Kendall's Grill…read more
After driving past it for a couple of decades, I finally stopped at Kendall's Grill. What a mistake I made.
All those years I could have had golden, crispy chicken tenders and burgers like Dad used to make. No, I blew it. But I'm making up for lost time--I went twice in one week. Once for the chicken, and again for a burger.
Fast review:
A burger you don't want to wait 10 years to try.
Fried chicken that might make Zaxby's rethink their approach.
Let's back up
Kendall's opened in 2009. Judging by the orange floor tile, this might have been a Hardee's long ago, but they've remodeled quite a bit. The vibe now is part drive-in, part diner.
The front counter is right by the entrance. The kitchen sits just beyond a serving partition. To the left is a full-service ice cream case. To the right, a bar where you can watch your food being prepared. There are cushioned booths inside and several picnic tables out on the porch. Pop music plays throughout.
The staff? Always moving, always working--but still taking time to say hello. Friendly, efficient, skilled. The owner is doing something right at the very root of a good restaurant: the people.
Part 1 - The Chicken
Kendall's sits on West Blue Ridge Drive, right in that "is this Sans Souci or City View?" stretch near Cedar Lane Road. It's a stone's throw from Swamp Rabbit Grocery and about 2.1 miles from Cherrydale. Heads up--left turns into the lot require some attention.
The nice lady at the counter helped me navigate the menu, and it is wide: specialty burgers, chicken sandwiches, cheesesteaks, salads, seafood, loaded mac & cheese, hot dogs. The printed menu runs five pages.
But I was there for the hand-breaded chicken fingers.
They offer 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-piece options, from $5.99 to $9.99, or $12.99 to $16.99 for combos with a side, toast, coleslaw, a dipping sauce, and a drink (hold onto that thought).
I ordered the 4-piece combo, upgraded from fries (straight or crinkle!) to mac & cheese, chose Nashville hot sauce (14 options total), and grabbed a Pepsi. $12.99 plus tax and tip.
Drinks are self-serve--fountain sodas, tea, water, and regular or strawberry lemonade.
I took a half-table by the window, facing the door (IYKYK). Within minutes, my food arrived--hot, fresh, and plated.
Presentation? Classic diner style. Real plate, real bowl. The toast was a thick, golden slice--perfect for making two little chicken sliders. I'm not a coleslaw fan, but this one was crisp, not overly mayo-heavy, and not soggy.
The mac & cheese is worth the trip by itself. Creamy roux, real cheese flavor, each elbow noodle still slightly al dente, still steaming when it hit the table. This is closer to Mom's kitchen than anything rehydrated from a cup.
And the chicken? About perfect. Tender, juicy, fried just right. You can taste the difference between hand-breaded and "fresh-from-the-box." This was the real thing.
Only complaint: I wish the four tenders were a little larger.
The Nashville sauce brought the heat. Next time I'm trying the Gold BBQ, Korean BBQ, and Sweet Red Chili.
Stay tuned for part 2!
