My sister and I were in the mood for a cheap oyster snack at The Lobster Place inside Chelsea Market, a train ride away from the public library where we had spent the afternoon finishing some homework. But as I had vaguely remember being told but hadn't bothered double-checking, the place closed was for renovation! So we settled for Friedman's Lunch a few doors down, not wanting to look further for a snack.
I've grown so tired of fried foods (namely fries and chicken) over these years but my sister insisted, and seeing how I rarely eat with her I obliged. I considered it a homage to our childhood McDonalds favorites: trans-fat ladened skinny fries and peppery chicken tenders.
We had to send the first order of soggy, lukewarm herb fries back; t Our second freshly fried batch was, as expected, more enjoyable. With sparse studs of lemony minced rosemary, a soup would have gone nicely with these.
The fried chicken and mac and cheese special arrived with two pieces of dark meat and one of white. The skins were crisp, bordered scratchy, and the meat was juicy but under seasoned. No sauce accompanied the dish and we ended up drenching ours in Tabasco.
Although my sister is only twelve, she's a budding (and harsh!) food critic and I trust her judgment enough to know the Mac n' Cheese was off. (I don't normally eat cheese.) She complained that the pasta was overcooked, the bruleed crust and cheese was oversalted, and that "boxed Kraft macaroni would have been more satisfying." She is firmly against wasting food but most of the macaroni was left unfinished.
We spent almost 30 after tip and would have preferred two platters of oysters with that amount. Or feast at McDonalds...
Whenever I'm under the Chelsea Market roof I end the trip with L'Arte del Gelato. This time I went for a hazelnut and mascarpone combination. The flavors here I consider some of their best, but the texture was off this time- almost watery with a slushy-like consistency.
Even the dessert was lackluster today.
Friedman's Lunch & L'Arte del Gelato (inside Chelsea Market)
75 9th Ave
New York, NY 10011
