New chain restaurant Dave’s Hot Chicken, 3643 N Western Ave, is open and ready for Lane students after taking over the space formerly held by MOD Pizza. It sits right on Western, a half-block away from Lane’s campus.

Immediately upon stepping into Dave’s, you are met with a welcoming atmosphere, complete with vibrant wall art. The workers greeted us brightly, making it a lively and inclusive environment. The bright colors all over the wall scream in your face, along with the music blaring throughout the restaurant. Maybe Dave is under the assumption that the customers won’t be able to speak due to their mouths being on fire, because there is absolutely no way to hold a conversation with the volume of the music. 

Medium Hot Tenders 

We found the tenders to be hotter than expected, but what really threw us off was the texture. We weren’t a big fan of the dry rub being on top of the tenders, rather than being fried with the chicken. It seemed almost like the workers forgot to put on the seasoning before frying the chicken and it was just an afterthought. Honestly, by the end of the meal, we felt a little sick to our stomachs and couldn’t finish the tenders. 

Cheese Fries 

The cheese fries were the best part of our meal. Perfectly crinkle-cut fries with cheese sauce on top were the unexpected gem from our outing. They worked perfectly with the tenders, specifically the medium-hot ones. The cheese was able to soothe the roughness of the seasoning on the chicken, making our meal a more enjoyable experience. 

No Spice Tenders 

Even though the restaurant is called Dave’s Hot Chicken, they offer the option for No Spice sliders and tenders for those not brave enough to tackle the sensation of spices. The No Spice tenders with the fries surprisingly satisfied us. We were able to savor the quality of the chicken without being distracted by an explosion of flavors. The chicken wasn’t fully dry without the spice like we were expecting. It was a decently juicy tender, and the breading didn’t overpower the meat. 

Strawberry Milkshake 

The strawberry milkshake was alarmingly pink and so thick that it was nearly impossible to drink. Investing in wider straws for their milkshakes would be a smart option. 

Mac and Cheese 

The mac and cheese is so mediocre it hurts. It’s too soggy, and the seasoning overpowers the taste of the cheese. While we don’t care for a bland cup of mac and cheese, the seasoning is just too much of all the wrong flavors. It was the same sweet and salty seasoning that they put on the fries, which meant you could taste the sweetness in the supposedly savory side dish. The overall consistency reminded me of the mac and cheese you can quickly make on the stove top.

Reaper Slider and Extra Hot Slider with Fries 

The Extra Hot slider had just enough spice to satisfy us, but not an overwhelming amount. Sadly, we cannot say the same about “The Reaper.” One of us found ourselves in tears, having to pause after every bite. If you can’t handle the heat, do not get The Reaper. It is no joke. The fries were perfectly crisp crinkle-cut fries with a fine blend of seasoning that gave them a sweet and salty sort of taste. This paired perfectly with the heat from the chicken. The signature sauce also paired well with the chicken. It’s comparable to Raising Cane’s signature sauce, but a little sweeter. 

Overall, we feel that Dave’s Hot Chicken is not worth it, especially for the price. At a whopping $13 to $18 for lunch, it is not the best spot for a student on a tight budget. However, we found that the workers were very helpful, constantly warning their timid customers of the dangers of their spicy chicken. They will gladly explain the menu choices to you and recommend their favorites for first-timers. 

So will we be returning? Probably not, maybe for the cheese fries or the No Spice tenders, but the price will likely keep us far away.