When you hear someone tell you about a specialty nugget shop in NYC you may wonder to yourself, “How creative can someone get with nuggets?†The answer? Very creative. Upon entering the low-key space you can already tell they are focused on one thing and one thing only: cooking delicious nuggets. The Nugget Spot doesn’t spend ample time WOWing you with their interior. In fact the row of paintings on the wall as you come in and the simple bar style seating screams casual, relaxed atmosphere where you and a friend can stay for a short while noshing on one of The Nugget Spot’s many unique concoctions.
The specialty nugget shop was opened in October 2013 by Chef Jason Hairston (formerly of Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill). The location boasts a hormone and antibiotic free chicken nugget experience. Every morning The Nugget Spot starts with raw, never-frozen chicken breasts and crafts them into delicious treats for New Yorker’s to enjoy. When I stopped in I sampled a number of tasty items that would definitely have me coming back for more.
First up was the Cap’n Crunk–a slightly sweet crunchy cereal crusted nugget with Crunk Sauce (also sweet). While I didn’t find the nugget alone to be sweet, once dunked into the sauce I completely understood where the dish got it’s name. The combined tastes left you feeling you were spooning through a bowl of the popular cereal on a lazy Sunday morning.
Next I sampled the Tso Tswag, which is The Nugget Spot’s take on General Tso’s Chicken. In a word: delicious. These nuggets are what General Tso’s should be. Fresh pieces of chicken in every bite rather than hunks of fat and oil. Whether you’re a fan of General Tso’s you can’t help but appreciate the crisp flavor of chicken breast coated in the usual Tso seasoning.
For my final nugget dish, I tried the special of the week, Nugchos. Tortilla smashed and breaded chicken nuggets topped with Nacho Queso, OG Ranch, Pico de gallo, and Jalapenos. This special was by far my favorite. The Pico de gallo offered crisp, clean flavors to go with the nacho cheese drizzled nuggets, leaving the Jalapenos to offer the final kick to your taste buds. If you’re a fan of nachos then these are the nuggets for you. The flavors blended to perfection and I could have eaten another tray of this particular item. Yum. There truly is no other word for it.
My two sides were the Nacho Mac and Hustle Sprouts. I won’t lie, the Nacho Mac isn’t something I’d write home about. Although it looked cheesy, it tasted bland and ultimately was more exciting to look at than to taste. I ended up pouring the extra Nacho Queso (from the Nugchos) onto it to give it a flavor boost. But behold the Hustle Sprouts! This oven-roasted brussel sprouts and carrots with garlic, oil, salt and pepper side is to die for. If you love veggies, you’ll love it. If you hate veggies with a burning rage that clouds you’re vision and sends you into a Hulk-like mania, you’ll love them too. According to my taste buds, there is literally no human-being who could resist this absolutely perfectly seasoned side. If you get nothing else from The Nugget Spot, get the Hustle Sprouts…and the Nugchos…and the Tso Tswag…and the…you get the point. By the way if the Nugchos are no longer there, their specials are set to change weekly, try picketting outside the shop for a few days to let your disappointment be heard. Trust me it’s worth it.
The Nuggest Spot
230 E. 14th St.
New York, NY 10003
(Between 2nd & 3rd Ave)
Ph: (646) 422-7346
Hours:
Sun-Thurs 11:30am-10pm
Fri-Sat 11:30am-2am
