When my fried-chicken loving friend asked "If you don't like popeyes, what IS good chicken?" I knew where we had to visit. The Stockyards delivered some fantastic fries and chicken, but little else.
Let's start with the good! That chicken. Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. I was also blown away by the fantastic fries! I have made and eaten a lot of fried potatoes and these some of the best I've been served. And oh boy do they serve a lot of 'em! They're even great reheated.
Then there were the disappointments. The menu restrictions are annoying. Ribs are only served Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday after 5 while the waffles are only available before 3. Stuck going for a Thursday night birthday, we ordered the Pulled Pork sandwich and the Dirty Thirty burger. The pork was average in being both bland and dry, and the burger was ...forgettable. They felt like menu fillers for days rib aren't served.
Then there were the little things that led to 3 stars. It's a small space with bar seats and no tables (bad for groups), no liquor licence, the blunt and unwelcoming service, and paying at the cash with very high tip percentages (this is a diner, I'm not about to tip 40%).
I liked our experience at The Stockyards and I'm so glad they delivered on the fried chicken. I will probably be back for brunch or ribs, however I'm not in a rush to get there.