Jan 2014

Fried chicken is big business in New York! So big in fact, that walk down any given street and you will see a plethora of menu boards boasting a dish of crispy, fried chicken.

Gone are the days when fried chicken was thought of as simply a greasy, fast-food option. Now fried chicken has become somewhat of a gourmet delight, and has made its way into some of New York’s top kitchens.

Of course the calories are just as high and unforgiving but wow, how these restaurants have taken the Southern states notion of ‘comfort food’ to a whole new level. A dangerously addictive level.

Having eaten at my fair share of fried chicken places (could be the reason my jeans are getting tighter), Pies ‘n’ Thighs in Williamsburg still ranks as one of the best. The chicken, which is prepared in an open kitchen has a real home cooked taste to it, as well as an appropriate price tag.

As the name suggests Pies ‘n’ Thighs specialises in just that – pies and thighs. What that means for diners is that they’re not only spoilt for choice when it comes to how they want their fried chicken served but also with the selection of home baked pies. Yum!

The menu is full of mouthwatering Southern staples and sides: chicken and waffles, pulled pork, fried catfish, corned beef hash, homemade buttermilk biscuits, cheese grits, hush puppies and more.

It would be a great shame not to order some sort of fried chicken dish at Pies ‘n’ Thighs, so I recommend ordering it in a Chicken Box (3 pieces of chicken, a biscuit, and a side). Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

The chicken is crisp, succulent and perfectly seasoned. I also suggest drizzling some honey on the chicken (best not to calorie count), as the saltiness of the fried chicken and the sweetness of the honey makes for a ridiculously good combination.

The only thing that comes close to rivalling the fried chicken is the restaurants homemade pie. I bet you’re thinking “more food”?! Yes, more! You’ve come this far, so go on, indulge a little more. Plus there is always room for pie.

There are classic flavours such as, apple, pecan and sour cherry, as well as a few house specials: banana cream, coconut macaroon and choco peanut butter crunch.

For me, the apple pie with its super flaky crust, is the winner. It is especially good when served with a huge dollop of vanilla bean ice cream.

In addition to the finger-lickin’ food, the casual atmosphere of Pies ‘n’ Thighs is also worth mentioning. The vibe is relaxed, the wait staff are laid back and the background music funky.

As you can imagine Pies ‘n’ Thighs is an incredibly popular place. Devoted locals, along with diners who have travelled from afar turn up in their droves to taste the delicious fried chicken. While there is seating in both the front and back, Pies ‘n’ Thighs is still not an overly huge place, so it is likely there’ll be a wait for a table.

If you are told there is going to be a wait, I propose that you head across the road to the Dram for a quick drink. However make sure you return to the restaurant with plenty of time to spare. You don’t want your table to be given to someone else and you definitely don’t want to miss out on the fried chicken!

Posted by Jess Fleming