A couple weeks ago, some friends and I decided to go to a pumpkin patch and frolic in typical fall fashion. Of course, copious amounts of frolicking naturally lead to chili cravings. So we decided to go to Bassett’s Restaurant in Poolesville, MD.
The fall vibes at this place were immaculate. They had creepy Halloween decorations and lots of red, orange, and yellow tones everywhere. The place was so warm and inviting, it felt like being folded up in a blanket sitting next to a fireplace with a cold wind making your windows lightly rattle. But not enough that you’re concerned. Just enough that you’re really grateful to be inside in the warmth.
I ordered a BLT with a cup of chili. Unfortunately I failed to notify the waiter to hold the cheese, so I had to take it off before eating, but this is how the chili was served:
Let’s get into it.
Appearance
If I could eat that cheese, I would say that little sprinkle on top really brought everything together. This bowl had some really great, bright colors. Unfortunately that is where my compliments stop. There was a noticeable layer of grease at the top of the chili that just looked pretty unappetizing. Also, you can’t see in the picture, but there was chili dripping down the sides of the bowl and it looked pretty sloppy. Okay obviously this isn’t a five-star restaurant, and as I write this I realize I sound ridiculous, BUT I wouldn’t mind all this if the chili was absolutely over-the-top delicious, though, as you’ll find out soon, it left much to be desired. I have to say that the lighting here is much better than my last post. Maybe this will become a food photography blog after all (it won’t).
Appearance rating: 2/5
Flavor
This chili had so much potential. Unfortunately it was obvious that it was either all pre-made, or at least the foundation was and they simply added some beans or something. It tasted like chili out of a can. WHICH, don’t get me wrong, can hit the spot. But it wasn’t doing it for me on this fateful day. It was also kind of cold. I feel like I should have to blow on the first spoonful of a chili bowl to prevent burning my mouth.
This chili was also terribly salty. The redeeming factor here was that I had ordered a BLT with it, and the bread on that sandwich was kind of bland, so if I dipped it in the chili it was like when Remy the rat ate the strawberry and the cheese together. Okay maybe not that good. But I really felt like I had unlocked the secret to this chili. And that secret is that it shines as a side dish.
Flavor rating: 2/5
Texture
You know, surprisingly the texture here wasn’t all that bad. It was a little watery, I’ll admit, but I needed the bread to be able to soak it up. So I really didn’t mind. The beans were cooked quite well and the ground beef was really fresh. Now that I think about it, they probably used the chili sauce out of the can and then added everything else. And you know what? I can forgive them. This isn’t a chili restaurant. Overall, the mouthfeel here really came together quite nicely.
Texture rating: 4/5
Food Dance Factor
I did not dance at all, unfortunately. Not even a jiggle.
Food dance rating: 0/5
Overall
I know that in my last review, I added all of the components of my rubric to get the overall rating, but I don’t think that would really be fair in this case. An 8/20 does not seem reasonable because I actually had a great time here and really enjoyed the ambiance of the whole place and the meal overall. Their coffee was great and the hostesses and waiters were really warm and friendly. So I’m gonna give them a 15/20 because the vibes of this place really made up for the mediocrity of the chili. And, of course, any chili enjoyed with friends is top-notch chili.
Overall rating: 15/20