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| All photos ©Mary Brace 2013. All rights reserved |
Here's another of the relative newcomers to Nashville Hot Chicken: Hot Stuff, in Antioch, has been with us since some time in 2010. Located in a fancy shmancy Bell Road strip mall just across Blue Hole Road from the Family Fun Center (ie, mini-golf), it's one of the lesser-known joints as that's not exactly a fashionable or touristy area.
If the changes Metro is shepherding along in the former Hickory Hollow Mall take hold, who's to say how that may change.
I arrived shortly before 6 on a Sunday evening, placed my order (six tenders, two ways: 1/2 Hot and 1/2 Sweet Heat) and was served in about 20 minutes time. Here's the scoop:
Tenderness: 6* Because I ordered take-out for a change, it was a good 20 minutes before I got to the eating, so I'm adding on a point for the delay. The tenderness seemed about average at first but as I went on, the lack of it was more noticeable. Nashville Hot Chicken was Nashville still pretty warm chicken in this case.
Moisture: 6* Again, I'm giving Hot Stuff's tenders an additional point because of time in the box.
Grease: 9 Very little. The Sweet Heat batch had no noticeable grease.
Flavor: 7. The Sweet Heats didn't impress me, the Hots were
better, although I have to say I think more of the flavor came from the
coating than the chicken. On the downside, there was something a bit
doughy about those coatings.
Atmosphere: 5. Flavorless strip mall.
Sides: 8. Not a lot of selection, but the fries were good. Thin crinkles with just the right amount of salt.
Overall: 7
I would make a return visit if I was in this part of town, if for no other reason than to eat them fresh out of the pan and see if it made a difference in tenderness & juice. Definitely worthy of consideration.
