Dave's Hot Chicken opens in Carle Place
A #2 combo at Dave's Hot Chicken in Carle Place comes with two sliders and fries. Credit: Newsday/Andi Berlin
Here's a word of advice for budding journalists and food influencers: Get your interviews done before you eat these hot chicken tenders, because afterward, your hands might be shaking too much to write things down.
That's what happened during the Dave's Hot Chicken soft opening in Carle Place this week. Franchisee Michael Froccaro was up at the front, warning customers against ordering anything hotter than a medium. That ended up being more of a reverse psychology move — I ordered them hot (although not the highest level, reaper).
These chicken tenders are among the spiciest foods available on Long Island. But they are still tasty, if you're into that kind of thing. The fiery spice rub is caked on thick, and the red powder rubs off all over your hands. Eat slowly because every bite of the juicy chicken breast burns a little.
You might assume Dave's came from Nashville, but it's actually a product of Los Angeles, which has a respectable hot chicken scene of its own. The business got its start in 2017 when a few friends set up an outdoor chicken stand in East Hollywood. The business, which offers halal chicken, expanded quickly with backing of celebrities like Drake. It currently has at least 15 locations across the tristate area.
The Froccaro family opened their first franchise in Fresh Meadows, Queens in January. This one is in a Carle Place shopping center near Roosevelt Field mall. The family owns more than 40 fast-casual concepts, mostly Burger Kings and Qdoba Mexican spots. Michael, who lives in Port Washington, said they've been operating on Long Island for more than 30 years. And much of his family was there during the soft opening.
"We think that Nashville hot chicken is a young concept. It's ripe for the taking," he said. "It's one of the fastest-growing spots in the country, and we think that Dave's stands head and shoulders above the rest of the other options."
Froccaro's go-to order is a chicken slider, which turned out to be my favorite as well. (The small menu is mostly variations on tenders and sliders, with none of the bone-in chicken that's more traditional from Nashville.) If you come with a partner, try a #1 Dave's combo ($12.99) with two tenders, sliced bread and decent crinkle cut fries — or the #2 Dave's combo ($14.99) with two sliders and fries. The chicken is perfectly fried, juicy on the inside, and crunchy on the outside, and the portion size is great for the price. Overall, the food may not be as dialed in as an independent operator like Slappin Chick in Hicksville. But it still manages to tickle feathers.
Dave's Hot Chicken, 207 Glen Cove Rd., Carle Place, 516-846-3447, daveshotchicken.com. Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
Andi Berlin is from Arizona and does not know where she is going. But when she gets there, she’ll find something beautiful and delicious that the world needs to taste.
