OK, first I should apologize for the length of this review, but this is a new place and it deserves Words.
Heard about this new spot from a coworker. Puerto Rican & soul food, yum. Take-out only, perfect for any Covid eve -- but only open on Sat & Sun eves (at least, right now; who knows how and when that will change with all the variability in restrictions, demand, and so on).
Coworker said to try the fried chicken. That's something I grew up on but have a hard time ordering because you just never know. So I checked the menu -- more than one fried chicken available. There are the leg quarters (my all-time favorite cut) and wings (always ready for some good wings!). So I asked Coworker which fried chicken, the leg quarters or the wings? "Yes! And try the ribs too!"
Yeah, well, only one stomach handy (though maybe it looks more like 2 after all this Covidiating), so no -- I settled on the leg quarter.
And then there are the sides. Are you kidding me, for $15 I get the entree plus 3 sides?? Great deal! That's the set price, by the way: Any entree plus any 3 sides for $15. Sweet. And listing collard greens definitely helped my decision of sides -- that had to be one, something I've not had in decades. And I miss my departed friend's Puerto Rican rice & beans, so that was another. Hadn't tried mofongo or tostones, opted for the latter. (Could've had a side salad but I can get that anywhere, like my own kitchen, so I went for choices that aren't as readily available.) Others in the family tried one of the buffalo wing options, the pastelillos, more fried chicken, mofongo, mac & cheese, arroz con gandules, side salads, potato salad, more. Called in my order to Rae (what a great personality in taking my order!) and drove over at the appointed time.
The place is hard to find, tucked in on the SE outside wall of the Broker Inn, around the corner from a hair salon (?). While I was there a number of food pickups & delivery gig workers showed up also. I'm not the only customer -- good.
The fried chicken was perfection! Very tasty batter, not that dry crunchy stuff so many offer, nor lightly breaded greasy skin, nor something so bland as to make you wonder why they bothered battering. And the chicken within was cooked perfectly, very juicy and tender. Rae's and Kay's does a magnificent job with a leg quarter! I also tried one of the buffalo wings and loved it. Rae said they make the BBQ sauce but not this buffalo sauce; well, I thought it was pretty tasty unless you're in the mood for wings that are extra spicy. The pastelillos were excellent, a discovery I really enjoyed. Ditto the mofongo and tostones, and everyone wanted to steal some of that tostones sauce, kind of like a dill-tzaziki-ranch or similar. I have no idea what tostones or mofongo or pastelillos would taste like in Puerto Rico, so can't say how "authentic" these are, but I can say they were very satisfying. And those sides of rice and beans... mmmmm, how I've missed that flavor! Rae's and Kay's make their own sofrito, that essential sauce, so it's the real deal. And I want more!
We will definitely return, or rather order more for take-out. We will have more of the fried chicken, we will try the BBQ wings, we will try the ribs (which Coworker raved about, so I can't pass that by). We will have more collard greens, fixed up so tasty with bits of bacon and maybe some pulled pork?? I don't know, but they are very savory, flavorful, salty, mmmm. Might try the rellenos de papa too, because given how good everything else is they can't be bad.
To top it all off, Rae's and Kay's included a fresh, bendy cookie with each order, and the varieties we got were way too good!
We are reminded that a primary objective these days is to support small, local businesses. Please try Rae's and Kay's. (No, I'm not on their payroll or receiving any compensation, this is a voluntary and unrequested review.) This place serves scratch food that is filling, tasty, and at a very good price. I would hate it if this place closed -- I want more! read more
