Culver City Beat review
When I first read about a restaurant specializing in chili in Culver City, I knew I had to visit it right away. It's not that I'm a chili connoisseur; I'm just drawn to restaurants which specialize in one type of food.
Tub's Fine Chili is located in a strip mall right off of Overland. Upon walking in, I was greeted by a western themed restaurant with a bar against the wall to sit at, and two tables in the middle. It's a small place that I can imagine gets quite crowded during the lunch rush.
Rick, the vibrant owner of the establishment is a jolly man excited about making chili. He can often be found behind the counter with a giant Texan hat on. When I first saw the hats on the people behind the counter, I felt a bit apprehensive -- themed restaurants don't usually have good food.
Rick behind the counter by Louise Yang
I gave Rick the benefit of the doubt and ordered the chicken and hominy chili on flatbread. The menu calls it chili pizza. Okay, so it's not the most authentic way to eat chili, but I was really curious about chili pizza. Next time, I promised, I would try a more traditional chili.
The chicken chili which came on the flatbread was flavorful and the chicken pieces were tender. There was not much heat to it, which was fine since I wanted to appreciate the other flavors first. The flatbread was actually quite good while it was hot since it was crispy on the edges. It surprisingly held the chili very well without getting soggy.
After finishing a slice of the chili pizza, I was ready for a little heat. When I asked for hot sauce, I was presented with a clear yellow liquid and a warning to use it sparingly. I can take more heat than most people, so I used the sauce generously. The sauce, habanero infused canola oil, packs a lot of heat, but no flavor at all which makes it perfect for adding a kick to chili. Don't be thrown off by its lack of redness.
Tub's Fine Chili
I'm glad I gave Tub's Chili a try and didn't get scared off by its western decor. There's a good variety of different chilis, including a completely vegan one, and the people behind the counter are warm and friendly. I originally brought in a book to keep me company, but ended up not reading it at all because I was enjoying the conversation and banter.
Next time I go back, I'm going to try a more conventional chili. Maybe the Chuck Wagon Grind or Smokin' Pig. For less than $7 a meal trying out every option is certainly within my budget.