Revival - November 9, 2015
Sometimes the universe conspires against you. Sometimes the best retaliation to that conspiring is something familiar, flavorful, and filling, something comforting. On Monday a good friend and I wanted some comfort.
People often ask what my favorite restaurant is, I always tell them it depends on the day of the week. A lot of the restaurants in town are closed Sunday evenings and/or Monday - some even Tuesday, so if you ask me on a Tuesday no Brewer’s Table or Travail. Sunday I’m not going to say Revival or Corner Table. On Monday I’m probably not going to list Saint Dinette, but Revival will definitely be among the syllables that come pouring out. Thankfully Revival specializes in some really comfortable food.
Pork Rinds hot cheetos style with cheese sauce: We’d eaten at Saint Dinette a few days earlier and tried their cheese dusted chicharron incarnation and I’d mentioned Revival’s funyon style take on it. The funyon version wasn’t on the menu anymore, so we decided to go with these. I’m glad we did. Salty, spicy, and a touch of cheese flavor on the rinds themselves. Dipping into the sauce elevated these, the texture changed ever so slightly so it was almost like you were eating a real cheese puff version of the hot cheetos. Definitely recommend.
2pc Tennessee Hot Chicken: There’s one hard and fast rule I follow when dining at Revival: you need to get either the burger or chicken, preferably Tennessee Hot. You can get other things too, but you need to get one of those. The dining experience isn’t complete without either or both.
Biscuits with sorghum butter: While I initially wavered on these due to a lack of salt, even though I don’t like a lot of salt, these are starting to really grow on me. I fantasize about a day Revival decides to do a weekend takeout breakfast window and just serve a variety of meat and egg sandwiches on these. They’d definitely give Bogart’s a run for my pre-volunteer food fix.
(Much, much better picture by dining companion is here, give it a like or her a follow?)
Monday Smoked Brisket Special with white slaw, corn bread, bread & butter pickles, and mixed BBQ beans: One of my favorite chefs had gone in the past two Mondays with their spouse and they alternated getting it. I can see why, lots of good flavors, great textures.
Mac & Cheese: The comfort. This is definitely up there with the Hot Chicken and Burger as an item one should probably get to actually have an authentic Revival experience. Crispy bread crumbs, melted cheese, nicely sauced non-elbow noodles, good amount of pepper. It’s definitely my favorite mac & cheese in town.
Banana Cream Pie: Still bananas, still joy. If you like either, get it.
Whatever the reasons, sometimes we seek comfort. Sometimes that comfort is in the form of food. It might be the perfectly executed panna cotta, it might be some volcanically spicy ramen, sometimes it’s some really good mac & cheese.