If there's chicken to be had, the pouch is gonna be there... So, Hard Rock Cafe had one of their last bike nights of the summer. What perfect timing to get up front free parking for bikers and the chance to sample the much talked about Gus's fwied cheekan. The joint is located on the bottom level near Benihana's (I didn't even know they had this dump down here). Gus's took a pretty spacious spot, there's a good bit of tables and a counter bar here (no alcohol yet). The kitchen is bright, real bright and spacious. Looks like they were anticipating or hoping to do high volume here with all the deep fryers they got back there. It seems like lunch service would be their busiest shift with all the offices around here and dinner service a lot slower since no one sticks around after work. They may get some tourists or conventioneers but those people usually stick with the franchises, it's safe. Enough talk, more chew, time to see if the pouch approves...
The tiny sign... But they have a bigger one from the street side.
It ain't that cheap... Let's hope they are worth it.
3 Piece Dark w/ beans and slaw. The 3 piece dark comes with 2 thighs and a leg but I had them switch out a thigh for the whole wing to get the full range. First observation, they are small pieces of yard bird, I mean real small. It's like a cornish hen. The beans and slaw are pretty standard issue, nothing worth noting, just filler. The slice of white bread doesn't do much here for a regular fried cheekan, but if it was a hot cheekan then that's another story... There's a purpose for that, to soak up all the hot cayenne oil. Which brings me to...
I took a small bite and there is not a hint of any spiciness. The server did say it would be like a 6... And I said, 6 on a scale of 100? So, I Jerry-rigged up my own hot chicken with the Crystal hot sauce packets (I think I used like 10 packets). That sauce ain't hot by any means, they're like a weak Tabasco, but anything is more spicy than the chicken alone. Ok, let's get to the shit... The crust is thin, ultra crispy and has a really nice color, possibly due to the small pieces and quicker cooking time. This tasted more of a dry batter to me but some say it's wet... A wet batter could produce this thin crust but it would have to be applied thinly to the piece which may be why it wasn't spicy. But whatever technique they used, it was a very good crust except that it wasn't spicy whatsoever. The meat is real juicy as well. The Crystal hot sauce gave a little kick in heat but it could only do so much, at least the slice of bread now has a purpose. This is a pretty damn good chicken except that they're so small and 3 pieces isn't enough to consider it a meal, it's really just a $10 snack.
I think they will do fine here even if it's in Peachtree Center. The lunch service will more than make up for the dinner service since no one ever sticks around downtown after work. It's also kinda tough for the locals because of the terrible parking situation, no one wants to pay X amount of dollars just to pick up a semi-pricey fried chicken. Is it worth it? Yes and no. Yes because of that awesome thin crackly crust and juicy meat that are made to order. No because the dark pieces are really small (even the breast was small but who really gets white meat) and for basically $2.75 a piece (dark) this might be more of a treat every once in awhile than a weekly craving like Popeyes easy in and out. I don't know if the small pieces of chicken are organic free range shit or not but does it really matter after it's been deep fried to hell... If they get bigger pieces than I would come back more often. World famous? Prolly not but I would consider this one of the better fried chicken in town.
231 W Peachtree St NE #05
Atlanta, GA
404-996-2837
http://gusfriedchicken.com/
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