Chicken on Lygon
61 Lygon Street, Brunswick
03 9078 5541
Charcoal Chicken
$
Food
- Retro Burger (Beef)
- Chicken and Avocado Salad
- Spinach and Ricotta Frittata
- Roast Vegetables
- Chips
- Hot Chocolate
- Flat White
The Good
The Retro Beef Burger was quite simply a flawless, perfect burger. The lightly toasted brioche sandwiched a huge tower of flavourful, quality ingredients. Starting off with the flame-grilled beef patty which was cooked to perfection with a slightly pink inner enclosed by a slightly charred and crunchy outer. The meat was extraordinarily juicy and bursting with beef aroma. Combined with the thick-cut bacon, egg, and of course melted cheese, this burger which was intentionally light on sauces allowed you to savour each distinct component’s unique taste. Overall, the flavours of the burger closely resembled a traditional “The Lot”, except with a brilliant brioche bun and quality, juicy ingredients.
The Spinach and Ricotta Frittata was simply delicious. Golden, perfectly baked flakey outer pastry was held together by a generous amount of soft fluffy ricotta cheese. The baby spinach within was plentiful and full of flavour. With each mouthful, this delectable homemade pie just begged for one more. However one gripe would be the temperature when served, which could’ve benefited from being heated up a tad more and would also add extra crunch to the crust.
The Chicken and Avocado salad was undoubtedly the best renditions I’ve ever had. The plentiful chicken pieces were tender and full of flavour. This balanced extraordinarily well with the freshness of the rocket leaves as well as the creamy avocado. Dressing was noticeably light which allowed for each individual component to shine. Tossed together with some olive oil, this salad was light yet satisfying.
Asking for a side of chips resulted in a huge bowl of fried potatoes that constitutes a meal in itself, and man was I pleased with this! Fresh out of the fryer, the outer had a great crunch that embodied an exceedingly soft and fluffy inner. The seasoning, comprising of chicken salt and a tad of paprika, made these chips a real winner and proved to be an unstoppable endeavor.
I decided to order some roast vegetables in an attempt to balance off some of the cheatmeal… Roast veggies are usually an afterthought for most restaurants, but not here. They looked and tasted absolutely delicious. Cooked just right, these mixed vegetables were just soft enough, yet carried a slight crunch of freshness. The herbs along with the drizzle of olive oil on top complement the veggies rather well.
Who could say no when someone with an Italian asks you if you want to try their coffee?! Despite being filled to the brim, when owner Charlie asked me this very question, I of course obliged. The coffee was smooth and creamy with great aroma. The star of the show though was the hot chocolate, which was made with a generous amount of quality, flavourful cocoa. Compounded by the exceedingly thick and creamy foam on top, this hot chocolate was exceptional!
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
Overall it was a delicious, home-cooked meal that makes you reminisce of your grandmother’s hearty, comfort food. Along with the chatty and caring owners Veera and Charlie, dining here totally make you feel right at home.
Ultimately though, the name Chicken on Lygon doesn’t really do this eatery justice, as it is about so much more than just charcoal chicken. No, the food is not fancy or groundbreaking in any way. But damn, the honest, homely food here definitely gives all these new eateries a run for their money!
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Absolutely. Beautifully done, simple and honest home-cooked meal at an affordable price. What else could you ask for?
I am so thankful to have been invited to try out Charlie and Veera’s homemade meals.