The Place: Most New Yorkers will never forget Ample Hills Creamery, which started as a reliable local ice cream shop that went through a roller coaster ride of a business venture. They still have a few locations without the original owners involved, but I won’t recount all the twists and turns but the latest is not one that anybody could have predicted. The couple behind the original ice cream shop has returned with a chicken smash burger shop called Ramblin’ Chick.
The vibe is a very lively fast food shack and you can see the branding and franchising wheels turning. Regardless this could be a very fun casual neighborhood hang-out for teens and families. Plus, they offer homemade soft serve, so a bit of the original Ample Hills is still alive here.
The Dish: The chicken burger concept is interesting and not one I’ve encountered before in the city. Much like veggie burgers, if these are done well you would never miss the meat (or the beef in this case). The OG BK Burger seems to be the closest to a classic fast food beef burger with a secret sauce, caramelized onions and melted American cheese. By default, it comes with two nicely crisped and charred patties although you can downgrade to just one.
It works really well – juicy and seasoned. It did not taste like “chicken” to me but rather a satisfying burger that maybe was slightly healthier than the full-on beef variety. Not really sure who this is for since vegetarians still will not touch it – but perhaps for those cutting down on their red meat. It’s a good alternative and something I could see popping up elsewhere around the city. Price: $11.99
| RAMBLIN’ CHICK |
| 512 Court Street (between Nelson Street and Huntington Street), Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn (917) 312-2009 |
| ramblinchick.com |
