Thomas C.
Yelp
The reason for the one star I cannot understand five stars for this place) is that this place, either franchised or from an out-of-town (Cincinnati) corporation, is not TRYING. Who do they think they are? Especially teasing the Greektown neighborhood where we need places like this. Filling up one of those vacant storefronts is nice, but corporate chains that can afford the high rents are seemingly all we see, and not for long. But the employees were fine, nothing to report there. You would think that by basing its business model on TWO items--chicken tenders and french fries--they would be the best tenders and fries (really, no fresh-cut fires?) in town.The Price : Quality Tried it for the first time yesterday, takeout. The only "variety" they have is different toppings for sandwiches and salads. But salads are pricey too. I know, french fries don't travel well; I figured I'd revive them in the oven and was relatively successful. I tried the soggy fries when I got home and they weirdly had very little flavor, not garlic parmesan or potato flavor. Now, the tenders: NO, NO, NO NO and NO. I know an iconic Italian and pizza parlor that has chicken tenders on their menu as an afterthought for the kiddies (They really hit the spot, or two spots) and they're three times bigger with better, albeit standard, sauces. I think my CityBird was spicy, I didn't ask for plain, but they weren't that hot. As for the City Sauce: It's the ketchup/mustard combo I whip up at home, with City having three grains of pepper and 1.5 drops of vinegar. But I can't believe how small the tenders are; why don't they have two or three different sizes of tenders? Extra crispy? Why not wings? Why not regular fried chicken, like Harold's, even justvtwice a week?? Why not more sides, like potato salad, good onion rings, mac and cheese? But the astounding deal-breaker here is the tenders, the basis of the business!! There is a dearth of fried chicken joints in the West Loop, except for that one "Randolph Street" place that is too expensive, iffy reviews, and doesn't deliver. I don't know if the tenders were ever crispy, but they did not re-crisp in the oven. I made my own sandwich. CityBird Key Word: Disappointment.
P.S. Why do these hoity toity chefs think the entire country wants hot Nashville chicken? It's too hot and you can't taste the chicken. Maybe the younger generation likes the spicy, i.e. Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Chefs to "introduce" it in Chicago? They're just stealin' it from Nashville.