Today, we review George’s Chili from Culver’s. This is our first chili review here on Coalition Eats. George’s Chili is named after George Culver, one of the founders of Culver’s.
George, along with Ruth, Craig, and Lea Culver, founded the franchise in Sauk City, Wisconsin, on July 18, 1984, under the name “Culver’s Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers.” It’s a privately held company, and Craig Culver (George’s son) remains its chairman. It’s headquartered in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. The chain operates primarily in the Midwestern United States and currently has about 1,000 restaurants in 26 states.
There is an ongoing debate in various circles about whether beans belong in chili. George’s Chili does contain beans. In this review, we will not discuss the bean controversy; instead, we will evaluate George’s Chili as a whole.
The Construction
For the most part, George’s Chili is served as-is. There is one customization option: ordering the George’s Chili Supreme, which comes with raw onions, cheese, and sour cream. For this assessment, we will be evaluating the base George’s Chili, not the Supreme option.
- Tomato Base (Included what is described as a “secret blend” of spices
- Simmered Beef
- Diced Tomatoes
- Dark Kidney Beans
- Peppers
- Celery
- Saltine Crackers (Served Separately)
- Size: Large
- Bowl Diameter: 3 3/4 inches
- Weight: 14 ounces
- Location: Indian Trail, NC
- Price: $5.69
The Experience
Since we have not assessed a chili before, we need to establish a baseline. In this case, a similar scoring algorithm was used as for some of the soups we reviewed.
- Stock (Tomato Base): 4 points
- Beef: 2 points
- Vegetables and Extras: 2 points
- Intangibles: 2 points
I did not include saltine crackers in the assessment because I do not eat them in chili.
Stock
George’s Chili uses tomato-based stock. In terms of spiciness, I would put it just below a medium (4 1/2 out of 10 on a spice scale). The thickness level was perfect – not overly thick and not watery. I’d put the flavor on the good side, but I would have liked a little more richness.
Score: 2.25 points out of 4.00 points.
Meat
The meat used is beef. Culver’s makes a pretty good burger, so I had high expectations for the ground beef in George’s Chili. The best way I can summarize it is average. The meat seemed to lack distinct flavor, and any flavors picked up came from the tomato base in the chili itself…