How can I eat healthier when my favorite fried chicken shop Charles’ Southern Style Kitchen is now a mere twelve blocks away? And not only there, but Charles is spreading his chicken wings to other spots. He’s lent his name to Slice of Harlem where they have a steam table with comfort food (and pizza!) sold by the pound. And he’s a consultant on the food at Rack and Soul, a bbq and soul food place near Columbia University (Broadway & 109 St). Carol told me about the joint about five years ago during my fried chicken addiction. I had been treating my problem with Mama’s fried chicken on Ave B & 3rd. Mama’s has wonderful mashed potatoes and veggie sides and their portions are huge. It’s a great place to go, but I’ve always thought their fried chicken was lacking in flavor. Not so at Charles.
Take the A train to 145th St, walk east till you hit Bradhurst Ave, that’s a block east from Edgecombe. With the park to your left, walk north to 151st St and turn onto 8th Ave (the old name for FDBlvd) to Charles. You’ll see an all you can eat buffet restaurant first, but pass it, the danger of overeating there is too great. Opt for the no frills take out counter. There’s a red formica counter with stools where you can dig in, and it’s stocked with hot sauce and napkin which you will need to wipe your greasy lips. The fried chicken ($7.50 with 2 vegs and corn bread) is awesome. The skin is crunchy and the salty flavor is infused into the meat. I'm a thigh girl because it's the juiciest. This is the gold standard of fried chicken. The collard greens are very good. Not mushy, but definitely cooked through with a slight smoked turkey flavor. I took a bite out of the cornbread, but didn’t eat it until later. It was slightly sweet, and I prefer mine on the salty side. The mac and cheese didn’t really please. As you can see in the photo, the last time I ate dinner there, the woman at the counter wouldn’t give me a portion from the fresh pan, even though I asked for it. The lady who came after me however, did get the new stuff. Racial preference? Disgruntled worker? Kitchen rules? It don’t really care when the chicken is that delicious.
I only bring it up to point out that the next time I went for chicken and waffles for breakfast, another girl behind the counter was really thoughtful. She had overcooked my waffle, said it was too brown and started making another one. I didn’t even see it, but took her word for it. I’m sure the first was fine, but the second waffle was great. I don’t know if they use a mix or what. Again, doesn’t matter, because this Belgian baby was fluffy on the inside and toasty on the outside. It’s important that the exterior has a bit of crust so it can stand up to the butter and syrup. Breakfast is served from 6 am to 8 pm seven days a week, and it’s truly a bargain. The waffles and chicken is $3.50 and the eggs with bacon and grits is 3.25. The prices are so cheap that I almost don’t feel bad about eating like a pig so early in the day. I have tomorrow to dedicate my life to health and fitness.
Charles' Southern Style Kitchen
2837 Frederick Douglass Blvd. bw 151st & 152nd St.
3 comments:
You're gonna have a heart attack Liza!
Wish I could agree with everyone's ravings about Charles but as someone with Southern roots I find their food to be a good effort but not a winner by a long shot. I've tried them for both lunch and breakfast. I was sadly disappointed both times. I really wanted to experience what everyone else seemed to feel about their food from Charles'. Also, I've never heard of collards being "mushy". If you know anything about greens, collard are the most hearty of the bunch and will never become "mushy". If they are prepared properly they will become tender by never "mushy". Also note that the Charles' satellite on Lenox off 125th charges by the lb. as opposed to the flagship location near 155th Street. Also, you can catch the D train to 155th Street and walk back a couple of blocks to get there.
Hi anonymous,
often when i find a place with one good element, like good friend chicken, then the collards or the mac and cheese or the biscuit will be off. have you found a place where all the elements are right on? i've only had the fried chicken, collards and biscuits once at pies and thighs and all three items were perfect, but they have weird hours and run out of chicken.
Post a Comment