Food Review - Dames' Chicken & Waffles

Took a glance at my tag-cloud, realized to my simultaneous horror and amusement that "food" is conspicuously much larger than the rest. Well I guess this is learning towards a foodie blog atm, which it most definitely will be next week when I go to NYC!


Back-story to the chicken and waffles combination. Wikipedia always explains it better than I do. It seems like such an odd, unexpected, and simply Southern combination, and after having my standards set by Bojangles and Duke marketplace waffles, I honestly did not know what to expect (except a severe food coma).


And holy shit was it good! I quickly came to the realization that chicken and waffles were...


List of Cliche Descriptions and Puns:

• A match made in heaven!
• Meant to be!
• Really clucking good!
• What the cluck? Good!

At some point, a couple outside stopped to read the menu taped to the glass window by my seat, and I suddenly had the impulse to hysterically gesture for them to come inside. But for the sake of not making a poor impression on my significant other of the night, and the fact that the restaurant was pretty quiet and my behavior may have been classified as "rowdy", I managed to restrain myself.

The humble appearance of this slice of heaven, hole-in-the-wall joint would suggest otherwise. However, several keys of success of this restaurant immediately come to mind.

1. Quality - obvious, but the few things that Dames' does, it does damn well (ahaha, get it???). Waffles were fluffy, light, buttery, and just so fucking perfect. Didn't have the made-in-a-waffle-iron look, were beautifully imperfect squares of wheat-y soul food mama goodness. Chicken fried to the perfect texture, not overwhelmingly greasy as most fried chicken ends up being. Portion sizes just right, contrary to my belief coming in (not as food-coma inducing as a Chinese buffet). 

The delicious simplicity speaks for itself, and I barely touched the sauce (also fantastic) because the chicken and waffles were just so fucking good on their own and I didn't dare overwhelm the blissful subtleness, not even simultaneously putting chicken and waffles in my mouth as the combo might otherwise suggest.

2. Variety - 7 types of schmears (sweet orgasmic butter creme spread), favorite was peach & apricot. Blueberry, sweet potato, classic waffles. Go w/ the classic first. Classic is classic for a reason.

What I got: recommended for: first-timers, light eaters, sweet simplicity

• Dueling Roosters - Rd. I - four chicken wings on classic waffle, choice of two spreads (try Peach & Apricot)
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LOCATION: Downtown Durham
317 W. Main St.

http://www.dameschickenwaffles.com