Mt. Joy — Restaurant in Seattle

Update (2/26/24): After getting a coupon for a free meal, I gave the Chicken Littles another shot. Long story short: they are a lot better. First of all, there were 4 pieces instead of 2. Granted, the the pieces were a bit smaller, but the 4 combined pieces made me feel like I was getting a much better deal. The chicken itself was a big improvement itself. The breading did not taste over-fried and the chicken itself was very juicy. The one thing is that the Little in the promotional pictures on the app still doesn't really look like the same type of breading as you get. (I forgot to take a picture of my new order)

I am therefore changing my review to 5 stars. It wasn't the best chicken tenders I have had but it was solid. Mt. Joy obviously listens to feedback as they really did make changes to the food. When I go back, I would probably just stick with the sandwich though; it seems to be a big hit.

Original Review (December 2023) (1/5 Stars):

I don't normally leave reviews for places but this is some of the worst food I have ate in a long time.

I got the chicken "Littles" and a sauce, which cost me $14 after tax (shown in picture). Given the good reviews of the place, I was willing to give the price a slide. However, what I got was almost inedible. First of all, what I got looked nothing like the picture of the item. It looked to be a completely different type of batter/frying type altogether. What I got seemed like it had been left in the fryer for 20 minutes too long. The chicken had completely dried out. Even if you tried to get over the dry, over-fried taste, it was way over seasoned as well with a strong taste of celery and soil. For some reason they almost reminded me exactly of the frozen TGIFridays Mozzarella Sticks, even though I was eating chicken and not cheese.

Also $12 pre-tax price for these strips is ridiculous (the picture doesn't really do justice how small they are). I threw $6 in the trash because I couldn't stomach the other strip.

I got pickup and the location was nice and staff was friendly. No complaints there.

Stick with Ma'Ono if you are...

Edit

This place has gone way downhill. My last four or five visits over the course of the last year have been subpar. The food is overly salty, dry and flavorless. Seriously, the tenders are like eating a salt lick. I thought it was just me but another friend confirmed that their chicken sandwiches sometimes come with extremely thin (like chip/crisp thin) chicken fillets, as if they were steamrolled before frying. This was not my experience at the food truck nor when Mt. Joy's brick and mortar first opened up. They not only got rid of the free ketchup bowl but they no longer offer ketchup as a sauce? Bold move. And the staff... I came in once and there was a full on argument happening BOH that made it really uncomfortable as I was sat down to eat. I don't doubt the other reviews and their experiences with the staff. Another review said it seems that they're having a skeleton crew run the store and I agree. I wouldn't be surprised if they're also paying the bare minimum for operations and supplies. The clientele, food and the employees are hurt due to this. Going out past midnight, a lot of the stores I'm familiar with were packed but this place was dead quiet after a Saturday night. I definitely won't be coming back.

Original Review

I don't eat much chicken/sandwiches honestly, so idk if it's the best but I definitely enjoyed it. The employee was very enthusiastic and attentive. I dined-in and the open wall concept was airy and made the atmosphere feel brighter, plus the area was very clean. The ordering system is also convenient, there are multiple ways you can order. I came here a couple times back when Mt Joy was a food truck, the food itself is consistently good and the sauces are delicious. Plus, the text message system is engaging, you can leave feedback (and get a reply), request music or play a leaderboard puzzle while you wait, although I didn't...

We drove all the way from the Quimper peninsula to get a meal at Mt. Joy, and it didn’t disappoint. Two hours for a chicken sandwich?! Yep, and here’s why. All of the chicken at Mt. Joy is sourced from small local farms growing meat in humane and sustainable ways. These chickens live a normal, healthy existence on green grass instead of being stuffed into small cages their whole lives.They are strategically rotated around pastures with other crops and livestock to give the land a chance to regenerate and become healthier. Fair wages are paid to these small family farms, healthier (tastier) chickens, healthier land and a smaller carbon footprint. This is something I want to support.

Walking into the restaurant we were greeted by friendly knowledgeable staff who were passionate about what they had to offer, and patiently answered my many questions about regenerative farming. The atmosphere was festive and a little cheeky which I can appreciate.

We had both the spicy chicken, and regular chicken sandwiches in white and dark meat. The spicy sandwich had just the right amount of kick without having to reach for your drink. The white meat was juicy and delicious with the perfect fried crust and the dark meat was rich and flavorful. We tried the chocolate (made with Theo chocolate) and a locally foraged huckleberry shakes. They were both delicious, but I think huckleberry was my favorite. The fries were yummy and crisp, but I think we should have gotten two orders instead of sharing one.

We walked away stuffed and happy. It really was the perfect fast food indulgence (and a fun trip to the city)

Hoping they’ll get a permanent...