We've had it with the slow service, time-worn surroundings and loud pop music at BBQ Chicken and Beer in Cliffside Park, where the specialty is spicy Korean chicken, fried twice in extra-virgin olive oil.
The restaurant has been one of our favorites in the past couple of years, when several Korean fried chicken outlets opened in North Jersey. We had dinner there last night after an absence of many months and found some changes, but the fried and grilled chicken and American side dishes were as good as ever, and my mug of beer was icy cold.
After we placed our order for wings and drumsticks of fire -- requesting them as spicy as possible -- and grilled roasted pepper thighs, we got our drinks and a small bowl of peanuts, in place of the cut vegetables the restaurant once served. Then we waited, and waited, and waited.
Finally, we got the wings and coleslaw. Later, our crunchy waffle fries were brought out, followed in several minutes by the drumsticks and, eventually, the grilled chicken and steamed rice, but butterflied legs were substituted for the usual thighs. The restaurant was out of its terrific mac and cheese, and we had to ask for water several times.
Fortunately, there is a second BBQ Chicken at 10 E. Edsall Boulevard in Palisades Park (201-461-0201), which is where we will be going in the future.
Olive oil is not supposed to be heated at very high temperatures, could that be a reason that it takes so long for the chicken to be prepared?
ReplyDeleteThat's a good question. I didn't mention that the place does a fair amount of take-out business, which slows things down for the dining room. But there were only two other tables occupied when we were there.
ReplyDelete