Style Weekly Checks Out our Fried Chicken

Style Weekly takes a look at fried chicken in the RVA are and two Southbank spots made the cut. Surprisingly I haven’t had either. First up is Paradise Diner in Stratford Hills;

This experience is chicken in two parts. First, and my favorite, comes the half-bird adventure. Designated as Maryland fried chicken on the diner’s special menu, this oversized serving shows off well-seasoned yellow skin and ambrosial meat. Basted and baked in butter (heavenly) for $7.79, this plump and exquisite portion is not for the faint-hearted. Expect leftovers. If that isn’t reason enough to visit this friendly establishment, there’s an entirely different fried chicken on the menu. Junior’s fried chicken is completely contrastive in flavor, a crispy light skin with a traditional take on breading. Floured and deep-fried, the portion is peppery, crusty and pleasantly greasy. Accompanied by stellar sides, this diner shows versatility when it comes to the fryer.

Second up is Golden Skillet on Janhke;

“Tender as quail! Tasty as pheasant!” A fried-chicken celebrity because of its roots in Richmond, this spot still keeps its secret recipe strong. Soaked in salt water and then placed in pressure cookers, this chicken’s succulence is apparent from your first bite. I recommend eating in one of these throw-backs, and I venture to say that the interior of each is exactly the same as when the chain opened in 1964. Easily recognizable (look for the yellow pan-shaped sign) from the street, there are three in Richmond; one is rumored to be owned by a descendant of the original family Guthrie.

Who did they miss, not counting Martkrops or Chik-Fil-A?