We've been taking a trip down memory lane here at Cambridgeshire Live over the past couple of weeks, reminiscing about the way things were.

We've asked readers to share their fond memories of Cambridge's gone but not forgotten shops and restaurants.

And one thing which came up time and time again was Chili's on East Road - and to be honest, I'm glad I'm not the only one who misses it.

It might seem like a ridiculous thing to miss, it's an American chain restaurant after all, but I do.

As a child growing up in Cambridge, it was the go-to place for every birthday party and pre-cinema treat.

I distinctly remember one year (around my 10th birthday) heading there after going to the circus on Midsummer Common. I wore a light pink cardigan which had a frilly trim.

True love was born

I honestly believe Chili's was where my love of pasta was born.

Whenever I went there, I always without fail ordered the same thing - a chicken and pasta dish with white [Alfredo] sauce, green onions, Parmesan and cherry tomatoes.

It came with the most insanely crispy garlic bread I've ever had in my life.

In fact writing this has driven me to look up pictures of it on the Internet - and now I am very hungry.

What I would give for another bowl of this delicious pasta!

As a child, who rarely willingly ate anything which could be considered 'good for you' you can imagine the look of sheer delight on my parents' face when I scoffed every last bright red tomato.

I've tried to make it since as an adult, but it's never quite as good as I remember it.

But what would a trip to Chili's be without the molten chocolate cake?

It was the ultimate food porn - chocolate cake, ice cream in that thin chocolate shell which melted away into an oozy puddle on your plate.

It was giant, and my mum would always try to steal a bit using one of the long sundae spoons.

Rockin' restaurant

On a post on Facebook, a former Chili's employee shared their love for the restaurant.

Chas Dean wrote: "[I] worked at Chili's in the late 90s when the World Cup '98 was on. The place was rocking when England was playing on the big screens, great times!"

Another die-hard fan said they would "sell their soul for some of their nachos and a cocktail or ten".

Disco vibes with your dinner!

Now I'm severely regretting never eating nachos or drinking cocktails there, even if I was about twelve when it closed.

Apparently they were really cheap on Thursdays too, she says looking mournfully at her £10.50 cosmo.

Another thing I vividly remember about Chili's on East Road was the model train that went round and round the restaurant.

A source of great joy for many Cambridge kids (and grown ups too, don't lie).

And I was always fascinated by the luminous green lights around the bar - I was too young to ever drink anything from it but it looked cool.

Sure, the decor was a bit dated and the floors were sometimes sticky but none of that can mar my memories of this restaurant and it's funky tile tables.

I miss it so much I'm now mentally planning a tour around the US where I will eat exclusively at Chili's.

I also really miss Carrington's but that's a topic for another day.