I Had Lunch at the New ‘Office’-Themed Chili’s in Scranton, Pennsylvania

The Grand Opening

When the doors opened, about 30 people were lined up outside the Chili’s. As I entered, I noticed that Chili’s Scranton Branch, despite its marketing, isn’t so much The Office-themed as it is 2005 Chili’s-themed, as it’s decorated as a Chili’s was in 2005, as opposed to 2025. Now, I like Chili’s well enough, but I’ll admit I haven’t spent a lot of time paying close attention to its decor over the past two decades. Had I not been told this branch was in any way different from every other Chili’s, I might not have noticed.

As I was looking around the restaurant, I was directed to a handful of The Office-themed trinkets from the show, including Prison Mike’s bandana and the medals awarded to the Dunder Mifflin staff in “Office Olympics,” which oddly doesn’t take place at Chili’s. They also have on display a watercolor painting resembling one that Pam made in the show, but instead of portraying the Dunder Mifflin building, it shows — you guessed it — Chili’s. About half the waitstaff wore Chili’s shirts with the Dunder Mifflin font, which was honestly a nice touch.

Overall, I was underwhelmed by the lack of The Office kitsch. When I heard there was going to be an Office-themed restaurant, my brain envisioned a place with The Office reruns on every TV screen, a signature Jell-O dish with a stapler inside on the dessert menu or maybe an animatronic Steve Carell in the corner who raps when you touch a button. But no, the experience, while courteous and efficient, wasn’t nearly as immersive.

Cocktail: Scranton Marg

One of two exclusive menu items at Chili’s Scranton Branch, the Scranton Marg, is a margarita with 1800, el Jimador, Jose Cuervo and mango. It was quite good. Not very Office-y, but good. Maybe they could have done a beet-flavored margarita, locally sourced from Schrute Farms? A martini from the Finer Things Club? Michael Scott’s “One of Everything” cocktail? I’m just spitballing here. 

Appetizer: The Awesome Blossom

The other exclusive item at the Scranton Branch is the Awesome Blossom, which Michael makes repeated references to in the episode “The Client” when he uses the appetizer, and a few cocktails, to woo a client. The Awesome Blossom — essentially a Blooming Onion — was a Chili’s menu item that was discontinued in 2008 after Men’s Health named it the “Worst Appetizer in America” for its high calorie and fat content.

As a former underpaid Men’s Health writer, let me just say that I welcome the appetizer’s return. It was delicious and paired perfectly with the Scranton Marg. Plus, bringing back Michael Scott’s favorite app to only this location is probably the most inspired thing about the Chili’s Scranton Branch so far.

Entrée: Baby Back Ribs

For my entrée, I again looked to Michael Scott, who ordered baby back ribs in “The Client.” They were great, of course. That’s kind of the thing to get at Chili’s, after all. Sure, it would have been great to see Kevin’s Homemade Chili on the menu next to “Pretzel Day”-style pretzels, but by this point in my dining experience, I’d vastly lowered my Office-themed expectations.

Getting the Check

I skipped dessert. Half an Awesome Blossom — which is meant to serve four — plus a half-rack of dry-rub ribs, an ear of street corn and two Scranton Margs goes a long way. Fortunately, I can walk this all off in downtown Scranton, which has an Office mural and a few other tourist-y landmarks to fulfill my unsated desire for Dunder Mifflin nostalgia.

In the end, I didn’t feel God in this Chili’s. But I did stuff my face with delicious ribs while sipping a few good margs, which is all one can really expect from any Chili’s location, and that includes Scranton. Er, I mean, Dickson City.