“Is It Really Handsome?”
On Thursday, November 8, 2018, my English class and I went to the Handsome Biscuit. Located at 4200 Monarch Way, Norfolk, VA 23508, right across the street from a Jimmy John’s restaurant. As soon as I walk in to the restaurant, I smelled seasoned and doughy aromas, as if it were thanksgiving already. The air had a slight brackish stuffing smell that I could not shake. I imagined the whole restaurant being smeared with butter and sprinkled with a variety of seasonings. When I walked in the line automatically faced left to a huge and creative menu. The menu was a big chalkboard filled with different selections even drawings. I was interested in some of the food choices, pulled pork and the Shorty, a small simple biscuit that I could add unique ingredients to. As the line made its way toward the register, an eggshell white electronic register, we passed a clear glass that exposes the tile and steel kitchen to the customers. I heard plates banging, sizzling from the grills, and orders being taken. As well as balsamic music that reminded me of music that would be played at an elderly home. Confused as to what to order, I saw a previous customer order a huge biscuit and I ordered the same. I ordered the Shorty Goes North (with a chicken breast instead of bacon) and iced tea with lemonade flavoring.
As I waited on my biscuit, I went ahead and tried out my un-sweetened iced tea infused with lemonade. The drink machines were self-served, I filled up my clear plastic cup and take a seat. The tea was a dark brown leather color, but a copper coin color in the sun. The first sip that I took of my drink reminds me of how a tree bark would taste. The drink went down smooth with a hint of lemon peel as if there are shavings inside my drink. As I kept on drinking the iced tea, it tasted as if I were inhaling chalk dust. The drink was chalky with an after taste of coffee residue. Although the drink got better as I kept drinking and it also later complimented the biscuit.
My biscuit was brought to my table by a pleasant employee (which was also the cashier), I was amazed at its appealing appearance. The Shorty Goes North biscuit consists of a biscuit with chicken, cheese, spinach, Handsome biscuit’s special sauce, and a fried egg. The whole biscuit was bigger than my own fist and as tall as my index finger. The colors of the whole biscuit represented fall. The chicken was almost an acorn or a dead leaf shade of brown. The cheese resembled orange leaves, as well as the yolk of the egg. The spinach was so fresh it looked like the color of fake grass. The biscuit was like a memory foam mattress in the middle, but on the outside sturdy and sandy. The chicken was very warm and greasy. The cheese literally could drag on for miles, and the egg was almost like silly putty. Next, I smelled the biscuit, and it smelled delightful. The seasonings and salts smelled like an “country” seasoning and a bag of potato chips.
I finally took a bite in to my biscuit. The first thing that popped in to my mind was that “this was the most organic biscuit I have ever tasted”. I could really tell the difference from the frozen and fast food biscuits that I have had before. The incredible employee was kind enough to tell me most of what the secret sauce was made of. The secret sauce was a blend of maple syrup, sweet hot mustard, sour cream, and Handsome Biscuit’s secret spices. In my opinion, the biscuit would have been better without it or with a different sauce. The sauce tasted like how car battery would taste like. It had a trace scent like a black Expo dry erase maker. The egg was gooey and not cooked fully, like I wanted. The cheese tasted like a saltine cracker covered with more salt. The chicken tasted like oil and salt. Lastly the biscuit itself had no particular flavor, it was kind of tasteless and sandy.
Besides the food, the restaurant deserves five stars. The staff was so nice and welcoming. They made sure the food was good, and to our liking. The restaurant itself was clean and aesthetically pleasing. The pictures and designs of the building were vintage and beautiful. What stood out to me were the bathrooms, one was different shades of pinks, reds, and greens, and the other blues and greens, with disco lights. Both bathrooms were so clean and sensational to look at, I could have eaten my food in there.
Overall, the trip to Handsome biscuit was a great experience. The food was quite satisfactory. There is a high chance of me coming back, although not for the same meal. I would recommend this place to friends and family. Next time I come back, I will be sure to ask for all the ingredients ahead of time and make sure everything is cooked thoroughly. Also, to tip much higher for the nice and welcoming staff.