My boyfriend and I usually end up here when we're killing time before a movie at Showcase, and it's much better than the usual chains on the Route 6 area. Curly fries! Yum. It's nothing special but it's good for what it is,
(4)
A Z.
This particular Chelo's is actually pretty nice and almost luxurious looking on the inside. They've got pretty nice seats, booths and tables all around. Not what you expect when you've been to other locations. Chelo's is a chain, so you might know what to expect, but in any case, I'm a big fan of their chili and here's why: you get a big bowl of chili, topped with cheese, and a giant plate of hot tortilla chips. It's like cheating on your dinner with an appetizer, but OH WAIT, it IS your dinner! I love it. Some people from RI hate Chelo's but I actually kind of like it. There are your standard items you don't want to order and are reserved for the old people (aka Pot Roast), but they have some decent above average plates as well. I even tried calamari here and it wasn't all that bad.
(3)
Jeremy B.
Looking for something CHEAP to eat and you're on the go? And you're sick of eating the garbage that McDonalds feeds you? Call ahead and order a Chelos kids chicken finger meal. You get 3 chicken fingers(made with real breast meat), some steak fries, & bread rolls for $3.99(plus tax). It's by far the best food you can get for the money. And it's correct portion size that you actually should eat. They're burgers are fresh and tasty too. If you like seafood, i hear that's it's really good(i don't eat seafood, yuck!) I love their grilled chicken sandwich and the chicken alfredo is amazing too. It's a cozy "meat and potatoes" kind of restaurant. I've eaten there since i was a kid and i still love their food. Chelos is a locally owned and I like to support "mom and pap" chains. Give it a try! B+
(4)
Kelly A.
Chelo's is an RI institution, and it's a place my family likes to go on occasion. Today I met up with the 'rents for lunch in East Providence, and Chelo's seemed like the best option among the sea of Chili's, 99, and Friday's locations. Unfortunately, they are sorely lacking in vegetarian options. They have this giant menu with pages upon pages of offerings, and yet there's nothing vegetarian! As a Bostonian, I am definitely not used to this problem. I saw a glimmer of hope in the baked ziti special, but then the server told me that there's chicken stock in the marinara. Fail. So I decided to order a grilled cheese and fries, which wasn't really on the menu, and they obliged. The mister asked them to make him a vegetarian version of the chicken quesadilla, which they did. The service was great, and it was nice that they were so accommodating, but they've got to get with the times and add some veg options! My parents' meals both came with dessert, since they were the specials of the day or something, so they gave us one of their desserts to split. The mister and I decided to split the carrot cake, which was positively fantastic. It was moist and delicious and had all sorts of raisins and walnuts buried beneath its lovely cream cheese icing. And the iced tea was also quite good. I have a lot of love for Chelo's because I went there a lot as a kid, but I just hope that they'll add some vegetarian fare to their menu in the near future!
(3)
Tanya A.
I am only giving this place two stars not because of the food or the service but based on the manager on duty. My boyfriend and I were starving and decided that we would go to Chelos we had been there before and the food was pretty good. We were greeted by one server and served by another. Working in the service industry I understand this happens and was not worried about it. The server took our order a steak salad MR and a 4 alarm burger well. The food came out backwards again not a big deal. Then the manager came over to apologize and proceeded to tell us how the server screwed up our order and that it was her second day on the job that this kind of stuff happens...What?!!!! Like I said I have been in the service industry for years and would have been mortified if I had ever heard a manager talk about me like that. No it was not the servers fault and even if it was all you had to say was I am really sorry about your food we are fixing it and it will be out shortly. Unfortunately I don't think we will be returning to this location anytime in the near future. Not cool manager on duty!!!!
(2)
Tim M.
If you want a good burger Chelos is the place to stop! They have a good sized menu with typical American food but what I come back for are the burgers. Big, juicy, and loaded with toppings. The atmosphere is bright and lively and the staff is great. Not a bad place to stop if your in the Rhode Island area!
(4)
ken z.
Really disappointing. It was Friday night, and our first-choice restaurant was booked, so we figured we'd try Chelo's. The dining room was pretty empty, which maybe was a sign. I had fish (salmon? don't remember) and it was mushy. The wife had an unremarkable salad. Our guest had steak that was overly dry and overcooked. To show our guest that there is good food in the area, we went to Outback Steakhouse the next night, and Outback was in a whole 'nother class.
(2)
brooke t.
I use to go more often but the last visit to chelos did it in for me. I ordered mozzarella sticks for and appetizer and chicken parm for my meal. Well the meal started out like this: 1. Bread with frozen butter I could not spread 2. The salad had a fruit fly in it I didn't see it until I was almost done 3. Mozzarella sticks cold in the center The rest of the meal was ok but after that experience I have never went back
(1)
Lou P.
Big, half price bar apps Try the Chelos Amber Ale Pretty standard fare Chelo's is a RI institution, sort of like Applebee's is big in the midwest. There's nothing really spectacular about the place, but yet I find myself here before night meetings at my office. It's right up the street, and for under $20 you can split an enormous half price appetizer and a few beers in a pinch. For some reason I always find myself in the regrettable position of having a plate of quesadillas sitting in front of me. They're pretty dry ad no frills, and the edges are often burnt. The nachos are enormous, but bogged down with an overabundance of beans, jalapenos or both. The bartenders are generally friendly, as is most of the staff. Like I said, it's not the most amazing place in the world, nothing too gourmet, just large portions of hot food and beer. I always sit at the bar here, and the bartender is always very friendly and engaging, unless you're in a conversation. Beer is cheap, food is standard (but hearty) and there's parking.
(2)
Radd M.
I recently visited Chelo's with some friends and was pleasantly surprised. The food is fairly inexpensive, you can see pricing on their website. But for the cost, the quality is pretty good. The Buffalo Chicken Fingers seem to be fresh chicken, breaded and fried in the back. The breading wasn't thick and ridiculous like what you find at many national chains. Their buffalo sauce tasted great and actually had a bit of a kick, which is wonderful. My steak and cheese wrap tasted great and the vegetables weren't really undercooked or overcooked. And I could actually taste the steak along side the vegetables and cheese. I've had steak and cheese wraps a few other places and Chelo's has the rest soundly beat. And I must compliment the $5 Long Island Iced Tea. Good drink and cheaper than I'm used to. The bill for the three of us came to ~$38 and that's a great deal. P.S. Our waiter was great and refilled our drinks without intrusion before they were even emptied. She was great.
(4)
Marc S.
Headed out last night with the wife with intentions of hitting a local restaurant in Seekonk, when we saw how dead it was I came up with the idea to go to Chelo's. We'll try the other place another time, seems to be more of a breakfast/lunch place. It either was dead because it isn't good for dinner or who knows. We had intended to go to Chelo's one other time but got sidetracked. So this was our first time there. We were greeted by the host as we walked in thru the 2nd set of double doors. He was actually mopping the floor. Probably cleaning any salt that people tracked in as we had just received snow during the day. We were shown to a nice booth and given menus. Our waitress came by and said she would be right with us. It didn't seem to busy, but we needed the time anyways to observe the menu since it was our first time. We both ordered sodas($2.25 each, free refills) Passed on any appetizers or soup as nothing seemed too appealing to us at the time. My wife decided on the Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese($10.99) It came in a nice dish and it consisted of ziti noodles(not macaroni) with chunks of breaded buffalo chicken strips mixed in. I'd imagine they just take their other option of 5 cheese mac and cheese and just add in the Buffalo Chicken. My wife enjoyed that and even brought a small portion home for lunch today. I chose the Met's Mushroom burger which came with choice of Fries and option to swap it for a side salad or sweet potato fries for 99 cents. I got the sweet potato fries as those are a bit better for you. It also came with a couple of pickle slices. My burger was very good with the grilled mushrooms on it and American cheese, other options to add to it are available such as grilled onions, swiss cheese or bacon. For dessert we took home. We selected a slice of coconut cake, it had strawberry filling between the layers and whipped cream on the top. For a first time they seemed to be a good choice for us. We will return. It seems they offer catering as well as many desserts you can order. We saw a couple of heaping pies in the display case. Almost like you put a volcano on top of a pie crust. I'd imagine it is that full of filling. Noticed apple and a meringue offhand.
(5)
Jolely M.
I love sitting at the bar. You get 1/2 off appetizers. You can enjoy drinks while playing a trivia game right at the bar.
(4)
Andrew B.
Good cheap comfort food. If you miss mom's cooking stop by Chello's. I've been to this location and the Apple Valley one and they're pretty consistent in decor and the quality of the food and the service. Like any large or small chain, it's nothing amazing but it's still some good food for not too much money.
(3)
George F.
I haven't been to a Chello's in at least 25 years but I got pulled along as part of a business lunch. The atmosphere is typical of a Chilis, Fridays, etc. the food was ok. My side salad was as bare bones as could be with the least attractive parts of an iceberg lettuce and two grape tomatoes one of which was well past its prime. The clam chowder was ok but far from award winning. And the clam cakes were actually pretty good. The service was friendly but inconsistent. I had an empty glass of iced tea for most of the meal. Chello's is a safe choice if entertaining guests whose tastes you don't know but it's not very compelling.
(2)
Paul L.
Chelo's E.P. has been one of our "go to" places along with Davenports and Greggs. We usually order a sandwich platter rather than a dinner. However, this past Saturday, May2, 2015 I ordered the half chicken with ziti and it was the worst meal I have ever had at Chelo's. The chicken looked pathetic and the meat was so dry I had to sip my drink with each mouthful. The ziti was plain with about a half cup of very plain sauce, I felt like I was served a cafeteria lunch at an elementary school. We usually enjoy our meal at Chelo's, but not this time!
Wow wow wow. Ok so where do I begin? This was such a bad experience that I am still angry. We chose Chelo's because they have keno and it's a RI staple. We sit down at the bar (Monday around 1) and grab some keno slips. I was absolutely ravenous. Now, my mother and I are pretty low key. You have to work to get us riled up. But this bartender managed to do it. We were ignored for a good ten minutes at least before we were given any menus, and asked what we wanted to drink. Another man had walked in and was waited on right away. I had to interrupt her after she was done getting his order and standing around to ask for the menus myself. We both ordered off the bar drink special menu. My drink came back pretty fast actually. My mother's...not so much. The bartender didn't know how to make hers. Then they had to find the recipe. Then the recipe had to be read off line by line (one ounce of blue curacao...one ounce of OJ...) My mother finally got her drink around ten minutes later, We're now about a half an hour in. We're just ordering our food. So now the wait begins. I truly believe that we would have gotten our food quickly if other people didn't have to send theirs back. The woman at the end of the bar had to send her potato back three times! While all of this was happening we were watching the bartender pouring wrong drinks for people and generally speaking be a screw up. Here comes our food about an hour in and surprisingly correct. My pasta tasted good but the sauce was broken. We came to find out that this is not the normal bartender. However, even if it is a Monday, you shouldn't be putting an inexperienced girl in her place. Management should be able to step in to any position that the restaurant has. Management is to blame for all of this. P.s. nothing but onions and tomatoes on the salad? Are you sure that is even considered a salad?
(1)
James P.
Went to this place for the first time last week and loved it. I had the chicken parm sandwich and it was so good. I have to come back here!!!
(5)
Steven P.
One of the best places to have a roast beef sandwich. The burgers are also very good. Chelo's is very consistent in their quality of food. A good place for an evening meal or a Saturday afternoon sandwich.
(5)
Reese A.
The food isn't the best, but it's not bad! They have different specials set for everyday of the week, which is awesome because you can plan for it. The food is cheap, so I recommend it for groups and children. They have this Buffalo Mac and cheese that is absolutely phenomenal. I didn't like the seafood pasta, though, because it was very bland. (A few items on the menu are bland, hence the 4 stars.) The burgers are really good, though! The staff was nice and they offered the kids quarters to put in the ceiling train, which was very nice. I enjoy my time here every time.
(4)
Mike T.
First,. The food is great. I come for the giant roast beef. Just can't get that anywhere else. Problem is, the regulars at the bar include a loud stiff in a hat that stands the whole time and his equally obnoxious girlfriend who yells across the bar and makes things generally unpleasant for anyone on their side of the bar. They are trailer trash and spend nothing while driving paying customers away. Chelos, ask these idiots to go to applebys.
(4)
Heather G.
I'm a little delayed on my reviewing, but I'm trying to catch up! Came here last week, my all time favorite is the chicken parm sandwich!! Mmmm mmmm always delicious. Service is always good I've yet to have an issue. My only issue is when I order a mixed drink, it almost never tastes like it has alcohol in it. For the price, they should make their drinks a little stronger
(3)
Michael B.
I like this place. Its kind of like a really high end hamburger joint. They do not have a fine dining feel. You can wear shorts and a T-shirt. Service is always excellent and the food is great. I noticed in their kitchen there is a large sign that says something such as "If you are not proud of it don't serve it." I will go again.
(4)
Melanie B.
This is my first time eating at Chelo's and I had a great experience! The food was delicious (great lunch specials!) and our server Rownan was very attentive. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Gregory S.
Chowder and clam cakes.....much ado about nothing. Pure mediocrity. Thought if came out of a Campbell's can. No clams in the clam cakes. Service was slow and uninspired. Fish and chips served lukewarm with the oder of ammonia. Stinky ammonia.... now that's appetizing. Had two bites and sent if back. The beer was cold, guess that was OK. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place at all costs. I almost called the RI health dept when I was served the fish. Chellos is not what they used to be. Going downhill fast. Avoid this Chellos at all costs.
(1)
Mary L.
Greggs vs Chelos.... The hosts opened the door for me as I arrived. I felt fancy. They have $2.99 house margheritas and $1.99 domestic drafts, 1/2 price appetizers every day. I ordered their cheese nachos and clam cakes. Neither were special, but they hit the spot for a munchie before dinner. I preferred the chips over the cakes. Kim the bartender was awesome. She was working her butt off, cleaning, serving, and always being friendly. Overall, I still like Gregg's better. But, for a quick drink and simple cheap bite - if I'm near a Chelos, I'll stop in.
(3)
Eric P.
Oh Chelo's how you have changed the very fabric of my soul. First off I went in with a coupon, buy one item get one free. AN item can be an entree though. So then I got the SPECIAL, which is an item off the special menu, a side, and a dessert all for $8.99. Not only that but you get rolls when you sit down. SO I decided to get the spaghetti and meatballs, with a side of..mashed potatoes and then I had rolls with butter, and I also got a chocolate cake dessert. My date and I ordered the same items except she got fries instead of mashed. All the food was phenomenal and sooo filling. My belly almost popped out onto the table knocking our beers all over the place and getting shards of glass in other patrons eyes, that's how full my belly was. Lets list this once again so you can quite understand where I am coming from... Two spaghetti and meatball dinner platters, 6 rolls, mashed potatoes with gravy and butter, basket of french fries with honey mustard and ketchup, 2 chocolate cake plates with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream melting on top. This came out to $4.49 each. Did I get my carbs in for the day? Yes. Did I gain 15 pounds? Yes. Would I do it again? Yes. I have uploaded a picture of my meal for portion viewage.
(4)
Mitch K.
Yes, Chelo's is a RI institution (I guess) and they have really good clam cakes, but other than that it's a forgettable place. I rate Gregg's and Davenport's higher; we only go to Chelo's when we want to eat cheap and are too tired to drive any further. The inside is clean but old (although they've added a bunch of HDTVs in the bar area which is really nice), and the menu is...the menu is...I always have a hard time deciding what to get because nothing really stands out. None of their burgers have any flair to them, the main dishes are standard...I ended up getting the calamari salad as I wanted to eat semi-healthy and it was good but wasn't anything to write home about. The best part of the meal was that my wife and I could relax and talk about our crazy day. Chelo's, you really should change up your menu else you will go the way of other former RI institutions like Rocky Point and Almacs.
(2)
Mimi P.
Not sure why they win all the awards for the chowder and clam cakes Sorry, chowder is not that good and the clam cakes were ok......$6.95 for a stuffed quahog!! I don't think so.
(2)
John M.
I'm not sure if I've ever enjoyed a meal here. Their menu doesn't have anything that could be considered unique, and what basic items they do have are on par with your average pizza joint. Their burgers are especially disappointing. How easy is it to make a signature burger and put some interesting toppings on it? Sullivan's Publick House does it, at least attempt to do something different. I know people like this place because it's a local family but their food isn't anything to get excited about. You're better off going to the aforementioned Sullivan's Publick House which is about 2 miles away. Or if you're still looking for that family atmosphere Davenports in Cumberland.
(2)
cranston d.
swore off Chelo's 2 years ago... tried it again... sneaky pricing on "larger" beverages... check the prices... portions are unimpressive... shame on us for returning!
(1)
carlos o.
I went on a friday nite hoping to have good fish and chips, well the fish was the worst fish i ever had at any Chelo's restaurant. The fish although mostly white flesh had a good amount of dark flesh which was horrible and tasteless. so i was already hungry and ate it anyway .Later the waitress asked how was your food so i told her not good at all,so she had the manager come over and i told her the same, well she said she was sorry and had she known earlier she would of replaced it with another. Now why would i want another piece of the same nasty fish? This location in the past use to have good food but not now! And the help needs to be fired starting with the Manager.
(1)
Rick H.
Place holder. Chelos felt like the love child of a bennigan's/ TGI Fridays hook up. That's not a bad thing, though it does mean the place is a little bit too "bullshit American". The food is decent, the decor isn't anything special and the portions are reasonable. I'm such an Iggy's fan that the clam cakes aren't up to snuff in my book. Worth it if you're near the Airport and need decent food while waiting for a flight and want to avoid eating in the Airport itself or the shame of dining at Hooter's around the corner with your mother.
(3)
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Address :911 Warren Ave
East Providence, RI, 02914
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No 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 Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
D L.
My boyfriend and I usually end up here when we're killing time before a movie at Showcase, and it's much better than the usual chains on the Route 6 area. Curly fries! Yum. It's nothing special but it's good for what it is,
(4)A Z.
This particular Chelo's is actually pretty nice and almost luxurious looking on the inside. They've got pretty nice seats, booths and tables all around. Not what you expect when you've been to other locations. Chelo's is a chain, so you might know what to expect, but in any case, I'm a big fan of their chili and here's why: you get a big bowl of chili, topped with cheese, and a giant plate of hot tortilla chips. It's like cheating on your dinner with an appetizer, but OH WAIT, it IS your dinner! I love it. Some people from RI hate Chelo's but I actually kind of like it. There are your standard items you don't want to order and are reserved for the old people (aka Pot Roast), but they have some decent above average plates as well. I even tried calamari here and it wasn't all that bad.
(3)Jeremy B.
Looking for something CHEAP to eat and you're on the go? And you're sick of eating the garbage that McDonalds feeds you? Call ahead and order a Chelos kids chicken finger meal. You get 3 chicken fingers(made with real breast meat), some steak fries, & bread rolls for $3.99(plus tax). It's by far the best food you can get for the money. And it's correct portion size that you actually should eat. They're burgers are fresh and tasty too. If you like seafood, i hear that's it's really good(i don't eat seafood, yuck!) I love their grilled chicken sandwich and the chicken alfredo is amazing too. It's a cozy "meat and potatoes" kind of restaurant. I've eaten there since i was a kid and i still love their food. Chelos is a locally owned and I like to support "mom and pap" chains. Give it a try! B+
(4)Kelly A.
Chelo's is an RI institution, and it's a place my family likes to go on occasion. Today I met up with the 'rents for lunch in East Providence, and Chelo's seemed like the best option among the sea of Chili's, 99, and Friday's locations. Unfortunately, they are sorely lacking in vegetarian options. They have this giant menu with pages upon pages of offerings, and yet there's nothing vegetarian! As a Bostonian, I am definitely not used to this problem. I saw a glimmer of hope in the baked ziti special, but then the server told me that there's chicken stock in the marinara. Fail. So I decided to order a grilled cheese and fries, which wasn't really on the menu, and they obliged. The mister asked them to make him a vegetarian version of the chicken quesadilla, which they did. The service was great, and it was nice that they were so accommodating, but they've got to get with the times and add some veg options! My parents' meals both came with dessert, since they were the specials of the day or something, so they gave us one of their desserts to split. The mister and I decided to split the carrot cake, which was positively fantastic. It was moist and delicious and had all sorts of raisins and walnuts buried beneath its lovely cream cheese icing. And the iced tea was also quite good. I have a lot of love for Chelo's because I went there a lot as a kid, but I just hope that they'll add some vegetarian fare to their menu in the near future!
(3)Tanya A.
I am only giving this place two stars not because of the food or the service but based on the manager on duty. My boyfriend and I were starving and decided that we would go to Chelos we had been there before and the food was pretty good. We were greeted by one server and served by another. Working in the service industry I understand this happens and was not worried about it. The server took our order a steak salad MR and a 4 alarm burger well. The food came out backwards again not a big deal. Then the manager came over to apologize and proceeded to tell us how the server screwed up our order and that it was her second day on the job that this kind of stuff happens...What?!!!! Like I said I have been in the service industry for years and would have been mortified if I had ever heard a manager talk about me like that. No it was not the servers fault and even if it was all you had to say was I am really sorry about your food we are fixing it and it will be out shortly. Unfortunately I don't think we will be returning to this location anytime in the near future. Not cool manager on duty!!!!
(2)Tim M.
If you want a good burger Chelos is the place to stop! They have a good sized menu with typical American food but what I come back for are the burgers. Big, juicy, and loaded with toppings. The atmosphere is bright and lively and the staff is great. Not a bad place to stop if your in the Rhode Island area!
(4)ken z.
Really disappointing. It was Friday night, and our first-choice restaurant was booked, so we figured we'd try Chelo's. The dining room was pretty empty, which maybe was a sign. I had fish (salmon? don't remember) and it was mushy. The wife had an unremarkable salad. Our guest had steak that was overly dry and overcooked. To show our guest that there is good food in the area, we went to Outback Steakhouse the next night, and Outback was in a whole 'nother class.
(2)brooke t.
I use to go more often but the last visit to chelos did it in for me. I ordered mozzarella sticks for and appetizer and chicken parm for my meal. Well the meal started out like this: 1. Bread with frozen butter I could not spread 2. The salad had a fruit fly in it I didn't see it until I was almost done 3. Mozzarella sticks cold in the center The rest of the meal was ok but after that experience I have never went back
(1)Lou P.
Big, half price bar apps Try the Chelos Amber Ale Pretty standard fare Chelo's is a RI institution, sort of like Applebee's is big in the midwest. There's nothing really spectacular about the place, but yet I find myself here before night meetings at my office. It's right up the street, and for under $20 you can split an enormous half price appetizer and a few beers in a pinch. For some reason I always find myself in the regrettable position of having a plate of quesadillas sitting in front of me. They're pretty dry ad no frills, and the edges are often burnt. The nachos are enormous, but bogged down with an overabundance of beans, jalapenos or both. The bartenders are generally friendly, as is most of the staff. Like I said, it's not the most amazing place in the world, nothing too gourmet, just large portions of hot food and beer. I always sit at the bar here, and the bartender is always very friendly and engaging, unless you're in a conversation. Beer is cheap, food is standard (but hearty) and there's parking.
(2)Radd M.
I recently visited Chelo's with some friends and was pleasantly surprised. The food is fairly inexpensive, you can see pricing on their website. But for the cost, the quality is pretty good. The Buffalo Chicken Fingers seem to be fresh chicken, breaded and fried in the back. The breading wasn't thick and ridiculous like what you find at many national chains. Their buffalo sauce tasted great and actually had a bit of a kick, which is wonderful. My steak and cheese wrap tasted great and the vegetables weren't really undercooked or overcooked. And I could actually taste the steak along side the vegetables and cheese. I've had steak and cheese wraps a few other places and Chelo's has the rest soundly beat. And I must compliment the $5 Long Island Iced Tea. Good drink and cheaper than I'm used to. The bill for the three of us came to ~$38 and that's a great deal. P.S. Our waiter was great and refilled our drinks without intrusion before they were even emptied. She was great.
(4)Marc S.
Headed out last night with the wife with intentions of hitting a local restaurant in Seekonk, when we saw how dead it was I came up with the idea to go to Chelo's. We'll try the other place another time, seems to be more of a breakfast/lunch place. It either was dead because it isn't good for dinner or who knows. We had intended to go to Chelo's one other time but got sidetracked. So this was our first time there. We were greeted by the host as we walked in thru the 2nd set of double doors. He was actually mopping the floor. Probably cleaning any salt that people tracked in as we had just received snow during the day. We were shown to a nice booth and given menus. Our waitress came by and said she would be right with us. It didn't seem to busy, but we needed the time anyways to observe the menu since it was our first time. We both ordered sodas($2.25 each, free refills) Passed on any appetizers or soup as nothing seemed too appealing to us at the time. My wife decided on the Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese($10.99) It came in a nice dish and it consisted of ziti noodles(not macaroni) with chunks of breaded buffalo chicken strips mixed in. I'd imagine they just take their other option of 5 cheese mac and cheese and just add in the Buffalo Chicken. My wife enjoyed that and even brought a small portion home for lunch today. I chose the Met's Mushroom burger which came with choice of Fries and option to swap it for a side salad or sweet potato fries for 99 cents. I got the sweet potato fries as those are a bit better for you. It also came with a couple of pickle slices. My burger was very good with the grilled mushrooms on it and American cheese, other options to add to it are available such as grilled onions, swiss cheese or bacon. For dessert we took home. We selected a slice of coconut cake, it had strawberry filling between the layers and whipped cream on the top. For a first time they seemed to be a good choice for us. We will return. It seems they offer catering as well as many desserts you can order. We saw a couple of heaping pies in the display case. Almost like you put a volcano on top of a pie crust. I'd imagine it is that full of filling. Noticed apple and a meringue offhand.
(5)Jolely M.
I love sitting at the bar. You get 1/2 off appetizers. You can enjoy drinks while playing a trivia game right at the bar.
(4)Andrew B.
Good cheap comfort food. If you miss mom's cooking stop by Chello's. I've been to this location and the Apple Valley one and they're pretty consistent in decor and the quality of the food and the service. Like any large or small chain, it's nothing amazing but it's still some good food for not too much money.
(3)George F.
I haven't been to a Chello's in at least 25 years but I got pulled along as part of a business lunch. The atmosphere is typical of a Chilis, Fridays, etc. the food was ok. My side salad was as bare bones as could be with the least attractive parts of an iceberg lettuce and two grape tomatoes one of which was well past its prime. The clam chowder was ok but far from award winning. And the clam cakes were actually pretty good. The service was friendly but inconsistent. I had an empty glass of iced tea for most of the meal. Chello's is a safe choice if entertaining guests whose tastes you don't know but it's not very compelling.
(2)Paul L.
Chelo's E.P. has been one of our "go to" places along with Davenports and Greggs. We usually order a sandwich platter rather than a dinner. However, this past Saturday, May2, 2015 I ordered the half chicken with ziti and it was the worst meal I have ever had at Chelo's. The chicken looked pathetic and the meat was so dry I had to sip my drink with each mouthful. The ziti was plain with about a half cup of very plain sauce, I felt like I was served a cafeteria lunch at an elementary school. We usually enjoy our meal at Chelo's, but not this time!
(1)Audrey M.
My fiancé brought me take out after he went there with a friend. He surprised me with a lobster roll! It was awesome!! I definitely recommend it! He had a good time playing Keno & enjoyed his chicken Caesar salad :)
(4)Shannon F.
Wow wow wow. Ok so where do I begin? This was such a bad experience that I am still angry. We chose Chelo's because they have keno and it's a RI staple. We sit down at the bar (Monday around 1) and grab some keno slips. I was absolutely ravenous. Now, my mother and I are pretty low key. You have to work to get us riled up. But this bartender managed to do it. We were ignored for a good ten minutes at least before we were given any menus, and asked what we wanted to drink. Another man had walked in and was waited on right away. I had to interrupt her after she was done getting his order and standing around to ask for the menus myself. We both ordered off the bar drink special menu. My drink came back pretty fast actually. My mother's...not so much. The bartender didn't know how to make hers. Then they had to find the recipe. Then the recipe had to be read off line by line (one ounce of blue curacao...one ounce of OJ...) My mother finally got her drink around ten minutes later, We're now about a half an hour in. We're just ordering our food. So now the wait begins. I truly believe that we would have gotten our food quickly if other people didn't have to send theirs back. The woman at the end of the bar had to send her potato back three times! While all of this was happening we were watching the bartender pouring wrong drinks for people and generally speaking be a screw up. Here comes our food about an hour in and surprisingly correct. My pasta tasted good but the sauce was broken. We came to find out that this is not the normal bartender. However, even if it is a Monday, you shouldn't be putting an inexperienced girl in her place. Management should be able to step in to any position that the restaurant has. Management is to blame for all of this. P.s. nothing but onions and tomatoes on the salad? Are you sure that is even considered a salad?
(1)James P.
Went to this place for the first time last week and loved it. I had the chicken parm sandwich and it was so good. I have to come back here!!!
(5)Steven P.
One of the best places to have a roast beef sandwich. The burgers are also very good. Chelo's is very consistent in their quality of food. A good place for an evening meal or a Saturday afternoon sandwich.
(5)Reese A.
The food isn't the best, but it's not bad! They have different specials set for everyday of the week, which is awesome because you can plan for it. The food is cheap, so I recommend it for groups and children. They have this Buffalo Mac and cheese that is absolutely phenomenal. I didn't like the seafood pasta, though, because it was very bland. (A few items on the menu are bland, hence the 4 stars.) The burgers are really good, though! The staff was nice and they offered the kids quarters to put in the ceiling train, which was very nice. I enjoy my time here every time.
(4)Mike T.
First,. The food is great. I come for the giant roast beef. Just can't get that anywhere else. Problem is, the regulars at the bar include a loud stiff in a hat that stands the whole time and his equally obnoxious girlfriend who yells across the bar and makes things generally unpleasant for anyone on their side of the bar. They are trailer trash and spend nothing while driving paying customers away. Chelos, ask these idiots to go to applebys.
(4)Heather G.
I'm a little delayed on my reviewing, but I'm trying to catch up! Came here last week, my all time favorite is the chicken parm sandwich!! Mmmm mmmm always delicious. Service is always good I've yet to have an issue. My only issue is when I order a mixed drink, it almost never tastes like it has alcohol in it. For the price, they should make their drinks a little stronger
(3)Michael B.
I like this place. Its kind of like a really high end hamburger joint. They do not have a fine dining feel. You can wear shorts and a T-shirt. Service is always excellent and the food is great. I noticed in their kitchen there is a large sign that says something such as "If you are not proud of it don't serve it." I will go again.
(4)Melanie B.
This is my first time eating at Chelo's and I had a great experience! The food was delicious (great lunch specials!) and our server Rownan was very attentive. I will definitely be back.
(5)Gregory S.
Chowder and clam cakes.....much ado about nothing. Pure mediocrity. Thought if came out of a Campbell's can. No clams in the clam cakes. Service was slow and uninspired. Fish and chips served lukewarm with the oder of ammonia. Stinky ammonia.... now that's appetizing. Had two bites and sent if back. The beer was cold, guess that was OK. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place at all costs. I almost called the RI health dept when I was served the fish. Chellos is not what they used to be. Going downhill fast. Avoid this Chellos at all costs.
(1)Mary L.
Greggs vs Chelos.... The hosts opened the door for me as I arrived. I felt fancy. They have $2.99 house margheritas and $1.99 domestic drafts, 1/2 price appetizers every day. I ordered their cheese nachos and clam cakes. Neither were special, but they hit the spot for a munchie before dinner. I preferred the chips over the cakes. Kim the bartender was awesome. She was working her butt off, cleaning, serving, and always being friendly. Overall, I still like Gregg's better. But, for a quick drink and simple cheap bite - if I'm near a Chelos, I'll stop in.
(3)Eric P.
Oh Chelo's how you have changed the very fabric of my soul. First off I went in with a coupon, buy one item get one free. AN item can be an entree though. So then I got the SPECIAL, which is an item off the special menu, a side, and a dessert all for $8.99. Not only that but you get rolls when you sit down. SO I decided to get the spaghetti and meatballs, with a side of..mashed potatoes and then I had rolls with butter, and I also got a chocolate cake dessert. My date and I ordered the same items except she got fries instead of mashed. All the food was phenomenal and sooo filling. My belly almost popped out onto the table knocking our beers all over the place and getting shards of glass in other patrons eyes, that's how full my belly was. Lets list this once again so you can quite understand where I am coming from... Two spaghetti and meatball dinner platters, 6 rolls, mashed potatoes with gravy and butter, basket of french fries with honey mustard and ketchup, 2 chocolate cake plates with 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream melting on top. This came out to $4.49 each. Did I get my carbs in for the day? Yes. Did I gain 15 pounds? Yes. Would I do it again? Yes. I have uploaded a picture of my meal for portion viewage.
(4)Mitch K.
Yes, Chelo's is a RI institution (I guess) and they have really good clam cakes, but other than that it's a forgettable place. I rate Gregg's and Davenport's higher; we only go to Chelo's when we want to eat cheap and are too tired to drive any further. The inside is clean but old (although they've added a bunch of HDTVs in the bar area which is really nice), and the menu is...the menu is...I always have a hard time deciding what to get because nothing really stands out. None of their burgers have any flair to them, the main dishes are standard...I ended up getting the calamari salad as I wanted to eat semi-healthy and it was good but wasn't anything to write home about. The best part of the meal was that my wife and I could relax and talk about our crazy day. Chelo's, you really should change up your menu else you will go the way of other former RI institutions like Rocky Point and Almacs.
(2)Mimi P.
Not sure why they win all the awards for the chowder and clam cakes Sorry, chowder is not that good and the clam cakes were ok......$6.95 for a stuffed quahog!! I don't think so.
(2)John M.
I'm not sure if I've ever enjoyed a meal here. Their menu doesn't have anything that could be considered unique, and what basic items they do have are on par with your average pizza joint. Their burgers are especially disappointing. How easy is it to make a signature burger and put some interesting toppings on it? Sullivan's Publick House does it, at least attempt to do something different. I know people like this place because it's a local family but their food isn't anything to get excited about. You're better off going to the aforementioned Sullivan's Publick House which is about 2 miles away. Or if you're still looking for that family atmosphere Davenports in Cumberland.
(2)cranston d.
swore off Chelo's 2 years ago... tried it again... sneaky pricing on "larger" beverages... check the prices... portions are unimpressive... shame on us for returning!
(1)carlos o.
I went on a friday nite hoping to have good fish and chips, well the fish was the worst fish i ever had at any Chelo's restaurant. The fish although mostly white flesh had a good amount of dark flesh which was horrible and tasteless. so i was already hungry and ate it anyway .Later the waitress asked how was your food so i told her not good at all,so she had the manager come over and i told her the same, well she said she was sorry and had she known earlier she would of replaced it with another. Now why would i want another piece of the same nasty fish? This location in the past use to have good food but not now! And the help needs to be fired starting with the Manager.
(1)Rick H.
Place holder. Chelos felt like the love child of a bennigan's/ TGI Fridays hook up. That's not a bad thing, though it does mean the place is a little bit too "bullshit American". The food is decent, the decor isn't anything special and the portions are reasonable. I'm such an Iggy's fan that the clam cakes aren't up to snuff in my book. Worth it if you're near the Airport and need decent food while waiting for a flight and want to avoid eating in the Airport itself or the shame of dining at Hooter's around the corner with your mother.
(3)