Alicia Bolton | Staff Writer
Across the street from FIU, and under the new bridge that is presently being constructed, sits the 109 Tower. There, nestled at the corner, is the restaurant The Green Chicken. It’s a neighborhood gem where you’ll be sure to find the disheveled dwellers of off-campus housing, regular locals, and the occasional sheriff.
The Green Chicken is a made-to-order restaurant, where you can see your meal being prepared as you order. There’s no indoor seating, so once you’ve paid, you can carry your meal outside. I went at 1:00 pm, peak lunch-time hours.
To me, it’s comfort food: brown rice, black beans, plantains, and tender chicken. There, the service is quick, the plates are generous, and the food is moderately priced. It’s great for a splurge for those on a tight budget.
This week’s meal was a jerk chicken bowl, the Tuscan Chicken special, and a flan. The meal on its own was almost 30 dollars.
The Tuscan Chicken had the signature tender meat of The Green Chicken with buttery mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus. The sauce was a savory tomato cream sauce that paired well with the butter of the garlic potatoes. The tomatoes were subtle, which was perfect.
It was a solid meal, and the chicken stood out as the main star. It absorbed the creamy sauce and butter, and together it was a delight in a bite. The meal was delicious overall, but compared to the asparagus, it seemed to fall flat. I thought that they were a bit bitter and could have used more salt.
The jerk chicken bowl is comforting in every sense of the word. Every bite reminded me of my mom’s meals back home in Tampa. The chicken was the star of the meal, having the perfect amount of spice, which gives your taste buds a tiny kick. In case you can’t handle the heat, I recommend ordering the jerk chicken bowl with sour cream, which does an amazing job balancing the kick.
Personally, I enjoy adding the cilantro as it gives the meal an element of freshness. Sometimes I also like to add lettuce for that same reason and for a little crunch; however, The Green Chicken only allows five toppings before they charge extra.
They even have dessert for those who have a sweet tooth. I opted to share the flan they had with a friend. Unfortunately, it was rather lackluster; the custard was a little too firm for my standards. However, I liked how the vanilla shone through, the caramel was decent, and the egg taste was soft, something I am very particular about when it comes to flan.
Flan aside, the restaurant is great. Foodwise, it is a quick fix-me-up, perfect to eat in between classes. The food is amazing, and as a result, I give the food four out of five stars.
I could say the same about the service, and would rate the service the same as the food. Typically, I forget to ask for extra sauce, but one of the ladies assembling my bowl kindly poured me extra. It is quick, professional, and not uncaring. Four out of five stars.
In terms of affordability, I would say that I avoid eating here more than once a week. It is moderately priced- a bowl would cost about $14. Add any extras, a drink, and a dessert, plus tips, and the meal will easily be over $20. For affordability, I give The Green Chicken three stars.
The Green Chicken is definitely a neighborhood gem for a reason, and if you are close to campus, I highly suggest you get a jerk chicken bowl. It’s a restaurant that hosts many vegetarian options for customers to enjoy, which is another thing I wanted to highlight. The restaurant also makes smoothies with fresh fruit, which are equally delicious and healthy. For the more carnivorous-oriented people, they also have steak options.
I can guarantee you’ll love it. Thank me later.
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The opinions presented on this page do not represent the views of the PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect the perspectives of contributing writers and/or university community members.
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