I was invited to sample the Bromberg brothers’ latest venture — Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken, a stand-alone, serve-yourself chicken place in the East Village. The fried chicken — a popular part of the menu at the Bromberg’s Blue Ribbon restaurant on Sullivan Street for more than twenty years — now stars at this fast-casual place launched in August.
I brought along a friend to help me sample their crispy bird and sides. The chicken — first dipped in an egg white wash, then into
a blend of flour and matzo meal — is deep fried in soy oil, then hand-seasoned with their special blend of salt, pepper, paprika and garlic.
If you’re a white meat lover, don’t miss the crunchy Tender Supreme dinner (with three juicy tenders), served with fries & cole slaw ($11.75). Since I prefer dark meat, I tried the thighs. Perfection ($3.75 each). I couldn’t decide which of the various toppings at the table to slather the chicken with… so I took a snippet of each: the traditional wildflower honey (as served at sit-down restaurant), the housemade mustard honey, chipotle honey (sweet heat), wasabi mustard (heat), habañero hot sauce (real heat!) and BRBBQ Sauce (a tangy vinegary BBQ one).
The 5-ounce chicken burger was fine; it’s made of ground leg meat, cooked on a flattop ($7) and served with lettuce, tomato & pickled cucumbers on a toasted bun. Also tasty is the Blue Ribbon sandwich ($7), a crispy moist breast topped with shredded 
lettuce, tomato, pickled cucumbers on a bun. Both sandwich buns, which are made at their own bakery, are spread with the special Blue Ribbon sauce. Being wimps, we opted not to “spice-it-up” with the addition of picked jalapeño and habañero peppers! But if you can stand the heat, do so.
If you love chicken livers, do not miss their heaping portion of moist fried chicken livers topped caramelized onions ($7). Reminiscent of a Jewish grandmother’s cooking!
Their sides ($3 small, $8 large) include shoestring fries — or fries with the works (small add 2.50; large add 3.50). Those nacho-like fries are first tossed in their classic spice blend, then smothered in Cheddar, bacon & sour cream. Decadent for sure. Both the regular cole slaw and the vinegary spicy slaw (cabbage, chili peppers & onion) are mighty good. Also tasty is the spinach Judy (a blend of spinach, sour cream and finely chopped water chestnuts) and the griddled corn & bacon.
Having been told we must also have a sweet fix with their milkshakes ($5.50), we did so. The shakes (vanilla, strawberry or chocolate) will give your jaw a workout as they’re like drinking soft ice cream… it takes work to get the sweet stuff up a straw! Or just have a cold beer, wine, unsweetened ice tea or myriad other liquid options.
I recommend a visit, especially for the fried chicken.
Photo credit Steve Hill.
– bonnie
Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken
East Village
28 E 1st St
New York, NY 10003
212-228-0404
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