Daniel P.
Yelp
Bottom line: If you're in TLH, and you're seeking out unique-to-TLH restaurants that span the gamut, then any of the Lindy's (Orange Ave., Lafayette, N. Monroe are the only one's I know personally) fit the bill. I have been to the Southwood Lindy's - but it's more upscale and the very nature of an upscale Lindy's is a minor affront to my inner proletarian.
You BET Lindy's is getting a whoppin' five-star rating from this guy. As Art S. so eloquently stated in his review methodology, ratings need to occur stacked next to their comparables. (Comps). And Comps in TLH, in my opinion, are ALWAYS also in TLH. It is ok to cite "how things are back in the big city" - but folks, do it sparingly. TLH reviews are geared towards folks who are presumably looking for best-in-TLH options... (ok, enough of the soap box).
Five stars in class (Class being 1. TLH, 2. Locally Owned, 3. Iconic Fried Chicken Outlet, 4, Exceptional Gizzards/Livers (yes, a subset, but an important one) and 5. Locally renowned.
There ARE good chicken outlets elsewhere in town. 'Fact, one happened to open up two doors down from me on Park Ave. But Lindy's is a part of the TLH experience, whereas no matter how "delectable" any fast-casual / QSV outlet is in town, the experience you receive generally mimics the one in Tacoma, Tempe, Tillamook, Topeka or Tucson. But the thing is, we're in Tallahassee - so why not enjoy an experience you simply can't get outside of Tallahassee? - That experience is Lindy's. (when you're off jet-settin' to Houston on that Continental TLH-IAH direct, knock yourself out with one of the fast-casuals over there!)
Why is Lindy's so good?
1. Livers/Gizzards fresh at 11:30 every day. The good stuff. I'm talkin' just like the country store gas stations in the surrounding north florida counties. (even that one country-esque "city-slicker" gas station at the trecherous intersection of Old Bainbridge and Tharpe...)
2. Chicken Salad. It's from Lindy's, so, as can be imagined, it's sourced from Fried Chickens. Can't extend this out to parallel the Portlandia skit concerning actual Poulet Pedigree, but I've stretched it to the point where I can reference the skit so that if you're unfamiliar with it, you - in turn, can check out both Portlandia and the particular skit involving sourced locally-raised chickens).
3. Chicken Filet Sandwich. I'm not, by any means, knocking the Chicken Filet (spelled incorrectly) sandwich available at an other outlet, or similar chicken sandwiches sold at innumerable franchise outlets across the land. Instead, I'm merely putting this one up on a well-deserved Corinthian pedestal as an example after which all other similarly intentioned sandwiches can model themselves. It's remarkably good. Remarkably good.
4. The Pork Chop Sammich. As the name implies, it's a sandwich, with a pork chop in it. (Yes, bone-on).
5. Decor. Old-school, diner, naugahyde, cheapie panelling, low ceilings, all the charm that yesteryear extended to our previous generations. Looking for a time-machine to transport you to a period when social activitism REALLY was social activism, and not the lazy, sloth-like whining of 2016? This is the sort of decor you can imagine in the 60's and early 70's. I'm not saying this would have been found in Paris, '68 - but definitely you could have seen these interiors all throughout our own civil strife of the mid+ years of the 20th century. (O.K., I'm about to reign it in. Bear with me...).
6. Staffing. I've never ONCE been to a Lindy's and experienced anything short of a respectful, courteous, professional and cheerful exchange. 212 Headhunters could learn a thing or two from the hiring process here!