Many people of Middle Tennessee may find the marketing of Nashville hot chicken as a traditional regional dish to be a manufactured phenomenon creating appeal for tourists and food-related television shows. But at Party Fowl—a local hot chicken joint with locations on 8th Avenue South in Nashville, as well as in Murfreesboro, Donelson and Cool Springs—the heat is certainly real.
Whether or not a diner wants a face-melting, miserably spicy adventure, Party Fowl has plenty to offer.
Even on the plain or the mild chicken, the smokiness and flavor are striking. Party Fowl first smokes its birds, and then deep-fries them before treating with the ordered amount of heat.
The mild chicken is quite flavorful, very smoky and delicious, with just a bit of spice. And for no spice, the eatery does have a plain Southern-fried option.
Medium cranks it up more than a little.
“‘Medium’ will clear your sinuses, put sweat on your brow and make you cry (you think I’m kidding!), but it’s worth every bite,” one recent Party Fowl customer, Monica, said, adding that she also couldn’t stop eating the bread that the chicken sits atop, which catches some of the greasy, spicy drippings from the fried chicken.
Another Murfreesboro location patron recently ordered the half bird, medium.
“Have you tried our medium?” the server asks him, verifying that the customer indeed wants some heat and is fully aware of what he is getting himself into.
“Yes.”
“Just making sure.”
Plenty of other eaters who enjoy spicy food issue a word of caution that Party Fowl may push the boundaries of its heat-scale labeling.
“The sauces are spicy, and I like hot!” Shaun T. posted to Yelp. “The medium left me sweating so I expect the hottest level to be blazing.”
Despite the burning tongues and beads of sweat, intrepid eaters push onward, unable to resist the spicy pieces of fowl, as a touch of sweetness punctuates the blast of cayenne.
Those who want a truly wild experience and even more heat than the cayenne-laced “medium” can go for Poultrygeist, the hottest level on the Party Fowl menu, which adds even more seriously hot peppers to the hot chicken.
Why in the blazes would anyone do such a thing—combine ghost, Carolina reaper and habanero peppers with the already very spicy seasoning? Why?!
Some do order it, evidently. (No refunds; you have been warned.)
“Poltergeist” translates from German as “rumble-ghost,” and the Poultrygeist (“rumble-ghost chicken,” one would surmise) could certainly lead to a most frightening and powerful rumbling after consuming.
Opt for the mild, if all of this scares you.
The half bird, chicken tenders or wings can all be ordered Southern-fried, mild, medium, Nashville hot or Poultrygeist.
And the Party Fowl menu contains various other ways its chicken is served—shredded and loaded into chicken quesadillas served with a delicious guacamole, chicken tacos, chicken on beignets, chicken sandwiches and more.
A rich and cheesy/greasy hot chicken poutine tops French fries with cheese curds, roasted chicken gravy and bits of chicken of any available heat level.
Party Fowl builds a “rancher’s pie,” the establishment’s take on a shepherd’s pie, upon an herby base of cornmeal cake containing peas, carrots, corn, cheese, potatoes, and of course, hot or mild chicken.
The hot chicken Cuban sandwich—chicken along with Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard on a pressed sandwich—gets good feedback as well.
Most entrees are chicken-themed, but other selections include a catfish po’ boy (the catfish can also be hot, or not) and cheeseburgers.
The place makes a good spot to watch sporting events and has become a gathering place for Premier League fans, particularly area supporters of Liverpool FC.
The Murfreesboro location—situated in a restaurant building previously home to various other local concepts within Discovery Plaza on Broad Street, just off of Church Street, a few blocks from the Square—has a small outdoor dining area; dogs are welcome.
And the popular Party Fowl “boozy slushies” such as the frosty blue raspberry, cherry limeade, bourbon bushwhacker or margarita—$10 for a 12-ounce slush, or $15 for a 20-ounce—also serve as a draw for local consumers.
The bill can get a little pricey at Party Fowl ($15 for three chicken tenders and fries), the spice can be shocking, and wait time can be a factor (fried chicken enthusiasts know that it takes a while to properly fry chicken to order). but for Murfreesboro fans of quality, flavorful fried chicken, hot or not, Party Fowl is worth the cost and the wait.
“These guys do hot chicken right!” another customer, Moreen, reported after dining upon the chicken tenders (hot level) and fries. “Delicious! Their bushwhacker isn’t too shabby either.”
IF YOU GO:
Party Fowl
127 SE Broad St.
Open every day: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
615-617-3909
Half bird with one side: $17; Rancher’s Pie: $15; Hot chicken poutine: $15; 6 wings: $13; Cup of gumbo: $8; Catfish po’ boy: $17; Pimento cheese smashburger and one side: $16
partyfowl.com
