Chuy's

4/5/13:

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Queso Bar, Staff, Food

Cons: Parking

     My friend NK moved to Richmond this past week and I'm very glad she did. With packing up all your stuff and loading it into a truck comes the inevitable unloading. Friday was a beautiful day for moving, so that's what we did. We unloaded a lot of her stuff into her new place. Well, that builds a terrible hunger in a person. We drove around Short Pump for a little looking for something to inspire us. We saw Chuy's ( Chuy's or Chuy's RVA Facebook Page) and on a whim decided to stop for some Mexican food.


     Chuy's is located at the West Broad Village Shopping Center in Short Pump. The parking is tough. Don't park in the Kona Grill lot, which is behind Chuy's as they will tow you. We ended up parking in the Whole Foods lot with no issues. I am hoping parking is something Chuy's gets figured out stat as they are going to need it.

     As NK and I walked up to the front door there was a gentleman there to greet us. He was passing out slips of paper to people walking in. Well, it was apparently a soft opening for friends and family that day, not the general public. How we missed the giant sign that said "Open to the Public Soon" I'll never know. That could have been the end of our post right there, sent away embarrassed. But the guy at the door sized us up and said "You look like friends to me. Come on in." He handed us our paper and explained the day to us. It was a full staff test run day. Our paper had 2 dishes on it which we would order and a question for the staff to test their knowledge. The best part... it was free. Any non-alcoholic drink and any menu items we wanted were on the house. JACK POT!!! So, NK and I rolled into the front lobby on a swell of luck and excitement. The front lobby is big with plenty of seating. It looks like it is well prepared for the crowds that will surely come.

     The very friendly staff at the front took our name and gave us a buzzer. Then they suggested we wait in the bar area and try out their queso bar. I'm sorry, come again? Did you say queso bar? As in melted delicious cheesy goodness? Thankfully there were no old ladies in front of us because they would have been tossed aside in our rush to see this sight with our own eyes. Allow me to describe it for you: Chuy's has mounted the trunk of a car on the wall. In this trunk is a big pot of melty queso, some ground beef, some salsas and chips. You essentially add what you like to your queso, building a your perfect dip. The bar is free during happy hour Monday to Thursday (I'm pretty sure from 4 to 7). It is excellent. The cheese is great, flavorful and creamy. The ground meat adds a nice little bite and texture. The chips are thin, so expect breakage. Plan accordingly. NK added the salsa to hers. I went straight ground meat. To each their own and both were very good.

Old ladies best get out the way. NK was ready for some queso.

     We got our chips and dip just as we were buzzed for our table. As we were led to our table we passed the homemade tortilla station. I had to stop and double check that I was seeing what I was seeing. There, behind the glass, were 3 ladies hand mixing, rolling, pressing and cooking tortillas. There were corn, flour and blue tortillas being made at a fantastic rate. Each one was uniform, yet unique. I think that this is a great idea by Chuy's. It gives you that sense that they really care about the quality of their food. And you can always taste the difference between a fresh tortilla and a store bought frozen one. Nicely done Chuy's.

     Soon after we were sat we were greeted by our very cheerful waitress. She took a minute to explain the menu, check our chip levels (which were dangerously low) and get our drink orders. The drinks being free prompted me to go crazy and get an Arnold Palmer (half lemonade and half sweet tea). NK got a sweet tea and we got down to looking at the menu. We both knew what we were ordering, per the ticket we received at the door, but we looked anyway. NK was getting the chicken burrito, which was served in a fresh-made 12" flour burrito with refried beans, cheese and the oven roasted chicken. It came with rice, as all the dishes looked to. I bit the bullet and got the Veggie Enchiladas. These are made-up of spinach, onions, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell pepper, serrano, fire-roasted green chili, corn and cheese rolled up in a blue corn tortilla. Granted, no meat, but it sounded good. Once we ordered we sat back and discussion started. Here is the dangerous time as you just keep eating chips... And the staff is always willing to refill your basket. You fill up. Just remember that you still have a meal coming...

     Our meals arrived on hot plates with amazing smells wafting off them. After she set them down our waitress asked if we would like any additional sauces. I asked her for a hotter sauce and she suggested the Boom Boom sauce. I, of course, accepted. While she was off getting that we dug into our meals. I'll start with NK's burrito. It was massive. It was packed to the max and took up a major chunk of the plate. The filling was very good. The chicken was well seasoned and there wasn't an overpowering amount of beans. We both really enjoyed it and I would certainly try a different one next time I was there. My enchiladas were exceptional. All of the veggies were cooked perfectly. The peppers added a subtle heat, which I always love. It wasn't even close to a domineering or overpowering heat either, for all those who prefer a lot less bite then I do. The blue corn tortillas were phenomenal. They were flavorful and crispy. They did nothing but elevate this dish. The Boom Boom sauce is spicey and was amazing on the rice. I recommend it for those seeking the spicy.

     After we were stuffed to the rafters we got ourselves some boxes. There was just too much good food for one sitting. Our waitress checked on us one last time during which I inquired about the push-up pops I had seen one of the other waiters give to some children at another table. Yes, I wanted the same ice cream that a bunch of 5 year old kids had. It was a push up pop... Our waitress quickly, and with a huge smile on her face, brought us each one. They were sherbet pops from Blue Bell Dairy. They were an excellent palette cleanser for the end of the meal.

     Chuy's has a winning formula being cooked up. The staff is very pleasant, the food fresh & tasty and the queso bar is a melty dream come true. Short Pump is now in possession of a Tex-Mex haven that I highly recommend to one and all. I know I'll be back soon.