Sophie’s Baked Chicken Makes Me Long For Salt & Pepper
Ever since I heard about the fried pork sandwich stuffed with plantains from Sophie’s (this was almost 2 years ago), I’ve been wanting to go and eat it. But like so many places in NYC, I was just too lazy or never had the time. So recently when I found myself walking down Lexington Ave I came upon Sophie’s and decided to was finally time check it out. But while scanning the trays and trays of food in front of me, something happened. I decided to call an audible and get the baked chicken with rice and beans instead ($9)
I’m a huge fan of the baked chicken with rice and beans at Salt & Pepper (on 33rd btw. 6+7th), so Sophie’s was going to have to be on their a-game to win me over.
This baked chicken with rice and beans wasn’t great but it was decent. The skin on the chicken had some great flavors though sadly the great flavors on the skin stayed on the skin. The meat was juicy and tender but sort of bland. Even the rice was lacking flavors. But the pieces of yuca and carrots (they were sitting in the chicken juice tray along with the chicken) that came with the dish were fantastic. It fact they had soaked up so much chicken juice sitting at the bottom of the tray, they had more chicken taste than the chicken itself. The server did scoop some chicken juice into the platter but maybe next time I’ll ask for more. Or I should just get a jar of their green sauce to go.
Thankfully the meal was saved by the cassava with pork (which is basically a croquette stuffed with ground pork). Even sitting out for who knows how long, it was still nice and crispy on the outside. This is what good fried food should be like, crispy, not too greasy, and damn satisfying.
I’ll probably go back because I still need to try the fried pork with plantains sandwich but when the craving for baked chicken hits I’ll probably end up at Salt & Pepper (unless somebody has an even better recommendation! Anybody?)
Sophie’s Cuban, Available at these three locations:
- 369 Lexington Ave (btw. 41+42nd) 212-922-3576
- 805 Third Ave (btw. 49+50th), Lower Level, 212-308-1024
- 23 East 23rd Street (btw. Mad+Park), 212-260-8884
Posted by Donny T. at 11:30 am, September 22nd, 2011 under Sophies.
6 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
Sophie’s baked chicken isn’t so wonderful, but their “spicy grilled chicken”, marinated flattened chicken breast seared on a plancha and served with barely-sauteed white onions and jalapenos, is awesome.
If you’re willing to go a bit less healthy, their “breaded chicken” is excellent also. It’s basically a heavily spiced chicken schnitzel, and they serve it with awesome pickled onions.
And of course every sophie’s meal must be doused with their green sauce.