EXTOL EATS
a plethora of restaurants offering this ever-popular
item. There are fried, broasted, grilled, baked,
pressure cooked, and roasted preparations, and
original, spicy, hot, Nashville hot, golden, Cajun
and other varieties to consider. Plus, there are
sauces to evaluate in the overall equation.
I applaud Cox’s for not being “chicken,” so to
speak, to put its version of the fried bird out there
and provide a new niche in the ever-expanding
New Albany food landscape.
After looking around, I ordered three Sticky
Fingers ($7.99 with one side and choice of sauce)
and three Giant Drummies ($7.99 w/side). You
can order six for $13.99 or nine for $19.99 as well.
I opted for Mary’s Greens as one side and Mac &
Cheese as the other. For starters, Alexandra, my
friendly and patient server, recommended the Fried
Pickle Spears with ranch dipping sauce.
While waiting for the pickles, I perused the rest
of the menu and reviewed the three-page beer
menu. The dining menu is divided into five sections
and has something to please just about everyone,
including appetizers, sandwiches (including a
Fried Cod Sandwich served fish ’n‘ chips style for
$10.99), sides, burgers and salads. There also is a
children’s menu.
The fried pickle spears I ordered were a home
run and were as crisp and firm after frying as any
pickle I have ever had. The ranch dipping sauce
was a perfect complement to these crunchy and
munchy gems. A cold beer and these fried pickles
while watching sports is enough to keep you coming
back to Cox’s.
With the taste buds tantalized, out came the
chicken, sides and choice of sauces served on
silver trays with red and white checkered picnic
paper. I immediately went for the chicken and was
not disappointed. It was “hot” chicken, meaning
it was served from the fryer hot and crispy. Cox’s
serves their chicken original style and provides a
choice of sauces (Original, Cluck, Holy Cluck, or
Clucking Scary) on the side to deliver the desired
heat. For sake of completeness, I tried all of the
sauce options and found that they all had a base
sweetness to them and slightly different flavor
profile with increasing heat level. My favorite was
the Holy Cluck. The Clucking Scary was certainly
hot but not inedible hot and would not completely
scare the bravest away.
My side of Mary’s Greens was terrific and
reminiscent of the South Side greens of yesteryear.
Cooked with bacon pieces and both sweet and
tart at the same time, they were delicious. I’m
still pondering the mystery flavor or secret spice.
Maybe a slight splash of Asian mirin and/or flavored
soy? The ample portion of the Mac & Cheese side
was creamy and utilized curly cavatappi as the
pasta choice.
The beer menu is extensive and includes both
domestic and imported draft and bottled selections
and a surprisingly large number of craft beers with
a focus on local breweries which was good to see.
Cox’s also has plenty of bourbon, spirits and wine to
choose from, in addition to nonalcoholic beverages.
Next door with its own entrance is Cox’s Carry
Out. It has a reduced menu featuring only chicken
and sides. Incidentally, there are four tables inside
the carry-out location that may be perfect for those
wanting to grab a quick lunch or dinner. Both New
Albany Cox’s restaurant are wheelchair accessible
from the Main Street entrances.
Also, Cox’s recently opened a second location at
134 Spring St. in Jeffersonville in the former Big Four
Burgers location. It will be similar to the New Albany
establishment but will also feature a second-floor
venture with a local brewery.
So, come meet, eat, drink, hang out, watch some
sports and enjoy. It will be a party “fowl” if you
don’t try it!
Tastefully, Todd
Cox’s Hot Chicken & Sports
114 East Main St.
New Albany
812.944.4032
coxshotchicken.com
Cox’s Hot Chicken
134 Spring St.
Jeffersonville
812.590.3281
coxshotchicken.com
EXTOL : FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019
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