Ed U.
Yelp
So this sounds like a familiar refrain. Jamie W. and I were finishing our second cocktails at The Duplex, so
let's just say we were feeling no pain, Mr. Maine (review: https://bit.ly/3SL3x3A). However, we were feeling those familiar munchies when an excess of alcohol somehow made us think our stomachs disappeared. We were thinking about returning to Jack's Wife Freda (review: https://bit.ly/3NcTseB).
We had quite a good meal there just a few months ago, but then I found this spot on Yelp and got excited at the prospect of having khao mun gai in the West Village. It turned out to be a small space, typical Village walk-up size, but there was an open table for us. I liked how they offered roasted and fried chicken options and even wings, but that didn't sway us. We both ordered the $11.95 #1 Steamed Chicken Rice (photo: https://bit.ly/3gOGiZ1).
Why? Because that's what was meant to be. It was a hearty bowl covered liberally with savory boneless steamed chicken sliced but not skinned. Hey, I'm no martyr. I was thrilled it came with slow cooked pieces of liver and gizzards. All of it came over ginger-infused rice and was drizzled with a lot of tasty garlic-ginger sauce. There was a cup of hot daikon soup provided on the side.
You would think that would have been enough, and if we were sober, it would've been. However, we noticed they sold a $4.95 plate of French Fries (photo: https://bit.ly/3TYSIfb), and well, we needed fries. Like real bad. I can barely remember eating them at this point as I assumed we didn't bother chewing them on their way down our gullets. What a happy find. I'm sure we would've been thrilled even if they made us take a breathalyzer test.
FOOD - 5 stars...a fine khao mun gai with fries on the side
AMBIANCE - 4 stars...compact spot but enough room for us and three slender Gen Z types
SERVICE - 4 stars...kudos for understanding our slurred speech and over enthusiastic praise
TOTAL - 5 stars...LA has Savoy Kitchen (review: http://bit.ly/2KLT08s), so this could be NYC's response
RELATED - Hungry in NYC? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2YS9ELs