Fancy Fried Chicken {The Coop}

We finally made it to The Coop, I know, who hasn’t been yet? On a crisp Saturday afternoon we ventured over to this now infamous Winter Park spot. Created by the 4Rivers Smokehouse team, The Coop is a restaurant dedicated to celebrating the home-style fare of the South.

Chef/Owner John Rivers offers comfort food classics made from scratch daily. Passed-down recipes and seasonal ingredients come together in the form of iconic dishes from Southern Fried Chicken, Low Country Shrimp & Grits to Mississippi Mud and Lemon Icebox pies. The decor and atmosphere are reminiscent of a small-town family joint mixed with your childhood home. On a regular ‘ole Saturday the building was filled with families of all types enjoying a classic Southern meal in an even more on-par Southern environment.

Here’s our menu picks and must taste sides!

• Giant Chicken Tenders plus Fixins: Fried chicken is the epitome of Southern food and their plump chicken tenders don’t disappoint! They’ve got a little kick to them spice wise and are perfectly breaded. Pair with their Maple Glazed Carrots, Skillet Cornbread and Smashed Potatoes for the ultimate Southern feast.

• Fried Okra: My life-long love affair with this vegetable started at Lambert’s Cafe in the Missouri bootheel. Since then I’ve been hard pressed to find anything that compares to their greasy, crunchy goodness. But, at long last I’ve found a taste of okra that is comparable to Lambert’s version. These were most enjoyable because the okra is the true flavor hero and the fried batter serves as the ultimate compliment. These are a must order fixin’!

• Hoppin’ John: Mr. Rivers, how did you manage to make rice and blacked eyed peas so darn tasty?! Seriously, though we pretty much devoured this side filled with spices, tomatoes and who knows what else because I ate it too fast.

• Skillet Cornbread: Nailed it! Buttery, smooth and warm. Just how cornbread should taste.

This is just a small sampling of their expansive Southern menu, but it all looks incredibly tasty. We’re coming back for their Pimento Cheese and Low Country Shrimp and Grits soon! The Coop is located at 610 West Morse Boulevard, Winter Park, FL and http://asouthernaffair.com.