So I had Mary Brown's for the first time today, despite going past a Mary Brown's on Dufferin Street in Toronto all the time in my youth on the way to Yorkdale Shopping Centre. In those days (before social media) I never heard any advertising for Mary Brown's and there was no hype. It was also the only Mary Brown's location I ever saw. I didn't know that it was a chain from Newfoundland. And for whatever reason, I was never compelled to try it. Now in 2019, fried chicken is big again and here in Ottawa there was a lot of noise about Mary Brown's coming to Ottawa (returning to Ottawa? Rumour has it there was a Mary Brown's here once upon a time but then it closed? It was in Barrhaven? I don't know. Can anyone confirm?), so obviously I had to check it out!
This location out by the Coliseum movie theatre opened at the beginning of March 2019 (the one at the Kanata Centrum opened January 2019). I was expecting a lineup since I heard the Kanata one has huge lineups, but at 6:45pm on a Wednesday it was super quiet. I was served right away.
I got the 3 piece fried chicken combo for my husband. It came with taters (potato wedges), a small coleslaw and a can of pop for $12.49. I got a Chicken Pop-ins (popcorn chicken) combo for myself. It came with taters and a can of pop for $9.79.
I loved the Chicken Pop-ins. They were mostly meat with just a bit of batter/breading. And it was all lean breast meat too! I'm a fan. I got the Maple Chili dipping sauce and I really liked it. It was a bit sweet and a bit spicy.
I wasn't a huge fan of the taters. Some pieces were ok, but some I found were really mealy/starchy/powdery tasting (the bigger and thicker wedges).
I had some of the fried chicken and it was good. The skin was crispy and yes it was oily/greasy, but not dripping with fat in a gross way. The seasoning on the fried chicken, Chicken Pop-ins and taters seem to be all the same to me. The seasoning was a bit on the bland side in terms of flavour, but there was adequate salt, just the flavour profile was blah IMO. The dipping sauces definitely helped, especially the Maple Chili since it gave a spicy kick.
Service was friendly and quick. The restaurant is new and looks very clean. There are not that many seats to eat in, but everyone who came in while I was there was getting takeout.
There's lots of free parking in the complex.
I got a link to a feedback survey on my receipt. I did the survey and got a code. So if I bring back my receipt with the code written on it within 60 days, I get 15% off my next purchase. I guess I'll have to come back to try either the Buffalo Chicken Tenders or the Thai Chicken Pop-ins - twist my arm! Lol ;) read more