I’ll just say it – I think chicken & waffles are stupid. It makes no sense to me, these two things have no logical business being together. It’s like someone was just like “Look! Two things that are really bad or you, lets serve them on the same plate.” Maybe it’s because I’m not from the south. Or, maybe it’s because that dish is heavy, beige, & awkward to eat. Regardless, it’s not for me. However, Sweet Chick, who is known for their version of the dish managed to convince me otherwise.
Sweet chick has two locations. You can visit them in Williamsburg or the Lower East Side. The decor is casual and laid back. It's the kind of neighborhood joint you could visit regularly and always feel at home. Lots of distressed wood, exposed brick & booze on display. They have great cocktails and beer to fuel you through an evening. The staff is kind without the normal "fuck off" attitude you normally find from staff in those two neighborhoods.
The grub is southern inspired. You’ll find a whole menu of classic, well executed staples from the part of the US that fries and drowns all their food in butter (nothing wrong with that). Their appetizer selection includes a number of biscuit sliders including crab cake, chicken, pulled pork & duck. The biscuits were the perfect combination of dense and flaky. The chicken & waffles are exactly what you want. The chicken is crispy and juicy, the waffles are soft on the inside and crisp on the outside. They kick it up by bringing you a selection of flavored butter. You can try salads, sandwiches, or composed dishes. I’d spring for the shrimp & grits which are rich, slightly spicy, and swimming in an unctuous tomato sauce. For sides the creamy mac n cheese topped with Ritz crackers cannot be missed. Here’s what we had:
Fried Chicken Slidershousemade biscuits, sliced pickles
Shrimp and Grits - Smoked Paprika and Bell Pepper Sauce, Scallions, Cheddar Grits, Poached Egg
Mac & Cheese - gruyere, fontina, aged white cheddar, ritz cracker crust
