I found myself at Roy Henry's Famous Waffles and Chicken (1815 W. Ben White) this past weekend. It's not a combination I'm accustomed to, but after having ordered one of the house's special plates, I'm sure I've found one of the better examples of waffles and fried chicken in Austin. The place was nearly empty when my intrepid dining partner and I got there around 11 pm. The small building, reportedly a former fried chicken chain restaurant, was spotless and pleasant (in spite of the odd, green tint from the neon around the top of the dining area). We were seated and almost immediately introduced to Roy Henry himself. I got the impression that he wasn't there around the clock, but certainly would be if he didn't have another full-time job. His pitch was soft but sincere, so I bought it. Of course, I had to go for the combination plate that included one waffle and one thigh. Since I got the impression vegetables were also important at Roy Henry's, I opted for the yam casserole. My partner chose a more traditional combo of 2 waffles and a large link of sausage. The waffles are the thin sort (as opposed to the Belgian sort), and tasted of cinnamon and ginger. Topped with the pre-melted butter from a little metal creamer-type pitcher (another unfamiliar custom, but what the heck) and syrup, these waffles were good. The fried chicken was a giant, meaty thigh and the coating was crispy, tasty and sensibly applied. The chicken was a little drier than expected, but also very tasty. The sausage was one of the better "breakfast" sausages I've had from a place that doesn't specialize in the stuff. I don't eat a lot of sausage, but I liked it more than the little greasy Bob Evans links and patties you find elsewhere. One of the two minor disappointments of the meal was the yam casserole. It was too nutmeg-y for me to eat much of the mountain of stuff that came as a standard side dish. The other is that silly no-free-soda-refill policy that will hopefully change in the future. It's a bit of a drive from downtown for late-night eats, but if you're in the area, it's worth checking out. Cheers Scott
Austin, TX