Mateo E.
Yelp
Every party has a pooper. Based on the 11 previous reviews, it appears to be me for now. Why? We weren't that impressed.This carnivore loves roasted chicken. Reviews were solid. What could go wrong?
Well, nothing went wrong--but, the sides shouldn't carry a meal when chicken's got top billing. We found the chicken milquetoast--for the noncommittal palate.
Mom ordered Le Chicken Sandwich. She reports a large portion in which every ingredient was fresh, well-chosen, and tasty--except the chicken. She called it bland.
My half chicken was large enough to take half home. It looked appetizing. White meat was juicy. The taste was just ok. Charcoal's front and center, but lacks personality. I struggled to find a comparison. It finally occurred to me--Tandoori chicken without the yogurt and spices.
Chooks' sides show the potential of this place. Adding shallots to the mashers makes for a masterful move. I wished we'd ordered two. Mac & cheese offered both a substantial mouthfeel and the kind of cheesy taste I'd expect, but without being too heavy. In a distant third place were the potato wedges saturated with Chook Chicken Salt, which seems a unique combo of cinnamon, salt, and other spices that wants you to think of Old Bay.
An order of chicken comes with a choice of sauce--a tiny little cup. We thought the gravy was "young," as in it hadn't had time to thicken, but it has potential. However, the same triple-thimble size comes along with the mashers--not enough. I enjoyed the piri-piri sauce, bright red with some zing.
Drinks... $2.50 scores a 12oz glass of craft soda with lots of ice, no refill--good, but not worth it. I was glad we had water, as every dish was sal-ty. They offer a small, but well-curated local microbrew list. If I'd been in the mood, there were worthy choices to be had.
We liked the open, friendly dining area and ambiance. One unique, very smart feature is the pictured area for kids to read and play. My hat's off to whoever thought of this, as most tables around us hosted kiddos of various ages.