Nashville Hot Chicken Reviews: O’Charley’s

Stoney Keeley has written about the Nashville hot chicken at O'Charley's after eating it for approximately the millionth time.

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Only at SoBros Network, right? Listen – let’s just address the elephant in the room up front. A lot of y’all probably clicked this link thinking, “wtf is Stoney doing? Did this man really go to a fucking O’Charley’s and review their Nashville hot chicken?” The answer, in short, is yes. Obviously. You clicked the link you know that. But, what your disbelief implies is that the real question is “why?” Well, when we started doing hot chicken reviews and Nashville restaurant reviews four years ago, I said nothing was off limits. It was ambitious, and I knew it would take us years to do, but I set absolutely no rules for any of us to review anything. If it is a place that you can acquire food from, you can write about it and we’ll add it to our growing catalog. At this point, we’ve reviewed 69 establishments in or around Nashville (#nice). I’ve become hyper-cognizant of this goal and every time I eat somewhere that doesn’t have an accompanying review on the site, I’ll snap a photo and run with it (unless explicitly instructed to not think about work and just enjoy date night by my fiancé). And, guess what – this mf just happened to eat at O’Charley’s last night. Also, I wrote a review of fucking Applebee’s, so don’t put anything past me.

Some people that have been longtime readers of SoBros Network know that I’ve made it a bit of a bit to support these casual dining chains. I just think it’s funny to act like they’re actually good, y’know? That scene from Hall Pass in which they try to pick up chicks at Applebee’s and Olive Garden. *chef’s kiss* – great comedy. But, I can run with it because like a lot of great comedy, it’s rooted in the truth, even if just a fraction of it.

For me, growing up east of Nashville (Mount Juliet) in the 90s, where whatever food scene was happening downtown wouldn’t even remotely touch, going to Applebee’s, O’Charley’s, or El Rey Azteca (now Memo’s Mexican Kitchen) felt like a big night out. It was a treat! So, in a way, while I’m willing to acknowledge that most of these casual dining chains aren’t that good, especially in 2022 when the restaurant scene in Nashville is booming and I’m actually old enough to drive a car to somewhere of my own choosing, I can still say that places like this take me back to carefree Friday nights when my only worry was what I was going to buy with my allowance that week. That means something to me, dammit. Now let’s talk Nashville hot chicken tenders.

Pics

Ratings

Flavor (3.1/10) – On the Nashville hot chicken flavor profile spectrum, this flavor leans a little more vinegary/buffalo-ey than it does sweet, smoky, and brown sugary. I like somewhere in the middle. It’s a sauce that the tenders are tossed in (or you can get it on the side which I’ve discovered is a real adventure), so that automatically makes it a little more oily and a little less pasty. It also tastes as though there’s a little less complexity in the spice blend than what you get in your more traditional hot chicken dishes. It’s a straightforward, hot flavor with a bit of a tang to it that will be giving your brain faint signals of ‘buffalo.’

Texture (4/10) – The chicken itself is damn near perfect. I mean, isn’t that what we all know O’Charley’s for? The hearty tendies!?! They are docked a point from my usual ‘solid’ score because it’s an outright sauce, and I like a little more “paste” on mine. But, if you’re into the sauce, you might like this as a sort of buffalo and Nashville hot hybrid.

Heat (6.7/10) – The heat was perfect for an enjoyable meal without having to run my waiter back and forth for more water every five minutes. It bites, but it’s not so overwhelming that you’re miserable. And, don’t get me wrong – I like miserable every once in awhile. But, this is a great way to get that cayenne kick without sweating in the middle of a restaurant. As for the hot chicken itself, the subtle-yet-sharp heat is the defining characteristic of the dish.

Fixins (7.4/10) – It’s the strongest component of this meal, in my opinion – what goes around it. O’Charley’s fries are undefeated, and to this day, I think they have the best honey mustard in the game. Easy high score for this one.

Overall (5.3/10) – Listen, it’s not the same thing you’re going to get out of the fryer at Bolton’s, that’s for damn sure. And, I usually absolutely despise anyone trying to pass off buffalo anything as “Nashville hot.” But, this isn’t so obvious that I immediately go “buffalo” – the heat, the fries, and the honey mustard will make this dish pass and satisfy my hot chicken craving if the Hurts truck ain’t out by the Dollar General, and if I don’t feel like leaving my neighborhood or waiting an hour to sit somewhere (as is apparently the case everywhere in Mount Juliet regardless of what day/time it is). You can say what you will about my taste – if you’ve been reading my Nashville Reviews long enough, you know I’m not a hard man to please. You can laugh or roll your eyes, but I’d be lying to y’all if I said I haven’t had this O’Charley’s Nashville hot chicken a hundred times. I’ve yet to be disappointed by it yet.

And, so that I can lump this review into our larger Nashville Reviews, here are my ratings in the criteria I use to rate restaurants here on SoBros Network:

Atmosphere (2.3/10) – It was sad. It used to be bangin’ in the O’Charley’s in Providence when it first opened. I can remember having to wait forever, packed into the waiting area with other folks waiting forever. As college kids back in 2006 when it opened, we were jacked out of our fucking gourds to learn that we’d be getting a fine establishment like O’Charley’s in our hometown. Growing up, it was McDonald’s, Arby’s, Captain D’s, Waffle House, or Cracker Barrel. What a selection. Anyway, with everything that’s popped up around Mount Juliet, places like O’Charley’s (same vibes at Red Robin and Olive Garden, too) seem to have been lost in the shuffle. I don’t want to get too philosophical or anything, but it definitely feels like these casual dining chains are starting to die a slow death. Another piece of my childhood lost to time.
Booze (5/10) – I have always felt like O’Charley’s had a rock solid beer list and made a damn good bloody mary to boot.
Food (5/10) – Yeah….again….rock solid. O’Charley’s chicken tenders just don’t miss.
Value (7.4/10) – It’s a chain, so….y’know….you pay your chain prices. I think it’s probably the best thing about a place like O’Charley’s. You can get a halfway decent meal for three and not spend $100. You can have a nice date night for less than $50 (but, please…PLEASE…do not take your partner on a date night to O’Charley’s). Our bill was $37 for two entrees, an appetizer, and two drinks.
Overall (4.93/10) – I love O’Charley’s – it’ll always have a special place in my heart alongside Applebee’s. I make no apologies for that.

CURRENT NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN POWER RANKINGS

Important qualifier: I’ve literally only reviewed 11 places around town. Don’t @ me with the “where’s Hattie B’s? Where’s Bolton’s? Where’s Prince’s?” I KNOW – we’re working on getting out to the heavyweights in the Nashville hot chicken scene this year. This portfolio has to start somewhere, and right now, it’s starting east of town because that’s the easiest for me to get to. *shrugs*

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.

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