Last week on The Food Show (airs 2-4pm weekdays on WGSO 990AM) I talked about a little video I saw online of two guys looking for the three best fried chicken places in New Orleans. Such things always entertain me because the hosts usually know very little of what they speak.
They chose Picnic and Provisions, a gas station called Key’s Fuel Mart, and Gus’s Famous Fried Chicken, a chain in the home town of Popeye’s. But the foolishness of this list did make me want to set out in search of my own best chicken places.
Today I dropped in on Frankie and Johnny’s, described on the show by a caller as a nice dive bar. The caller then explained that a dive bar is a place to get a cold beer and a poor boy. I have no idea what a dive bar is, but by that definition I would say it is exactly that, though I would just call it an old neighborhood joint from the last century, (1942 to be exact.) It's dark inside but it’s an interesting space. There are three distinct rooms to eat here: a bar with booths, and then a small room in the middle and another at the end of a short hall.
I got a fried chicken plate which is a half chicken and comes with two sides. I also got a roast beef poor boy and a kid’s meatball and spaghetti.
The meatball and spaghetti was a small portion with a huge meatball. All of it was basic and ordinary with a firm meatball.
The roast beef poor boy was on bread that seemed thinner than usual. But this was a good sandwich. Filled with large bits of roast beef debris and just the right amount of gravy, this was dressed generously with the right touch of mayonnaise. I was pleasantly surprised.
But the biggest surprise was how terrific the chicken was. Lightly battered like Mom would have done in the last century, it was crispy and greaseless. This was a half-chicken and a hot tasty bird. I loved this chicken, and will be back to get more A hint of salt was up front but I liked that about it. Very good flavor. The bird itself was not bloated. It was a normal-sized chiken like we remember from before chickens were pumped up to make them seem larger. This was outstanding fried chicken. I can’t wait to go back and have it again, and to try more things from this menu. The chicken came with two sides but there was a miscommunication and I didn't get the potato salad. I got double onion rings, but I didn't mind at all. These onion rings were as terrific as the chicken. Hot, greaseless, crunchy and battered with a tasty flour mix.
I heard that Frankie and Johnny's was ordinary, but this was not my experience. I shouldn't be so surprised. Owner David McKelvey came out of Emeril's.
I will be back to try more of what is here. While I wait for food I’ll have to try the bowling pinball machine, which seemed inordinately interesting to callers today.
