In October my boyfriend and I took a trip to Virginia to escape from town for a greatly needed break and to do a little hiking. We stayed in a lovely Air B&B in the town of Abingdon, Va. which I fell in love with. Abingdon is a quaint sleepy town with tons of little shops featuring local artists, excellent thrifting, and many great outdoor trails to get lost on. I only wish we had been able to spend a little more time there. There appeared to be some great spots to eat but we only managed to make it to a few places. But, you can count on it, we will travel there again for what I hope will be some more delicious dining experiences.
But let me share with you a little gem where we had the pleasure of dining. Chick-N-little. Don’t let the modest menu fool you, they have plenty of delightful options that will not disappoint. The fare is simple southern hospitality with a little twist. Things such as perfectly fried green tomatoes and crispy fried chicken or for the twist a crab cake biscuit. The owners are husband and wife, Todd, and Carrie Baxter. They took over the diner seven years ago, in 2013, but the diner has been running for over 50 years. Their little diner sits on the main thoroughfare in town and was recently remodeled,
reopening in August 2020, fitting the classic theme, with the checkered floors and the
little booths, and the tin ceiling. Mr. Baxter explained they plan to continue “improving on the property and possibly adding outdoor dining,” my only suggestion would be the diner could use a few homey touches inside to compliment the wonderful down-home cooking that we experienced. Also, it was a blustery October day, the temperature was in the 40's outside, and the diner wasn’t much warmer, this was my only major grumble, I don’t particularly enjoy when my teeth chatter or having to wear my coat while having my meal. But otherwise, the restaurant is very clean and well-kept and our server was pleasant and helpful.
Ok ok, let me get to the good stuff, let’s talk groceries!
Firstly, my guy ordered the classic chicken and waffles. It looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful. It was served piping hot, both of our meals were (big points for me).
The chicken was cooked crispy and the meat inside was tender and juicy. The chicken had a satisfying crunch as you take that first bite. It did lack just a bit of salt but otherwise was cooked very well. The waffles too were well cooked with a crunchy outside and the inside perfectly tender and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness. The savory chicken and the sweet maple goodness of the waffle made our taste buds dance. The portion was a good size as well, my guy didn’t go hungry, nor did the meal break the wallet. Overall, this is a crowd-pleaser and you are sure to enjoy each bite.
Now back to the sandwich, the chicken, just as in the other dish was cooked very well. Only this chicken was tossed in a hot sauce, which made up for any lack of salt. The sauce was spicy but not overwhelming and it gave the dish a good dose of acid which plays nicely with the fatty fried chicken and the fried tomato. The tomato was also cooked well and when tasted on its own seemed to hold its crispy texture and had a good bite. Then there was the mac and cheese. I’m a sucker for pimento cheese and was seriously enticed by its appearance on the biscuit. However, while the mac and cheese was fine, it was not overly exciting and lacked seasoning. Fortunately, for the mac and cheese on this dish, it lends a hand in balancing the spicy hot sauce and doesn’t require much enhancing, but on its own, it may leave you wanting. Next and finally, the egg. The egg was cooked flawlessly, a delightfully runny yolk that added a richness to the dish that even the mac and cheese couldn’t accomplish, it was the icing on the cake, the milk to the cookie, the cherry on top, it was what tied it all together. A diner masterpiece.
This dish was served with a side, I chose fries, of course. The fries were good, crispy, and seasoned well, no need for ketchup or mustard for these.
In my humble opinion, there is one thing the Baxter’s did very well with their diner, and that is they keep their menu size down. They use a lot of the same items in different dishes which allows the cooks to perfect the elements and make the dishes exceptional and consistent. Consistency is important. Also, keeping the menu size down allows for the restaurant to use more fresh ingredients, not having to store a great quantity of frozen or processed components. For example, if a restaurant offers Mexican cuisine, Italian cuisine, Asian cuisine, American dishes, specialty salads, fish, pork, beef, chicken, and an array of desserts, there is no way they can keep all of those components fresh, so much of it will be frozen or worse (remind you of chains like Chili’s perhaps). Anyhow, Chick-N-Little is a wonderful little diner, so if you ever find yourself in the south-western part of Virginia, I would strongly recommend stopping in for a hot bowl of beans and cornbread or try a big ol’ plate of biscuits. As always friends, stay Sufficiently Suffonsified!
Saturday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Sunday Closed
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