Beasley's Chicken + Honey is Legit

Beasley’s Chicken + Honey is one of those downtown Raleigh eateries that’s all the rage, and let me just say up front that it pretty much lives up to the hype. I'll also mention that it rivals Dame's Chicken & Waffles in Durham, but I'll have to give Dame's the edge when it comes to the overall dining experience.

I was somewhat surprised to walk right in at lunchtime on a Monday and find an open table, but it was a damp, chilly day. After surveying the various selections on the chalkboard menu, I ordered the lunch special, which comprised a quarter white meat fried chicken with two sides for $10. The chicken was delightfully juicy and coated with a just-right golden crust. It was lightly drizzled with local honey, but I requested a bit more since it wasn’t enough for my taste.

A distinctive mac & cheese custard was equally rewarding, as was a bowlful of perfectly prepared summer squash. I washed everything down with a Mason jar of not-quite-sweet-enough iced tea.

Service at Beasley’s was attentive, although the male server could have smiled a bit more often. As for décor, high ceilings with exposed beams and ductwork, wooden flooring and aluminum stool seating make for urban chic meets country diner. Amazingly, it wasn’t too loud to carry on a pleasant conversation with a friend. 

No doubt Beasley’s will have a fixed place in the downtown culinary scene for years to come. I know I’ll do my part to keep it going strong.