Tag: Lakewood

Kickin’ Chicken – Lakewood, CO

Driving around just outside of Denver, I passed a small restaurant that caught my attention. Their sign read Kickin’ Chicken and their mascot was a chicken dressed up like a ninja. Their parking lot was packed, so I figured it must be good. I decided to check them out for lunch.

When I went inside there was a long line of people to order. That gave me time to look over their menu. They only serve four types of chicken dishes and a couple of sides. That kept it simple to choose from. You order at the counter. If you were going to eat there, they bring the order to you. If not, you get a takeout bag.

I chose to try the chicken tenders. I was able to select two dipping sauces for my chicken. I went with the kickin’ sauce and the sweet chili. They cook the chicken to order, so when it came to the table it was piping hot. I was stunned at how big the chicken tenders were. They could easily be shared.

The breading was extra crispy, and it helped keep the chicken juicy. The kickin’ sauce was like a BBQ sauce. It was not spicy like I thought it would be. The sweet chili sauce had all the heat. The sweetness hit first and them I got the punch of heat from the chilis.

My tenders also came with a side dish. I chose the Mexican street corn. It was not on the cob, so it made it easier to eat. It had a nice tangy taste from the mayo and Mexican crema. The corn itself added the sweetness. They sprinkled Cotija cheese on top and a dash of cayenne pepper. The pepper did not add any heat. It was just for color. The cheese also added to the tangy flavor. It was a great side dish. It also was a pretty big portion which could have been easily shared.

The chicken was amazing at Kickin’ Chicken. I can understand why they were constantly busy while I was there. They are a great place to go for lunch.

Check them out at www.kickinchickenrestaurant.com

Enjoy!

T

Frank’s Pizza & Italian Ristorante – Lakewood, NJ

It was Sunday night and time for dinner. What better dinner than some homemade Italian food. It was recommended that I try Frank’s Pizza & Ristorante. Since their dining room was shut down, I had to get the food to go.

I ordered a couple of things that way there was an assortment of things to try. I got an arancini (rice ball). The size was huge and perfect for sharing. It was crispy on the outside but when I sliced in, the melted cheese just poured out. The cheese blended with the soft rice. In the middle was a great blend of chopped meat, peas, and a little marinara sauce. This filling paired with the cheese and rice made the dish filling.

I got two different calzones. One was just cheese and the other was vegetables and cheese. The cheese calzone was loaded down with cheese. It poured out when I cut into the crispy crust. You must be careful, so you do not burn your mouth. If you like cheesy dough this is the calzone to try. Dipping in in pasta sauce just helps break up the overwhelming amount of cheese.

The vegetable calzone had a few vegetables, including from broccoli rabe. The vegetables helped break up all the cheese. They added a nice texture as well. The dough they used was sweet and complemented the saltiness of the cheese.

I ordered a cup of their chicken noodle soup. There were large chunks of chicken in the soup, but the broth was more like a vegetable soup. There was a sweetness to the soup rather than a salty taste. They loaded the soup with noodles which I really liked. I do like it when soups have lots of noodles.

I did order one main pasta dish to try. I went for the gnocchi in a marinara sauce. These gnocchi were dense but still tender. The marinara sauce was slightly tangy from the tomatoes. However, that eased when I sprinkled some fresh grated Parmesan cheese on top.

I was so full after all this food. I ordered plenty so I was able to have lunch the next day. The next time I visit Frank’s I want to order a pizza. That seemed like a really popular item with the customers who kept coming in.

Check out their full menu at www.frankspizzalakewood.com

Enjoy!

T