Our first food face-off is poultry in motion. Agree or disagree with our chicken sandwich showdown

First Glance:

The Lab Chicken Sandwich was not boasting it’s superiority to the local food scene. Not to say it was plain by any means, rather it was holding in a secret that one could soon unlock. The roughly ⅜” thick filet was beautifully breaded, and the sandwich was stacked appropriately with fresh toppings, not overwhelming the size of the filet itself. This is a sandwich you can hold and eat without checking your periphery.

The Experience:

The chicken was tender and at the perfect temperature. The breading was delicate and crisp, allowing the flavor of the chicken to shine rather than the breading itself. It wasn’t oily either, you could taste each ingredient: butter leaf lettuce, tomato, a snappy dill pickle, and long strands of purple onion joined the chicken between soft, lightly toasted Tin Roof challah buns.

The Extra:

It’s no wonder the sandwich is the staple of The Lab’s menu; it’s beauty lies within its simplicity. The meal is complete with your choice of shoestring fries, sweet potato fries, or tater tots included. Their spicy mayo was balanced with heat not compensating for overall flavor and was the star of the sandwich once applied to the bun.

First Glance:

I caught more than a glimpse of the Spicy Sweet Fried Chicken Sandwich as it approached the table. Poised, it stared back, unphased. A large, golden, and flaky fried chicken breast took center stage. Tin Roof’s brioche roll adorned the top and bottom, while pickled onions and sliced tomatoes peeked out from below the lettuce.

The Experience:

As expected, the sandwich was a twohand endeavor, and the golden flaky batter succumbed to the juicy tomato and tender chicken. The bread and butter chips and pickled onions added acidity and allowed greater texture from the overall softer, more tender ingredients of the sandwich. The bun held the everything together well, surprising for the all-star cast in its cargo.

The Extra:

To keep things as even as possible, we took the honey Sriracha and Sriracha mayo on the side, and our napkins appreciated it. While other sides were available, the crackling golden fries broke between tongue and roof of the mouth. The velvety honey sauce had a nice kick and further complemented the pickled onion.