Willie Mae's Scotch House

Fried chicken is a favorite of my husbands, so when I saw that "Bon Appetite" magazine gave a restaurant in New Orleans the title of 'Best Fried Chicken in America', I knew we had to go. Willie Mae's Scotch House has received not only the aforementioned accolade but countless others. Willie Mae's is located in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans, near Mid-City in a place that was heavily damaged by Katrina. While the restaurant's fried chicken lives up to its billing, it is the best that either my husband or I have ever had, its service and location leave much to be desired. It is well know that good fried chicken, made to order, takes at least 20 minutes, so one should never expect "fast" food when visiting Willie Mae's. Unfortunately, the staff works as quickly as the fried chicken takes to fry. On one visit, it took about 20 minutes for the order to be taken after we had down, and waiting for the bill can take just as long. Located near Broad St. and Orleans, Willie Mae's is easy to get to, but the immediate neighborhood is still struggling to recover from the hurricane and may not be the safest place to go alone. While fried chicken is the main draw, Willie Mae's does offer a few alternatives. The fried pork chop is another notable offering, and sides include cornbread muffins, french fries, a vegetable plate, and red or butter beans and rice. Willie Mae's also has a few desserts such as bread pudding. All of these options are good, but none of them are spectacular. The star of the show is definitely the unbelievably good fried chicken. People come back time and again for the perfectly crispy on the outside but tender and juicy on the inside chicken that can be ordered by the piece or as a 3 piece meal. Patrons are willing to put up with the less than desirable location and slow service to taste these spiced to perfection delights. There is not a designated children's menu at Willie Mae's, but there are plenty of things for kids to enjoy. They do have one high chair and 2 booster seats, so I would say that Willie Mae's is kid friendly if your child is patient enough to take a long lunch. The prices are actually a bit on the high side, but the quality of the food does not disappoint. The restaurant is run by Willie Mae's granddaughter, and she can be seen cooking in the kitchen, protecting the family's secret recipe, but she is always willing to stop and chat. The whole restaurant is family run and owned, and the staff, while slow, is very friendly. Willie Mae's is not the place to go if you are in a hurry. If you are looking for the best fried chicken in America, look no further; just make sure you have at least an hour and a half to enjoy it! I give Willie Mae's Scotch house 3 and a half stars.