Let's start Saratoga Week with where we ended our first day at the track: Hattie's. Hattie's is a small soul food joint in Saratoga that's been around since 1938! They are well known for their fried chicken and have been featured on Throw Down with Bobby Flay (and won!). So we had high hopes.
We left the track a little early, and got to Hattie's around 4:30. When we walked in the door we were greeted with empty tables and yells of "we open at 5!" So we went to the bar next door for a drink, and returned promptly at 5:04...almost all the tables were seated and the place was HOPPING. Luckily there were two tiny tables still open so the four of us were seated: M & me, and our awesome friends Kelly & Matt (who had recommended Hattie's to us).
After sitting there for about 15 minutes, they finally brought our table the complimentary basket of corn bread and biscuits. Both were AMAZING, the biscuits especially. I could have made those my meal and been quite satisfied.
As we waited for our food, M enjoyed a good southern beer: Abita Jockamo IPA.
I ordered the red beans and rice with a piece of fried chicken. I thought this was going to be a solid, delicious choice. And the chicken was probably the best fried chicken I've had to date.
But the red beans were another story. See, this past winter I was OBSESSED with Zatarain's Red Beans and Rice. And honestly, the stuff from the box was way better than Hattie's. Hattie's flavors their beans sweetly and seemed a bit heavy handed with the cinnamon, where as Zatarain's uses a mix of savory spices that are as addictive as CRACK.
So, my meal got the thumbs down, but everyone else really enjoyed what they ordered. Kelly was nuts about her fried chicken, Matt enjoyed his ribs and collard greens, and M was pleasantly surprised with his shrimp and sausage gumbo.
So overall, Hattie's is a thumbs up...if you avoid their red beans!
