fried chicken

Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, New Orleans, 12/19/23

~ hsnixon ~ 24 Comments
building – 2301 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Dooky Chase opened as a restaurant in 1941 and before that, it was a sandwich and lottery ticket store.  Founded by Emily and Dooky Chase Sr, whose pictures are in the entry room, it remains family-owned and run.  Their son Edgar became a musician and activist for the civil rights movement and helped organize and host strategic sessions along with dialogue that included giants like Thurgood Marshall and Martin Luther King Jr.  In 1946 Edgar married Leah Lange who grew the sandwich shop to a sit-down restaurant.  Leah Chase became known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine and was shepherded in as one of the first African American fine dining restaurants in America. Continuously running since, except for a 2-year hiatus due to Hurricane Katrina, these 2 are now gone but their son, a retired lawyer, was there to greet and welcome guests. The large number of dining rooms have fed many dignitaries such as Beyoncé, Barack Obama and George W Bush, to name just a few.   The large corner location has rooms on two floors with art on the walls and no music in the background.  There were a couple of large parties meeting there during the lunch we visited and that may have been the cause of very slow service.  We arrived a bit before our reservation but would not be seated until just after our appointed time even though there were many empty tables.  Then it took 15-20 minutes before we got a menu, yet drink orders were still not ready to be taken.   Don’t know if it was our server or general overload.   Parts of the meal were excellent and others average but it’s such a historic place it feels like a place you should visit. Continue reading →

Haberdish, Charlotte, NC., 12/14/23

~ hsnixon ~ 2 Comments
exterior –3106 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205

Haberdish was a southern kitchen with a craft cocktail bar.   The name was a combination of haberdashery with dish meant to bring  the “mill town’s history to life through food.”  The owners, Jeff Tonidandel and wife Jamie Brown own several other restaurants in town.  It was a large place with an equally spacious covered patio on the side.  Brick walls, an open ceiling with ductwork, music in the background, and lots of hanging plants surrounded a long wall of bench seating, and dozens of tables and seats at the long bar counter.  The table tops were made with wood from the rafters of their building with bar taps being made from reused spindles from a mill.  We were there for lunch and it was fairly bright but windows were on the street wall and also to the patio.  The food was heavy, but that’s southern, and lacked nuance of flavor.   That being said it was reasonably good if it’s the type of food you’re looking for.   I’ve been to places that serve southern, heavy food that makes you want to come back again like Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room in Savannah and not sure this place falls in that category. Continue reading →

Roots Southern Table, Dallas, 4/7/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 13050 Bee St Suit 160, Farmers Branch, TX 75234

Roots Southern Table is all about Chef Tiffany Derry’s southern upbringing.  Eating with the seasons and never wasting anything were mantras of her family.  She has been nominated for James Beard awards in a couple categories.  The far north Dallas location opened in June of 2021 in a strip-like shopping center.  That means there is plenty of parking but it gives the place a slightly sterile atmosphere.  Reservations are a must and even with one we were kept waiting for 15 minutes as other guests were seated.  We were out with friends that evening so Frankie made less of an appearance and I didn’t make as many notes on our food.  Pictures will give you a good feel, though.  The food did have a nice amout of flavor but even with all the vegetables I left feeling heavy on the starch.  Our server could have helped with that but he was ‘all about the bread.’  They have a full bar, the noise level is high and portioning is variable. Continue reading →

Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, Raleigh, 3/31/22

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 237 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Beasley’s Chicken + Honey is one of the Ashley Christensen restaurants (Death & Taxes, Pooles, etc.).  It’s a corner building with a long counter along one wall, above which the menu is written.  Across from that are lots of small tables set with adjustable stools, that looks out onto street views.  Parking is on the street at meters or there is a pay parking lot next to the building.  Music was in the background and a greeter asigns you to a table.  They are mostly about fried chicken and southern style sides but also offer meatloaf, catfish, pot pie and various sandwiches.   There is a separate menu for brunch.  Here the fried chicken is brined, then dipped in buttermilk, dedged in flour and finally cooked in a pressure fryer. The honey is drizzled on last.  Service was efficient. Continue reading →

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, Nashville, 9/14/17

~ hsnixon ~ 3 Comments
IMG_0739
entrance

Hattie B’s is a well known place for Hot Chicken in Nashville and you can tell that by the line to get in.  You can count on 45 minutes or more if you get there much after they open.  The line is a mix of tourists and locals and the bakery next door was benefitting from some of the hungrier people who just couldn’t wait any longer.  The line leads to the counter where you order and pick up your drinks and get a number for your order to display at the table.  There are numerous combinations of chicken and 6 levels of heat for you to chose from from, no heat to “shut the cluck up!!!”.  Each order comes with some sides and then you can add more for $1 each.  They have several tap beers as well as cans but I saw no wine.  A cool pitcher of beer was just perfect after waiting in the warm sun and went well with the spicy meat.   Continue reading →