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“Not Your Momma’s” Fried Chicken

“Not Your Momma’s” Fried Chicken served with mac and cheese with cucumber salad substituted for collard greens.

Going southern at Smokestack Urban Barbecue meant fried chicken! A large platter of chicken arrived at the table along with two small bowls of sides—this was obviously a meal that I would be enjoying the next day as well!  The chicken was perfectly fried and still very hot with crispy skin and meat so tender that it fell off the bone with little effort.  There was plenty of white meat, which is often lacking with “half chicken” preparations.  The cucumber salad was comprised of thinly cut cucumber slices, shredded carrot and scant red pepper pieces all drenched in a vinegary dressing.  I loved this – it was a great contrast to the richness of the fried chicken and it had a great flavor.  The mac and cheese was simply ok.  It was creamy and covered with crushed Ritz crackers, but I found it bland and lacking flavor.  It was much improved with a splash or two of hot sauce but it still didn’t “wow” me.

Overall, this is a meal I would certainly order again (and again…).  If this dish is representative of the food that Smokestack has to offer, we’ve got a winner!

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Louisiana Fry

The Louisiana Fry served at Smokestack Urban Barbecue on Harding Street in Worcester.

Urban Barbecue may sound somewhat strange in Worcester. However, Smokestack Urban Barbecue on Harding Street delivers the goods, especially when trying the Louisiana Fry. A dish piled high, it came with freshly fried catfish, oysters, and shrimp, with a side of fries, slaw and remoulade served on a playful, yet down home country feel, of parchment paper.

The slaw is very peppery and refreshing, which proved a good compliment to the crisply fried seafood and fries. The true stars of the dish…the seafood consisted of perfectly cooked shrimp that still had a nice snap to them and even a slight crunch from the carefully fried tails. The oysters were creamy and briny, small tidbits of deliciousness, while the catfish resembled oversized clam strips, but without that intense seafood flavor. The fish was mild and very flaky, not dry and tough like the reputation that catfish may have. To finish off the meal, the thinly cut fries were done perfectly, creating a nice retreat from the plentiful seafood dish. Although not one’s typical BBQ fare, the Louisiana Fry from Smokestack Urban Barbecue did not disappoint.