Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken
Nutella, Vanilla, and Caramel Shakes
Hush Puppies
Smorgasbird – Lettuce, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Chicken Cutlets, Pineapple Slices, Pickles, Fries, Sour Cream, Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Sauteed BBQ Chicken, Pickled Peppers
2 Strips, 2 Wings, Adobo Corn, Collards & Bacon
Founded by the Bromberg Brothers and featuring the duo’s first foray into the ‘burbs, Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken arrived in Downtown Summerlin by way of New York earlier this summer and although the quick casual concept has been questioned for high prices as well as uneven cooking ever since opening it was with a friend and his child that I sat down for lunch on Saturday, almost every off-putting rumor soon confirmed.
Nicely lit and well adorned with amenities including motion sensing trash compactors, LCD televisions, housemade sauces, plus a fountain featuring artisan sodas from Boylan’s, a visit to Blue Ribbon begins at a counter with smiling servers – the dining decisions largely sandwiches, combos, and sides with additional options for shakes or salads, plus single tenders, wings, or thighs.
Taking note of a few specials, the August-only “Smorgasbird” with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Multiple Sclerosis offered in addition to perplexingly priced hush puppies – $3.75 for a half-dozen or $7.95 for ten – it was after some perusal that an order soon completed, the fifteen minute wait with one of those vibrating flashy buzzers spent sitting in one of several unpadded booths.
Certainly not a cheap meal, the total before tax and tip north of $55 for what would prove less than enough to sate a family of four were it not for the three excellent pieces of egg bread wrapped around the charitable sandwich, it was largely a matter of principle that the Smorgasbird was ordered and with two boneless cutlets spiced quite unlike the Bromberg chicken at Blue Ribbon or Brooklyn Bowl suffice it to say that each piece was almost too dry on its own to be enjoyable, the better bites found in barbequed bits serve atop cheesy fries tinged in peppers while anemic looking tomatoes made one question sourcing during the ingredients peak time of year.
Finding the tenders to be as oddly spiced and devoid of moisture as the cutlets while wings at least maintained their texture thanks to the presence of a bone, it was onward to sides that the meal progressed and although the hushpuppies were each quite small the flavors of sweet corn were thankfully prominent, the same not to be said of soft collards barely bolstered by pork let alone the ‘adobo corn’ which certainly would have benefited greatly from some salt.
At this point seeing the emperor for his lack of clothes while wondering why the duo opts to change their chicken at each venue when the original version is the one that earned them such acclaim, it was in a trio of shakes that the meal concluded and although none were particularly innovative each was clearly crafted of good ice cream, the vanilla trending a bit thin and mellow while the Nutella and caramel were decidedly sweet and thick enough to stick a spoon up straight.
TWO STARS: Overpriced and overseasoned with little more than a ‘name’ to justify the hype Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken joins the likes of most of Downtown Summerlin’s imported eateries, a situation that makes one wonder just how long the public will continue to bite.
RECOMMENDED: Hush Puppies, Nutella Shake.
AVOID: Chicken Tenders, Adobo Corn, Collards.
TIP: Located on the North side of the street from Wolfgang Puck, best parking is found in the Ethan Allen/Andiron Lot as street parking directly in front of Blue Ribbon is limited to only a few spaces.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor
http://blueribbonfriedchicken.com/las-vegas-summerlin/
