Been a big fan of Rubs since going there 3 years ago for one of the pit to plate dinner nights that my mom bought me for my birthday. Loved the ambiance, the decor, and the down to earth menu and service. I could immediately tell that Jared wanted to and did make great BBQ, without hype, and do it his way.
I live near the new Western Ave Budlong and longed for it to finally open. With family in Nashville I've been to Prince's and Hattie B's many times over the years and I have been let down by what Chicago thus far offered in the way of Nashville chicken.
Anyhow, my first visit to Budlong I ordered a half chicken with a side of mac and a side of slaw. When the food came out I was perplexed as to how I was even going to be able to eat it. The chicken, was stacked on the flimsy paper plate, all of it, so high it was literally impossible to try and mange it all. Dinners to the left and right of me were gawking at the ridiculous amount of chicken stacked on such a small paper plate. At the time I thought, wrongly, that certainly the paper plates and side bowls were just a stopgap until more sturdy and appropriate plateware arrived. I figured I would come back and check out the food again because I was sure Budlong wouldn't support such wasteful practices.
Oh yeah, and the chicken. It's very good. Nice a juicy, good heat levels (if not a bit inconsistent) but overall very good. To me the real difference and the thing that no one in Chicago actually is willing to pull off, is cooking the chicken in a cast iron skillet. They do that down in Nashville and it results in a crunchyness and texture that can't be replicated in a fryer. I wish everyone who claims to make Nashville chicken actually would make it that way.
2nd trip - same plates, same paper bowls. I'd really love to know why such extremely wasteful practices are standard operating procedure at Budlong and I personally don't plan on returning if my $17 half chicken (which costs $10 at Princes, but we aren't in Nashville either) is going to be served on disposable plates.
-JV