Chic: Delicious rotisserie chicken Pico/Fairfax

[BetsyO]

I picked up dinner last night at Chic (which is across the street from Bloom Cafe on Pico) for the second time and I'm pretty sure this is the best French rotisserie chicken in Los Angeles. The delicious whole chickens (free range) are quite small but juicy inside and crispy outside, redolent of thyme and not overly salted. The sides are to die for. They gave us as a small sample of the roasted parsnip and carrot salad, which I loved. The eggplant/vegetable ratatouille stack was amazing and worth the trip on its own. We also had a delicious cauliflower/mayonnaise salad and chive mashed potatoes. They have lots of wraps and sandwiches but we haven't tried them. The beer and French wine by the glass seemed very reasonably priced, if you want to eat in.

Chic, 5545 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. [phone]

[thranduil]

We randomly stopped by for a late dinner (the big CHIC sign was enticing). Cute place, I agree the rotisserie chicken is excellent. While Dino's is nearby, the atmosphere makes up for the price difference.

[nosh]

I have been a Zankou fan for two decades. I've supported them and recommended them on this board. Then a couple of weeks ago I stop in for an early lunch (W.L.A. location) and ordered and paid for my chicken tarna wrap. Got it a couple minutes later, noticed no packet of garlic paste on the tray, and politely asked for one. Told no, they'd have to charge me. I noted I'd never had a problem before. Counter women all gathered together and proclaimed it wasn't up to them, was a corporate policy. I said that if I couldn't get garlic with my tarna I didn't want it, and asked for and got a refund. Lose, lose. But I'm disappointed enough to post about it, not go back (at least for awhile), and stop recommending them as an inexpensive option.

Dino's pours over a bit of extra "sauce" with a smile and without a charge.

I've tried Pollo a la Brasa, and it just isn't to my preference. It is very smoky and woodsy, more like BBQ, but in my experience too dry. I don't like their sides. If I'm in that part of town, I'm heading to Dino's, or Langer's, or hitting a taqueria.

[Foodandwine]

I see your point about Zankou, kind of sad too in the way that you were treated. Ive been to Dinos and its good in its own way.However,Its not Rotissere like Zankou and Pollo a la Brasa so I prefer to keep the thread on topic.. Are there other Rotissere places that you are going to. Ive heard Costco has good ones but Im not a member..

[nosh]

I am definitely on the lookout for a good rotisserie chicken, since I will no longer patronize Zankou after they refused to give me a garlic paste for my chicken tarna wrap without charging me extra. But $13 for a plain small whole chicken, solo? If i'm on Pico I'm heading further east to Dino's where their delicious marinated grilled half-bird with fries, coleslaw and tortillas is $5.50. Or hitting the bakery on the north side of Venice near Midvale where the whole birds are either $6.95 or maybe a buck less to go.

[Foodandwine]

I like Zankou.. Nosh would you give them a second chance? You may be over doing it huh?? Pollos a la Brasa is good too.. in a different way..

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Pollo A La Brasa Western
764 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90005, USA

[Mattapoisett in LA]

You know Nosh there was a $5 Friday Chicken Deal at Pavilions which is in rotation and It came up last Friday. If you are looking for cheap Chicken.

Though I must say that your Zankou experience is an Inconvenience not the Travesty you keep elevating it to. It is something to note to people who have never been but not a reason to keep people away.

As for Chics Chicken, I will try it. $13 for A Chicken doesn't scare me. Dommy and I had the Zuni Cafe Roast Chicken for 2 and it was $48 and a bargain at that. Chics might be worth it, we'll see.

Take Care

- P.

[nosh]

- P. I am certainly not equating my Zankou garlic deprivation as a tragedy on the scale of a loved one meeting an unexpected, premature death or the inevitable demise of "The Simpsons." But a travesty is indeed an apt way of describing it. They were willing to lose a sale, sacrifice a tarna, and alienate a regular, loyal customer over a packet of garlic paste. Now I understand the necessity of controlling costs; I'll even take some responsibility for the conundrum -- in the early days at the Sunset branch, I'd ask for as many garlics as they'd give me, hit them up again on the way out, and hoard them to bring home to spread on my own roast chicken. But that was long ago, back in the Seinfeld era, when we were all flush, greedy, and selfish. I wasn't asking for an "extra" garlic, I was requesting one. And let's be honest -- it is their garlic paste which makes Zankou, they may have a better business model if they sold the garlic paste and threw in the fowl. I know that despite multiple visits they don't know me or care, but there I stood, garlicless, veritably naked and vulnerable. And did they reach out a plastic-gloved hand of mercy containing the stinking rose? No, they scratched me with its thorns and mercilessly rubbed the salty condiment in my gaping wounds.