Who knew that this order at the counter and they deliver to your table chicken centric place would be one of the favorite finds in all of 2024 for my husband and me given we do not "do" the growing horde of fast food chicken joints in the area. But this is entirely different and it goes to show, for us at least, that an open mind can be a good thing for one's stomach because we have enjoyed chicken meals that are both delicious and healthy as eat in and take out and at some of the most reasonable price points in the local area.
As we popped in to share a salad (they are plenty big for two) for lunch yesterday it occurred to me that mid way into 2025, I still had not finished the review I started in 2024. (Maybe because I really didn't want anyone else to know about this great place?) In the interim from starting time of my review last year, my opinion moved from 4 to 5 stars because it does not get better than this for consistently good food and service for the kind of fast casual model they use.
Pride of ownership shines as does the pride of working there by friendly employees.
THE DRILL & MENU: When you enter before you've even made it to the counter, someone will say "Welcome!" and ask if you've been in before. If you say "No" then they will tell you how it works. Order from the options (there are a lot of them) on the menu board for rotisserie chicken in 4 varieties in quarter, half or whole sizes, order the sides (2 come with it) of your choice, OR order one of a handful of salad main dish size options OR order from a choice of two pastas OR order a sandwich (these are wrap style). Pay at the counter, they'll give you a number if you eating in and run the meal to your meal to your table when ready. They happily split, in the kitchen, orders you may want to share with a dining companion. Take out works the same for easy ordering and packaging to go.
THE EATS: They use good quality, non steroid or antibiotic fed chicken and the good aroma of the chicken being rotisseried pre announces to your taste buds that it will be good to eat. This I say as a person who almost never orders chicken out and is super choosy about the varieties I cook at home. (Remember the "Colin the Chicken" bit from Portlandia? Intended as a comedy skit, friends said "this is you" for how picky I am about chicken. ;-) )
Not only is the chicken good, so are all the sides that have healthy options like baked potato, falafel, hummus, two different kinds of slaw, green salad, roasted veg... All meals are served with a pita and what they call a garlic spread that is reminiscent of a Middle Eastern garlic spread called toum. The original is garlic and olive oil whipped and this whipped spread includes mayo and potatoes, I was told.
THIS EXPLAINS THAT: On our way out the first time we were in I asked the friendly kid behind the counter how it was the owner knew so much about Middle Eastern fare given side choices and bev choices like mint tea. A man, who I thought was the kitchen manager because he was working hard to plate up orders, turned around to identify himself as owner and said it was because he is originally from Lebanon. Perfect. And we had a nice exchange on the secret to really smooth hummus...what was taught to me by a Jordanian cook is what he relayed to me too.
$: Prices range from roughly $14 to $26, depending on if you are ordering quarter, half or whole chicken - remember these come with sides included. Main dish salads from roughly $12 - $17 (remember these feed two as meal), pastas about $17 and the sandwiches (gyro wraps) about the same. You can also take out sides as separate orders. They also have a family meal option of 2 whole chickens with 4 sides, pita and garlic spread for around $51...a great deal that easily feeds up to 6 people.
SETTING & SEATING: Former Qdoba space with curved front and parking lot front and side. Love that the tables are fixed (I assume this was inherited by the current owner) at distances that allow easy access to and from them and breathing room between other diners. High top tables are against curved windows.
ACCESSIBILITY: Tables are wheelchair accessible at bases and for clear floor space to and around them. Two ADA parking spots at the side of the building. Loo is accessible.
COLIN THE CHICKEN: If you have a couple of minutes to spare for a chuckle, this is a good comedy bit from Portlandia and I am not ashamed to say I am about this choosy for chicken. ;-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErRHJlE4PGI read more