There's no denying the appeal of Peruvian chicken, AKA rich or super chicken: They're just about everywhere. We decided to pay a visit to the Tenleytown Crisp & Juicy (at 4533 Wisconsin Avenue, NW) to see what all the fuss was about. Two days later, I'm still trying to figure it out.
To its credit, Crisp & Juicy doesn't hide the fact that it's a casual diner. The space is small but comfortable; and the service, friendly and quick. Also, the price is right: I ordered a 1/4 Chicken (Dark) Platter with fries & cole slaw for just $7.35 with a of bottle Everfresh juice for another $1.95. So far, so good.
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| 1/4 Chicken Platter with Fries & Slaw |
I had barely sat down, when my order was announced. So much for fresh. I'm all about fast service, but under two minutes is ridiculous. Then again, how long does it take to grab a prepared container of slaw, and dump a stack of cold fries alongside two tiny pieces of chicken? Who knows, maybe it still tastes good?
Well, the slaw was OK (and certainly edible.) I wanted mashed potatoes, but they don't serve them with gravy; so I opted for the aforementioned cold fries. Care to guess how those turned out? I managed to eat two of them: Anymore, and you'd have to offer me a medal. Thankfully, the chicken turned out to be pretty tasty... with mild but tangible flavors. Bonus points for cooking it properly; but both pieces were way too small, especially for dinner. Overall, nowhere near impressive.
But food isn't everything, is it? While eating, I overheard one of two sales associates chatting it up with a mom and her two kids. Casual conversation turned into friendly banter about what sports the two boys were interested in, and what classes they liked at school. The employee couldn't have been more than 18 or 19, so I was especially impressed with his level of interest. The kids were delighted... in turn, putting a smile on their mom's face. Even better, the associate was cleaning tables all the while. That's how it's done, my friends. He also took the time to ask if my meal was enjoyable; and thanked me for dining in, as I left. A for service. C- for the food.
