There’s just one thing on the menu at Chicken Shop, and the only decision you have to make is how much of it you fancy: a whole bird, a half or a quarter. It’s all very straightforward and satisfying, and so too is the food.
The chicken comes fresh from the spit, tender and well seasoned, and the small selection of sides are all generously portioned. Plus, if you order the deep-filled apple pie, they’ll come over to your table with the oven dish and serve it straight onto your plate with a big spoon, just like you’d do at home.
And maybe that’s why it’s so difficult to get excited about Chicken Shop. The food’s perfectly decent, but none of it feels that special, and the restaurant itself – styled as an American general store from the ’50s – feels like a formula that’s designed to be replicated again and again. It’s a solid choice if you’re feeling peckish, but there’s no need for Nando’s to get in a flap just yet.