Macaroni Grill or Chili's? Closest to Disney?

[Disneynutbsv]

One night during our vacation we will be going to either Macaroni Grill or Chili's (courtesy of Mypoints!) and I need to know:
Which is better? I've never been to either.
Which is closest?
Thanks!

 

[luvdisney14]

We ate at macaroni grill for the first time last year. It was great, all 6 of us enjoyed our meal. Macaroni grill was very close to downtown disney.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

I don't know where they're located but given the choice between the two I'd choose MACARONI GRILL. (sorry, baby pushing keys0)

 

[lynninpa]

One night during our vacation we will be going to either Macaroni Grill or Chili's (courtesy of Mypoints!) and I need to know:
Which is better? I've never been to either.
Which is closest?
Thanks!

Just our humble opinions...

Chili's?

Macaroni Grill?

 

[Beana9802]

One night during our vacation we will be going to either Macaroni Grill or Chili's (courtesy of Mypoints!) and I need to know:
Which is better? I've never been to either.
Which is closest?
Thanks!

I am not sure of which is closer, I did a maps(dot)google(dot)com search and it appears they are in the same area (I might be wrong). I would definately go to Macaroni Grill because there are not many near where I live. There are tons of Chilis, and they are so similar to applebees and tgi that Romano's is like a few degrees above Olive Garden...if that's helpful. (JMHO)

 

[Jason71]

They are right next door to each other on 535, not even a block up from Palm Parkway. (Hang a left from Hotel Plaza Blvd., go through the first light, they'll be on your left.)

I am a fan of Chilli's, but it is definitely more "bar food" (burgers and the most basic of Tex-Mex, e.g. fajitas); not surprisingly, it also has a more casual atmosphere. Macaroni Grill is the "nicer" of the two. Hope this helps.

 

[ricka47]

My vote would be for Macaroni Grill for sure. Chili's is similar to Friday's, Ruby Tuesday's, Applebee's, etc. That's not say that it's bad, just nothing special. Macaroni Grill, in my opinion, is a step up from them.

I also have a card for a free dinner at Chili's, On the Border, Chili's and a few others and we're going to Macaroni Grill on our May trip.

 

[disneyfan551]

We love Chili's, they have THE best fajitas! However, Macaroni Grill has great pasta, (love the make your own! tons of food, cheap price!) and we will definitely be using our mypoints gift cards here during our May trip as well!

As another poster said above, they are located right beside each other, and are simple to find. Enjoy it!

 

[disneyscuba]

Macaroni Grill gets my vote. We don't have on closer then 3 hrs to us so every time we go to Disney we make sure we eat there. It is a step up from the Oliver Garden.

Later,

DisneyScuba

 

[CinRell]

I feel that chili's you don't get what you pay for.. the food is average.
Macaroni Grill is great fun. Create your own pasta is great and the one by me gives you crayons.. you can write on the "table"... their bread is wonderful and if you like wine their wine is pretty yummy. Sometimes they'll have an italian opera singer walk around singing.. this is especially during the holidays or if it's someone's birthday. I love Mac Grill!

 

[sanjoe]

Our party of 4 /2A & 1Ch & 1Teen had trouble at both of these locations last week. We got one of our salad meals comp'ed at Chile's because they brought the wrong one and the second one was even wrong but hubby ate it anyway because it arrived just as we were finishing our main course. He was the most hungry upon arrival so we ordered the chips appetizer thank goodness.

Macaroni Grill has the paper on the tablecloths that the kids can color on. Well, lets just say we went early and our paper tablecloth was colored and written on totally and the food was still not there yet. When my son's cheese pizza did arrive, it was burnt on the edges and 3/4 of the bottom. It was a huge pizza though so he managed to salvage 2 slices in small pieces. My meatball lasagna which I always order had overcooked pasta. The noodles had the same mushy consistancy as the ricotta cheese. Not a pleasant feeling in your mouth. I didn't say anything because we were starving once it did arrive. Manager came out to our table since server noticed son didn't eat his pizza and we had told him it was too burnt. He appologized and comp'ed the child's pizza. The portions are huge at this establishment. My daughter ordered the adult speghetti and meatballs-could have fed a family of 2. We did order salads before the meals which also helped since the food arrival was a little slow. Right after we were seated, tons of people began arriving so go early.

Overall, It depends on what you like. Ask about the portions size at Macaronni grill. The child's pizza was at least 6 or more slices and you get a vanilla icecream with choc. sauce with the child's meal. This establishment cost more than Chili's.

Good luck.

 

[malibuconlee]

We've eaten at Macaroni Grill on our last two trips. I vote for it. You can get a burger and fries at a counter service, so I would skip Chili's (I'm not a big fan to begn with).

I could just sit and eat the bread and Olive Oil as my whole meal!!! I get the chicken scallopini and a Cesar salad every trip. DH gets different things, but the Salmon is good too.

 

[kelleigh1]

They are literally next door to each other on 535, which is just outside the resort from the DTD side. (Down past the DTD Hotels.)

Macaroni Grill is Italian. Chili's is spicy - can't exactly call it Mexican, but it's along the southwest/mexican line of cuisine. So it would depend on your taste.

Personally, we prefer Macaroni Grill. We actually went twice during our trip and hubby mentioned it again today...too bad there isn't one that close to our house or we'd be heading there for dinner this week.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

Great! Looks like we'll go to Macaroni Grill! Thanks!

 

[Del]

I've been to both and like Macaroni Grill better. We hit the one near DTD last November. The food and service were wonderful.

Del

 

[Sylvester McBean]

if you want chain restaurant Italian, go to Carraba's or Bucca de Bepo before Mac Grill. we love Chili's.

 

[JamieW]

I just had to post. I couldn't help myself.

It's fine if you want to go to Macaroni Grill, but I seriously don't get how people are saying it's a step up from Olive Garden. Not in my humble opinion, anyway. They're the same - casual, chain Italian food. I personally prefer Olive Garden. Unlimited breadsticks and salad! yum, yum!

I also love Chili's but that's b/c I love the type of food they serve - American burgers, sandwiches, fish, chicken. I'm not very sophisticated, I'm afraid. They have a chicken caesar pita sandwich that I love. Chili's is very similar to Applebee's, TGI Friday's, Ruby Tuesdays, etc. If you like those places, you'll be fine at Chili's.

 

[maggiew]

We went to Macaroni Grill on our last trip. It was pretty good but surprisingly busy. We had a pretty long wait. We were staying at the Sheraton Safari and it was pretty much right across the street.

Maggie

 

[crazelion]

I like Chili's better than the other place. I can get simple american food there.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I'd pick Macaroni Grill. Because I've found them to be slow in the past I'd also only go when I wanted a relaxing meal. I've never been to the one in Orlando but the one near my former home was definitely a cut above the atmosphere at the Olive Garden. Macaroni Grill & Chilis are frequently located side by side.

My other suggestion would be to go the website (search on macaroni grill) and go to a location other than the one closest to Disney. There appear to be several in the Orlando area.