J. Spain’s is new restaurant concept occupying the northwest corner of 19th and Washington Ave. a little off of the beaten path away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Saint Louis. When I entered, I was greeted with gorgeous interior, not common to the chicken and waffle niche. Sleek wooden tables were organized well with some comfy booth seating lining the walls. I chose to forego the latter, posting myself up at the bar where I typically tend to seat myself as I grill the bartender on the history of the joint. Although there is a bar, the presence of alcohol and a bartender were void. I guess a beer to wash down my wings and waffles were out of the question. After a couple of minutes seated at the bar I was greeted by a warm smile and my order was collected. I left my the decision up to my server on what to serve me and this is how it went:
Served up on one plate were six jumbo breaded wings resting on a blueberry waffle topped with strawberries and whipped salted butter. An over-easy egg sat perfectly fried on a seperate plate dressed with a sprig of parsley. They gave me two sides to which to dip my wings: Apricot Peach and Sweet and Spicy. The plump, juicy wings were some of the best I had ever had and one even squirted a little juice in my direction. The sweet and savory combination of the chicken and the sauces was quite exceptional with my favorite being the apricot peach highlighted by the bite of cilantro. Going back and forth between the waffles and the wings made for a enjoyable dining experience. This was my first run at chicken and waffles, and if there’s more inspired versions of this southern classic, count me in.
So, folks, give me some more! Where the FORK do U go for chicken and waffles?
Fork U 