NYC Restaurants

Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken has arrived on the Lower East Side and there's a little bit for everyone at this chicken spot.  Wings, thighs and breasts are on the menu, along with grilled chicken burgers in flavors like cordon bleu and the "pit" as in barbecue pit.  They also have a nice selection of salads.   Sides include things like potato wedges, deep fried beans and pickled peppers.  Ordering the house combos will save you some money or you can go a la carte.

While I was intrigued by the burgers, I was here for the fried chicken.  I ordered two wings and a thigh ($8).  The chicken arrived with a light, crispy crust that was golden brown and perfectly seasoned.  The meat inside is juicy, and unlike some other chicken joints in town, cooked all the way through.  They really are putting out some very nice fried chicken that pairs wonderfully with the assortment of sauces offered tableside.  I tried all them all (hot sauce, habanero, wildflower honey, honey mustard and tangy BBQ) and couldn't find a loser in the pack.  Housemade pickles ($3) are on the sour side and offer a nice crunch, and the onion rings ($3) look like they are made from scratch, probably because they are.   In fact, we're told everything is made in-house including the ice cream.

While they may have a few kinks to iron out, Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken is off to a strong start.  And I should mention, that while I posted some prices, the meal was gratis for everyone in the restaurant as part of that soft opening which was pretty sweet.  Cluck Yeah!