I’ve always waffled over the whole chicken & waffles pairing. Sure, I’ll have a wing if it’s in front of me. And I typically prefer pancakes to waffles. But the pairing at West Loop’s Roister threw me for a loop.
The flaky, salty chicken on top of the fluffy, sweet waffle dipped in whiskey syrup made me doubt my taste buds entirely. How could I have ever questioned it? It’s genius. My initial bite included both bird and batter. But as I went along, I had a taste of the waffle and then gravitated toward a bite of the chicken to balance out the sugar with the salt. (This balancing act of sugar and salt is American dining at its finest!)
Before making a mess of my food after figuring out this salt-sugar strategy, I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful presentation on my plate—which led to my taking many photos, which led to my friends’ teasing. I couldn’t resist; each piece looked delicately placed and made to perfection. I also ordered the “warm butter biscuits,” which were visibly warm, as the herb-filled butter trickled evenly across them. Roister, the master of sweet + salty, also offered a strawberry jam to complement the biscuits. Figuring out which I wanted—sweet jam or savory butter—to top the fresh bread was a problem I’ll take any day.
When I finally looked beyond my plate, you know, when I finished eating, I shifted from full to satisfied. The surrounding décor is modern and fun—amplified by the tunes of the 90s and 2000s blasting above the clinking silverware. (My friends and I promptly saved the bumpin’ playlist to our Spotify, I swear.) If that wasn’t enough, the atmosphere is topped off by the perpetual smell of sage. How inviting!
It’s a bit pricy, but a really fun place to hang out with visiting friends. If you’re trying to satisfy your sweet tooth but your friend is looking for a savory start, this place doesn’t make you decide. At Roister, you can get both in one bite!