How’s that for a title? Well, that’s also the name of the restaurant my friend Vance Holder and I went to for lunch today. Guess what they serve?
That’s right, chicken and seafood. The restaurant actually got a “best of” from Southern Living magazine some years back for their fried chicken. They deserve it. The place is located in Centerpoint (on the Northeast side of Birmingham) across from the Serra Nissan (Ann and I found it several years ago when buying our Passat).
The chicken takes about 25 minutes, but that’s because it comes to the table piping hot and fresh out of the fryer. One thing you don’t need to add table side is the salt. They salt their fried chicken immediately after it comes out of the oil. My chicken (I had a wing, thigh, breast and leg) looked as if a gentle snow had fallen–but it didn’t taste like too much salt at all.
Alongside the chicken was a reasonable slaw (not nearly as divine as Ezell’s Catfish Place in Lavaca, Alabama), some tasty fries and three truly wonderful hush puppies. The hush puppies had a slightly crusty exterior with a soft, fluffy inside that actually had some flavor. The fries weren’t anything to get excited about, but they were good.
That said, don’t think anything will live up to the chicken. That’s the undisputed star of the show. Golden, crispy, perfect. I’d highly suggest you take a trip out to give it a try–I wouldn’t suggest doing it often, though or you just might die of a cardiac event. This was not light fare, but it is one of those places that celebrates the unique quality that restaurants strive for. They also have seafood–fried, of course, and, since Ann and I went last they’ve even added grilled chicken to the menu, though I can’t fathom driving out to Centerpoint for a piece of their grilled chicken.
Seafood and Chicken in a Box (I love that name) is in a strip mall and from the outside looks like a dump. Once inside, it is clear that this isn’t 5 star dining, but it was clean and neat. The two young men who waited on us were extremely friendly and helpful–and they even kept my tea glass full. That’s a feat that doesn’t happen often, and coupled with the extra salty food, I don’t know how they did it. The total for the two of us: $22.00 plus tip.