Providence's Best Fried Chicken Spots

Ann & Michael Martini, GoLocalProv Food Editors

Providence's Best Fried Chicken Spots

Fried chicken. Classic summer food? It can be, especially served cold as part of a waterside picnic. But heck, this is one of those things we love any time, any place. Fried chicken was introduced to America by Scottish immigrants, believe it or not, who wanted to give some zing and texture to the British style broiled chicken that they considered too bland and rubbery. The Scots, too, served what we'd consider a dull version of what we know today. They simply didn't have the more flavorful spices and herbs to add to the batter. It was African slaves living in the South who turned the dish into the favorite it is today by adding lots of seasonings and perfecting the frying method. There are, of course, dozens of styles of fried chicken, from the classic Southern version to a Maryland style that features buttermilk and gravy, and a hot and spicy Nashville recipe. While there's no Rhode Island style (that we know of), we've found five tasty places to get your fix of the melting pot classic dish.

Providence's Best Fried Chicken Joints

The G Pub

This is one of our favorite new spots in Providence. Located in the reclaimed basement of the old "Gas building," it features an open floor plan, exposed beams, and beautiful pool tables and private Karaoke booths in the back. But enough about that...let's get to the most perfect fried chicken we've had in a long, long time. A half chicken was fried in pieces and topped with a Tabasco gravy and served with mashed potatoes and spinach. The chicken was, literally, perfect. Super flavor and crispiness enveloping tender, juicy chicken. Forget the grease napkins and grab the juice napkins. It was delicious!

61 Orange St.

632-4782

www.providencegpub.com
 

North

North has quickly joined the ranks of restaurants vying to be the best in Providence. The creativity and passion for what they do comes through in every dish and drink. The dishes here run the gamut from American classics like the Tiny Ham Biscuits to Asian inspired noodles and vegetables. Then there is the Almost Boneless Fried Chicken with bread and grapefruit chimichuri. It's a dish as delicious as it is beautiful. The chicken is juicy and crispy and the herb salad and grapefruit help cut the richness of the fried chicken. The dish serves 2-4 people but you may not want to share!

3 Luongo Sq.

421-1100

www.foodbynorth.com
 

Crown Fried Chicken

Crown Fried Chicken is an East Coast chain. We don't normally like chains but this is a small one and it came with high praise. We ventured over to Broad Street and found a welcoming staff that helped us through the options. We got a six-piece meal and several side dishes. The mac and cheese was everything we hoped it would be. The chicken was fresh and hot--even though it was off-hours--and was so juicy that it ought to come with a squegee!

912 Broad St.

941-3100
 

XO Cafe

This choice is a little different...we are not here for a whole chicken. We are here for the most perfect wings we've ever had. One of our favorite things to try are high-end chefs cooking comfort dishes like chicken wings. One of our complaints is that too often chefs "deconstruct" dishes so much that they're unrecognizable. These are actually an improvement. The wings are local and slow cooked "confit" style before they are fried to a perfect crisp. They come with house sriracha and delicious pickled celery. They'll make you ditch the bar wings.

125 North Main St.

273-9090

www.xocafe.com 
 

Kennedy's Fried Chicken

We had to pick a K.F.C for this list, right? Well, this locally-owned favorite is what the Colonel should be aiming for. This place is all about the chicken. The sides are classic and they're good but the chicken blows everything else out of the water. It was crisp and the breading held that crispiness throughout the meal. The flavor had that classic "Southern" fried chicken blend of spices that made it true comfort food!

49 Olneyville Sq.

421-0033
 

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