Friedman’s Herald Square – 138 W 31st St, New York, NY 10001, United States of America

We went here because…
Friedman’s is a family business with seven locations around New York, it famously has a menu that states “99% of our menu happens to be gluten-free or can be prepared gluten-free” and the menu contains some of the great meals that us GFer’s often cannot partake in. Therefore the first time that a Friedman’s entered our general vicinity we were going there, which is how we ended up at Friedman’s Herald Square – New York.

The food…
For many years I have seen on American TV people ordering “Chicken and Waffles” I have often wondered how that worked, why you would do that, how a dish that is normally served with fruit, maple syrup and ice cream be mixed with something made famous in our part of the world by Colonel Sanders and is most definitely savoury. Luckily I have never seen it on a menu; gluten free, so I have never had to make the decision whether or not to order it.

For years I have fought the idea of meat and fruit, savoury and sweet, sweet and sour, call me a heathen but I believe ingredients such as apricot, sultanas, preserved lemon and pineapple should stay away from piquancy and I have stood tall and refused to cross that line for some time (okay occasionally I have entertained mango chutney with Indian cuisine and apple sauce with pork).

And then I arrived at Freidman’s and saw it; Chicken and Waffles GF, served with habanero honey. I had to do it, I don’t know what came over me, everything that I had stood up for and believed was thrown out the door, my reputation in tatters (okay I never really had a reputation, but you get the gist). It arrived, it was what it said on the packet, it was really big, with three large pieces of fried chicken on top of a waffle (it said it was a cheese waffle, but it did come with a dish of “hot honey”) and a “Gluten Free” flag sticking out of it. I had crossed the line, now it was time to dive in and find out what it was all about. Oh my goodness it was fantastic, once I started, I couldn’t stop, I just kept going until it was all gone. I don’t know if all chicken and waffles taste that good, but I can guarantee you one thing, I’m going back for a second helping before I jump on that plane home.

I almost forgot, The Wife had an Asian Chicken Salad and The Daughter had Vegetable Pot Stickers and Fries (yes we are a savoury breakfast type of family).

The drinks…
Simple, I had a grapefruit juice (with pulp) and the others had sodas.

The service…
We have had a dream run in New York of just turning up to establishments that are completely full and asking for a table and that dream run continued, we did have to share a large table with two other parties, but it was good. The server was very friendly and knew everything about Friedman’s enormous menu, when I check that the Chicken and Waffles was definitely GF, she said that she could ask the kitchen to add some gluten if I really wanted, but didn’t see the point. For a place that was as packed as it was, the service was amazing.

The atmosphere…
Heaving with jovial customers, eating breakfast/brunch/lunch, talking at the top of their voices. Friedman’s was exactly as we hoped it would be.

The price was…
USD107 for three (very large) breakfasts and a grapefruit juice and two sodas. So it wasn’t the cheapest breakfast we had ever had, but I probably don’t need to point out that there was no need for lunch.

Overall
I’m very glad that we don’t have Friedman’s where we come from as I would probably have breakfast there every second day! I confidently give Friedman’s Herald Square – New York 9.25/10

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