Yesterday was a long day. My teammate and friend decided to volunteer for a robotics event and if anyone ever been to any event sponsored by FIRST, they are aware of the twelve long hours that have moments of the high, the adrenaline rush, especially toward the end. However, one must first get through the first few hours of inspection and preparation, and the, unfortunately inevitable, technological mishaps.
That is all to say, I was tired and was looking forward to the little tavern my friend was singing high praises about. And I don’t blame him, the so-called tavern was a small hole-in-a-wall, which I wouldn’t have even noticed if it wasn’t for the sign on the pavement. What I also don’t blame him for are the high praises. Coming from the cold air of San Francisco into the warmness of Little Skillet felt oddly soft and welcoming. I immediately noticed the country-like look the dining room had, with brick walls and wooden furniture. It also had potted plants, which complimented the dark blue curtains beautifully. The green walls were also pleasant with the warm tint to them.
Much like a tavern, we had to order at the front and then choose our seating. I left the ordering in my friend’s hands, since he was the regular here. He ordered us an 8 piece dish of chicken, which came with four waffles and a serving of maple syrup. As drinks, we got the two types of lemode they offered: ginger and hibiscus. The drinks were served immediately. I am a long-time fan of anything hibiscus and I was not disappointed. Both the drinks were served in clear jars, the colour of the drinks consistent. The hibiscus started off a bit bitter, but grew into a more sweet, flowery taste. The taste left a rather pleasurable warm feeling for quite a while. Ginger lemonade on the other hand, started off deceptively sweet and mild, but boy does that change when it enters your throat. The spice hits suddenly, making you blank out and only taste the rich ginger. The taste itself lasts only a few seconds yet you remember it for a while afterwards. I have never tasted ginger so raw in a drink.
The chicken and waffles come quickly, within the first twenty minutes of our order. It’s served on a metal platter with a hefty pile of chicken on one side and four belgian waffles on the other side. In between the stacks of goodness is a small container of maple syrup. My friend and I start of simple; we each get the chicken leg. I carefully peel away the breaded skin to look closer at the meat. It looks like your common chicken, whitish-beige, the reddish undertones closer to the bone. However, when you take a bite of it, your mouth feels warm and full. The buttery taste makes it taste rich and flavourful. The breaded crust doesn’t truly taste fried, but rather crunchy and easy on the taste buds. I grab a waffle next, the size proportional to the chicken. I don’t drench it with the maple syrup, but I don’t drizzle it either. The syrup feels average, but the waffle truly completes the taste. The said friend from earlier dares me to add the syrup to the chicken. I look at him funny, but still take him up on the dare. And oh my, this shouldn’t work, but it does. I suggest putting small pieces of chicken into your waffle and taking a bite. Yes, I know it sounds absurd, but the sweet taste of the syrup works well with the buttery chicken, the taste full with the flavour.
After my third piece of chicken, I picked up the menu again, a one-page list on the plastic sheet. I saw Mac & Cheese on there and couldn’t resist. I am a fan of this particular side dish and I believed a place like this had its own way of making this. The macaroni came in a small bowl, a deceiving size really, and some drizzled crumbs over the top. The small spoonful was truly enough, my taste buds overloading with the melting cheese that was a mix of something sharp and something more milky. The macaroni itself was chewy and wasn’t breaking apart, which was a surprise to me because I’ve never baked macaroni that didn’t at least partially over-bake.
I haven’t had a meal so fulfilling as this one in a while. The atmosphere was perfect for a meal after a long day and the serving was quick. The food was amazing and the price range was affordable, between $11-$20 per person. I enjoyed myself and can strongly recommend you Little Skillet if you like fried chicken, meat in general, rich food, and exquisite drinks.
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