429689 Thu Aug 09 14:41:58 -0700 2007 11 7 Chicago Area 0 2830478 I am looking for the best roast chicken in the city. I like my roast chicken very plain and crisp. I don't like the wetness of a rotisserie chicken. I prefer a dry skin, moist flesh, excellent seasoning. Any thoughts? Thu Aug 09 14:41:58 -0700 2007 43804 NDJ 1 2830580 Well, you should try the Athenian Room, for starters, but be sure to ask for the "sauce," i.e. jus, on the side. I've found that--not only does the "sauce" have a nasty acrid taste from the inclusion of cheap red wine vinegar--it pools at the bottom of the plate and sogs a good half (the entire underside) of the chicken portions themselves. And, speaking of the chicken portions themselves, you may be in for a bit of a surpise at first, but only because you are more familiar with the mushy, 'roid-enhanced chickens which so many other chicken shops use these days. Here. the birds are instead rather lean, with a great, "old-skool" sort of chicken flavour. Anyway, after roasting, the birds come out mahoganized, with nearly tissue-thin skin which has been fully-rendered of fat. Athenian Room 807 W. Webster 773.348.5155 Another establishment which you should try is a Puerto Rican shop called Papa's Cache Sabroso (aka "Papa's Pollo Chon") on Division, in Humboldt Park. Oh, I could go on about it for hours, so you're probably better off reading about it right here: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=restaurants&id=3491933 Papa's Cache Sabroso 2517 W. Division 773.862.8313 Good Luck, E.M. Thu Aug 09 15:10:05 -0700 2007 2830478 11340 Erik M 2 2852360 Papa's Cache Sabroso on Division was closed today/Thursday at around 2:30pm. Anyone know the status? Are the hours irregular or is Papa's closed for good? Thu Aug 16 13:20:55 -0700 2007 2830580 13223 amoncada 3 2852384 Did you try calling? It was open (and hopping) just a few days ago. E.M. Thu Aug 16 13:27:48 -0700 2007 2852360 11340 Erik M 4 2852639 Next time I'll call first. Maybe tomorrow. Thu Aug 16 14:25:21 -0700 2007 2852384 13223 amoncada 1 2830607 Hmmm, plain and crispy? That's a tough one. Here are a couple of my favorites. Athenian Room at Webster and Halsted serves up some of the very best roast chicken around. Greek Islands, Rodity's, and Santorini serve a few varieties as well...only it's flavorful and juicy, but not plain. Tufano's Vernon Park Tap serves up a great roast chicken as well. Thu Aug 09 15:17:19 -0700 2007 2830478 13223 amoncada 2 2833405 Erik M: Thanks for reminding my about Papa's. It' s been a while since my last visit. RE: Athenian Room: As far as the sour lemony red wine jus and soggy steak fries goes, mmmm that's the best part! My mother and brother can't stand it while most of the regulars like myself crave it! The Flying Chicken: The Columbian Style spit roasted with mesquite charcoal at the Flying Chicken on Lincoln at Grace may be just the chicken you are looking for. Try get it right off of spit, mmmm tasty! The chicken empanadas, arepas, arroz con pollo, yucca, and platano's are quite good. The Chicken Hut: Belmont & Broadway Very tasty nicely spiced fire grilled chicken. The sides are only so so. Fri Aug 10 11:33:15 -0700 2007 2830607 13223 amoncada 3 2834229 Re: The Flying Chicken I've been before, but only once, and that was a long time ago. Remind me, is their chicken product at all like those served at the South American establishments Brasa Roja (Columbian) and Mr. Pollo (Ecuadorian)? I really dislike them both, but I find Brasa Roja's product downright vile. I am almost certain that Brasa Roja bastes their chickens with rendered pork fat, and while it's bad enough that the resultant product tastes mainly of pork, it is seemingly putrid pork... Now, on the other hand, if the product at Flying Chicken is at all like that of the now-shuttered South American joint, Pico Rico (Ecuadorian), on North Avenue, I'll be there a.s.a.p. Man, I'm telling you, when it was served fresh and hot off of the spit it was one of the best rotisserie chickens anywhere. Re: The Chicken Hut I've been, but for years now I've given the place wide berth for two reasons: 1) Some of those chicken portions clearly sit on the grill for hours at a time. 2) As you suggest, the side offerings are mediocre, at best. Incidentally, a few of my friends have the habit of referring to the place as, 'Salmonella Hut." LOL!! Brasa Roja 3125 W. Montrose 773.866.2252 Mr. Pollo [Multiple Locations] 2937 W. Montrose 773.509.1222 Pico Rico [Closed] 4107 W. North 773.252.7426 Chicken Hut 3200 N. Broadway 773.868.1855 E.M. Fri Aug 10 14:52:32 -0700 2007 2833405 11340 Erik M 4 2844670 Eric M;I've been to all of the above on many occasions with the exception of Pico Pico...and the now defunct Glorias in Logan Square on Fullerton and Kimball. The Flying Chicken is clearly better than all of the above. A fellow chowster recommended the Flying Chicken to me about 12-15 years ago when it was on Lincoln Avenue. I trust very few peoples opinions on restaurant recomendations. I will try one of his / Scott's any day. The Flying Chicken makes a very limited quanitity of the mesquite spit-roasted chicken so it doesn't sit around. In fact, the chicken will often run out by 6 or 7 pm. Many of the sides are pretty good too. I'm not saying that thier chicken is ground breaking or absolutely the best I've ever had, It's pretty darn good and consistently so. It's great for take out and pic-nics, etc. I guess I can agree with you about the Chicken Hut being a salmonella factory. I will never go out of my way for the Chicken Hut but I will stop there on occasion after my hair cut nearby. I just ate at Brasa Roja the other day. It's really inconsistent. The charcoal guy is always a bit frantic and hurried so maybe this will account for the inconsistently flavors and doneness. Yeah, my chicken was raw so I took a couple of bites and tossed the rest. Tue Aug 14 11:30:50 -0700 2007 2834229 13223 amoncada 1 2844756 I personally feel like the best roast chicken I've had so far in Chicago has been at Aigre Doux. Delish! It will be a higher-priced meal, of course, but it really is fabulous. Also comes with really great whipped potatoes and some sort of green vegatable. And the jus is just to die for!! Tue Aug 14 11:46:13 -0700 2007 2830478 28099 DKS1 1 2849765 Flying Chicken is definitely some seriously good chicken. Wed Aug 15 18:02:32 -0700 2007 2830478 118350 rick1 1 2851501 Woodfire Chicken in Northbrook makes great rotisserie chickens! I love their barbeque, but they have a regular roasted chicken. Delicious! I like the dryer white meat too so we probably have the same taste! Hillary http://chewonthatblog.com Thu Aug 16 10:25:13 -0700 2007 2830478 112406 Chew on That