A round-up of some local roasted chicken offerings
If you ever need a fun dinner party idea that doesn't involve cooking, invite a few friends over for a taste test of local restaurants with a common theme. In this case, we did a sampling of the roasted chickens from four different spots in Charlottesville. Here's the lineup!
As pictured above, from left to right:
Selvedge Brewing at The Wool Factory | This one had the smokiest flavor of all the chickens we got. It comes with a green sauce, white aioli, limes, cilantro, some shredded radish, and tortillas. Loved the tortillas, and wrapping the chicken in it balanced out the flavor really well.
Dino's in Dairy Market | This chicken had a great seasoning on the outside, and comes with a sauce and two sides of your choice--we got fries and plantains, and both were great. I'm a sucker for fried plantains, so that's a plus for this joint (as well as Al Carbon--see below).
Birdhouse | I'd heard a lot of hype around this spot, so I was excited to try it. This chicken was a little different from the others we got. It's more of a traditional herb roasted chicken you'd expect for a plated dinner, whereas the other ones are Peruvian style and more casual, with accompanying sauces. This chicken got props around the table for how crisp and tasty the skin was.
Al Carbon | I have a deep abiding love for Al Carbon, and while the goal was not to rank things, I do think I'll remain most loyal to this joint after the taste test. It's not just that their chickens are juicy and delicious--it's the sauce and side options that go with the chicken get me. I love their rice and street corn piled together with chicken and sauce, and their plantains (which have a sweet sauce of their own!) are delightful. They're also the most cost-friendly of the four; you can get a whole chicken plus sides for the cost of half at some of the other spots.
If you've got other recommendations for local establishments with a good rotisserie chicken, let me know! One that's already on my list to still try is on the menu at Super Almanecer (a place I love for many other reasons, so definitely check it out).
Комментарии