Chicken biscuit
Few things get me as excited as fried chicken. It's something that I've had to get accustomed to in my older years. Why? Well it's much harder to burn off two large servings of fries or fried chicken as one ages. When you can get a small serving of fried chicken, it's a blessing in disguise. Under normal circumstances, I would struggle to restraint myself from eating fried food until my belly is full. But when the servings are individualized like in a chicken biscuit, and the biscuit is $6 dollars, it really puts things into perspective. Normally $6, for what is essentially a fried chicken cutlet sandwich, would give me pause. And it did here as well. But the reputation of Pies and Thighs is strong among the NYC food blogeratti. James at The Eaten Path is a fan, Tia at Bionic Bites thinks it's alright.
Pies 'n Thighs has their storefront in Williamsburg, but for the holiday season, they've set up shop in the Columbus Circle Holiday Market. And maybe that's why the thing is like six bucks.
What do you get for $6 dollars? You get a piece of chicken that's heated up upon ordering. The chicken wasn't battered on the spot, so maybe it was par-cooked and then just heated up in the deep fryer. The biscuit is slathered with maple butter, and when the fried chicken is ready, they set the chicken on the biscuit and add a generous amount of hot sauce. Heat and sweet usually play well together and it would in this case if the heat actually packed heat. I didn't mind that the hot sauce was mild, it meant that the maple butter shined through more. Is this a great chicken biscuit? Of course. Is it reasonable to pay $6 dollars for it? Maybe just enough to try it, but I'm not sure that it's good enough to warrant repeat visits.
Pies and Thighs
166 S 4th St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
347-529-6090
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So does it cost less at the restaurant? I been wanting to go there for so long.
wonders
December 14, 2010 3:14 pm
@wonders,
I haven't been to the restaurant so I'm not sure how much it costs. On James' blog, it says that they're five bucks there.
Danny
December 14, 2010 3:53 pm
That thing looks woefully inadequate. For $6, I expect more than 3 bites of food, or it better be the greatest thing I've ever eaten. As good as fried chicken, maple butter, and fresh biscuits are... I don't think that's worth it.
I mean, I trust James' and Tia's opinions when it comes to food, but the cost benefit analysis just doesn't add up for cheap assholes like myself haha.
Nicholas
December 14, 2010 10:25 pm
Mmm.... maple butter sounds pretty awesome. All of a sudden I have a mad craving for chicken and waffles.
bionicgrrrl
December 15, 2010 12:44 am
I went to the Christmas market on Columbus circle today, mostly because I had read this post. When I realized they also had Bratwurst and tacos it became really hard to choose. So of course I shared a chicken biscuit and a bratwurst with my friend and we got one taco each. They were all pretty amazing! The German woman sitting next to me said the brat' was really good. Yay for my first ever chicken biscuit!
Rita
December 18, 2010 6:45 pm
yeah, I had a problem paying $6 for it at the CC pop-up market, but factoring in the location (culinary dead zone), I was pretty happy with it. Sort of a "water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink" act of desperation.
Chris H
December 21, 2010 7:44 pm
$6 is a line I wouldn't cross. I also hate to say it, but pies and thighs has indeed gone downhill... by volume alone, compare that chicken biscuit to the one I had during re-opening week (which was $5) and the chicken biscuit I had in their old location (http://www.flickr.com/photos/theeatenpath/2240603893/in/set-72157603846153832/). I doubt their biscuits have gotten bigger, so something has changed here.
The last time I had their chicken, it was still fantastic, but the pulled pork sandwich has not done well in its makeover. Strangely, I think the best things I've had at P&T in the past year are their burger and their doughnut.
James
January 24, 2011 11:43 pm