Hy's Fried — Restaurant in Egremont

I will start by saying the service was excellent and the restaurant seems clean. I wanted to like this place so badly. I've been eating and cooking fried chicken my whole life and this just wasn't it. I ordered a 6 piece with a side of biscuits and garlic greens. The chicken was hard/tough inside and out and not crispy, it was tough to chew! 4 out of the 6 pieces I received seemed to be a little burnt but not at all crispy. I'm assuming they fry the chicken then dip it in the honey sauce and flash fry it again, which could explain the consistency of the chicken. The honey sauce made the experience unique it's just coated in honey which makes the chicken sweet I knew that would be a part of the experience but I didn't think it would be so intensely sweet. Maybe this chicken could pass without honey sauce on it? I tried my hardest to finish the chicken only because of the price point. (6.00 dollars per piece not including tax) The biscuits are good the butter was really hard and difficult to smear. The greens were way too salty I am assuming to cut the sweetness of the chicken? Something else that was odd was the soul music playing in the background and the kind of “soul” vibe being presented but I didn't see a single person of color working in the restaurant and this might be because of location. I've never walked into a fried chicken or soul food presenting restaurant and was the only POC there But also this is Western Massachusetts. I also understand that not everything is for everybody (honey chicken as a concept) and I'm sure this is a great place to dance and have drinks. The thing about good fried chicken is that it's timeless and doesn't need to be reinvented or “rejuvenated” with honey. It just needs to be in a brine for a few hours or over night, seasoned then battered, and fried evenly by...

Open the front door of this throwback roadside restaurant and step back in time! The "Old Eg" has been reborn as a stellar restaurant by day, disco by night.

Everything about our experience last night (July 4th) was exceptional. From the warm greeting upon arrival (without reservations), to the friendly team service at the two-top beside the fireplace (topped by an homage to the restaurant's namesake prize-fighting cock, d. 1964)...from the heaps of delicious food (8-pc sweet/salty Sambal-sauced fried chicken with biscuits, garlicky crispy kale, barbecue potato salad), to the old-school drinks (a bucket of Miller High Life ponies!)...topped by a night of dancing to a 3-hour DJ set from none other than Mark Ronson...incredible! Pinch me.

But what makes Hy's so noteworthy and memorable is the hands-on hospitality. In an age where mediocre service and pricey sub-par product seem the ubiquitous norm, this place is run with heart and savvy by a very hands-on owner, his wife, and hardworking team. Seating people, serving, busing, hustling, attending to every detail with warmth and efficiency.

Go for the delicious food and creative cocktails. Stay for the dancing. Make the fun trip to support this fantastic find, and tell your friends!

P.S. Mr. Luber: My hometown of Saratoga Springs NY just lost its landmark chicken shack. We could benefit from your twist, not to mention your inspired example of high-quality, no-frills, inclusive entertainment and warm...

Review of take-out: Hy's Fried chicken offers a unique take on an old favorite and the result is delicious! The breading is thin and crispy - even after a 20 minute ride home, and the sauce - sweet yet a little tangy with just the right amount of heat - was perfect. There is nothing like it anywhere nearby and the chicken is well worth a try. We ordered a 6-piece chicken box but to our dismay, we had two wings and two legs. Not enough food and a disappointment that Hy's gave us the smallest pieces as the 2 "extras". So for 3 of us, we didn't have enough chicken. At a pricetag of $34, we were disappointed. We also ordered a side of coleslaw, which was unique and quite good. But again, the portion was not enough for even 2 people and for $9 we expected more. With basic ingredients (such as bone-in chicken and cabbage), we did not think we'd end up lacking food. We may have been able to request more white meat or another thigh, we will try to do that if there ever is a next time. Portion size for the price should be an easy fix but if you eat like a bird and don't mind paying top dollar, Hy's is a winner. If you do try it, make sure to speak with someone to get the...