Dave's Hot Chicken — Restaurant in Webster

Hubby wanted to give this place a try since he’s heard a lot of good things and read good reviews. So today we thought we would give it a shot.

Hubby’s order: Dave’s #2 (the 2 sliders w/ fries) mild My order: Dave’s #1 (the 2 tenders w/ fries) medium Side orders: cheese fries and Mac and cheese.

But let’s start with atmosphere first. When you first enter the establishment, it’s giving very modern and very abstract. The paintings on the walls are very colorful and adventurous. The natural lighting from the windows of the business is absolutely gorgeous.

Bathrooms are clean and tidy with a refreshing air freshener.

Staff was very welcoming but didn’t really provide any suggestions as much as I anticipated after notifying them this was our first visit.

Now on to the food. So the fries are crinkled fries with a bit of what appears to be like a spicy Cajun seasoning to them. Very crispy and just the right amount of seasoning. The chicken tenders were really crunchy on the outside, BUT, the seasoning was all in the crust. The chicken itself barely had enough flavoring to them. I will say the chicken itself was very juicy and moist. The seasoning gave it a bit of sweet, spicy, and savory in a combination.

I LOVED the side of pickles. It was crunchy and just the right amount of sourness to them. It was almost like they were homemade pickles. That together with the chicken really cleanses your pallet.

The Mac and cheese was good. It wasn’t too dry and had a good amount of cheesy sauce to it.

The cheese fries were a little disappointing. If you like nachos from a baseball stadium, then these would be just right for you. The cheese literally reminded me of the cheese on nachos from a baseball stadium or from like a bowling alley.

Both menus also came with Dave’s special sauce. The sauce was good, but it tasted similar to a combination of mayonnaise and ketchup with maybe a little bit of sweet relish juice.

All in all. Food was decent, atmosphere was good. Which is why I give it a 2 out of 5.

Good visit just for the experience but I personally...

I went here with coworkers on a Thursday during lunch time, about 12:15 or so. There was no one in line but maybe 20-30 people in the restaurant.

First off: pricing. I paid over $17 for a slider, a tender, fries (all part of a combo), and a medium drink. Given the amount of food you get, this wasn’t an egregious amount of money to pay, but it certainly was higher than I expected. The lady behind the counter was nice and expeditious when taking our order. However, (and this is more of a knock on American tip culture in general) after confirming the order, she turned the little screen around saying “it’s gonna ask you a question” and the stupid little tip screen is there. They do not bring food to you, nor do they throw the trash or tray away when you’re done. What am I tipping for? It shouldn’t even be an option. I’m not taking any stars away for this, by the way. I just hate tipping in America right now.

We got our receipts, drinks and little device that informs us when our food is ready. We waited TWENTY FIVE minutes for our food to come out. I mentioned earlier how many people were in there - it wasn’t rush hour, we didn’t wait to order behind dozens of people, we literally walked right up to the counter to order. I don’t expect food right away, but 25 minutes for it to be ready seemed way too long.

The food itself was good. The crinkle fries were cooked perfectly, had a nice crunch, and were seasoned very well. The accompanying sauce (very very similar to Cane’s sauce) was good for dipping both fries and chicken alike. The slider’s bun had a nice texture and came with sauce, some Cole slaw, and cheese. The chicken itself was tender and had good flavor (I got the 2nd mildest seasoning for what it’s worth). But MAN, the chicken had zero crunch. When I bite into some fried chicken, I want that crunch, but this had basically zero.

Overall, I’d give his 3.5 stars out of 5 but that’s not an option. Fix the long wait and the non-crunchy chicken, and you’ve got a good experience...

Dave’s Hot Chicken is the kind of place you hit when you're craving serious heat in a no-frills setting. I stopped by recently and ordered an extra hot slider and a Reaper tender…the spiciest option on the menu…and walked away with a scorched palate and some mixed impressions.

First off, the spice levels live up to the hype. The extra hot had a strong kick, but the Reaper was downright fiery, more of a dare than a flavor profile. If you’re a heat-seeker, this will hit the spot. However, the chicken itself was a bit inconsistent. While the outside had that classic crispy coating and deep seasoning, some bites had fatty bits that distracted from the otherwise great texture and flavor.

The kale slaw, which is supposed to add a cooling, fresh contrast, missed the mark. It tasted a bit off almost sour in a way that didn’t feel intentional. It’s a small side, but it stood out in a not so great way.

On the bright side, the fries were a win crispy, seasoned, and served hot. Definitely some of the better fast-casual fries I’ve had. The vibe of the place is super laid-back and perfect for a casual bite. January, the staff member who checked us out, was really cool friendly, upbeat, and helpful, which added a positive touch to the experience.

Overall, Dave’s is a solid stop if you're in the mood for extreme spice and casual comfort food. Just know what you’re getting into the heat is real, the setting is simple, and while the flavors hit hard, a few details could use a little tightening up. Still, worth a try if you’re feeling brave...