue had been with the lousy food. Now the service had dropped to that level as well. KT had the green chile fries which she said were "good... but they're fries with some green chile on them". Certainly nothing that will ever inspire us to try again. Sad to say that Honey Bear's in PHX, which is overpriced and has zero special going for it, remains my best AZ BBQ experience.
(1)
John L.
I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to food but "award winning", "world famous", BBQ -- no way. Not what my wife and I experienced at least. Sysco does a better job. Not worth pulling off the freeway.
(1)
Cynthia K.
We saw this bar on the TV program Bar Rescue and had to stop in on our way home from Sedona. It was still early in the day so there was not much of a crowd so the service was spot on. However, the bar looked NOTHING like the renovations made on the show which was somewhat disappointing. But that's TV... The food was ok...I had the brisket which was a little flavorless to my liking. The fries were nothing spectacular and in fact a little lack luster; McDonalds does a better job at fries and I'm not a fan of McDs. My boyfriend had a Reuben and he seemed to enjoy it, although he said he has had better. The bar could use a broom or two and maybe a could cleaning of the tables and chairs. I mean it was unsanitary, but it needed a once over. It's quite a bit out of our way to make this a place we would frequent, but we may stop in again on our way to / from Sedona.
(3)
Sherry D.
Food was awesome!!!! Had the smoked brisket dinner and I can honestly say the best barbeque I have ever had!!!! Also had the Firewater punch and it was terrific! Went here after watching the bar being featured on Bar Rescue and will definitely being going back!~!! Only thing I could see that probably hasn't been kept up to standards was the cleanliness. It looked kind of messy in certain areas and doors were left open to some places that should have been closed (closet/storage areas). The restrooms were very dusty.
(5)
Kirsten N.
Stopped in for an early dinner on our way up north for the weekend. After being featured on Bar Rescue and now offering a Groupon, we had to check it out. Try: Brisket- great quality, good smoky flavor, great sauce BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich- very good flavor, perfect amount of meat- not falling out but stuffed full- just right! Firewater Punch- delicious, fairly strong but smooth, and not super sweet Pass: Beans- lacking for flavor Fries- classic boring "diner" fries Needs: some background music overhead during slower times when the usual eating clatter doesn't contribute to ambiance. Server: Lindsey- very friendly but a little shy/awkward. Very attentive though.
(4)
Kevin S.
We got caught in a severe traffic jam on the way back to our hotel in Phoenix, and decided to hop off of 17 in search of food. We stumbled in grumpy as hell, and it turns out horrible traffic can actually be a good thing. After all, if it hadn't been for the traffic, we never would have found this gem! Great food, and our waitress (Lindsey) was fantastic! Will definitely be back whenever we are in town!
(5)
Mona D.
My husband and I stopped by this place on our way to Flagstaff to grab some dinner. We have driven past this place like a million times, but to be honest, we thought it was either shut down or not very good because there were never many cars there. This time it looked like they had done some sort of remodel and were definitely open because there were cars in the parking lot. On the inside, the decor is really country, sort of down home feeling. We decided to just get main courses and opted not to get appetizers so I can only comment on our entrees. I ordered the BBQ chicken and my husband ordered the steak. My chicken was juicy and delicious, I could taste the deep smokey flavor, it seemed like real, authentic BBQ, not the fake BBQ that most restaurants try to pass off as BBQ. In my opinion it is the best BBQ around and it was easily the best BBQ I have had in years. My husband's said his steak was excellent but it was a little under-cooked. He ordered it medium rare but it was a little closer to rare than medium rare but all in all, not too bad. He is a very picky eater and normally sends back a steak that is not perfect but this time he ate it so it wasn't too far away from medium rare or he would not have eaten it. The service was great and our server was very friendly. He was attentive to our needs and we never had to look around for him to get things like refills on our drinks, he had them ready for us without asking. I think he was a little in the weeds though because there were several tables seated and he is the only server that I noticed on the floor. We will more than likely go back again. We live about an hour away but we travel to Flagstaff frequently and we will be stopping by on our next trip there. I would have given this place 5 stars because I really think that it deserves 5 stars but for some reason, it seems when you make a 5 star review, it gets filtered like all the ones below and nobody ever sees it.
(4)
Jeanette Z.
The BBQ was good. The service was not good. The presentation of the food could be better. However the food was tasty. The portions were pretty good (for lunch) I wish the place was a little more livelier. Atmosphere was a little awkward. Lol. I'm sure I'll be craving their pulled pork sandwich and baked beans pretty soon and although the service was eh, the food is worth it I suppose. Two lunch meals (pulled pork and French fries, ribs and chicken plate) were $25. Can't complain :)
(3)
Chris B.
WOW.....That is some of the BEST food we have had in a long time.. Our Food at the table was a couple of Torpedo Burgers, St Louis Ribs, Chicken Sandwich, and Half Chicken... My family and I are Huge Bar Rescue and Jon Taffer Fans... We just went for Mothers Day 2013. Our Experience was AMAZING..... I know that previously the place was not good at all just like you saw on the show.... But I can assure you that the family has learned a lot about what they really want out of their place. They are very friendly, and they have great attention to detail. Their moonshine drinks called FIRE WATER was so Delicious. A Strawberry Shortcake and Triple Chunk Warm Brownie Desert was our finishing touch. I Am so glad to see a family Change and have a chance to rebuild their Business. Thanks to the Family and Jon Taffer for an OFF THE Charts Experience. Love from the Chris Birkett Family Scottsdale AZ
(5)
Qa'ed M.
A great place to stop by on a Phoenix-Flagstaff commute. It's nice and homey and the food's all right. Sometimes I've found myself really licking my lips, and other times I'm forced to revisit memories of eating erasers in kindergarten. They've changed cooks a few times in the time I've eaten here. If you're lucky, you'll be there while one of the good cooks are in. The best thing I've ever had here was their strawberry shortcake, which was a perfect blend of a piping hot cake and fluffy ice cream. It wasn't as good the last few times, though.
(3)
Joe C.
Stopped by and ordered the western burger. Came with crusty BBQ sauce and was well done. Too bad I ordered it medium. Service was good otherwise. Apple pie was no good either. Had better pie from Costco.
(2)
Jacqueline S.
Pretty good food. The atmosphere was fun, staff was friendly. The bathrooms were not that clean thou. The torpedo burger was pretty good. All on all a good experience.
(4)
Yvonne W.
Pleasantly surprised! We've been wanting to check it out since Bar Rescue. I was a little nervous when we walked in because it wasn't as clean as I expected. Plus, it was a Saturday night and hardly anyone was there. We were seated quicky and received our drinks quickly.The menu wasn't anything exciting. So, I had the plain ol' chicken sandwich and the rest of the family had the plain cheeseburger, kids ribs, and pork sandwich. The food came out really fast! And, it was fresh, hot and good! Everyone in the family was happy. We had to end with the Strawberry Shortcake. I never see this offered anywhere. My son was moping because he wanted the Death by Chocolate, so the owner brought him a little personal dish of ice cream with chocolate! What a nice touch! The strawberry shortcake was delicious. The service was excellent! Pleasantly surprised!
(4)
Justin L.
Stopped by for some chips & salsa along with iced tea. Salsa and chips were yumms in me tumms. 17Sweet Tea could have been better, didn't need that much cinnamonzz. Loved the rattlesnake in the front and the story about that one ep. Better than bad. Thanks for the wonderful membories. Staff was very friendly. Chips were warm. Would consider returning. Thank you.
(4)
Fred P.
This is a "local" place. You can tell that the people on the bar stools come here frequently. But we came for dinner and so we sat in the dining area. The BBQ was pretty good. Rub vs Sauce is always the debate in BBQ circles. That said, this was not saucy enough for my taste. I'm looking for ear to ear sauce on my face when the Q is served and not from a container of cold sauce served on the plate. But he waitress service was attentive and the beverages and beer served fast. But here's my real complaint: I shouldn't have to smell bathrooms when I'm sitting in the dining area. Clean them and/or vent them!
(2)
Dog D.
Not a bad option if you are looking for rustic feel but their renovation didn't help much with their service or consistency. They do have live music from time to time but it gets very loud and not the most pleasant of places to sit down for dinner. Check out some other options in Black Canyon if you can.
(2)
Mike S.
After seeing on Bar Rescue we always like see help the business get back on its feet. So we drove from Surprise to have a horrible lunch. I had the $17.99 all u can eat beef ribs and chicken. I've had beef ribs before but these were reheated from the night before.. The chicken was too gamely and almost tasted spoiled. Gave some to my wife to try and she thought the same. So I figured I just got a bad order of ribs and did a reorder. I got 1 freakn' rib! WTF! Wife had the pulled pork sandwich. Fair at best... World Famous??? Why does every owner of a business feel it's necessary to say World Famous... I got it, their food is crappy and no one would come if not for the curiosity factor... If you sit near the bathrooms there is a stench that if the smell doesn't make you hurl, THE FOOD WILL! Stay away this place it reeks!
(1)
John V.
Stopped here on the way back from Prescott. I had a rib-eye that was priced 5 or 6 bucks over what Outback charges. The steak was a little tough and unremarkable... for the price I would expect it to exceed most of the restaurant chains that serve similar fare. This meal was pricey but pretty mediocre. The decor is rustic but pleasant... but I didn't go there for the scenery and if you're really looking for a good rib-eye, I would suggest you keep looking.
(3)
Michael C.
Honestly, I was extremely disappointed. With all the hoopla from being on bar rescue and seeing their reviews I was real excited to be coming here, but in the end the meat was dry, the beans were canned and the coleslaw was mostly cabbage and very dry. I think it needs another rescue. However, service was great!
(2)
Lawrence J.
Bar Rescue Didn't Rescue Chilleens on 17 I was eager about visiting a place that was recently featured on the show Bar Rescue. I've caught a few episodes and was impressed at how the bars were revamped into something really worth spending time and money in exploring. I would say that Chilleens on 17 was one that should have hit the editing room floor. After the long drive to this long-time family establishment north of Phoenix I was anticipating something to make the drive well worth it. Upon arriving around 8 pm on a Saturday night, my friend and I were surprised by a relatively empty parking lot. A horse corralled nearby promised some legitimate cowboy fare and I was in a mood to get my grill on. The disappointment started to settle in quick. There was no one to greet us when we entered so we wandered about looking for the dining room or even a sign saying "seat yourself." The few patrons seemed to be eating in the bar so we helped ourselves to a booth. Fortunately there were menus in the tables, so we looked through the straightforward menu. Some of the drink specials sounded interesting, but overloaded with alcohol and sugar. The specialty of the house appeared to be flavored Moonshine mixed with flavored vodkas and flavored rums. Now I consider flavored vodkas a crime against nature, so I decided to pass and planned on trying a microbrew on tap while my friend was going to experiment with a stylized bourbon sour. Since no one had even said hello to us yet, despite the small number of people, we even had time to decide what to try off the menu. My friend opted for a grilled chicken sandwich with bacon, cheese and a honey mustard sauce with fries. I was sticking with the grill and chose St. Louis style BBQ pork ribs with baked bean and coleslaw. Still no waiter. I finally got up and asked the bartender if he would send us a waiter. While she seemed nice enough when she finally arrived, I got the impression that she really couldn't have cared less. And when the food arrived I could see why. Now my friend's sandwich was actually pretty tasty; much like what you would find anywhere though. The fries even tasted homemade. The rest was a mess. The ribs were rather bland, not what I expect from something that was obviously not cooked in the lackluster sauce. The sauce tasted like it came from a jar, and I've had better jars. The baked beans were obviously canned (confirmed by the wait person when I asked) an had an after taste that could only be described as "bug spray." The coleslaw was a perfect match to meal. It was essentially water and cabbage with no flavor or spice. I was happy to hit the trail after chowing down at this chuck wagon establishment. Maybe it was a bad night. Maybe it was a bad cook. Maybe, maybe, maybe, but bottom line I will leave to others to discover that. I won't be returning. Oh, and the beer was small and too hoppy and the whiskey sour was as lackluster as the rest of the experience. Want my advice? I'd keep on the trail and fun another place to satisfy your desire for good ol' cooking.
(1)
Chris V.
Steak was over twenty dollars and was very small and had a lot of fat and ligaments. Due to the size of the steak, instead of it coming to the table medium rare, it came well done. I would not recommend this restaurant for a steak dinner.
(1)
Keith C.
NOT GOOD. Nice portion but the flavor was just not there. The BBQ sauce didn't make up for it. Don't drive here if you don't have too. Outstanding service!
(2)
Paige F.
Visited here on a little day trip north and we were pretty hungry. Its right off the highway and the place is a bit of a dive. Had no idea it was featured on Bar Rescue until we sat down and it was on the menu. I ordered the stuffed burger and my husband ordered their BBQ Brisket. We started out with their fried green chilies - holy moly these were GREAT! This was the BEST part of our meal. Then came the entrees. My burger - juicy but the cheese that was stuffed inside like disappeared - not sure if it soaked into the meat but it was gone so my burger had hot grease stored inside it. Oh not good eats. My husband's brisket - sadly it was dry like a piece of wood thats been in the desert for years. Their moonshine drinks look good on the menu but we were driving so we had to pass on those. I might try them again since it is right off the highway and I really LOVED those fried green chilies. Till we meet again.
(3)
Matthew S.
I'm in love with the fire water punch. I had a bad craving for it, so I drove up here all the way from Tolleson just to have 2 drinks. The service was great and I really enjoyed being there. I will definitely be coming back whenever I get a chance.
(5)
Chukki S.
Interesting little bar in the middle of nowhere sorta. First off, it is a bit hard to find coming from the north on the I-17. I missed the tiny sign and drove right by the entrance. My GPS only took me so far. It's a bit hard to see in the dark. Jon Taffer was right about it being very dark here. He did fix some of the lighting in the parking lot, but it's still dark getting in there as there no streetlights. So of course we came here after seeing the Bar Rescue episode. While there were no horses or motorcycles in the bar, it was by far the rowdiest bar I have ever been in. Lots of loud profanity, females being groped, yelling, shots being taken, etc. Granted this was later at night (10-11pm) and it didn't bother me, but it is noteworthy. We RUSHED to get here before 10 because we were told that's when they stopped serving food. We got there at 9:52pm so figured we have enough time. We sat down in the bar so the server could go home. But I soon realized after about 10 minutes no one was going to serve us. Finally, we sat at the bar and got food and drinks. We both got the Firewater Punch, which was good, but actually a little different than the recipe on TV. The cherries looked different and I think another ingredient might be diffferent. It was a pretty good drink though. I reccomend trying it. The food was terrible, but that could be because it was close to closing time. I'd reccomend getting here early to get fresh food or if you come late just have drinks. The bartender (the owner from the show) was real nice and answered all our questions about Bar Rescue and even posed for a picture with us. I'll come back but next time I'll try something else on the menu (pulled pork sandwich and chicken sandwich weren't good) and I'll get here much earlier.
(3)
Fales M.
Food was great, The drinks are very good (Firewater Punch) is a must! Price for me was really good. I will be going back soon.
(5)
Tabbitha M.
After seeing this on Bar Rescue, my friends and I had to try this out on our way back to Phoenix after camping last week in Prescott. Overall, it was a good experience. We came on a Friday during lunchtime. We wandered in the front door and, since there was no greeter, we saw a sign that told us to seat ourselves. The waitress was nice, but clearly the only one working with floor and bar with at least 8 other tables. It took a long time to get our food, but it was worth it! I had the Melt in Your Mouth Steak Sandwich with fries which was around $11, plus an appetizer of fried zucchini and mushrooms. I also tasted my friends chicken ribs, pork ribs, baked beans, and chicken fingers. I love the sandwich! It was delicious. The ribs were a little too "smokey" flavored for me, but they were extremely moist, fall-off-the-bone perfectly cooked. All in all, I give 5 stars for food but only 3 for service and 4 for portion size.
(4)
Kris N.
Driving up the I-17 going North to Prescott, we stopped at Chileens on 17 for lunch and was very surprised at the new look and feel of the restaurant! LOVE IT! Our food was not only delivered to us fast but it was really good! Ordered ribs and walked away fat and happy. Well, you know what I mean. Looking forward to trying the steak next time! OH FOR YOU NONALCOHOLIC ICE TEA DRINKERS, TRY THE NEW POMEGRANATE-ORANGE ICE TEA. YUMMY! I think the next time we go North from Phoenix, we will pick up lunch to go from Chilleen's on 17. No cooking for me!
(5)
Jeff W.
I saw Chilleens on Bar Rescue earlier in the year. I happened to be on a trip from the L.A. area that took me right past Chileen's at lunch time, so my friend and I decided to stop in and give them a try. I was a little confused as to exactly where the entrance was as there were several doors that I could have picked to go thru but none had "entrance" labeled on the door. We entered the door adjacent to the parking lot and there was nobody in the part of the restaurant we entered (probably because they had only been open for about 5 minutes). I don't know if there was anybody in the bar area of the restaurant. But the waitress heard the bell ring on the door and came out and seated us promptly. She took our drink order and brought the drinks out quickly. She asked if we were ready to order and we placed our order. I ordered the Torpedo Burger and my friend ordered the BBQ pulled pork sandwich. The food came out quickly and was prepared as ordered. My burger was cooked medium-rare and was hot and juicy. My friend's pulled pork sandwich looked very appetizing. She said it was very good. Fries accompanied our sandwiches and were prepared fine. My experience at Chileens was a good one and I have recommended them to my friends that live in the area!
(4)
Robert P.
If you have seen the show, you gotta stop. We had Apple pie with Ice Cream, just a snack as we had ate a big breakfast on Sedona. Pie was good, service fine, other Patrons said good things about the food they were eating.
(4)
Wendy I.
This is a wonderful destination for a gorgeous desert drive from Phoenix. Today my little one and I enjoyed another visit to Chilleen's. Initially, about a year ago, curiosity drove us there having of course seen their story on Bar Rescue. Our first visit was splendid and perfect in every way. That visit, we got to meet the owners and their daughter. Everything was fantastic. But what stood out was the chicken wings we ordered as an appetizer. Being from Buffalo NY, you would have to know their very simple sauce of hot sauce and butter. A beloved, thin yet delicious sauce style. Myself and my friend, also from Buffalo, both were wowed.... That this sauce, was the first and closet wing sauce in AZ comparable to the Buffalo sauce we are use to. This is coming from my friend, who often brings his own Buffalo wing sauce to restaurants! We stated many times we would return for the wings alone... And sadly that thought has been forgotten for too long. As stated, today I finally got my butt in gear to enjoy a nice drive for lunch and returned to Chilleen's. We ordered the wings and a BLT. The BLT is a simple sandwich of course but can be ruined with the wrong processed freezer bacon. This BLT had the YUMMY home style bacon!!! Very refreshing sandwich. Fries were steaming hot! And of course.... tHE WINGs! I ordered them again and was so delighted that my memory was correct and their style of sauce was the same as last time. Delighted enough to grab a to-go order for later tonight too :) You have to appreciate the extra plate served with dressing, ample napkins and hand wipes to boot! This place just has a country style vibe and ambiance that I have enjoyed both times. Relaxed, welcoming and comfortable. Impeccable service by Michelle too! Very sweet and attentive woman. I am sure that we will return again sooner. And many compliments to the owners for being open to change and keeping it up wonderfully! See ya'll next time :)
(5)
Emmy S.
Yes - we went because of Bar Rescue. I would imagine most people go for that reason. Do they go back is the question. I know we won't. We were greeted with "Sit anywhere" and it went down hill from there. Hubby went to the restroom, then stepped outside for a phone call. When he got back - about 10 minutes later, the waitress finally showed up with a glass of water. She took our order - burger for me, brisket sandwich for him. Then the wait began. We waited. And waited. And waited. Somewhere in there, 2 glasses of old tea showed up which were sent back. 35 minutes later, the food arrived. It was pretty bad. So bad that I spent the first 2 days of a convention hoping the bathroom was free. The waitress was MIA but we saw 2 little girls - maybe 10 or 11 years old - cleaning off tables, bringing out drinks and giving out checks. We never had anyone come back by to see how things were, if we wanted anything else to drink...you know, the usual stuff waitresses are supposed to do. When it came time for the check...same old, same old. Hubby had to go find someone to pay. For a restaurant to have someone like Jon Taffer come in and completely redo their business, this was embarrassing and a waste of his time. If I were him, I'd send them a cease and desist order, barring them from using his likeness.
(1)
Meg L.
My husband and I were in town visiting his grandpa. After being hung up on by a staff member at Benis Pizza for asking what time they closed, we decided to come here. SO glad we did! We were welcomed as soon as we walked in, a waitress came over right away to take our drink order. Our food and drinks were brought out to us quickly and our server was very nice and friendly. She also happened to be from where my husband and I live. Good food, good drinks (we had the moonshine drinks), FRIENDLY and fast service.
(5)
Cory S.
Good atmosphere, food is tasty. Firewater tea needs a little kick considering it says it has moonshine in it. Overall nice place, decent food. Good place to stop on a road trip.
(4)
Taylor C.
As bar rescue fans and having grabbed a $20 for $10 coupon on yelp we were excited to give this place a try. Food was really good and service was great too. Our server was on staff during the bar rescue filming but not on air. We had a great conversation about the filming and she was happy to oblige with going over all the details with us...I can only guess how many times she has been asked about it. Anyway, we each had a sandwich and a drink. I had a half pint beer, she had a signature drink. Ended up out the door for $20 (with yelp discount). It wasn't the best bbq I have had in my life but I would definitely eat it again. Only cons were bathroom was a little dirty but probably comparable to most bars and the server could show me a "half jug of beer" but couldn't give me the ounces on it.
(4)
David L.
Used a Groupon here a couple of months ago as an excuse to head north. We went right around the start of lunch time. Location: The outside is deceptively small, as the inside is actually quite large. Very divey decor, but that was expected. Only downside really was that my girlfriend and I both felt the bathrooms were a tad gross/needed some remodeling. Food: I had the brisket with coleslaw and baked beans while my gf had the ribs and some sides I can't recall anymore. I've had a lot of brisket in my lifetime and have liked most of it. This was by far the worst brisket I've ever had. It was tough, dried out, and literally tasted like wood (not "too much apple/hickory/mesquite smoke" woody but quite literally "cutting a board with a saw and inhaling some of the sawdust" woody). I figured I could work my way through it with enough sauce, but the sauce tasted more like liquid smoke than anything. My beans tasted like they were straight out of a can without any added flavoring on their part. My coleslaw was actually pretty good. My girlfriend thought her sides were okay but shared my thoughts on the sauce. She also had the ribs and wasn't a fan due to them not really tasting like they'd been seasoned. I tried one and agreed- they were mildly smokey without much other flavor. Beverages: Drink deals are actually decent here. You can get a ~20oz Blue Moon for $5, which is what you'd pay for only a pint at most places in the valley. Some of their mixed drinks also sounded good, but we had a bit of a drive ahead of us and decided not to try any of them. Service: The owners' daughter was our waitress and she was excellent. Very attentive and friendly. Summary: Their other food may be better, but we won't go back to try any of it based on our impression with the barbecue. If it were closer, we both agreed it would be a great dive-bar for a few drinks with friends and would likely use it as such.
(2)
Matt B.
Saw it on bar rescue. It was a good atmosphere. The food was meh I guess. I got some bbq thing and it was semi warm. My friends got a burger. Everything was kinda small in portion to most restaurants. The drinks we had were awesome though. Firewater punch was tasty. I guess if you're passing thru it's a good stop but not worth the hour drive up from Phoenix.
(2)
Britany K.
My boyfriend and I went there before Bar Rescue. The service was horrible, food disgusting, and there was a wandering cat around the restaurant. We tried it again after Bar Rescue. It was A LOT BETTER! Worth the stop! Scott was our bartender. The moonshine drinks are good, but I personally loved the sweet tea!
(5)
Greg C.
I would have given Chilleen's a 5 star, but after we ate, we hit the bar for a few drinks... I can't wait to see this episode on Bar Rescue to hear it from the point of view of Taffer. We came in to eat and everything was perfect until we went to the bar and had a seat. For the next 15 minutes I heard nothing but complaining about how Bar Rescue f*&d everything up for you. Nothing was right. The lady bartender had a real bad attitude her and the older women never stopped complaining about the crew that fixed their place up. My girl ordered one of the new drinks and the bartender was offended and it showed. It drove me out of the place. Ladies, you only have one thing to fix...your attitudes!!! Everything else was perfect, the food, the remodel, the waitress was so kind. Why aren't you grateful for the things you have in your life, including that rescue! And why would you bitch and moan about all the mistakes they made in front of your customers? Let me reiterate that the food and service in the restaurant area were superb.
(3)
Peter B.
This was not the best BBQ I have ever had, but it was hardly the worst either. We went during a low time and the place was pretty empty. We were greeted right away and seated quickly. The service was quick and solid. I went with the pulled pork sandwich, and the lady went with brisket. I thought the sandwich was good, not great. The bun was toasted which I really liked, as most BBQ sandwiches suffer from that spongey bread syndrome. The fries that came with it were fine. The lady liked the brisket. I am used to big slices of brisket, but this was more shredded, and I don't think I liked it as much but I am not a giant fan of BBQ brisket anyway. I had the firewater punch, and the lady had the sweet tea. Both were good. I am not a huge expert on mixed drinks, so take my opinion with a grain of salt but I liked it. The sweet tea was good as well. One thing I really noticed was that the portions were not overly huge. A lot of times I either leave a BBQ place too stuffed, or I have leftovers. Well if you are on I17 in Black Canyon City, you are in the midst of a journey, right? And I don't think being overly stuffed or lugging leftovers is desirable, so I appreciated the reasonable size of the portions. I wouldn't drive a half hour out of my way just to go back, but if you are on the road and hungry for some lunch, you could certainly do a whole lot worse.
(3)
Barret H.
For where this place is on the map (in the sticks), it is pretty good! I come from Phoenix with unlimited dining options, so no this wasn't the best barbeque in Arizona. That said, the food was good and my family had fun here and we left happy. I do watch Bar Rescue so we tried the sweet tea and the barbeque entrees featured on that show. I would give the drink a 9 out of 10 and the food a 7 out of 10. The brisket and baby backs were a little tough but flavor was good. I really liked the fried green chile appetizer. My kids liked seeing the live rattle snake they have on display. The beer prices were very reasonable so this looks like a place that would be a lot of fun at night! For a place out in Black Canyon city, it is worth a stop to give it a try!
(4)
Debi R.
We went to visit friends & family in March and decided to get a group together at Chilleen' s. The food was awesome and priced fair and the drinks were perfect. The staff is fun, atmosphere inviting, and a all around great experience. I suggest you make a trip to Black Canyon City or stop in while passing through. You won't regret it!!!
(5)
J B.
We stop and eat here every time we go up to Sedona. The food and drinks have always been delicious, but since they've revamped the drink list and menu items, it's now a can't miss. I'm especially a fan of the Chicken and Pork Rib Combo, but it's hard to argue with the burgers, too. The waitstaff and bartenders always provide great service, and you'll feel like part of the family by the time you leave.
(4)
Carrie E.
So we went back for a second visit so we could try something else on the menu. I had the chix and pork rib combo and the ribs were so tender and delicious. We had fried mushrooms for an appetizer and they were so good and they were very generous with the serving. We also had a burger and fries and just as delicious. I look forward to our next visit to try the Philly steak sandwich!
(5)
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Address :33150 S Coldwater Rd
Black Canyon City, AZ, 85324
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Fiona F.
Did not give us the 10% Yelp check-in discount even though we asked before we ordered
(2)Stellz L.
OK, It's probably really good if you have a bunch of kids and you're worried about if it's ok to take them to a restaurant. Definitely family friendly. Prices are right, pretty huge portions. No problem with sharing a plate. Just a loud spot with not bad food. My brisket was drowning in BBQ sauce tho, ask for sauce on the side if you like it dryer. (*But if you bring your kids, ask them not to kick the walls and scream for 30 minutes straight. Talking to you, family that sat behind us, can't the fit happen outside?*)
(3)Robert P.
If you have seen the show, you gotta stop. We had Apple pie with Ice Cream, just a snack as we had ate a big breakfast on Sedona. Pie was good, service fine, other Patrons said good things about the food they were eating.
(4)Wendy I.
This is a wonderful destination for a gorgeous desert drive from Phoenix. Today my little one and I enjoyed another visit to Chilleen's. Initially, about a year ago, curiosity drove us there having of course seen their story on Bar Rescue. Our first visit was splendid and perfect in every way. That visit, we got to meet the owners and their daughter. Everything was fantastic. But what stood out was the chicken wings we ordered as an appetizer. Being from Buffalo NY, you would have to know their very simple sauce of hot sauce and butter. A beloved, thin yet delicious sauce style. Myself and my friend, also from Buffalo, both were wowed.... That this sauce, was the first and closet wing sauce in AZ comparable to the Buffalo sauce we are use to. This is coming from my friend, who often brings his own Buffalo wing sauce to restaurants! We stated many times we would return for the wings alone... And sadly that thought has been forgotten for too long. As stated, today I finally got my butt in gear to enjoy a nice drive for lunch and returned to Chilleen's. We ordered the wings and a BLT. The BLT is a simple sandwich of course but can be ruined with the wrong processed freezer bacon. This BLT had the YUMMY home style bacon!!! Very refreshing sandwich. Fries were steaming hot! And of course.... tHE WINGs! I ordered them again and was so delighted that my memory was correct and their style of sauce was the same as last time. Delighted enough to grab a to-go order for later tonight too :) You have to appreciate the extra plate served with dressing, ample napkins and hand wipes to boot! This place just has a country style vibe and ambiance that I have enjoyed both times. Relaxed, welcoming and comfortable. Impeccable service by Michelle too! Very sweet and attentive woman. I am sure that we will return again sooner. And many compliments to the owners for being open to change and keeping it up wonderfully! See ya'll next time :)
(5)Emmy S.
Yes - we went because of Bar Rescue. I would imagine most people go for that reason. Do they go back is the question. I know we won't. We were greeted with "Sit anywhere" and it went down hill from there. Hubby went to the restroom, then stepped outside for a phone call. When he got back - about 10 minutes later, the waitress finally showed up with a glass of water. She took our order - burger for me, brisket sandwich for him. Then the wait began. We waited. And waited. And waited. Somewhere in there, 2 glasses of old tea showed up which were sent back. 35 minutes later, the food arrived. It was pretty bad. So bad that I spent the first 2 days of a convention hoping the bathroom was free. The waitress was MIA but we saw 2 little girls - maybe 10 or 11 years old - cleaning off tables, bringing out drinks and giving out checks. We never had anyone come back by to see how things were, if we wanted anything else to drink...you know, the usual stuff waitresses are supposed to do. When it came time for the check...same old, same old. Hubby had to go find someone to pay. For a restaurant to have someone like Jon Taffer come in and completely redo their business, this was embarrassing and a waste of his time. If I were him, I'd send them a cease and desist order, barring them from using his likeness.
(1)Kevin G.
I really liked the place! The food tasted good, I had the western burger and we also had the Friday fish day, the server was very friendly and came by often. I would definitely come back here on my next trip up north. I would come hungry because the potions can big too. Also very easy to park
(5)Brad W.
Go for the Jon Taffner cardboard cutout or a $1.75 draft beer, but don't go for the food. The bar might have been rescued, but the kitchen needs a rescue now. The menu states you can ask for the brisket to be lean, but when our two $9 sandwiches arrived, the waitress said both were lean. Not sure if Chilleen's has hired a blind chef, but my sandwich was inedible and sent back due to extreme fattiness. I never bothered to order something else because the two burgers also on the table looked pretty sad and we all had over greasy frozen fries served with the entree. The highlight of your stop will be the photo opportunity with Tafner, but he hasn't been here in 2 years, so even he would be embarrassed about what happened to the food since the show was filmed.
(1)Shari G.
On the way back from Sedona, we finally had the chance to check out Chilleen's on 17. We haven't seen the "Bar Rescue" episode from 2013, but I have passed the place so many times, seeing it from the highway. It's easy from Interstate 17, exit 244. Once inside, the sign said to choose our own seat. I like that! Within 30 seconds we were greeted by Lisa with a big smiling welcome and menus. I asked her what the $5 lunch special was and it turned out to be bbq ribs with potato salad. That's what I got! How can you beat that!? Betty got a pulled pork sandwich w/ fries and loved it. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and the bbq. (Many folks are picky about the bbq flavor wherever they go... I don't have a preference, I just know what I like when I taste it!) The portion was 4 pork ribs, with a dry rub with a little cup of bbq sauce. It was the perfect amount of sauce for the four delicious ribs. Lisa mentioned the desserts... holy cow, she was enthusiastic about the choices! Loving enthusiasm, especially when it comes to food, we decided we had to try the Strawberry Shortcake to share. OMG it was fantastic!!! Usually, shortcake is dry and lacking in sweetness/flavor... oh heck no, not at Chilleen's!!! It was sooooo good! Lisa was perfect in her service; friendly, helpful, quick and attentive. It was fun reading the flip cards on the table which answer all your questions about their experience with Bar Rescue and John Taffer. I'd go back anytime.
(4)Shamar J.
My friend and I was on I 17 going south back to phx , when we both wanted some food . My friend told me she saw this place at the next exit. I was like what the hell let's try it . The ppl was soooo nice and the food was great . I got a sandwich that was on point and my friend got a pork sandwich. I'm going to come back just to try that . I would tell my friends and family about this place and if you pass by you have to stop bye . When we gone to tell them to half the check the just ran the card and they did not no how to fix it . That's was a pain but hey the food was on Point tho
(3)Michael C.
Always stop here for dinner on the way home from Sedona! As usual pork ribs were absolutely delicious! Wife had burger, and my son had chicken strips. They loved their orders as well! But best part was Brenda our waitress! She was super friendly, very prompt and helpful! Will always stop here when ever we can! Thank you for the great experience!
(5)Nikki S.
Open for breakfast? Apparently not. 10am on a Sunday???? All the billboards along 17 say breakfast......
(1)Steven M.
I live in Prescott Valley and try not to go to Phoenix for any reason, if I can avoid it. Had to go down there today and convinced my buddy that we need to try this place on the way back home. Not being a TV addict, I wasn't even aware of the notoriety of the restaurant thanks to the "Bar Rescue" episode, Season 3, Episode 9, btw. The place is dark as others on this and Google Reviews have noted, but not so dark that we couldn't read the menu. The waitress was young, perky, attractive and very attentive. The food was delicious and came very quickly to the table. I had the Philly Steak Sandwich and my buddy had the pork ribs. My fries were large, crunchy and hot. My buddy liked his beans and cole slaw but I thought his side portions were a bit too small, served in small plastic cups. The prices were acceptable and the waitress offered to pour us new drinks in to-go cups which was very classy. As an added bonus, they have a side-room featuring their time on TV and also a large glass terrarium with a real-live, genuinely pissed-off Diamondback Rattlesnake!!!
(4)Cheryl R.
Meh, the food was not fantastic but it was not bad. It is bar food. The fire water was good though. The blue berries have been sitting in moonshine! Not bad!
(4)Ln K.
Best restaurant ever. I love this place. Food and Service and Atmosphere Excellent.
(5)Jeremy S.
Came after seeing it on Bar Rescue; it was only about 30 minute drive from the house, so I figured why not. I was impressed that a couple years after the show, scott and donna kept it up. The whole family is working there now! They're doing well and are still very grateful for the bar rescue. Staff was happy to chat about it, and there was a small Taffer shrine at the front of the bar as well as a painting of him on the wall lol The place is clean and the atmosphere is great. The food was good -- nothing to write home about, but it was definitely good and didn't taste like shortcuts were taken. For the price I paid, I'd say it was great! I ordered the brisket plate and a firewater punch. The brisket was good, the sauce was great. Baked beans were outstanding. We also got the fried shrooms and zuccs as our waitress suggested. They were good. They didn't taste like the oil was a year old. The slaw tasted fresh and not overbearing like the normal slaw you'd expect to get. My drink was made well. It was strong (duh, it was moonshine) but not in a bad way. I kept thinking it was gonna be harsh on every sip, but it wasn't, my brain was just messing with me. The service I got was outstanding. The only bartender on shift at the time, I believe was the owners' son and he was killin it, to be honest. Outstanding attitude. We hung out for a while and discovered that they have a large back room and a back yard with a hoedown hut with a stage that they didn't show on bar rescue. I'm not sure if that was added later, but it was branded just the same. Doesn't look like they've made use of it in a while though, if at all. Aside from the abandoned bar in the back yard, it was still well maintained. To be perfectly honest, I was happy to see that everyone (and more) is still there and things look to be going well. All things considered, I have no complaints. I will likely make it a point to come back from time to time.
(4)Marshall D.
Went here yesterday because I'd passed it on I-17 numerous times and was curious. Came in at about 6:30pm on a Monday night. I couldn't care less about bar rescue so I won't discuss any aspect of that, aside from, the fact that there is a huge cutout of Taffer when you walk in. Atmosphere: This place gets a 10/10 as far as character. What a fun wild west/cowboy type atmosphere. Service: Service was good, once we figured out we had to show our faces. It seemed understaffed with only one server who said she was new. She was attentive and did a great job once she realized we were there. Food: Foot was hit or miss. My friend ordered a steak sandwich cooked medium. It came out more well than medium, however, he said it tasted great. I ordered a chicken and pork rib dinner with steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes (one dish). The sides were horrendous. The potatoes were cold. The broccoli though well seasoned, was highly dehydrated and tasted overly microwaved. In their defense, I asked for it double steamed. The pork ribs were honestly some of the best I've ever had, but cold. The chicken was also very good and had a lovely smokey flavor. Overall, I thought the price was a bit high, however, if the sides had been better, I'd agree they could charge the same price as any place else. Will I be back? I'll give them another chance, the atmosphere was great but I wasn't wowed by the food.
(3)Jessica R.
This place is hysterical. It's a totally run-of-the-mill, highway-side restaurant, complete with fries that obvious came out of a bag and clearly nothing that is homemade (our waitress even mentioned that the apple pie came frozen). Still, we had a great time. They're just so excited about the Bar Rescue thing that it makes the entire experience kind of silly. So while the food is a 2-star experience, the overall experience is higher just because this place is so damn funny.
(3)Stephanie L.
We have always wanted to eat here even before the renovations. We stopped once for a drink and the next time for food. Not impressed with their bbq. We order a pulled pork sandwich and brisket. I did not believe their "bad ass bbq" now "award winning bbq" was neither bad ass or award winning! The bar has a great atmosphere and good specials the staff is very friendly but I wouldn't go there for the bbq.
(3)Peter O.
My dad (chef) and I have been passing by this place for a couple years. We have wanted to stop everytime due to the great signage they have along the highway "award winning BBQ" never knew about the show. We were greeted by a friendly waitress saying sit wherever you would like. Atmosphere was okay we sat in a booth outside the bar. It was very dark the only room with light was the room they have displaying the show they were on called bar rescue. Well our opinion it needs to be rescued again. We wanted a BBQ platter for 2. It came with 4 ribs 2 small slices of brisket one chicken thigh and two very small sides of beans and coleslaw. We were hoping for some type of potato or bread option but we had to add it as an additional item. The meat was so so but the sauce was good. The beans were odd and thin and tasted like chili powder. The mashed potatoes were the bottom of the pan, The gravy was absolutely terrible and should not be on potatoes. Sent it back and got plain but hot potatoes. The plate cost about 8 dollars to send out and we paid 25 for it. We will not be recommending it but we hope they will step it up it has the potential. -chefs daughter
(1)Brian S.
Love the show Bar Rescue watching John Taffer rebuild bars and restraints from the ground up. It was a pleasure to finally go to see our first one in person and they are awesome. Service was great food was awesome and the drinks where great too
(4)Carrie K.
We've passed by this place many times and finally got around to trying it. It was awful, but at least it was expensive. My husband ordered a cup of French onion soup and a Caesar salad. The cup was tiny and he complained that it was too salty. This is a man who drinks pickle brine from the jar... I had the blackened Cajun chicken Caesar salad. I got the "blackened" part, but the "Cajun" part was non-existant. I'm pretty sure it was green leaf lettuce and not romaine. Either way, the pieces of lettuce were so big I had to cut my salad with a knife. Service was slow and we were never asked how our food was, just if we wanted anything else. 2 iced teas and the above with tip set us back $28.50.
(1)Brian M.
My family came here for "the last time" about 3.5 years ago. That was before the make over. On that last visit the place was a mess, the only bright spot was our waitress whom I found out later was the owner's daughter. Since the place was redone we decided to give it another shot on our way up to Montezuma Castle. I am really glade we did. My younger daughter had The Ultimate Salad and raved about it. My wife and older daughter has the burger and really enjoyed it. The fries were a hit but could use a touch more salt. My son's chicken tenders tasted great. I had a brisket sandwich and it is in the running for the best brisket I have had. It was moist and juicy with well rendered fat and just a the right hint of BBQ sauce. I can definitively say it is the best I have had in AZ. The service wasn't fabulous but it is was good. It is great to see a favorite location brought back to life.
(4)Mabel R.
Heading back from a weekend in Flagstaff and stopped here for lunch. The place is very clean (especially the bathroooms) which is important to me. The decor and vibe are impressive. The hubby and I ordered the Chile en Chips as an appetizer. The green chile con carne was delicious! For our meals, I ordered the Top Sirloin (medium well) with a baked potato and broccoli. I was concerned my steak would be served too dry but was actually very juicy, tender, and flavorful! The baked potato was moist and hot which allowed their butter to blend in perfectly. The broccoli was cooked properly with the right color and amount of crunch. The hubby had the Torpedo Burger and he claims it was the right combo of juicyness, cheese, as well as chiles. He loved it! I tried his fries and they were yummy. We look forward ro eating here again.
(5)Jerry E.
Did not check this place out on Yelp before dropping by for a snack en route Phoenix to Flagstaff so might have given it a miss. Shared a BLT so did not experience any serious food. Expressed curiosity about white stuff scattered over floor and discovered it was sawdust no doubt to brighten dingy decor and provide an authentic saloon touch. From all the reviews it seems to be 'hit and miss'. This is not a Michelin rated establishment contrary to one report. My BLT was surprisingly good, the fries not authentic. Make sure you are seriously hungry. Friendly staff......wish I had known about the TV program....
(3)Sinda S.
Okay, so my husband of five years has been coming in here for years before me. When he started dragging me here, I originally politely kept my mouth shut about how much I hated it. I felt t was dirty, the food inconsistent, the service almost nonexistent and it irritated me that on more than one occasion, my husband was told that they had whiskey but no bourbon. One time I left furious because after telling me for 20 AFTER we got our food that she would make me a second drink, I finally had to give up. Now this was long before Bar Rescue came into the picture. And to my husband and I, it will always be Bad Ass Barbecue. Now I want to clarify that we always went in the late morning or afternoon, for the most part, on our way back to Phoenix. We had never seen or met Donna, Scott or Aleah. The place was usually pretty much empty when we came in, kind of like crawling into a slightly musty cave. And we were well aware of the attempts to raise money to save the place. So, the John brought his magical Bar Rescue to Bad Ass. It's hard to tell how much was truth and how much was fiction, but the episode was definitely entertaining! My husband taped it and still watches it occasionally. So, of course we had to go back and check the place out. What we first noticed? The giraffe is gone. :( No, it made no sense in front of a barbecue joint or any where else, for that matter, except perhaps a zoo, but so what? It was interesting. It was unique and funny and periodically we would take our picture with it. Come n, John. You should have lightened up a bit and left the giraffe!!! Inside, it was bustling, an early Saturday evening. We sat at the bar, talked a little to Donna and Aleah. Apparently I was remembered for a less than kind review I had left once. :O I immediately was hooked on the firewater punch with the moonshine soaked blue berries.It was a fun evening. Aleah is as funny, smart and nice as she appeared n television and a kick ass bartender, as well. We went to dinner one Sunday afternoon and brought another couple with us that had seen the show. Ironically, my friend is a bartender and got a kick out of the waitress not knowing that bourbon WAS whiskey. Alas, the food was disappointing, the brisket dried out. Still, we have also been in where the brisket was delicious. The point of this review is Bad Ass Barbecue AKA Chilleen's has grown on me. I know we will continue to stop there on our way in or out of town. We probably won't eat anything but appetizers (The fried green chilis are delish!), but it would be hard to resist coming in occasionally for one of Aleah's fire punch and to test the rest of the staff on their knowledge of bourbon! JUST KIDDING!!! LOL So, we'll be seeing ya!
(4)Kristi S.
Excellent drinks!!! The Firewater and the Berry Long Island Shiner were delicious! And the food was pretty yummy too; we really enjoyed the Green Chili Dip!
(4)John M.
Authentic! In a world where franchises have replaced the local meal experience Chilleen's stands out as a real deal. Everything here came from the creativity of a real person instead of a corporate committee. And that's damn refreshing! Shout out to our waitress Jordan, who shared her pride and enthusiasm with an entertaining spirit. We're glad we made the stop on our road adventure!
(4)Marco L.
Admittedly, I'm not super hard to please. My steak was really good, and the kids all liked their burgers, etc. My other family was a little less impressed with their chicken and steak. Really cool ambience.
(3)Dave H.
Been there before and after the rescue. Should be put out of its misery. Friend and I stopped by today for lunch on the way back to the Chino Valley area. Why? I don't know. Food is over priced and sucked!! I had the steak sandwich, which was tough and over priced. I was only able to get through half of it. Friend had a Ruben that he said was flavorless. We each had a side of fries that were just okay. I also had a side of beans that probably came out of a can. The waitress brought our drinks, took our order, delivered order, brought check. Never checked back. In her defense when clearing the table she said I should have said something. I would have had she checked on us. If you're traveling though Black Canyon City drive through it as fast as you can and find a Mcdonalds
(1)BRian M.
Last time I ate here was 2004. The sign on the place said "Bad Ass BBQ", instead of "Award Winning BBQ". At that time, I ate some bbq chicken that was basically a pre frozen chicken breast thrown on a grill and slapped with barbecue sauce... At that time (2004) it sucked. However, I visited about 2 days ago and had the Chile Verde (with tortillas)... Wow, what a difference. Absolutely delicious green chile. Perfectly cooked and spiced. And the tortillas seemed very fresh and are served piping hot.
(5)S P.
I love to support the locals instead of chain restaurants when I travel. This was a good stop on our drive to Phoenix after leaving Sedona. We had bookmarked it when planning our Arizona trip after seeing it featured on Bar Rescue. A great diverse menu-something for everyone. We had the honey mustard chicken sandwich. It was a generous tender grilled chicken fillet, with golden french fries. Fresh ice tea for our beverage. There is a covered patio to dine outside, with your dog if you like. Service is relaxed so don't expect a dine and dash experience. Easy to find, right off I17 - just follow the signs. Looks like it is doing fine and there are some other shops popping up at this site, including Pink Adventure tours. We will stop again the next time we are in this area!
(4)Levon A.
Beware of there hot wings they serve em' raw wings!!! Raw chicken wings, that's right. He made us pay for it. Pretty young blonde boy, bartender (thru my wife's eyes, lol) demanded for us to pay for it. So we did & got out of there. If I were alone I would've tell em to make it right & not charge us. Very bad when comes to closing time. Drive on thru if it's late or close to closing time. Seems like that's the excuse. Very bad customer service, Rescue Bar needs to comeback & review some these employees!!!!
(1)Stanley V.
We planned our rendezvous at Chilleen's On 17; and that went okay. Mothers' Day and our fam started with with two Firewater Punches for tasting. There should be just a splash more alcohol in their punch since it has an ingredient of moonshine. The Coors draft 32 oz. for $4 was delicious and ice-cold. The 5 dinners arrived reasonably soon as other Mothers' Day celebrations were evident. A half rack of St. Louis Style Pork Ribs arrived meaty with minimal fat and sufficient pork for the price of $15. Maybe they could have been just a little heavier handed with the BBQ sauce recipe preparation. Lots of BBQ sauce was included in a cup. Sides of coleslaw and BBQ beans were good. Two orders of ground sirloin steak made both diners happy and full. The guest of honor had a portion left-over for the doggie bag. Their sides were okay they said. 1 order of adult chicken fingers seemed well received and large enough supply of not-greasy chicken w/ Ranch dressing and 2 sides. Lastly, my son had the $18 "all you can eat" BBQ beef ribs. He chowed down 2 platefuls and declined the third due to everybody else being finished eating earlier. His sides were coleslaw and BBQ beans. The standard groans were given when asked for desserts. Next time, It might be a good idea just to order dessert first with coffee and see about dinner, afterwards? Our waitress, Tracy, was outstanding and very attentive. We will go back, for sure..
(4)Philip B.
Ordered my food, asked the waitress after 15 or so minutes. And she completely forgot my order. This place was featured on Bar Rescue. They may need another rescue with this horrible service.
(1)Brandon Z.
Stopped in on a Sunday afternoon after driving by this place numerous times....I think the "Bar Rescue" bug finally bit us. Much improved, and not nearly as tacky as it previously was, on the outside. Inside was clean and appealing to the eye. Our service was prompt, though I did find it a bit odd that there was a sign upon entering that told us to seat ourselves. We got our drinks shortly after ordering them - my mixed drink (one of the special cocktails on their drink menu) was made very well and went down smoothly. My wife had the blackened chicken, I had a bbq brisket sandwich. Both were very tasty and prepared well. Bun on the sandwich was a bit soggy, but nothing that a fork couldn't solve. Donna (the owner) was out and about, handing out flowers to the mothers for Mothers Day. Thought that was a nice touch. After walking through the bar, I have to say the atmosphere (in comparison to the pre-Bar Rescue pics) was appealing, clean, and inviting. We'd return on our next trip through the area. If what they quote on their menu is true (sales are up 43%) then this is for sure a Bar Rescue success story.
(4)Brandy W.
Gotta love the all you can eat ribs. I know my fiancé did, he had about 6 plates of ribs. Very good. They also have a good blackberry drink which I could have on a regular basis.
(5)James S.
Interesting little place we thought we would tried. Onion rings for appetizers were spot on. I had the ribeye, baked pot, and corn. The Ribeye was a little chewy and fatty. The flavor was good and cooked perfect, just needs to be a better cut. I would for sure go back. It was my first bar rescue visit.
(3)Caleb V.
I have been driving by for several years, and hadn't stopped since the remodel. Soooooooo glad we stopped in again. Had the all you can eat beef ribs and they were delicious!! They start you with 3 large beef ribs and send two more if you would like when ready and keep going from there if one so desires! :-) I had 5 and was very pleased with all of them. Great portion size! I am very picky about my coleslaw and there slaw is excellent..as well as their baked beans. My girlfriend had a BBQ chicken sandwich with fries. The chicken was cooked just right and was juicy. The sauce was not heavy at all. If you enjoy good BBQ, burgers, and steaks this is a definite must stop of you are heading North out of the Valley our heading in our just simply passing by! I will for sure be back again. We sat in the car area which is very roomy. It is a country style comfortable atmosphere, and has a separated family dining area of you would prefer that. Our server was Scott and was very friendly, attentive, and prompt with beverages and anything else. Great service and great food!
(5)Greg G.
As a BBQ Connoisseur, I was curious about this place when it was Kid Chilleen's Kick Ass BBQ. I wanted to go, but I couldn't convince the family to make the trip (33 miles door to door). BUT! After John Taffer paid them a visit the whole famn damily wanted to go, so we did. Soooo Glad We Waited! Worth every bit of the drive up. The atmosphere is a beautifully causal, cowboy come as you are type of restaurant. The booths are comfy and there is a GREAT view out almost any window. The food was great. We ate a variety of burgers, sandwiches and fixin's. Both beef and pork. It was all tender and juicy the way it should be with out a heavily over-smoked flavor that a lot of restaurants seem to pride themselves on (for reason's I'll never know). Now lets talk about the important part. I can find a pretty background and I can make some killer good BBQ, so while that is important, it isn't why I dine out. I go for the SERVICE. I go because I want someone to do those things I could do myself. In this department Chilleen's knocks it out of the park. We had the daughter (I forget her name) as our server and she was fantastic. She seemed to read the customers needs before they happened. All of our food showed up on time, fresh and hot. We felt so welcome and appreciated, like we were at a family members house for a meal. While we were there, a football game was on. The bar area looked like the PERFECT place to catch a game! Based on food alone I can't list this in the Top-BBQ list, but add in the factors of environment and service and it easily becomes a favorite family destination that we all love to visit. I'm going to put this in my Best-BBQ and Best-Outdoor lists
(4)Jerry M.
Come to Drink and when you are feeling good then try the food. Place is clearly made more for partying and drinking rather than dining. Food is just average at best and service needs a lot of improving. Tried it once because of Bar Rescue, but will probably never return.
(2)Viktor P.
I was worried about coming here on account of the bad reviews but am quite glad I came anyway. The best part was the service, which was extremely good. We came on Christmas Eve, but they were open and service was still prompt, extremely courteous, and helpful. The food was good, maybe 4/5, but nothing wrong sufficient to bring the restaurant down from 5 stars. Prices were reasonable. It is conveniently located off I-17. If you are in the area, I would recommend it.
(5)Mike A.
I read a few reviews on here and was skeptical, stopped by anyways because there was bad traffic and nowhere else to go. The food was perfect, generous portions and everything was delicious, an the staff was very quick and friendly. The only thing I could see people could complain about is maybe the looks of the place but GUESS WHAT-it's supposed to look like an old western saloon! We sat in the bar and they had a few TVs which is more than enough. I would definitely stop in again sometime.
(5)Doug H.
It's a lot of fun.. great food.. they have recreated it and kept the great atmosphere and the historic feel... did I mention great bbq? I had the all you can eat ribs... great flavors. ..
(5)Bob W.
I like the place. Food is good (big ass meaty beef ribs) Beer is better (always cold) and Jim Beam's the BEST! (plentiful & powerful) But responsible. These guys are always friendly and willing to please. I especially like the kick back Patio out back. Attended several out back parties which are always a hoot! The views from the back are stunning to say the least. Only downfall is the owner is a Raiders fan! Well, cant will 'em all.. Or as they say THIS SEASON, can't we win just one?
(4)KellieAnn R.
Stopped for lunch during a Sunday drive. Sat outside on the covered patio with our dogs. Server was very pleasant and attentive. The steaks were prepared precisely as ordered, and the portions were quite large. We look forward to trying the barbeque on our next trip!
(4)Pedro S.
I go here every time I go up I-17 at a meal time, which isn't that often (sadly). This place has probably the best blackened chicken in Arizona. There are only 2-3 other places that I've even seen here that make it, but this one is the best. My one recommendation would be that they use a little less of the blackening spices. (You should actually be able to see the chicken, fish, etc. under the spice--look at Paul Prudhomme photos on Google for reference.) All in all, a pretty good place.
(4)Regina L.
Hey!!! I really like this place! !! I love in Prescott Ave was meeting my son from phoenix, thought this would be a great spot. .. I was right. I've been to other bar rescue bars and this one is the most friendly
(4)Justice A.
My pregnant wife and I each found this place a different way. I'm a professional driver who spotted the place off of I-17 during my constant travels and my wife found this place on Yelp! A fortunate turn of events a few days ago made it possible for us to finally have dinner there and this is what we think. The atmosphere is warm and rustic and their bathrooms were clean, a huge plus for any bar. The service was great. The young lady who served us started off by cleaning off a dirty table for us because that was the one we wanted. She was then constantly attentive to us throughout our evening with helpful information to our questions. The food, smashing! Delicious starter of Green chilli cheese fries and a brisket sandwich that was amazing. There was so much chilli cheese on the starter that I was able to eat half my side fries with it too! My wife and I had a wonderful dinner and an excellent evening. Unfortunately, we can't go more often because we live 40 minutes away but we plan on going back every few months as a treat to ourselves. Keep up the hard work!
(5)Carol M.
Previous glowing reviewers may have upped my expectations a bit. Returning from Sedona, in the mood for BBQ and this place is literally just off I-17 (you can see the sign & billboards from the Northbound lanes). Never heard of Bar Rescue so that had no influence on our stop. We just wanted BBQ. So we made a late lunch of pulled pork sandwiches. I thought the food was okay and reasonably priced. Fries were typical - ordered well done and arrived barely cooked. I am happy to see that this place survived after all they seem to have been through. I didn't see much of the place except the dining area and the bathroom. Both seemed okay to me. Sawdust on the floor - obviously part of the area "charm". Service was pleasant, a bit slow but we weren't in a rush so that wasn't a real problem. Decent experience but not really a WOW for me. Don't think I'll be in a hurry to rush back. If I go again, I'd like to try the brisket sandwich.
(3)Mari D.
Glad we stopped in to try the BBQ -- had the SW Brisket - tender & tasty. Beans, awesome! Staff and clientele more than 'neighborhood friendly' - felt at home and at ease. Drinks were good and we'll be back next time we're in the area! See y'all soon.
(5)Chuck B.
I had to stop by and check out the place after seeing it on Bar Rescue. I'd driven by it a million times going up to northern AZ, but never had any reason to stop in. It didn't look like much from the road, so I just drove on by. I decided to stop in today just out of curiosity. Around 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon, and the parking lot was pretty full - a good sign. The dining room was pretty full, the bar was pretty empty, and the game room and outdoor areas were deserted. We decided to grab a little food at the bar, so we grabbed a Caesar salad and a pulled pork BBQ sandwich. We also tried their Firewater Punch, which is a mix of moonshine (store bought, not the backyard still kind, which I've also had before - ugh), honey, lemon juice, and tea. I was expecting to hate it. I didn't. Damn good. The salad was above average, and I would definitely order the BBQ pork sandwich again. The staff was pretty attentive, and the place, although very dark inside, looked good enough. It's a cowboy theme, with wood shavings on the floor, bull riding on the TV, and cow-patterned seats. Overall, pretty good. I'll stop by sometime and try out one of their steaks. And I'll have that Firewater Punch again for sure.
(4)Nancy C.
This was a very welcome surprise right off of 17. We stopped on a spur of the moment. BBQ chicken and brisket were very good and smoky tasting. If we're ever back in the area, we would come back.
(4)Kat S.
Hubby had the torpedo burger. He loved it! I had the BBQ brisket. The beef was well trimmed and it was a decent sandwich. We ordered fried shrooms and zucchini and they were excellent. Good place to have lunch!
(4)Franni G.
So after seeing this bar on Bar Rescue, we decided yo check it out. It was easy to find and we weren't the only one's who were standing outside taking pictures of this place. We went in and had the Bbq beef sandwich and 2 Firewater Punch drinks. WOW! !! GREAT DRINKS and Food! Atmosphere was fun and we were told to stop back on by for the Luau they were having that night. We will be back next month. I'll be starting out my bday celebrating there before o do the whiskey row crawl. Great job guys! !!!
(4)Adam S.
Stopped in on my way from PHX to Prescott. When the sign says "Award winning BBQ" you just have to stop in and try it! Well, needless to say I can see they serve up to the expectation. Great place for lunch. I had the BBQ pork sandwich and it was great! I'll definitely be back for more! Friendly atmosphere!
(5)Len B.
Had the BBQ brisket It was ok. Didn't have any run or flavor. The bartender was great. And so was the ambience. They have a rattlesnake in the restaurant in a cage
(3)Breven C.
The worst ribs are the kind that take a steak knife to carve the meat off the bone. Tonight I ate every bit of rib meat, which fell clean off the bone nearly on its own. Chilleen's delivered and all around perfect BBQ meal. Baked beans were excellent, cole slaw was good too. Service was excellent. Great place, glad I stopped by.
(5)Brittany D.
I stopped by here driving back from Sedona to Phoenix. The food came out quick, it was juicy, and full of flavor! Our waitress was very nice and took great care of us. The decor is adorable and southwestern themed. Thanks for the food!!!
(4)Brad M.
Service was slow but she was friendly. The fries appeared to be store bought out of a bag. The burger was between a store bought sesame seed bun and the meat was burnt (I asked for medium/well). The Pepsi I ordered came in a cup that had an odd smell. At the end I asked for my check and she came back to give me a check in a folder with somebody else's AmEx inside.... That is not cool! What if I weren't honest?? I won't be returning here again.
(2)Amanda M.
I saw this place on bar rescue so I had to stop and try it. I sadly have to say that I was disappointed. We walked in to an almost empty dining room and since there are so many entrances I think maybe we came in the wrong way. We weren't sure to seat ourselves or not. After a bit we just sat since no one came to greet us. The ice tea tasted like water. I then ordered the 17 sweet tea which was the best thing we had. Their famous Chile con carne was so salty we couldn't enjoy it. The fried green chilies were so hot that when I bit into it hot oil burned my tongue. They had no flavor. I ordered the brisket sandwich. It was tender but even with the bbq sauce (which I almost didn't notice because there was barely any on it) it was bland. My brother had the torpedo burger which was good. My daughter had the sirloin. It was tough and like everything else had no flavor. After seeing the episode I thought we would get good barbeque, but instead of award winning bbq (which they advertise on every sign) we got flavorless meat. The dining room seemed dirty and run down. I know we won't stop again. It was clear that they didn't keep up the food that we saw on bar rescue.
(2)John N.
It's really cool. The Firewater Punch tastes great! Definitely recommend!
(5)Jeanette Z.
The BBQ was good. The service was not good. The presentation of the food could be better. However the food was tasty. The portions were pretty good (for lunch) I wish the place was a little more livelier. Atmosphere was a little awkward. Lol. I'm sure I'll be craving their pulled pork sandwich and baked beans pretty soon and although the service was eh, the food is worth it I suppose. Two lunch meals (pulled pork and French fries, ribs and chicken plate) were $25. Can't complain :)
(3)Morris K.
I saw this place on Bar Rescue and have wanted to visit it ever since. This is a quaint little out-of-the way place right on I-17 about 30 minutes from where I live. To night I went there for dinner with my wife Carol, my grandson Michael and my sister Mindy who was visiting from Rhode Island. Chillen's on 17 is an absolute gem of an establishment, it is definitely unique. Our server was Melissa. She was prompt, attentive, and met every request with a smile. My wife and I both ordered the rib eye steak, my sister got the 1/2 BBQ chicken and my grandson ordered the BBQ brisket. My sister said the BBQ chicken was just ok nothing special. My grandson thought the brisket was a little tough but devoured it within minutes. The brisket is their specialty so I'm guessing he liked it.. My wife and I both thought the rib eye steak was excellent. I mean who doesn't love a good steak? But sometimes a good Steak is few and far between. So when I have a good one its only right to let everyone know and both of us thought our steaks were excellent and well the 21.95 price. They were cooked exactly as we requested them (medium). They were most tender and not over-seasoned, no random chewy strand in the middle, and it had great flavor dispersed throughout and not a bunch of thick fat to cut around. As if we weren't ready to be rolled out of the place in a wheel barrel - we opt'd to share a piece of their apple pie and strawberry shortcake both with a scoop of ice cream on top. I tried a bite of the apple pie, it was delicious. When the strawberry shortcake came out it came in a huge bowl with several scoops of ice cream and wipe cream on top. I had several bites which dissolved in my mouth as did my sister but Michael did the most damage to it. FOOD: Reasonable portion sizes. I left stuffed and took home a doggie bag as did my sister. Our steaks were cooked just right as was my sisters BBQ. Everyone's entrees were delivered in a timely manner. SERVICE: Our server fantastic! PRICE: The price was in line with other BBQ restaurants /steakhouses when you consider it comes with sides - broccoli and a loaded of potato CONCLUSION: Overall it was a very good steak dinner, and I'm really glad I chose not to go to some of the other well-known steak places that I am familiar with, but instead to enjoy a more "local" establishment. RETURN FACTOR 100%. ************************* What does my OVERALL rating mean?************************* 5 stars -Highly recommended. I would be willing to drive out of my way to this business. It is that good. This place represents their industry or cuisine very well! 4 stars - Highly Recommended. I would frequent this business. 3 stars - Not that good but not that bad. Just average. I wouldn't mind going again. 2 stars - I would not recommend this establishment to friends or family. 1 stars - DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DO NOT patronize this business. I would RUN AWAY from this place and you should too! DON'T WAST YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT
(4)Billy B.
Got here kind of late and sat in front restaurant area, so maybe that was our mistake. It seemed lively in the back with a live band and bar section. Food was decent. Average side-of-the-highway joint. Service was slightly above average. Green chile cheese fries were yummy :)
(3)Valentin D.
Today is a three.... The only thing that I enjoyed eating was the green chile bowl. That bad boy was tasty. But that wasn't our main course. The main course for the lil lady was the chicken special which was a lonely piece of burnt, dry chicken leg quarter and a side of coleslaw that was missing the tangy flavor from red wine vinegar. For myself I had the BBQ pork sandwich with fries and the only good side was the sauce as the pork was dry and the fries left a bad after taste like the fry oil hasn't been changed in who knows when. I also tried a side of potato salad that smelled as it was premade, then packaged, frozen and later defrosted after it obtaining freezer burn. The booth was utterly uncomfortable, the booth seat was to high and the table was too low, which made the eating portion unbearable. Sadly for us this meal experience had our hopes high but left us sad that we always wanted to try this place and for us it was not award winning by any means. These left overs will be given our dogs.
(2)Priscilla E.
We had burgers, they were great! I didn't have there steak or BBQ. Our family did enjoy the appetizers as well. The onion rings are a must have. The only complaint I would have is that our server did not act like she even wanted to be there, she did however check to make sure we didn't need anything else. I also didn't like the snake they have in the front when you walk in. (I am terrified of them) but most people loved it.
(4)Bill S.
A very good experience the green chillie fried were great. My sirloin was cooked perfectly.
(4)Michelle D.
We stopped in last minute... On our vacation trip after remembering it was on bar rescue. It was such a fun place... Food was amazing... We had the BBQ pork sandwich and the BBQ brisket sandwich all I can say is "Amazing"!!! It was clean, great decor, and it had that I'm a great BBQ smell. I will be back soon!
(5)Edward D.
We seen this place on our way to Flagstaff, told wife we might try it out on the way back. SO! here is my mixed review. I loved the place, guess they were on some kind of show on TV? Chilleen's is pretty dark inside, making it look like a old western saloon? I had no problem with this place, with the food anyway. My wife did not like it at all! I had their ribs, with coleslaw, and beans. Wife had their pulled pork sandwich, with fries. She took one bite of her sandwich and put it down! She also tried the beans and coleslaw. she did not like it, Only thing she liked was the our appetizer. It was their chips with chili verde, and she also liked the hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream. I however enjoyed the ribs, and later in the night I enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich. Will we ever comeback here again? Not if my wife is with me, Now this place claims to be an award winning BBQ restaurant? There are much better BBQ places around. Now there service was really fast, kinda scary when you get your food that fast. Makes you wonder how the food is prepared? So this is a mixed review, some good, and some bad. But I am glad we tried it.
(3)Van R.
Great food and awesome staff, always a good time here and the bartendress Aleah always makes amazing drinks! This place is definitely great for group events
(5)John T.
Have passed by Chilleen's a hundred times driving from PHX to Prescott Valley. Should have made it a hundred and one. Noon on Sunday. As with most BBQ places I've tried in AZ, the menu looks almost as if BBQ is an afterthought. Do what you do and do it well. I ordered a brisket sandwich, my "go to" in testing a new BBQ place. Sandwich arrived with a plentiful serving of brisket, soaked in sauce, on a sesame seed burger bun. The menu makes no mention of sauce on the sandwich (it should ALWAYS be on the side). Waitress promptly took it back to get me a sauceless version. When delivered, it was tough to tell the difference. The brisket is the fattiest, greasiest I've ever been served. Just awful. The bun was soaked orange/red with grease, and there were as many pieces of fat as beef. I ate less than half of the meat and none of the grease-soaked bread. At one point the waitress sped past our table with an "Is everything delicious?", not waiting for a reply. When she came to clear the table, she made no mention of the fact that I didn't eat my meal. A good wait staff asks if there was a problem, or at least if you want a take out. Not that I wanted any more of that awful mess. As she cleared our plates we declined dessert or drink refills and asked for the check. She then proceeded to seat two tables and serve food to one while we waited. There were ample servers and few tables. To that point, my issue had been with the lousy food. Now the service had dropped to that level as well. KT had the green chile fries which she said were "good... but they're fries with some green chile on them". Certainly nothing that will ever inspire us to try again. Sad to say that Honey Bear's in PHX, which is overpriced and has zero special going for it, remains my best AZ BBQ experience.
(1)John L.
I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to food but "award winning", "world famous", BBQ -- no way. Not what my wife and I experienced at least. Sysco does a better job. Not worth pulling off the freeway.
(1)Cynthia K.
We saw this bar on the TV program Bar Rescue and had to stop in on our way home from Sedona. It was still early in the day so there was not much of a crowd so the service was spot on. However, the bar looked NOTHING like the renovations made on the show which was somewhat disappointing. But that's TV... The food was ok...I had the brisket which was a little flavorless to my liking. The fries were nothing spectacular and in fact a little lack luster; McDonalds does a better job at fries and I'm not a fan of McDs. My boyfriend had a Reuben and he seemed to enjoy it, although he said he has had better. The bar could use a broom or two and maybe a could cleaning of the tables and chairs. I mean it was unsanitary, but it needed a once over. It's quite a bit out of our way to make this a place we would frequent, but we may stop in again on our way to / from Sedona.
(3)Sherry D.
Food was awesome!!!! Had the smoked brisket dinner and I can honestly say the best barbeque I have ever had!!!! Also had the Firewater punch and it was terrific! Went here after watching the bar being featured on Bar Rescue and will definitely being going back!~!! Only thing I could see that probably hasn't been kept up to standards was the cleanliness. It looked kind of messy in certain areas and doors were left open to some places that should have been closed (closet/storage areas). The restrooms were very dusty.
(5)Kirsten N.
Stopped in for an early dinner on our way up north for the weekend. After being featured on Bar Rescue and now offering a Groupon, we had to check it out. Try: Brisket- great quality, good smoky flavor, great sauce BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich- very good flavor, perfect amount of meat- not falling out but stuffed full- just right! Firewater Punch- delicious, fairly strong but smooth, and not super sweet Pass: Beans- lacking for flavor Fries- classic boring "diner" fries Needs: some background music overhead during slower times when the usual eating clatter doesn't contribute to ambiance. Server: Lindsey- very friendly but a little shy/awkward. Very attentive though.
(4)Kevin S.
We got caught in a severe traffic jam on the way back to our hotel in Phoenix, and decided to hop off of 17 in search of food. We stumbled in grumpy as hell, and it turns out horrible traffic can actually be a good thing. After all, if it hadn't been for the traffic, we never would have found this gem! Great food, and our waitress (Lindsey) was fantastic! Will definitely be back whenever we are in town!
(5)Mona D.
My husband and I stopped by this place on our way to Flagstaff to grab some dinner. We have driven past this place like a million times, but to be honest, we thought it was either shut down or not very good because there were never many cars there. This time it looked like they had done some sort of remodel and were definitely open because there were cars in the parking lot. On the inside, the decor is really country, sort of down home feeling. We decided to just get main courses and opted not to get appetizers so I can only comment on our entrees. I ordered the BBQ chicken and my husband ordered the steak. My chicken was juicy and delicious, I could taste the deep smokey flavor, it seemed like real, authentic BBQ, not the fake BBQ that most restaurants try to pass off as BBQ. In my opinion it is the best BBQ around and it was easily the best BBQ I have had in years. My husband's said his steak was excellent but it was a little under-cooked. He ordered it medium rare but it was a little closer to rare than medium rare but all in all, not too bad. He is a very picky eater and normally sends back a steak that is not perfect but this time he ate it so it wasn't too far away from medium rare or he would not have eaten it. The service was great and our server was very friendly. He was attentive to our needs and we never had to look around for him to get things like refills on our drinks, he had them ready for us without asking. I think he was a little in the weeds though because there were several tables seated and he is the only server that I noticed on the floor. We will more than likely go back again. We live about an hour away but we travel to Flagstaff frequently and we will be stopping by on our next trip there. I would have given this place 5 stars because I really think that it deserves 5 stars but for some reason, it seems when you make a 5 star review, it gets filtered like all the ones below and nobody ever sees it.
(4)Chris B.
WOW.....That is some of the BEST food we have had in a long time.. Our Food at the table was a couple of Torpedo Burgers, St Louis Ribs, Chicken Sandwich, and Half Chicken... My family and I are Huge Bar Rescue and Jon Taffer Fans... We just went for Mothers Day 2013. Our Experience was AMAZING..... I know that previously the place was not good at all just like you saw on the show.... But I can assure you that the family has learned a lot about what they really want out of their place. They are very friendly, and they have great attention to detail. Their moonshine drinks called FIRE WATER was so Delicious. A Strawberry Shortcake and Triple Chunk Warm Brownie Desert was our finishing touch. I Am so glad to see a family Change and have a chance to rebuild their Business. Thanks to the Family and Jon Taffer for an OFF THE Charts Experience. Love from the Chris Birkett Family Scottsdale AZ
(5)Qa'ed M.
A great place to stop by on a Phoenix-Flagstaff commute. It's nice and homey and the food's all right. Sometimes I've found myself really licking my lips, and other times I'm forced to revisit memories of eating erasers in kindergarten. They've changed cooks a few times in the time I've eaten here. If you're lucky, you'll be there while one of the good cooks are in. The best thing I've ever had here was their strawberry shortcake, which was a perfect blend of a piping hot cake and fluffy ice cream. It wasn't as good the last few times, though.
(3)Joe C.
Stopped by and ordered the western burger. Came with crusty BBQ sauce and was well done. Too bad I ordered it medium. Service was good otherwise. Apple pie was no good either. Had better pie from Costco.
(2)Jacqueline S.
Pretty good food. The atmosphere was fun, staff was friendly. The bathrooms were not that clean thou. The torpedo burger was pretty good. All on all a good experience.
(4)Yvonne W.
Pleasantly surprised! We've been wanting to check it out since Bar Rescue. I was a little nervous when we walked in because it wasn't as clean as I expected. Plus, it was a Saturday night and hardly anyone was there. We were seated quicky and received our drinks quickly.The menu wasn't anything exciting. So, I had the plain ol' chicken sandwich and the rest of the family had the plain cheeseburger, kids ribs, and pork sandwich. The food came out really fast! And, it was fresh, hot and good! Everyone in the family was happy. We had to end with the Strawberry Shortcake. I never see this offered anywhere. My son was moping because he wanted the Death by Chocolate, so the owner brought him a little personal dish of ice cream with chocolate! What a nice touch! The strawberry shortcake was delicious. The service was excellent! Pleasantly surprised!
(4)Justin L.
Stopped by for some chips & salsa along with iced tea. Salsa and chips were yumms in me tumms. 17Sweet Tea could have been better, didn't need that much cinnamonzz. Loved the rattlesnake in the front and the story about that one ep. Better than bad. Thanks for the wonderful membories. Staff was very friendly. Chips were warm. Would consider returning. Thank you.
(4)Fred P.
This is a "local" place. You can tell that the people on the bar stools come here frequently. But we came for dinner and so we sat in the dining area. The BBQ was pretty good. Rub vs Sauce is always the debate in BBQ circles. That said, this was not saucy enough for my taste. I'm looking for ear to ear sauce on my face when the Q is served and not from a container of cold sauce served on the plate. But he waitress service was attentive and the beverages and beer served fast. But here's my real complaint: I shouldn't have to smell bathrooms when I'm sitting in the dining area. Clean them and/or vent them!
(2)Dog D.
Not a bad option if you are looking for rustic feel but their renovation didn't help much with their service or consistency. They do have live music from time to time but it gets very loud and not the most pleasant of places to sit down for dinner. Check out some other options in Black Canyon if you can.
(2)Mike S.
After seeing on Bar Rescue we always like see help the business get back on its feet. So we drove from Surprise to have a horrible lunch. I had the $17.99 all u can eat beef ribs and chicken. I've had beef ribs before but these were reheated from the night before.. The chicken was too gamely and almost tasted spoiled. Gave some to my wife to try and she thought the same. So I figured I just got a bad order of ribs and did a reorder. I got 1 freakn' rib! WTF! Wife had the pulled pork sandwich. Fair at best... World Famous??? Why does every owner of a business feel it's necessary to say World Famous... I got it, their food is crappy and no one would come if not for the curiosity factor... If you sit near the bathrooms there is a stench that if the smell doesn't make you hurl, THE FOOD WILL! Stay away this place it reeks!
(1)John V.
Stopped here on the way back from Prescott. I had a rib-eye that was priced 5 or 6 bucks over what Outback charges. The steak was a little tough and unremarkable... for the price I would expect it to exceed most of the restaurant chains that serve similar fare. This meal was pricey but pretty mediocre. The decor is rustic but pleasant... but I didn't go there for the scenery and if you're really looking for a good rib-eye, I would suggest you keep looking.
(3)Michael C.
Honestly, I was extremely disappointed. With all the hoopla from being on bar rescue and seeing their reviews I was real excited to be coming here, but in the end the meat was dry, the beans were canned and the coleslaw was mostly cabbage and very dry. I think it needs another rescue. However, service was great!
(2)Lawrence J.
Bar Rescue Didn't Rescue Chilleens on 17 I was eager about visiting a place that was recently featured on the show Bar Rescue. I've caught a few episodes and was impressed at how the bars were revamped into something really worth spending time and money in exploring. I would say that Chilleens on 17 was one that should have hit the editing room floor. After the long drive to this long-time family establishment north of Phoenix I was anticipating something to make the drive well worth it. Upon arriving around 8 pm on a Saturday night, my friend and I were surprised by a relatively empty parking lot. A horse corralled nearby promised some legitimate cowboy fare and I was in a mood to get my grill on. The disappointment started to settle in quick. There was no one to greet us when we entered so we wandered about looking for the dining room or even a sign saying "seat yourself." The few patrons seemed to be eating in the bar so we helped ourselves to a booth. Fortunately there were menus in the tables, so we looked through the straightforward menu. Some of the drink specials sounded interesting, but overloaded with alcohol and sugar. The specialty of the house appeared to be flavored Moonshine mixed with flavored vodkas and flavored rums. Now I consider flavored vodkas a crime against nature, so I decided to pass and planned on trying a microbrew on tap while my friend was going to experiment with a stylized bourbon sour. Since no one had even said hello to us yet, despite the small number of people, we even had time to decide what to try off the menu. My friend opted for a grilled chicken sandwich with bacon, cheese and a honey mustard sauce with fries. I was sticking with the grill and chose St. Louis style BBQ pork ribs with baked bean and coleslaw. Still no waiter. I finally got up and asked the bartender if he would send us a waiter. While she seemed nice enough when she finally arrived, I got the impression that she really couldn't have cared less. And when the food arrived I could see why. Now my friend's sandwich was actually pretty tasty; much like what you would find anywhere though. The fries even tasted homemade. The rest was a mess. The ribs were rather bland, not what I expect from something that was obviously not cooked in the lackluster sauce. The sauce tasted like it came from a jar, and I've had better jars. The baked beans were obviously canned (confirmed by the wait person when I asked) an had an after taste that could only be described as "bug spray." The coleslaw was a perfect match to meal. It was essentially water and cabbage with no flavor or spice. I was happy to hit the trail after chowing down at this chuck wagon establishment. Maybe it was a bad night. Maybe it was a bad cook. Maybe, maybe, maybe, but bottom line I will leave to others to discover that. I won't be returning. Oh, and the beer was small and too hoppy and the whiskey sour was as lackluster as the rest of the experience. Want my advice? I'd keep on the trail and fun another place to satisfy your desire for good ol' cooking.
(1)Chris V.
Steak was over twenty dollars and was very small and had a lot of fat and ligaments. Due to the size of the steak, instead of it coming to the table medium rare, it came well done. I would not recommend this restaurant for a steak dinner.
(1)Keith C.
NOT GOOD. Nice portion but the flavor was just not there. The BBQ sauce didn't make up for it. Don't drive here if you don't have too. Outstanding service!
(2)Paige F.
Visited here on a little day trip north and we were pretty hungry. Its right off the highway and the place is a bit of a dive. Had no idea it was featured on Bar Rescue until we sat down and it was on the menu. I ordered the stuffed burger and my husband ordered their BBQ Brisket. We started out with their fried green chilies - holy moly these were GREAT! This was the BEST part of our meal. Then came the entrees. My burger - juicy but the cheese that was stuffed inside like disappeared - not sure if it soaked into the meat but it was gone so my burger had hot grease stored inside it. Oh not good eats. My husband's brisket - sadly it was dry like a piece of wood thats been in the desert for years. Their moonshine drinks look good on the menu but we were driving so we had to pass on those. I might try them again since it is right off the highway and I really LOVED those fried green chilies. Till we meet again.
(3)Matthew S.
I'm in love with the fire water punch. I had a bad craving for it, so I drove up here all the way from Tolleson just to have 2 drinks. The service was great and I really enjoyed being there. I will definitely be coming back whenever I get a chance.
(5)Chukki S.
Interesting little bar in the middle of nowhere sorta. First off, it is a bit hard to find coming from the north on the I-17. I missed the tiny sign and drove right by the entrance. My GPS only took me so far. It's a bit hard to see in the dark. Jon Taffer was right about it being very dark here. He did fix some of the lighting in the parking lot, but it's still dark getting in there as there no streetlights. So of course we came here after seeing the Bar Rescue episode. While there were no horses or motorcycles in the bar, it was by far the rowdiest bar I have ever been in. Lots of loud profanity, females being groped, yelling, shots being taken, etc. Granted this was later at night (10-11pm) and it didn't bother me, but it is noteworthy. We RUSHED to get here before 10 because we were told that's when they stopped serving food. We got there at 9:52pm so figured we have enough time. We sat down in the bar so the server could go home. But I soon realized after about 10 minutes no one was going to serve us. Finally, we sat at the bar and got food and drinks. We both got the Firewater Punch, which was good, but actually a little different than the recipe on TV. The cherries looked different and I think another ingredient might be diffferent. It was a pretty good drink though. I reccomend trying it. The food was terrible, but that could be because it was close to closing time. I'd reccomend getting here early to get fresh food or if you come late just have drinks. The bartender (the owner from the show) was real nice and answered all our questions about Bar Rescue and even posed for a picture with us. I'll come back but next time I'll try something else on the menu (pulled pork sandwich and chicken sandwich weren't good) and I'll get here much earlier.
(3)Fales M.
Food was great, The drinks are very good (Firewater Punch) is a must! Price for me was really good. I will be going back soon.
(5)Tabbitha M.
After seeing this on Bar Rescue, my friends and I had to try this out on our way back to Phoenix after camping last week in Prescott. Overall, it was a good experience. We came on a Friday during lunchtime. We wandered in the front door and, since there was no greeter, we saw a sign that told us to seat ourselves. The waitress was nice, but clearly the only one working with floor and bar with at least 8 other tables. It took a long time to get our food, but it was worth it! I had the Melt in Your Mouth Steak Sandwich with fries which was around $11, plus an appetizer of fried zucchini and mushrooms. I also tasted my friends chicken ribs, pork ribs, baked beans, and chicken fingers. I love the sandwich! It was delicious. The ribs were a little too "smokey" flavored for me, but they were extremely moist, fall-off-the-bone perfectly cooked. All in all, I give 5 stars for food but only 3 for service and 4 for portion size.
(4)Kris N.
Driving up the I-17 going North to Prescott, we stopped at Chileens on 17 for lunch and was very surprised at the new look and feel of the restaurant! LOVE IT! Our food was not only delivered to us fast but it was really good! Ordered ribs and walked away fat and happy. Well, you know what I mean. Looking forward to trying the steak next time! OH FOR YOU NONALCOHOLIC ICE TEA DRINKERS, TRY THE NEW POMEGRANATE-ORANGE ICE TEA. YUMMY! I think the next time we go North from Phoenix, we will pick up lunch to go from Chilleen's on 17. No cooking for me!
(5)Jeff W.
I saw Chilleens on Bar Rescue earlier in the year. I happened to be on a trip from the L.A. area that took me right past Chileen's at lunch time, so my friend and I decided to stop in and give them a try. I was a little confused as to exactly where the entrance was as there were several doors that I could have picked to go thru but none had "entrance" labeled on the door. We entered the door adjacent to the parking lot and there was nobody in the part of the restaurant we entered (probably because they had only been open for about 5 minutes). I don't know if there was anybody in the bar area of the restaurant. But the waitress heard the bell ring on the door and came out and seated us promptly. She took our drink order and brought the drinks out quickly. She asked if we were ready to order and we placed our order. I ordered the Torpedo Burger and my friend ordered the BBQ pulled pork sandwich. The food came out quickly and was prepared as ordered. My burger was cooked medium-rare and was hot and juicy. My friend's pulled pork sandwich looked very appetizing. She said it was very good. Fries accompanied our sandwiches and were prepared fine. My experience at Chileens was a good one and I have recommended them to my friends that live in the area!
(4)Meg L.
My husband and I were in town visiting his grandpa. After being hung up on by a staff member at Benis Pizza for asking what time they closed, we decided to come here. SO glad we did! We were welcomed as soon as we walked in, a waitress came over right away to take our drink order. Our food and drinks were brought out to us quickly and our server was very nice and friendly. She also happened to be from where my husband and I live. Good food, good drinks (we had the moonshine drinks), FRIENDLY and fast service.
(5)Cory S.
Good atmosphere, food is tasty. Firewater tea needs a little kick considering it says it has moonshine in it. Overall nice place, decent food. Good place to stop on a road trip.
(4)Taylor C.
As bar rescue fans and having grabbed a $20 for $10 coupon on yelp we were excited to give this place a try. Food was really good and service was great too. Our server was on staff during the bar rescue filming but not on air. We had a great conversation about the filming and she was happy to oblige with going over all the details with us...I can only guess how many times she has been asked about it. Anyway, we each had a sandwich and a drink. I had a half pint beer, she had a signature drink. Ended up out the door for $20 (with yelp discount). It wasn't the best bbq I have had in my life but I would definitely eat it again. Only cons were bathroom was a little dirty but probably comparable to most bars and the server could show me a "half jug of beer" but couldn't give me the ounces on it.
(4)David L.
Used a Groupon here a couple of months ago as an excuse to head north. We went right around the start of lunch time. Location: The outside is deceptively small, as the inside is actually quite large. Very divey decor, but that was expected. Only downside really was that my girlfriend and I both felt the bathrooms were a tad gross/needed some remodeling. Food: I had the brisket with coleslaw and baked beans while my gf had the ribs and some sides I can't recall anymore. I've had a lot of brisket in my lifetime and have liked most of it. This was by far the worst brisket I've ever had. It was tough, dried out, and literally tasted like wood (not "too much apple/hickory/mesquite smoke" woody but quite literally "cutting a board with a saw and inhaling some of the sawdust" woody). I figured I could work my way through it with enough sauce, but the sauce tasted more like liquid smoke than anything. My beans tasted like they were straight out of a can without any added flavoring on their part. My coleslaw was actually pretty good. My girlfriend thought her sides were okay but shared my thoughts on the sauce. She also had the ribs and wasn't a fan due to them not really tasting like they'd been seasoned. I tried one and agreed- they were mildly smokey without much other flavor. Beverages: Drink deals are actually decent here. You can get a ~20oz Blue Moon for $5, which is what you'd pay for only a pint at most places in the valley. Some of their mixed drinks also sounded good, but we had a bit of a drive ahead of us and decided not to try any of them. Service: The owners' daughter was our waitress and she was excellent. Very attentive and friendly. Summary: Their other food may be better, but we won't go back to try any of it based on our impression with the barbecue. If it were closer, we both agreed it would be a great dive-bar for a few drinks with friends and would likely use it as such.
(2)Matt B.
Saw it on bar rescue. It was a good atmosphere. The food was meh I guess. I got some bbq thing and it was semi warm. My friends got a burger. Everything was kinda small in portion to most restaurants. The drinks we had were awesome though. Firewater punch was tasty. I guess if you're passing thru it's a good stop but not worth the hour drive up from Phoenix.
(2)Britany K.
My boyfriend and I went there before Bar Rescue. The service was horrible, food disgusting, and there was a wandering cat around the restaurant. We tried it again after Bar Rescue. It was A LOT BETTER! Worth the stop! Scott was our bartender. The moonshine drinks are good, but I personally loved the sweet tea!
(5)Peter B.
This was not the best BBQ I have ever had, but it was hardly the worst either. We went during a low time and the place was pretty empty. We were greeted right away and seated quickly. The service was quick and solid. I went with the pulled pork sandwich, and the lady went with brisket. I thought the sandwich was good, not great. The bun was toasted which I really liked, as most BBQ sandwiches suffer from that spongey bread syndrome. The fries that came with it were fine. The lady liked the brisket. I am used to big slices of brisket, but this was more shredded, and I don't think I liked it as much but I am not a giant fan of BBQ brisket anyway. I had the firewater punch, and the lady had the sweet tea. Both were good. I am not a huge expert on mixed drinks, so take my opinion with a grain of salt but I liked it. The sweet tea was good as well. One thing I really noticed was that the portions were not overly huge. A lot of times I either leave a BBQ place too stuffed, or I have leftovers. Well if you are on I17 in Black Canyon City, you are in the midst of a journey, right? And I don't think being overly stuffed or lugging leftovers is desirable, so I appreciated the reasonable size of the portions. I wouldn't drive a half hour out of my way just to go back, but if you are on the road and hungry for some lunch, you could certainly do a whole lot worse.
(3)Greg C.
I would have given Chilleen's a 5 star, but after we ate, we hit the bar for a few drinks... I can't wait to see this episode on Bar Rescue to hear it from the point of view of Taffer. We came in to eat and everything was perfect until we went to the bar and had a seat. For the next 15 minutes I heard nothing but complaining about how Bar Rescue f*&d everything up for you. Nothing was right. The lady bartender had a real bad attitude her and the older women never stopped complaining about the crew that fixed their place up. My girl ordered one of the new drinks and the bartender was offended and it showed. It drove me out of the place. Ladies, you only have one thing to fix...your attitudes!!! Everything else was perfect, the food, the remodel, the waitress was so kind. Why aren't you grateful for the things you have in your life, including that rescue! And why would you bitch and moan about all the mistakes they made in front of your customers? Let me reiterate that the food and service in the restaurant area were superb.
(3)Barret H.
For where this place is on the map (in the sticks), it is pretty good! I come from Phoenix with unlimited dining options, so no this wasn't the best barbeque in Arizona. That said, the food was good and my family had fun here and we left happy. I do watch Bar Rescue so we tried the sweet tea and the barbeque entrees featured on that show. I would give the drink a 9 out of 10 and the food a 7 out of 10. The brisket and baby backs were a little tough but flavor was good. I really liked the fried green chile appetizer. My kids liked seeing the live rattle snake they have on display. The beer prices were very reasonable so this looks like a place that would be a lot of fun at night! For a place out in Black Canyon city, it is worth a stop to give it a try!
(4)Debi R.
We went to visit friends & family in March and decided to get a group together at Chilleen' s. The food was awesome and priced fair and the drinks were perfect. The staff is fun, atmosphere inviting, and a all around great experience. I suggest you make a trip to Black Canyon City or stop in while passing through. You won't regret it!!!
(5)J B.
We stop and eat here every time we go up to Sedona. The food and drinks have always been delicious, but since they've revamped the drink list and menu items, it's now a can't miss. I'm especially a fan of the Chicken and Pork Rib Combo, but it's hard to argue with the burgers, too. The waitstaff and bartenders always provide great service, and you'll feel like part of the family by the time you leave.
(4)Carrie E.
So we went back for a second visit so we could try something else on the menu. I had the chix and pork rib combo and the ribs were so tender and delicious. We had fried mushrooms for an appetizer and they were so good and they were very generous with the serving. We also had a burger and fries and just as delicious. I look forward to our next visit to try the Philly steak sandwich!
(5)Mark W.
Roadside BBQ on the way to Flagstaff from Phoenix. Locally owned, operated with a mix of locals and tourists. Complete Bar. Good burgers, BBQ. Interesting story of redemption by a "Save This Bar". Television series. Good lace for an intermediate stop. Service is pleasant and helpful. Looks like an upscale biker joint from outside, but family friendly. Authentic food, service and atmosphere.
(4)Brad W.
Go for the Jon Taffner cardboard cutout or a $1.75 draft beer, but don't go for the food. The bar might have been rescued, but the kitchen needs a rescue now. The menu states you can ask for the brisket to be lean, but when our two $9 sandwiches arrived, the waitress said both were lean. Not sure if Chilleen's has hired a blind chef, but my sandwich was inedible and sent back due to extreme fattiness. I never bothered to order something else because the two burgers also on the table looked pretty sad and we all had over greasy frozen fries served with the entree. The highlight of your stop will be the photo opportunity with Tafner, but he hasn't been here in 2 years, so even he would be embarrassed about what happened to the food since the show was filmed.
(1)Kevin G.
I really liked the place! The food tasted good, I had the western burger and we also had the Friday fish day, the server was very friendly and came by often. I would definitely come back here on my next trip up north. I would come hungry because the potions can big too. Also very easy to park
(5)Shari G.
On the way back from Sedona, we finally had the chance to check out Chilleen's on 17. We haven't seen the "Bar Rescue" episode from 2013, but I have passed the place so many times, seeing it from the highway. It's easy from Interstate 17, exit 244. Once inside, the sign said to choose our own seat. I like that! Within 30 seconds we were greeted by Lisa with a big smiling welcome and menus. I asked her what the $5 lunch special was and it turned out to be bbq ribs with potato salad. That's what I got! How can you beat that!? Betty got a pulled pork sandwich w/ fries and loved it. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and the bbq. (Many folks are picky about the bbq flavor wherever they go... I don't have a preference, I just know what I like when I taste it!) The portion was 4 pork ribs, with a dry rub with a little cup of bbq sauce. It was the perfect amount of sauce for the four delicious ribs. Lisa mentioned the desserts... holy cow, she was enthusiastic about the choices! Loving enthusiasm, especially when it comes to food, we decided we had to try the Strawberry Shortcake to share. OMG it was fantastic!!! Usually, shortcake is dry and lacking in sweetness/flavor... oh heck no, not at Chilleen's!!! It was sooooo good! Lisa was perfect in her service; friendly, helpful, quick and attentive. It was fun reading the flip cards on the table which answer all your questions about their experience with Bar Rescue and John Taffer. I'd go back anytime.
(4)Shamar J.
My friend and I was on I 17 going south back to phx , when we both wanted some food . My friend told me she saw this place at the next exit. I was like what the hell let's try it . The ppl was soooo nice and the food was great . I got a sandwich that was on point and my friend got a pork sandwich. I'm going to come back just to try that . I would tell my friends and family about this place and if you pass by you have to stop bye . When we gone to tell them to half the check the just ran the card and they did not no how to fix it . That's was a pain but hey the food was on Point tho
(3)Michael C.
Always stop here for dinner on the way home from Sedona! As usual pork ribs were absolutely delicious! Wife had burger, and my son had chicken strips. They loved their orders as well! But best part was Brenda our waitress! She was super friendly, very prompt and helpful! Will always stop here when ever we can! Thank you for the great experience!
(5)Nikki S.
Open for breakfast? Apparently not. 10am on a Sunday???? All the billboards along 17 say breakfast......
(1)Fiona F.
Did not give us the 10% Yelp check-in discount even though we asked before we ordered
(2)Stellz L.
OK, It's probably really good if you have a bunch of kids and you're worried about if it's ok to take them to a restaurant. Definitely family friendly. Prices are right, pretty huge portions. No problem with sharing a plate. Just a loud spot with not bad food. My brisket was drowning in BBQ sauce tho, ask for sauce on the side if you like it dryer. (*But if you bring your kids, ask them not to kick the walls and scream for 30 minutes straight. Talking to you, family that sat behind us, can't the fit happen outside?*)
(3)Steven M.
I live in Prescott Valley and try not to go to Phoenix for any reason, if I can avoid it. Had to go down there today and convinced my buddy that we need to try this place on the way back home. Not being a TV addict, I wasn't even aware of the notoriety of the restaurant thanks to the "Bar Rescue" episode, Season 3, Episode 9, btw. The place is dark as others on this and Google Reviews have noted, but not so dark that we couldn't read the menu. The waitress was young, perky, attractive and very attentive. The food was delicious and came very quickly to the table. I had the Philly Steak Sandwich and my buddy had the pork ribs. My fries were large, crunchy and hot. My buddy liked his beans and cole slaw but I thought his side portions were a bit too small, served in small plastic cups. The prices were acceptable and the waitress offered to pour us new drinks in to-go cups which was very classy. As an added bonus, they have a side-room featuring their time on TV and also a large glass terrarium with a real-live, genuinely pissed-off Diamondback Rattlesnake!!!
(4)Cheryl R.
Meh, the food was not fantastic but it was not bad. It is bar food. The fire water was good though. The blue berries have been sitting in moonshine! Not bad!
(4)Jeremy S.
Came after seeing it on Bar Rescue; it was only about 30 minute drive from the house, so I figured why not. I was impressed that a couple years after the show, scott and donna kept it up. The whole family is working there now! They're doing well and are still very grateful for the bar rescue. Staff was happy to chat about it, and there was a small Taffer shrine at the front of the bar as well as a painting of him on the wall lol The place is clean and the atmosphere is great. The food was good -- nothing to write home about, but it was definitely good and didn't taste like shortcuts were taken. For the price I paid, I'd say it was great! I ordered the brisket plate and a firewater punch. The brisket was good, the sauce was great. Baked beans were outstanding. We also got the fried shrooms and zuccs as our waitress suggested. They were good. They didn't taste like the oil was a year old. The slaw tasted fresh and not overbearing like the normal slaw you'd expect to get. My drink was made well. It was strong (duh, it was moonshine) but not in a bad way. I kept thinking it was gonna be harsh on every sip, but it wasn't, my brain was just messing with me. The service I got was outstanding. The only bartender on shift at the time, I believe was the owners' son and he was killin it, to be honest. Outstanding attitude. We hung out for a while and discovered that they have a large back room and a back yard with a hoedown hut with a stage that they didn't show on bar rescue. I'm not sure if that was added later, but it was branded just the same. Doesn't look like they've made use of it in a while though, if at all. Aside from the abandoned bar in the back yard, it was still well maintained. To be perfectly honest, I was happy to see that everyone (and more) is still there and things look to be going well. All things considered, I have no complaints. I will likely make it a point to come back from time to time.
(4)Marshall D.
Went here yesterday because I'd passed it on I-17 numerous times and was curious. Came in at about 6:30pm on a Monday night. I couldn't care less about bar rescue so I won't discuss any aspect of that, aside from, the fact that there is a huge cutout of Taffer when you walk in. Atmosphere: This place gets a 10/10 as far as character. What a fun wild west/cowboy type atmosphere. Service: Service was good, once we figured out we had to show our faces. It seemed understaffed with only one server who said she was new. She was attentive and did a great job once she realized we were there. Food: Foot was hit or miss. My friend ordered a steak sandwich cooked medium. It came out more well than medium, however, he said it tasted great. I ordered a chicken and pork rib dinner with steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes (one dish). The sides were horrendous. The potatoes were cold. The broccoli though well seasoned, was highly dehydrated and tasted overly microwaved. In their defense, I asked for it double steamed. The pork ribs were honestly some of the best I've ever had, but cold. The chicken was also very good and had a lovely smokey flavor. Overall, I thought the price was a bit high, however, if the sides had been better, I'd agree they could charge the same price as any place else. Will I be back? I'll give them another chance, the atmosphere was great but I wasn't wowed by the food.
(3)Jessica R.
This place is hysterical. It's a totally run-of-the-mill, highway-side restaurant, complete with fries that obvious came out of a bag and clearly nothing that is homemade (our waitress even mentioned that the apple pie came frozen). Still, we had a great time. They're just so excited about the Bar Rescue thing that it makes the entire experience kind of silly. So while the food is a 2-star experience, the overall experience is higher just because this place is so damn funny.
(3)Ln K.
Best restaurant ever. I love this place. Food and Service and Atmosphere Excellent.
(5)Stephanie L.
We have always wanted to eat here even before the renovations. We stopped once for a drink and the next time for food. Not impressed with their bbq. We order a pulled pork sandwich and brisket. I did not believe their "bad ass bbq" now "award winning bbq" was neither bad ass or award winning! The bar has a great atmosphere and good specials the staff is very friendly but I wouldn't go there for the bbq.
(3)Peter O.
My dad (chef) and I have been passing by this place for a couple years. We have wanted to stop everytime due to the great signage they have along the highway "award winning BBQ" never knew about the show. We were greeted by a friendly waitress saying sit wherever you would like. Atmosphere was okay we sat in a booth outside the bar. It was very dark the only room with light was the room they have displaying the show they were on called bar rescue. Well our opinion it needs to be rescued again. We wanted a BBQ platter for 2. It came with 4 ribs 2 small slices of brisket one chicken thigh and two very small sides of beans and coleslaw. We were hoping for some type of potato or bread option but we had to add it as an additional item. The meat was so so but the sauce was good. The beans were odd and thin and tasted like chili powder. The mashed potatoes were the bottom of the pan, The gravy was absolutely terrible and should not be on potatoes. Sent it back and got plain but hot potatoes. The plate cost about 8 dollars to send out and we paid 25 for it. We will not be recommending it but we hope they will step it up it has the potential. -chefs daughter
(1)Brian S.
Love the show Bar Rescue watching John Taffer rebuild bars and restraints from the ground up. It was a pleasure to finally go to see our first one in person and they are awesome. Service was great food was awesome and the drinks where great too
(4)Carrie K.
We've passed by this place many times and finally got around to trying it. It was awful, but at least it was expensive. My husband ordered a cup of French onion soup and a Caesar salad. The cup was tiny and he complained that it was too salty. This is a man who drinks pickle brine from the jar... I had the blackened Cajun chicken Caesar salad. I got the "blackened" part, but the "Cajun" part was non-existant. I'm pretty sure it was green leaf lettuce and not romaine. Either way, the pieces of lettuce were so big I had to cut my salad with a knife. Service was slow and we were never asked how our food was, just if we wanted anything else. 2 iced teas and the above with tip set us back $28.50.
(1)Sinda S.
Okay, so my husband of five years has been coming in here for years before me. When he started dragging me here, I originally politely kept my mouth shut about how much I hated it. I felt t was dirty, the food inconsistent, the service almost nonexistent and it irritated me that on more than one occasion, my husband was told that they had whiskey but no bourbon. One time I left furious because after telling me for 20 AFTER we got our food that she would make me a second drink, I finally had to give up. Now this was long before Bar Rescue came into the picture. And to my husband and I, it will always be Bad Ass Barbecue. Now I want to clarify that we always went in the late morning or afternoon, for the most part, on our way back to Phoenix. We had never seen or met Donna, Scott or Aleah. The place was usually pretty much empty when we came in, kind of like crawling into a slightly musty cave. And we were well aware of the attempts to raise money to save the place. So, the John brought his magical Bar Rescue to Bad Ass. It's hard to tell how much was truth and how much was fiction, but the episode was definitely entertaining! My husband taped it and still watches it occasionally. So, of course we had to go back and check the place out. What we first noticed? The giraffe is gone. :( No, it made no sense in front of a barbecue joint or any where else, for that matter, except perhaps a zoo, but so what? It was interesting. It was unique and funny and periodically we would take our picture with it. Come n, John. You should have lightened up a bit and left the giraffe!!! Inside, it was bustling, an early Saturday evening. We sat at the bar, talked a little to Donna and Aleah. Apparently I was remembered for a less than kind review I had left once. :O I immediately was hooked on the firewater punch with the moonshine soaked blue berries.It was a fun evening. Aleah is as funny, smart and nice as she appeared n television and a kick ass bartender, as well. We went to dinner one Sunday afternoon and brought another couple with us that had seen the show. Ironically, my friend is a bartender and got a kick out of the waitress not knowing that bourbon WAS whiskey. Alas, the food was disappointing, the brisket dried out. Still, we have also been in where the brisket was delicious. The point of this review is Bad Ass Barbecue AKA Chilleen's has grown on me. I know we will continue to stop there on our way in or out of town. We probably won't eat anything but appetizers (The fried green chilis are delish!), but it would be hard to resist coming in occasionally for one of Aleah's fire punch and to test the rest of the staff on their knowledge of bourbon! JUST KIDDING!!! LOL So, we'll be seeing ya!
(4)Kristi S.
Excellent drinks!!! The Firewater and the Berry Long Island Shiner were delicious! And the food was pretty yummy too; we really enjoyed the Green Chili Dip!
(4)John M.
Authentic! In a world where franchises have replaced the local meal experience Chilleen's stands out as a real deal. Everything here came from the creativity of a real person instead of a corporate committee. And that's damn refreshing! Shout out to our waitress Jordan, who shared her pride and enthusiasm with an entertaining spirit. We're glad we made the stop on our road adventure!
(4)Tasser O.
Simply put "Awesome Endless Beef Ribs"! They were smoked to perfection and accompanied by your choice of two sides. Definitely, worth $17.99 and a trip back next time I'm passing through
(5)Brian M.
My family came here for "the last time" about 3.5 years ago. That was before the make over. On that last visit the place was a mess, the only bright spot was our waitress whom I found out later was the owner's daughter. Since the place was redone we decided to give it another shot on our way up to Montezuma Castle. I am really glade we did. My younger daughter had The Ultimate Salad and raved about it. My wife and older daughter has the burger and really enjoyed it. The fries were a hit but could use a touch more salt. My son's chicken tenders tasted great. I had a brisket sandwich and it is in the running for the best brisket I have had. It was moist and juicy with well rendered fat and just a the right hint of BBQ sauce. I can definitively say it is the best I have had in AZ. The service wasn't fabulous but it is was good. It is great to see a favorite location brought back to life.
(4)Mabel R.
Heading back from a weekend in Flagstaff and stopped here for lunch. The place is very clean (especially the bathroooms) which is important to me. The decor and vibe are impressive. The hubby and I ordered the Chile en Chips as an appetizer. The green chile con carne was delicious! For our meals, I ordered the Top Sirloin (medium well) with a baked potato and broccoli. I was concerned my steak would be served too dry but was actually very juicy, tender, and flavorful! The baked potato was moist and hot which allowed their butter to blend in perfectly. The broccoli was cooked properly with the right color and amount of crunch. The hubby had the Torpedo Burger and he claims it was the right combo of juicyness, cheese, as well as chiles. He loved it! I tried his fries and they were yummy. We look forward ro eating here again.
(5)Jerry E.
Did not check this place out on Yelp before dropping by for a snack en route Phoenix to Flagstaff so might have given it a miss. Shared a BLT so did not experience any serious food. Expressed curiosity about white stuff scattered over floor and discovered it was sawdust no doubt to brighten dingy decor and provide an authentic saloon touch. From all the reviews it seems to be 'hit and miss'. This is not a Michelin rated establishment contrary to one report. My BLT was surprisingly good, the fries not authentic. Make sure you are seriously hungry. Friendly staff......wish I had known about the TV program....
(3)Dave H.
Been there before and after the rescue. Should be put out of its misery. Friend and I stopped by today for lunch on the way back to the Chino Valley area. Why? I don't know. Food is over priced and sucked!! I had the steak sandwich, which was tough and over priced. I was only able to get through half of it. Friend had a Ruben that he said was flavorless. We each had a side of fries that were just okay. I also had a side of beans that probably came out of a can. The waitress brought our drinks, took our order, delivered order, brought check. Never checked back. In her defense when clearing the table she said I should have said something. I would have had she checked on us. If you're traveling though Black Canyon City drive through it as fast as you can and find a Mcdonalds
(1)Marco L.
Admittedly, I'm not super hard to please. My steak was really good, and the kids all liked their burgers, etc. My other family was a little less impressed with their chicken and steak. Really cool ambience.
(3)BRian M.
Last time I ate here was 2004. The sign on the place said "Bad Ass BBQ", instead of "Award Winning BBQ". At that time, I ate some bbq chicken that was basically a pre frozen chicken breast thrown on a grill and slapped with barbecue sauce... At that time (2004) it sucked. However, I visited about 2 days ago and had the Chile Verde (with tortillas)... Wow, what a difference. Absolutely delicious green chile. Perfectly cooked and spiced. And the tortillas seemed very fresh and are served piping hot.
(5)S P.
I love to support the locals instead of chain restaurants when I travel. This was a good stop on our drive to Phoenix after leaving Sedona. We had bookmarked it when planning our Arizona trip after seeing it featured on Bar Rescue. A great diverse menu-something for everyone. We had the honey mustard chicken sandwich. It was a generous tender grilled chicken fillet, with golden french fries. Fresh ice tea for our beverage. There is a covered patio to dine outside, with your dog if you like. Service is relaxed so don't expect a dine and dash experience. Easy to find, right off I17 - just follow the signs. Looks like it is doing fine and there are some other shops popping up at this site, including Pink Adventure tours. We will stop again the next time we are in this area!
(4)Levon A.
Beware of there hot wings they serve em' raw wings!!! Raw chicken wings, that's right. He made us pay for it. Pretty young blonde boy, bartender (thru my wife's eyes, lol) demanded for us to pay for it. So we did & got out of there. If I were alone I would've tell em to make it right & not charge us. Very bad when comes to closing time. Drive on thru if it's late or close to closing time. Seems like that's the excuse. Very bad customer service, Rescue Bar needs to comeback & review some these employees!!!!
(1)Stanley V.
We planned our rendezvous at Chilleen's On 17; and that went okay. Mothers' Day and our fam started with with two Firewater Punches for tasting. There should be just a splash more alcohol in their punch since it has an ingredient of moonshine. The Coors draft 32 oz. for $4 was delicious and ice-cold. The 5 dinners arrived reasonably soon as other Mothers' Day celebrations were evident. A half rack of St. Louis Style Pork Ribs arrived meaty with minimal fat and sufficient pork for the price of $15. Maybe they could have been just a little heavier handed with the BBQ sauce recipe preparation. Lots of BBQ sauce was included in a cup. Sides of coleslaw and BBQ beans were good. Two orders of ground sirloin steak made both diners happy and full. The guest of honor had a portion left-over for the doggie bag. Their sides were okay they said. 1 order of adult chicken fingers seemed well received and large enough supply of not-greasy chicken w/ Ranch dressing and 2 sides. Lastly, my son had the $18 "all you can eat" BBQ beef ribs. He chowed down 2 platefuls and declined the third due to everybody else being finished eating earlier. His sides were coleslaw and BBQ beans. The standard groans were given when asked for desserts. Next time, It might be a good idea just to order dessert first with coffee and see about dinner, afterwards? Our waitress, Tracy, was outstanding and very attentive. We will go back, for sure..
(4)Philip B.
Ordered my food, asked the waitress after 15 or so minutes. And she completely forgot my order. This place was featured on Bar Rescue. They may need another rescue with this horrible service.
(1)Brandon Z.
Stopped in on a Sunday afternoon after driving by this place numerous times....I think the "Bar Rescue" bug finally bit us. Much improved, and not nearly as tacky as it previously was, on the outside. Inside was clean and appealing to the eye. Our service was prompt, though I did find it a bit odd that there was a sign upon entering that told us to seat ourselves. We got our drinks shortly after ordering them - my mixed drink (one of the special cocktails on their drink menu) was made very well and went down smoothly. My wife had the blackened chicken, I had a bbq brisket sandwich. Both were very tasty and prepared well. Bun on the sandwich was a bit soggy, but nothing that a fork couldn't solve. Donna (the owner) was out and about, handing out flowers to the mothers for Mothers Day. Thought that was a nice touch. After walking through the bar, I have to say the atmosphere (in comparison to the pre-Bar Rescue pics) was appealing, clean, and inviting. We'd return on our next trip through the area. If what they quote on their menu is true (sales are up 43%) then this is for sure a Bar Rescue success story.
(4)Brandy W.
Gotta love the all you can eat ribs. I know my fiancé did, he had about 6 plates of ribs. Very good. They also have a good blackberry drink which I could have on a regular basis.
(5)Caleb V.
I have been driving by for several years, and hadn't stopped since the remodel. Soooooooo glad we stopped in again. Had the all you can eat beef ribs and they were delicious!! They start you with 3 large beef ribs and send two more if you would like when ready and keep going from there if one so desires! :-) I had 5 and was very pleased with all of them. Great portion size! I am very picky about my coleslaw and there slaw is excellent..as well as their baked beans. My girlfriend had a BBQ chicken sandwich with fries. The chicken was cooked just right and was juicy. The sauce was not heavy at all. If you enjoy good BBQ, burgers, and steaks this is a definite must stop of you are heading North out of the Valley our heading in our just simply passing by! I will for sure be back again. We sat in the car area which is very roomy. It is a country style comfortable atmosphere, and has a separated family dining area of you would prefer that. Our server was Scott and was very friendly, attentive, and prompt with beverages and anything else. Great service and great food!
(5)James S.
Interesting little place we thought we would tried. Onion rings for appetizers were spot on. I had the ribeye, baked pot, and corn. The Ribeye was a little chewy and fatty. The flavor was good and cooked perfect, just needs to be a better cut. I would for sure go back. It was my first bar rescue visit.
(3)Greg G.
As a BBQ Connoisseur, I was curious about this place when it was Kid Chilleen's Kick Ass BBQ. I wanted to go, but I couldn't convince the family to make the trip (33 miles door to door). BUT! After John Taffer paid them a visit the whole famn damily wanted to go, so we did. Soooo Glad We Waited! Worth every bit of the drive up. The atmosphere is a beautifully causal, cowboy come as you are type of restaurant. The booths are comfy and there is a GREAT view out almost any window. The food was great. We ate a variety of burgers, sandwiches and fixin's. Both beef and pork. It was all tender and juicy the way it should be with out a heavily over-smoked flavor that a lot of restaurants seem to pride themselves on (for reason's I'll never know). Now lets talk about the important part. I can find a pretty background and I can make some killer good BBQ, so while that is important, it isn't why I dine out. I go for the SERVICE. I go because I want someone to do those things I could do myself. In this department Chilleen's knocks it out of the park. We had the daughter (I forget her name) as our server and she was fantastic. She seemed to read the customers needs before they happened. All of our food showed up on time, fresh and hot. We felt so welcome and appreciated, like we were at a family members house for a meal. While we were there, a football game was on. The bar area looked like the PERFECT place to catch a game! Based on food alone I can't list this in the Top-BBQ list, but add in the factors of environment and service and it easily becomes a favorite family destination that we all love to visit. I'm going to put this in my Best-BBQ and Best-Outdoor lists
(4)Jerry M.
Come to Drink and when you are feeling good then try the food. Place is clearly made more for partying and drinking rather than dining. Food is just average at best and service needs a lot of improving. Tried it once because of Bar Rescue, but will probably never return.
(2)Viktor P.
I was worried about coming here on account of the bad reviews but am quite glad I came anyway. The best part was the service, which was extremely good. We came on Christmas Eve, but they were open and service was still prompt, extremely courteous, and helpful. The food was good, maybe 4/5, but nothing wrong sufficient to bring the restaurant down from 5 stars. Prices were reasonable. It is conveniently located off I-17. If you are in the area, I would recommend it.
(5)Mike A.
I read a few reviews on here and was skeptical, stopped by anyways because there was bad traffic and nowhere else to go. The food was perfect, generous portions and everything was delicious, an the staff was very quick and friendly. The only thing I could see people could complain about is maybe the looks of the place but GUESS WHAT-it's supposed to look like an old western saloon! We sat in the bar and they had a few TVs which is more than enough. I would definitely stop in again sometime.
(5)Doug H.
It's a lot of fun.. great food.. they have recreated it and kept the great atmosphere and the historic feel... did I mention great bbq? I had the all you can eat ribs... great flavors. ..
(5)Bob W.
I like the place. Food is good (big ass meaty beef ribs) Beer is better (always cold) and Jim Beam's the BEST! (plentiful & powerful) But responsible. These guys are always friendly and willing to please. I especially like the kick back Patio out back. Attended several out back parties which are always a hoot! The views from the back are stunning to say the least. Only downfall is the owner is a Raiders fan! Well, cant will 'em all.. Or as they say THIS SEASON, can't we win just one?
(4)KellieAnn R.
Stopped for lunch during a Sunday drive. Sat outside on the covered patio with our dogs. Server was very pleasant and attentive. The steaks were prepared precisely as ordered, and the portions were quite large. We look forward to trying the barbeque on our next trip!
(4)Pedro S.
I go here every time I go up I-17 at a meal time, which isn't that often (sadly). This place has probably the best blackened chicken in Arizona. There are only 2-3 other places that I've even seen here that make it, but this one is the best. My one recommendation would be that they use a little less of the blackening spices. (You should actually be able to see the chicken, fish, etc. under the spice--look at Paul Prudhomme photos on Google for reference.) All in all, a pretty good place.
(4)Regina L.
Hey!!! I really like this place! !! I love in Prescott Ave was meeting my son from phoenix, thought this would be a great spot. .. I was right. I've been to other bar rescue bars and this one is the most friendly
(4)Carol M.
Previous glowing reviewers may have upped my expectations a bit. Returning from Sedona, in the mood for BBQ and this place is literally just off I-17 (you can see the sign & billboards from the Northbound lanes). Never heard of Bar Rescue so that had no influence on our stop. We just wanted BBQ. So we made a late lunch of pulled pork sandwiches. I thought the food was okay and reasonably priced. Fries were typical - ordered well done and arrived barely cooked. I am happy to see that this place survived after all they seem to have been through. I didn't see much of the place except the dining area and the bathroom. Both seemed okay to me. Sawdust on the floor - obviously part of the area "charm". Service was pleasant, a bit slow but we weren't in a rush so that wasn't a real problem. Decent experience but not really a WOW for me. Don't think I'll be in a hurry to rush back. If I go again, I'd like to try the brisket sandwich.
(3)Franni G.
So after seeing this bar on Bar Rescue, we decided yo check it out. It was easy to find and we weren't the only one's who were standing outside taking pictures of this place. We went in and had the Bbq beef sandwich and 2 Firewater Punch drinks. WOW! !! GREAT DRINKS and Food! Atmosphere was fun and we were told to stop back on by for the Luau they were having that night. We will be back next month. I'll be starting out my bday celebrating there before o do the whiskey row crawl. Great job guys! !!!
(4)Justice A.
My pregnant wife and I each found this place a different way. I'm a professional driver who spotted the place off of I-17 during my constant travels and my wife found this place on Yelp! A fortunate turn of events a few days ago made it possible for us to finally have dinner there and this is what we think. The atmosphere is warm and rustic and their bathrooms were clean, a huge plus for any bar. The service was great. The young lady who served us started off by cleaning off a dirty table for us because that was the one we wanted. She was then constantly attentive to us throughout our evening with helpful information to our questions. The food, smashing! Delicious starter of Green chilli cheese fries and a brisket sandwich that was amazing. There was so much chilli cheese on the starter that I was able to eat half my side fries with it too! My wife and I had a wonderful dinner and an excellent evening. Unfortunately, we can't go more often because we live 40 minutes away but we plan on going back every few months as a treat to ourselves. Keep up the hard work!
(5)Mari D.
Glad we stopped in to try the BBQ -- had the SW Brisket - tender & tasty. Beans, awesome! Staff and clientele more than 'neighborhood friendly' - felt at home and at ease. Drinks were good and we'll be back next time we're in the area! See y'all soon.
(5)Chuck B.
I had to stop by and check out the place after seeing it on Bar Rescue. I'd driven by it a million times going up to northern AZ, but never had any reason to stop in. It didn't look like much from the road, so I just drove on by. I decided to stop in today just out of curiosity. Around 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon, and the parking lot was pretty full - a good sign. The dining room was pretty full, the bar was pretty empty, and the game room and outdoor areas were deserted. We decided to grab a little food at the bar, so we grabbed a Caesar salad and a pulled pork BBQ sandwich. We also tried their Firewater Punch, which is a mix of moonshine (store bought, not the backyard still kind, which I've also had before - ugh), honey, lemon juice, and tea. I was expecting to hate it. I didn't. Damn good. The salad was above average, and I would definitely order the BBQ pork sandwich again. The staff was pretty attentive, and the place, although very dark inside, looked good enough. It's a cowboy theme, with wood shavings on the floor, bull riding on the TV, and cow-patterned seats. Overall, pretty good. I'll stop by sometime and try out one of their steaks. And I'll have that Firewater Punch again for sure.
(4)Nancy C.
This was a very welcome surprise right off of 17. We stopped on a spur of the moment. BBQ chicken and brisket were very good and smoky tasting. If we're ever back in the area, we would come back.
(4)Kat S.
Hubby had the torpedo burger. He loved it! I had the BBQ brisket. The beef was well trimmed and it was a decent sandwich. We ordered fried shrooms and zucchini and they were excellent. Good place to have lunch!
(4)Adam S.
Stopped in on my way from PHX to Prescott. When the sign says "Award winning BBQ" you just have to stop in and try it! Well, needless to say I can see they serve up to the expectation. Great place for lunch. I had the BBQ pork sandwich and it was great! I'll definitely be back for more! Friendly atmosphere!
(5)Len B.
Had the BBQ brisket It was ok. Didn't have any run or flavor. The bartender was great. And so was the ambience. They have a rattlesnake in the restaurant in a cage
(3)Breven C.
The worst ribs are the kind that take a steak knife to carve the meat off the bone. Tonight I ate every bit of rib meat, which fell clean off the bone nearly on its own. Chilleen's delivered and all around perfect BBQ meal. Baked beans were excellent, cole slaw was good too. Service was excellent. Great place, glad I stopped by.
(5)Brittany D.
I stopped by here driving back from Sedona to Phoenix. The food came out quick, it was juicy, and full of flavor! Our waitress was very nice and took great care of us. The decor is adorable and southwestern themed. Thanks for the food!!!
(4)Brad M.
Service was slow but she was friendly. The fries appeared to be store bought out of a bag. The burger was between a store bought sesame seed bun and the meat was burnt (I asked for medium/well). The Pepsi I ordered came in a cup that had an odd smell. At the end I asked for my check and she came back to give me a check in a folder with somebody else's AmEx inside.... That is not cool! What if I weren't honest?? I won't be returning here again.
(2)John N.
It's really cool. The Firewater Punch tastes great! Definitely recommend!
(5)Amanda M.
I saw this place on bar rescue so I had to stop and try it. I sadly have to say that I was disappointed. We walked in to an almost empty dining room and since there are so many entrances I think maybe we came in the wrong way. We weren't sure to seat ourselves or not. After a bit we just sat since no one came to greet us. The ice tea tasted like water. I then ordered the 17 sweet tea which was the best thing we had. Their famous Chile con carne was so salty we couldn't enjoy it. The fried green chilies were so hot that when I bit into it hot oil burned my tongue. They had no flavor. I ordered the brisket sandwich. It was tender but even with the bbq sauce (which I almost didn't notice because there was barely any on it) it was bland. My brother had the torpedo burger which was good. My daughter had the sirloin. It was tough and like everything else had no flavor. After seeing the episode I thought we would get good barbeque, but instead of award winning bbq (which they advertise on every sign) we got flavorless meat. The dining room seemed dirty and run down. I know we won't stop again. It was clear that they didn't keep up the food that we saw on bar rescue.
(2)Morris K.
I saw this place on Bar Rescue and have wanted to visit it ever since. This is a quaint little out-of-the way place right on I-17 about 30 minutes from where I live. To night I went there for dinner with my wife Carol, my grandson Michael and my sister Mindy who was visiting from Rhode Island. Chillen's on 17 is an absolute gem of an establishment, it is definitely unique. Our server was Melissa. She was prompt, attentive, and met every request with a smile. My wife and I both ordered the rib eye steak, my sister got the 1/2 BBQ chicken and my grandson ordered the BBQ brisket. My sister said the BBQ chicken was just ok nothing special. My grandson thought the brisket was a little tough but devoured it within minutes. The brisket is their specialty so I'm guessing he liked it.. My wife and I both thought the rib eye steak was excellent. I mean who doesn't love a good steak? But sometimes a good Steak is few and far between. So when I have a good one its only right to let everyone know and both of us thought our steaks were excellent and well the 21.95 price. They were cooked exactly as we requested them (medium). They were most tender and not over-seasoned, no random chewy strand in the middle, and it had great flavor dispersed throughout and not a bunch of thick fat to cut around. As if we weren't ready to be rolled out of the place in a wheel barrel - we opt'd to share a piece of their apple pie and strawberry shortcake both with a scoop of ice cream on top. I tried a bite of the apple pie, it was delicious. When the strawberry shortcake came out it came in a huge bowl with several scoops of ice cream and wipe cream on top. I had several bites which dissolved in my mouth as did my sister but Michael did the most damage to it. FOOD: Reasonable portion sizes. I left stuffed and took home a doggie bag as did my sister. Our steaks were cooked just right as was my sisters BBQ. Everyone's entrees were delivered in a timely manner. SERVICE: Our server fantastic! PRICE: The price was in line with other BBQ restaurants /steakhouses when you consider it comes with sides - broccoli and a loaded of potato CONCLUSION: Overall it was a very good steak dinner, and I'm really glad I chose not to go to some of the other well-known steak places that I am familiar with, but instead to enjoy a more "local" establishment. RETURN FACTOR 100%. ************************* What does my OVERALL rating mean?************************* 5 stars -Highly recommended. I would be willing to drive out of my way to this business. It is that good. This place represents their industry or cuisine very well! 4 stars - Highly Recommended. I would frequent this business. 3 stars - Not that good but not that bad. Just average. I wouldn't mind going again. 2 stars - I would not recommend this establishment to friends or family. 1 stars - DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DO NOT patronize this business. I would RUN AWAY from this place and you should too! DON'T WAST YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT
(4)Billy B.
Got here kind of late and sat in front restaurant area, so maybe that was our mistake. It seemed lively in the back with a live band and bar section. Food was decent. Average side-of-the-highway joint. Service was slightly above average. Green chile cheese fries were yummy :)
(3)Valentin D.
Today is a three.... The only thing that I enjoyed eating was the green chile bowl. That bad boy was tasty. But that wasn't our main course. The main course for the lil lady was the chicken special which was a lonely piece of burnt, dry chicken leg quarter and a side of coleslaw that was missing the tangy flavor from red wine vinegar. For myself I had the BBQ pork sandwich with fries and the only good side was the sauce as the pork was dry and the fries left a bad after taste like the fry oil hasn't been changed in who knows when. I also tried a side of potato salad that smelled as it was premade, then packaged, frozen and later defrosted after it obtaining freezer burn. The booth was utterly uncomfortable, the booth seat was to high and the table was too low, which made the eating portion unbearable. Sadly for us this meal experience had our hopes high but left us sad that we always wanted to try this place and for us it was not award winning by any means. These left overs will be given our dogs.
(2)Priscilla E.
We had burgers, they were great! I didn't have there steak or BBQ. Our family did enjoy the appetizers as well. The onion rings are a must have. The only complaint I would have is that our server did not act like she even wanted to be there, she did however check to make sure we didn't need anything else. I also didn't like the snake they have in the front when you walk in. (I am terrified of them) but most people loved it.
(4)Bill S.
A very good experience the green chillie fried were great. My sirloin was cooked perfectly.
(4)Michelle D.
We stopped in last minute... On our vacation trip after remembering it was on bar rescue. It was such a fun place... Food was amazing... We had the BBQ pork sandwich and the BBQ brisket sandwich all I can say is "Amazing"!!! It was clean, great decor, and it had that I'm a great BBQ smell. I will be back soon!
(5)Edward D.
We seen this place on our way to Flagstaff, told wife we might try it out on the way back. SO! here is my mixed review. I loved the place, guess they were on some kind of show on TV? Chilleen's is pretty dark inside, making it look like a old western saloon? I had no problem with this place, with the food anyway. My wife did not like it at all! I had their ribs, with coleslaw, and beans. Wife had their pulled pork sandwich, with fries. She took one bite of her sandwich and put it down! She also tried the beans and coleslaw. she did not like it, Only thing she liked was the our appetizer. It was their chips with chili verde, and she also liked the hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream. I however enjoyed the ribs, and later in the night I enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich. Will we ever comeback here again? Not if my wife is with me, Now this place claims to be an award winning BBQ restaurant? There are much better BBQ places around. Now there service was really fast, kinda scary when you get your food that fast. Makes you wonder how the food is prepared? So this is a mixed review, some good, and some bad. But I am glad we tried it.
(3)Van R.
Great food and awesome staff, always a good time here and the bartendress Aleah always makes amazing drinks! This place is definitely great for group events
(5)John T.
Have passed by Chilleen's a hundred times driving from PHX to Prescott Valley. Should have made it a hundred and one. Noon on Sunday. As with most BBQ places I've tried in AZ, the menu looks almost as if BBQ is an afterthought. Do what you do and do it well. I ordered a brisket sandwich, my "go to" in testing a new BBQ place. Sandwich arrived with a plentiful serving of brisket, soaked in sauce, on a sesame seed burger bun. The menu makes no mention of sauce on the sandwich (it should ALWAYS be on the side). Waitress promptly took it back to get me a sauceless version. When delivered, it was tough to tell the difference. The brisket is the fattiest, greasiest I've ever been served. Just awful. The bun was soaked orange/red with grease, and there were as many pieces of fat as beef. I ate less than half of the meat and none of the grease-soaked bread. At one point the waitress sped past our table with an "Is everything delicious?", not waiting for a reply. When she came to clear the table, she made no mention of the fact that I didn't eat my meal. A good wait staff asks if there was a problem, or at least if you want a take out. Not that I wanted any more of that awful mess. As she cleared our plates we declined dessert or drink refills and asked for the check. She then proceeded to seat two tables and serve food to one while we waited. There were ample servers and few tables. To that point, my issue had been with the lousy food. Now the service had dropped to that level as well. KT had the green chile fries which she said were "good... but they're fries with some green chile on them". Certainly nothing that will ever inspire us to try again. Sad to say that Honey Bear's in PHX, which is overpriced and has zero special going for it, remains my best AZ BBQ experience.
(1)John L.
I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to food but "award winning", "world famous", BBQ -- no way. Not what my wife and I experienced at least. Sysco does a better job. Not worth pulling off the freeway.
(1)Cynthia K.
We saw this bar on the TV program Bar Rescue and had to stop in on our way home from Sedona. It was still early in the day so there was not much of a crowd so the service was spot on. However, the bar looked NOTHING like the renovations made on the show which was somewhat disappointing. But that's TV... The food was ok...I had the brisket which was a little flavorless to my liking. The fries were nothing spectacular and in fact a little lack luster; McDonalds does a better job at fries and I'm not a fan of McDs. My boyfriend had a Reuben and he seemed to enjoy it, although he said he has had better. The bar could use a broom or two and maybe a could cleaning of the tables and chairs. I mean it was unsanitary, but it needed a once over. It's quite a bit out of our way to make this a place we would frequent, but we may stop in again on our way to / from Sedona.
(3)Sherry D.
Food was awesome!!!! Had the smoked brisket dinner and I can honestly say the best barbeque I have ever had!!!! Also had the Firewater punch and it was terrific! Went here after watching the bar being featured on Bar Rescue and will definitely being going back!~!! Only thing I could see that probably hasn't been kept up to standards was the cleanliness. It looked kind of messy in certain areas and doors were left open to some places that should have been closed (closet/storage areas). The restrooms were very dusty.
(5)Kirsten N.
Stopped in for an early dinner on our way up north for the weekend. After being featured on Bar Rescue and now offering a Groupon, we had to check it out. Try: Brisket- great quality, good smoky flavor, great sauce BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich- very good flavor, perfect amount of meat- not falling out but stuffed full- just right! Firewater Punch- delicious, fairly strong but smooth, and not super sweet Pass: Beans- lacking for flavor Fries- classic boring "diner" fries Needs: some background music overhead during slower times when the usual eating clatter doesn't contribute to ambiance. Server: Lindsey- very friendly but a little shy/awkward. Very attentive though.
(4)Kevin S.
We got caught in a severe traffic jam on the way back to our hotel in Phoenix, and decided to hop off of 17 in search of food. We stumbled in grumpy as hell, and it turns out horrible traffic can actually be a good thing. After all, if it hadn't been for the traffic, we never would have found this gem! Great food, and our waitress (Lindsey) was fantastic! Will definitely be back whenever we are in town!
(5)Mona D.
My husband and I stopped by this place on our way to Flagstaff to grab some dinner. We have driven past this place like a million times, but to be honest, we thought it was either shut down or not very good because there were never many cars there. This time it looked like they had done some sort of remodel and were definitely open because there were cars in the parking lot. On the inside, the decor is really country, sort of down home feeling. We decided to just get main courses and opted not to get appetizers so I can only comment on our entrees. I ordered the BBQ chicken and my husband ordered the steak. My chicken was juicy and delicious, I could taste the deep smokey flavor, it seemed like real, authentic BBQ, not the fake BBQ that most restaurants try to pass off as BBQ. In my opinion it is the best BBQ around and it was easily the best BBQ I have had in years. My husband's said his steak was excellent but it was a little under-cooked. He ordered it medium rare but it was a little closer to rare than medium rare but all in all, not too bad. He is a very picky eater and normally sends back a steak that is not perfect but this time he ate it so it wasn't too far away from medium rare or he would not have eaten it. The service was great and our server was very friendly. He was attentive to our needs and we never had to look around for him to get things like refills on our drinks, he had them ready for us without asking. I think he was a little in the weeds though because there were several tables seated and he is the only server that I noticed on the floor. We will more than likely go back again. We live about an hour away but we travel to Flagstaff frequently and we will be stopping by on our next trip there. I would have given this place 5 stars because I really think that it deserves 5 stars but for some reason, it seems when you make a 5 star review, it gets filtered like all the ones below and nobody ever sees it.
(4)Jeanette Z.
The BBQ was good. The service was not good. The presentation of the food could be better. However the food was tasty. The portions were pretty good (for lunch) I wish the place was a little more livelier. Atmosphere was a little awkward. Lol. I'm sure I'll be craving their pulled pork sandwich and baked beans pretty soon and although the service was eh, the food is worth it I suppose. Two lunch meals (pulled pork and French fries, ribs and chicken plate) were $25. Can't complain :)
(3)Chris B.
WOW.....That is some of the BEST food we have had in a long time.. Our Food at the table was a couple of Torpedo Burgers, St Louis Ribs, Chicken Sandwich, and Half Chicken... My family and I are Huge Bar Rescue and Jon Taffer Fans... We just went for Mothers Day 2013. Our Experience was AMAZING..... I know that previously the place was not good at all just like you saw on the show.... But I can assure you that the family has learned a lot about what they really want out of their place. They are very friendly, and they have great attention to detail. Their moonshine drinks called FIRE WATER was so Delicious. A Strawberry Shortcake and Triple Chunk Warm Brownie Desert was our finishing touch. I Am so glad to see a family Change and have a chance to rebuild their Business. Thanks to the Family and Jon Taffer for an OFF THE Charts Experience. Love from the Chris Birkett Family Scottsdale AZ
(5)Qa'ed M.
A great place to stop by on a Phoenix-Flagstaff commute. It's nice and homey and the food's all right. Sometimes I've found myself really licking my lips, and other times I'm forced to revisit memories of eating erasers in kindergarten. They've changed cooks a few times in the time I've eaten here. If you're lucky, you'll be there while one of the good cooks are in. The best thing I've ever had here was their strawberry shortcake, which was a perfect blend of a piping hot cake and fluffy ice cream. It wasn't as good the last few times, though.
(3)Joe C.
Stopped by and ordered the western burger. Came with crusty BBQ sauce and was well done. Too bad I ordered it medium. Service was good otherwise. Apple pie was no good either. Had better pie from Costco.
(2)Jacqueline S.
Pretty good food. The atmosphere was fun, staff was friendly. The bathrooms were not that clean thou. The torpedo burger was pretty good. All on all a good experience.
(4)Yvonne W.
Pleasantly surprised! We've been wanting to check it out since Bar Rescue. I was a little nervous when we walked in because it wasn't as clean as I expected. Plus, it was a Saturday night and hardly anyone was there. We were seated quicky and received our drinks quickly.The menu wasn't anything exciting. So, I had the plain ol' chicken sandwich and the rest of the family had the plain cheeseburger, kids ribs, and pork sandwich. The food came out really fast! And, it was fresh, hot and good! Everyone in the family was happy. We had to end with the Strawberry Shortcake. I never see this offered anywhere. My son was moping because he wanted the Death by Chocolate, so the owner brought him a little personal dish of ice cream with chocolate! What a nice touch! The strawberry shortcake was delicious. The service was excellent! Pleasantly surprised!
(4)Justin L.
Stopped by for some chips & salsa along with iced tea. Salsa and chips were yumms in me tumms. 17Sweet Tea could have been better, didn't need that much cinnamonzz. Loved the rattlesnake in the front and the story about that one ep. Better than bad. Thanks for the wonderful membories. Staff was very friendly. Chips were warm. Would consider returning. Thank you.
(4)Fred P.
This is a "local" place. You can tell that the people on the bar stools come here frequently. But we came for dinner and so we sat in the dining area. The BBQ was pretty good. Rub vs Sauce is always the debate in BBQ circles. That said, this was not saucy enough for my taste. I'm looking for ear to ear sauce on my face when the Q is served and not from a container of cold sauce served on the plate. But he waitress service was attentive and the beverages and beer served fast. But here's my real complaint: I shouldn't have to smell bathrooms when I'm sitting in the dining area. Clean them and/or vent them!
(2)Dog D.
Not a bad option if you are looking for rustic feel but their renovation didn't help much with their service or consistency. They do have live music from time to time but it gets very loud and not the most pleasant of places to sit down for dinner. Check out some other options in Black Canyon if you can.
(2)Mike S.
After seeing on Bar Rescue we always like see help the business get back on its feet. So we drove from Surprise to have a horrible lunch. I had the $17.99 all u can eat beef ribs and chicken. I've had beef ribs before but these were reheated from the night before.. The chicken was too gamely and almost tasted spoiled. Gave some to my wife to try and she thought the same. So I figured I just got a bad order of ribs and did a reorder. I got 1 freakn' rib! WTF! Wife had the pulled pork sandwich. Fair at best... World Famous??? Why does every owner of a business feel it's necessary to say World Famous... I got it, their food is crappy and no one would come if not for the curiosity factor... If you sit near the bathrooms there is a stench that if the smell doesn't make you hurl, THE FOOD WILL! Stay away this place it reeks!
(1)John V.
Stopped here on the way back from Prescott. I had a rib-eye that was priced 5 or 6 bucks over what Outback charges. The steak was a little tough and unremarkable... for the price I would expect it to exceed most of the restaurant chains that serve similar fare. This meal was pricey but pretty mediocre. The decor is rustic but pleasant... but I didn't go there for the scenery and if you're really looking for a good rib-eye, I would suggest you keep looking.
(3)Michael C.
Honestly, I was extremely disappointed. With all the hoopla from being on bar rescue and seeing their reviews I was real excited to be coming here, but in the end the meat was dry, the beans were canned and the coleslaw was mostly cabbage and very dry. I think it needs another rescue. However, service was great!
(2)Lawrence J.
Bar Rescue Didn't Rescue Chilleens on 17 I was eager about visiting a place that was recently featured on the show Bar Rescue. I've caught a few episodes and was impressed at how the bars were revamped into something really worth spending time and money in exploring. I would say that Chilleens on 17 was one that should have hit the editing room floor. After the long drive to this long-time family establishment north of Phoenix I was anticipating something to make the drive well worth it. Upon arriving around 8 pm on a Saturday night, my friend and I were surprised by a relatively empty parking lot. A horse corralled nearby promised some legitimate cowboy fare and I was in a mood to get my grill on. The disappointment started to settle in quick. There was no one to greet us when we entered so we wandered about looking for the dining room or even a sign saying "seat yourself." The few patrons seemed to be eating in the bar so we helped ourselves to a booth. Fortunately there were menus in the tables, so we looked through the straightforward menu. Some of the drink specials sounded interesting, but overloaded with alcohol and sugar. The specialty of the house appeared to be flavored Moonshine mixed with flavored vodkas and flavored rums. Now I consider flavored vodkas a crime against nature, so I decided to pass and planned on trying a microbrew on tap while my friend was going to experiment with a stylized bourbon sour. Since no one had even said hello to us yet, despite the small number of people, we even had time to decide what to try off the menu. My friend opted for a grilled chicken sandwich with bacon, cheese and a honey mustard sauce with fries. I was sticking with the grill and chose St. Louis style BBQ pork ribs with baked bean and coleslaw. Still no waiter. I finally got up and asked the bartender if he would send us a waiter. While she seemed nice enough when she finally arrived, I got the impression that she really couldn't have cared less. And when the food arrived I could see why. Now my friend's sandwich was actually pretty tasty; much like what you would find anywhere though. The fries even tasted homemade. The rest was a mess. The ribs were rather bland, not what I expect from something that was obviously not cooked in the lackluster sauce. The sauce tasted like it came from a jar, and I've had better jars. The baked beans were obviously canned (confirmed by the wait person when I asked) an had an after taste that could only be described as "bug spray." The coleslaw was a perfect match to meal. It was essentially water and cabbage with no flavor or spice. I was happy to hit the trail after chowing down at this chuck wagon establishment. Maybe it was a bad night. Maybe it was a bad cook. Maybe, maybe, maybe, but bottom line I will leave to others to discover that. I won't be returning. Oh, and the beer was small and too hoppy and the whiskey sour was as lackluster as the rest of the experience. Want my advice? I'd keep on the trail and fun another place to satisfy your desire for good ol' cooking.
(1)Chris V.
Steak was over twenty dollars and was very small and had a lot of fat and ligaments. Due to the size of the steak, instead of it coming to the table medium rare, it came well done. I would not recommend this restaurant for a steak dinner.
(1)Keith C.
NOT GOOD. Nice portion but the flavor was just not there. The BBQ sauce didn't make up for it. Don't drive here if you don't have too. Outstanding service!
(2)Paige F.
Visited here on a little day trip north and we were pretty hungry. Its right off the highway and the place is a bit of a dive. Had no idea it was featured on Bar Rescue until we sat down and it was on the menu. I ordered the stuffed burger and my husband ordered their BBQ Brisket. We started out with their fried green chilies - holy moly these were GREAT! This was the BEST part of our meal. Then came the entrees. My burger - juicy but the cheese that was stuffed inside like disappeared - not sure if it soaked into the meat but it was gone so my burger had hot grease stored inside it. Oh not good eats. My husband's brisket - sadly it was dry like a piece of wood thats been in the desert for years. Their moonshine drinks look good on the menu but we were driving so we had to pass on those. I might try them again since it is right off the highway and I really LOVED those fried green chilies. Till we meet again.
(3)Matthew S.
I'm in love with the fire water punch. I had a bad craving for it, so I drove up here all the way from Tolleson just to have 2 drinks. The service was great and I really enjoyed being there. I will definitely be coming back whenever I get a chance.
(5)Chukki S.
Interesting little bar in the middle of nowhere sorta. First off, it is a bit hard to find coming from the north on the I-17. I missed the tiny sign and drove right by the entrance. My GPS only took me so far. It's a bit hard to see in the dark. Jon Taffer was right about it being very dark here. He did fix some of the lighting in the parking lot, but it's still dark getting in there as there no streetlights. So of course we came here after seeing the Bar Rescue episode. While there were no horses or motorcycles in the bar, it was by far the rowdiest bar I have ever been in. Lots of loud profanity, females being groped, yelling, shots being taken, etc. Granted this was later at night (10-11pm) and it didn't bother me, but it is noteworthy. We RUSHED to get here before 10 because we were told that's when they stopped serving food. We got there at 9:52pm so figured we have enough time. We sat down in the bar so the server could go home. But I soon realized after about 10 minutes no one was going to serve us. Finally, we sat at the bar and got food and drinks. We both got the Firewater Punch, which was good, but actually a little different than the recipe on TV. The cherries looked different and I think another ingredient might be diffferent. It was a pretty good drink though. I reccomend trying it. The food was terrible, but that could be because it was close to closing time. I'd reccomend getting here early to get fresh food or if you come late just have drinks. The bartender (the owner from the show) was real nice and answered all our questions about Bar Rescue and even posed for a picture with us. I'll come back but next time I'll try something else on the menu (pulled pork sandwich and chicken sandwich weren't good) and I'll get here much earlier.
(3)Fales M.
Food was great, The drinks are very good (Firewater Punch) is a must! Price for me was really good. I will be going back soon.
(5)Tabbitha M.
After seeing this on Bar Rescue, my friends and I had to try this out on our way back to Phoenix after camping last week in Prescott. Overall, it was a good experience. We came on a Friday during lunchtime. We wandered in the front door and, since there was no greeter, we saw a sign that told us to seat ourselves. The waitress was nice, but clearly the only one working with floor and bar with at least 8 other tables. It took a long time to get our food, but it was worth it! I had the Melt in Your Mouth Steak Sandwich with fries which was around $11, plus an appetizer of fried zucchini and mushrooms. I also tasted my friends chicken ribs, pork ribs, baked beans, and chicken fingers. I love the sandwich! It was delicious. The ribs were a little too "smokey" flavored for me, but they were extremely moist, fall-off-the-bone perfectly cooked. All in all, I give 5 stars for food but only 3 for service and 4 for portion size.
(4)Kris N.
Driving up the I-17 going North to Prescott, we stopped at Chileens on 17 for lunch and was very surprised at the new look and feel of the restaurant! LOVE IT! Our food was not only delivered to us fast but it was really good! Ordered ribs and walked away fat and happy. Well, you know what I mean. Looking forward to trying the steak next time! OH FOR YOU NONALCOHOLIC ICE TEA DRINKERS, TRY THE NEW POMEGRANATE-ORANGE ICE TEA. YUMMY! I think the next time we go North from Phoenix, we will pick up lunch to go from Chilleen's on 17. No cooking for me!
(5)Jeff W.
I saw Chilleens on Bar Rescue earlier in the year. I happened to be on a trip from the L.A. area that took me right past Chileen's at lunch time, so my friend and I decided to stop in and give them a try. I was a little confused as to exactly where the entrance was as there were several doors that I could have picked to go thru but none had "entrance" labeled on the door. We entered the door adjacent to the parking lot and there was nobody in the part of the restaurant we entered (probably because they had only been open for about 5 minutes). I don't know if there was anybody in the bar area of the restaurant. But the waitress heard the bell ring on the door and came out and seated us promptly. She took our drink order and brought the drinks out quickly. She asked if we were ready to order and we placed our order. I ordered the Torpedo Burger and my friend ordered the BBQ pulled pork sandwich. The food came out quickly and was prepared as ordered. My burger was cooked medium-rare and was hot and juicy. My friend's pulled pork sandwich looked very appetizing. She said it was very good. Fries accompanied our sandwiches and were prepared fine. My experience at Chileens was a good one and I have recommended them to my friends that live in the area!
(4)Robert P.
If you have seen the show, you gotta stop. We had Apple pie with Ice Cream, just a snack as we had ate a big breakfast on Sedona. Pie was good, service fine, other Patrons said good things about the food they were eating.
(4)Wendy I.
This is a wonderful destination for a gorgeous desert drive from Phoenix. Today my little one and I enjoyed another visit to Chilleen's. Initially, about a year ago, curiosity drove us there having of course seen their story on Bar Rescue. Our first visit was splendid and perfect in every way. That visit, we got to meet the owners and their daughter. Everything was fantastic. But what stood out was the chicken wings we ordered as an appetizer. Being from Buffalo NY, you would have to know their very simple sauce of hot sauce and butter. A beloved, thin yet delicious sauce style. Myself and my friend, also from Buffalo, both were wowed.... That this sauce, was the first and closet wing sauce in AZ comparable to the Buffalo sauce we are use to. This is coming from my friend, who often brings his own Buffalo wing sauce to restaurants! We stated many times we would return for the wings alone... And sadly that thought has been forgotten for too long. As stated, today I finally got my butt in gear to enjoy a nice drive for lunch and returned to Chilleen's. We ordered the wings and a BLT. The BLT is a simple sandwich of course but can be ruined with the wrong processed freezer bacon. This BLT had the YUMMY home style bacon!!! Very refreshing sandwich. Fries were steaming hot! And of course.... tHE WINGs! I ordered them again and was so delighted that my memory was correct and their style of sauce was the same as last time. Delighted enough to grab a to-go order for later tonight too :) You have to appreciate the extra plate served with dressing, ample napkins and hand wipes to boot! This place just has a country style vibe and ambiance that I have enjoyed both times. Relaxed, welcoming and comfortable. Impeccable service by Michelle too! Very sweet and attentive woman. I am sure that we will return again sooner. And many compliments to the owners for being open to change and keeping it up wonderfully! See ya'll next time :)
(5)Emmy S.
Yes - we went because of Bar Rescue. I would imagine most people go for that reason. Do they go back is the question. I know we won't. We were greeted with "Sit anywhere" and it went down hill from there. Hubby went to the restroom, then stepped outside for a phone call. When he got back - about 10 minutes later, the waitress finally showed up with a glass of water. She took our order - burger for me, brisket sandwich for him. Then the wait began. We waited. And waited. And waited. Somewhere in there, 2 glasses of old tea showed up which were sent back. 35 minutes later, the food arrived. It was pretty bad. So bad that I spent the first 2 days of a convention hoping the bathroom was free. The waitress was MIA but we saw 2 little girls - maybe 10 or 11 years old - cleaning off tables, bringing out drinks and giving out checks. We never had anyone come back by to see how things were, if we wanted anything else to drink...you know, the usual stuff waitresses are supposed to do. When it came time for the check...same old, same old. Hubby had to go find someone to pay. For a restaurant to have someone like Jon Taffer come in and completely redo their business, this was embarrassing and a waste of his time. If I were him, I'd send them a cease and desist order, barring them from using his likeness.
(1)Meg L.
My husband and I were in town visiting his grandpa. After being hung up on by a staff member at Benis Pizza for asking what time they closed, we decided to come here. SO glad we did! We were welcomed as soon as we walked in, a waitress came over right away to take our drink order. Our food and drinks were brought out to us quickly and our server was very nice and friendly. She also happened to be from where my husband and I live. Good food, good drinks (we had the moonshine drinks), FRIENDLY and fast service.
(5)Cory S.
Good atmosphere, food is tasty. Firewater tea needs a little kick considering it says it has moonshine in it. Overall nice place, decent food. Good place to stop on a road trip.
(4)Taylor C.
As bar rescue fans and having grabbed a $20 for $10 coupon on yelp we were excited to give this place a try. Food was really good and service was great too. Our server was on staff during the bar rescue filming but not on air. We had a great conversation about the filming and she was happy to oblige with going over all the details with us...I can only guess how many times she has been asked about it. Anyway, we each had a sandwich and a drink. I had a half pint beer, she had a signature drink. Ended up out the door for $20 (with yelp discount). It wasn't the best bbq I have had in my life but I would definitely eat it again. Only cons were bathroom was a little dirty but probably comparable to most bars and the server could show me a "half jug of beer" but couldn't give me the ounces on it.
(4)David L.
Used a Groupon here a couple of months ago as an excuse to head north. We went right around the start of lunch time. Location: The outside is deceptively small, as the inside is actually quite large. Very divey decor, but that was expected. Only downside really was that my girlfriend and I both felt the bathrooms were a tad gross/needed some remodeling. Food: I had the brisket with coleslaw and baked beans while my gf had the ribs and some sides I can't recall anymore. I've had a lot of brisket in my lifetime and have liked most of it. This was by far the worst brisket I've ever had. It was tough, dried out, and literally tasted like wood (not "too much apple/hickory/mesquite smoke" woody but quite literally "cutting a board with a saw and inhaling some of the sawdust" woody). I figured I could work my way through it with enough sauce, but the sauce tasted more like liquid smoke than anything. My beans tasted like they were straight out of a can without any added flavoring on their part. My coleslaw was actually pretty good. My girlfriend thought her sides were okay but shared my thoughts on the sauce. She also had the ribs and wasn't a fan due to them not really tasting like they'd been seasoned. I tried one and agreed- they were mildly smokey without much other flavor. Beverages: Drink deals are actually decent here. You can get a ~20oz Blue Moon for $5, which is what you'd pay for only a pint at most places in the valley. Some of their mixed drinks also sounded good, but we had a bit of a drive ahead of us and decided not to try any of them. Service: The owners' daughter was our waitress and she was excellent. Very attentive and friendly. Summary: Their other food may be better, but we won't go back to try any of it based on our impression with the barbecue. If it were closer, we both agreed it would be a great dive-bar for a few drinks with friends and would likely use it as such.
(2)Matt B.
Saw it on bar rescue. It was a good atmosphere. The food was meh I guess. I got some bbq thing and it was semi warm. My friends got a burger. Everything was kinda small in portion to most restaurants. The drinks we had were awesome though. Firewater punch was tasty. I guess if you're passing thru it's a good stop but not worth the hour drive up from Phoenix.
(2)Britany K.
My boyfriend and I went there before Bar Rescue. The service was horrible, food disgusting, and there was a wandering cat around the restaurant. We tried it again after Bar Rescue. It was A LOT BETTER! Worth the stop! Scott was our bartender. The moonshine drinks are good, but I personally loved the sweet tea!
(5)Greg C.
I would have given Chilleen's a 5 star, but after we ate, we hit the bar for a few drinks... I can't wait to see this episode on Bar Rescue to hear it from the point of view of Taffer. We came in to eat and everything was perfect until we went to the bar and had a seat. For the next 15 minutes I heard nothing but complaining about how Bar Rescue f*&d everything up for you. Nothing was right. The lady bartender had a real bad attitude her and the older women never stopped complaining about the crew that fixed their place up. My girl ordered one of the new drinks and the bartender was offended and it showed. It drove me out of the place. Ladies, you only have one thing to fix...your attitudes!!! Everything else was perfect, the food, the remodel, the waitress was so kind. Why aren't you grateful for the things you have in your life, including that rescue! And why would you bitch and moan about all the mistakes they made in front of your customers? Let me reiterate that the food and service in the restaurant area were superb.
(3)Peter B.
This was not the best BBQ I have ever had, but it was hardly the worst either. We went during a low time and the place was pretty empty. We were greeted right away and seated quickly. The service was quick and solid. I went with the pulled pork sandwich, and the lady went with brisket. I thought the sandwich was good, not great. The bun was toasted which I really liked, as most BBQ sandwiches suffer from that spongey bread syndrome. The fries that came with it were fine. The lady liked the brisket. I am used to big slices of brisket, but this was more shredded, and I don't think I liked it as much but I am not a giant fan of BBQ brisket anyway. I had the firewater punch, and the lady had the sweet tea. Both were good. I am not a huge expert on mixed drinks, so take my opinion with a grain of salt but I liked it. The sweet tea was good as well. One thing I really noticed was that the portions were not overly huge. A lot of times I either leave a BBQ place too stuffed, or I have leftovers. Well if you are on I17 in Black Canyon City, you are in the midst of a journey, right? And I don't think being overly stuffed or lugging leftovers is desirable, so I appreciated the reasonable size of the portions. I wouldn't drive a half hour out of my way just to go back, but if you are on the road and hungry for some lunch, you could certainly do a whole lot worse.
(3)Barret H.
For where this place is on the map (in the sticks), it is pretty good! I come from Phoenix with unlimited dining options, so no this wasn't the best barbeque in Arizona. That said, the food was good and my family had fun here and we left happy. I do watch Bar Rescue so we tried the sweet tea and the barbeque entrees featured on that show. I would give the drink a 9 out of 10 and the food a 7 out of 10. The brisket and baby backs were a little tough but flavor was good. I really liked the fried green chile appetizer. My kids liked seeing the live rattle snake they have on display. The beer prices were very reasonable so this looks like a place that would be a lot of fun at night! For a place out in Black Canyon city, it is worth a stop to give it a try!
(4)Debi R.
We went to visit friends & family in March and decided to get a group together at Chilleen' s. The food was awesome and priced fair and the drinks were perfect. The staff is fun, atmosphere inviting, and a all around great experience. I suggest you make a trip to Black Canyon City or stop in while passing through. You won't regret it!!!
(5)J B.
We stop and eat here every time we go up to Sedona. The food and drinks have always been delicious, but since they've revamped the drink list and menu items, it's now a can't miss. I'm especially a fan of the Chicken and Pork Rib Combo, but it's hard to argue with the burgers, too. The waitstaff and bartenders always provide great service, and you'll feel like part of the family by the time you leave.
(4)Carrie E.
So we went back for a second visit so we could try something else on the menu. I had the chix and pork rib combo and the ribs were so tender and delicious. We had fried mushrooms for an appetizer and they were so good and they were very generous with the serving. We also had a burger and fries and just as delicious. I look forward to our next visit to try the Philly steak sandwich!
(5)