Well, well, well - I finally found a joint in PDX that serves the traditional, spaetzel-style of CFS!
Coming out more like a hamburger steak, this style is leaner and tastier than its more heavily-breaded siblings. The steak here at Fat Albert's is seasoned lightly but well and you get right into that flavor since there's little in the way of a coating to interfere. The breading is very thin and stuck right to the meat, so you don't get that what I call "paper bag" type of tearing/separating with other offerings in this style of CFS.
Fat Albert's is a small but very friendly diner-style place in the Sellwood area of town and is well worth the trip. The CFS is the priciest thing on the menu but coming in at $10.75 it's not too much of a hit to the pocketbook, either. The only complaint I had on this dish was that several of my potatoes were under-cooked but, again - I was there for the CFS, not the sides...
If you want a nice, tasty alternative to the more popular heavily-breaded style of CFS then seek out this item at Fat Albert's - it's well worth it.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The CFS at Fat Albert's Cafe
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
CFS from KFC
Yep, it comes in a bowel and, surprising to me anyway, the breading is of the German schnitzel variety rather than something like the extra crispy KFC specialization.
It's only available at participating KFC's on Tuesdays and it's $2.99. It comes with that side of slaw and a biscuit. Also, in the bowl with it is a side of mashed potatoes - at least it stays a consistent CFS and has a white gravy rather than the typical KFC brown gravy. Trying to cut the steak in that bowl is a horrible idea, tho - really, it's just not conducive to eating in the slightest.
As for the flavor, the coating of the CFS has the signature "herbs and spices." The meat itself is, well, what you'd expect from $2.99 fast food - flavorless and bland and you're not really sure what your eating. But, overall, I've actually had less flavorful CFS' in restaurants.
Would I buy this again? I highly doubt it, even in a pinch it's pretty much a waste of time. And yet you could do worse. Weird.
It's only available at participating KFC's on Tuesdays and it's $2.99. It comes with that side of slaw and a biscuit. Also, in the bowl with it is a side of mashed potatoes - at least it stays a consistent CFS and has a white gravy rather than the typical KFC brown gravy. Trying to cut the steak in that bowl is a horrible idea, tho - really, it's just not conducive to eating in the slightest.
As for the flavor, the coating of the CFS has the signature "herbs and spices." The meat itself is, well, what you'd expect from $2.99 fast food - flavorless and bland and you're not really sure what your eating. But, overall, I've actually had less flavorful CFS' in restaurants.
Would I buy this again? I highly doubt it, even in a pinch it's pretty much a waste of time. And yet you could do worse. Weird.
Friday, January 14, 2011
CFS at the Bounty Hunter
Heading out to the Oregon Coast this past weekend to enjoy time w/ friends for the wife's big birthday we finally stopped in at the very recommended Bounty Hunter. A Western/roadhouse theme runs through the place, complete w/ the seats at the corners of the wraparound bar being actual saddles.
Having heard good things about the CFS here I decided to tuck in on one. Portion size here is 2nd only to the Hungry Tiger Too, to be honest. It's an enormous plate of food. I liked that they gave me straight rye bread (none of that marbled stuff), too. The homestyle potatoes were good, too, due to the inclusion of onions and red/green peppers.
But on to the star of the plate, the steak. It's big but not too thick, with a healthy Texas-style coating. Decent gravy that wasn't too thick or too soupy. Kind of a happy meeting place there with a smart steak, good breading, and good-enough gravy.
However, 2 things struck me as "cons" with the Bounty Hunter's CFS:
1 - The middle of the steak was soggy. I'm guessing this is due to the steak sitting on the plate longer than anything else, perhaps? While the rest of the steak wasn't super-crispy it was certainly within the realm of acceptability. But that soggy center - shameful.
2 - Spices were noticeably absent. I rail against this time and again in CFS - it's not supposed to be bland and not supposed to encourage you to immediately reach for the table's salt and pepper shakers. Why is it no one seems to follow through on this?
All in all, though, a good value for a pretty darn decent CFS. I'd definitely travel for this meal again, despite my drawbacks above (as those are easily rectified).
Having heard good things about the CFS here I decided to tuck in on one. Portion size here is 2nd only to the Hungry Tiger Too, to be honest. It's an enormous plate of food. I liked that they gave me straight rye bread (none of that marbled stuff), too. The homestyle potatoes were good, too, due to the inclusion of onions and red/green peppers.
But on to the star of the plate, the steak. It's big but not too thick, with a healthy Texas-style coating. Decent gravy that wasn't too thick or too soupy. Kind of a happy meeting place there with a smart steak, good breading, and good-enough gravy.
However, 2 things struck me as "cons" with the Bounty Hunter's CFS:
1 - The middle of the steak was soggy. I'm guessing this is due to the steak sitting on the plate longer than anything else, perhaps? While the rest of the steak wasn't super-crispy it was certainly within the realm of acceptability. But that soggy center - shameful.
2 - Spices were noticeably absent. I rail against this time and again in CFS - it's not supposed to be bland and not supposed to encourage you to immediately reach for the table's salt and pepper shakers. Why is it no one seems to follow through on this?
All in all, though, a good value for a pretty darn decent CFS. I'd definitely travel for this meal again, despite my drawbacks above (as those are easily rectified).
Friday, June 11, 2010
Cracker Barrel
Okay, so I had to try some CFS while I was on the road in my recent vacation trip to Georgia.
Ended up hitting a Cracker Barrel and tried their "chicken fried" breakfast (steak or chicken - go figure).
The texture of their breading is, put simply, perfect. I would prefer more seasoning to it but, beyond that, its consistency, overall flavor, crunchiness, and style are the best I've had thus far in my quest. The steak was done well, proportioned quite well with the breading. They even give you a side of gravy with only a little on the CFS itself - so you're not left swimming in the stuff or looking for more.
Too bad it's a regional thing and I can't get it here. Or maybe (my heart says) that's a good thing?
Ended up hitting a Cracker Barrel and tried their "chicken fried" breakfast (steak or chicken - go figure).
The texture of their breading is, put simply, perfect. I would prefer more seasoning to it but, beyond that, its consistency, overall flavor, crunchiness, and style are the best I've had thus far in my quest. The steak was done well, proportioned quite well with the breading. They even give you a side of gravy with only a little on the CFS itself - so you're not left swimming in the stuff or looking for more.
Too bad it's a regional thing and I can't get it here. Or maybe (my heart says) that's a good thing?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Sweet Betty's?
Desperate to get the lousiness of Holman's CFS out of my memory I ventured out the following day to Gresham and found Sweet Betty's Bistro.
This is about a good mid-level CFS as you can find. It's really quite good but due to limitations it doesn't move to the "great" category fully.
Near-perfect Texas-style breading here - that's by far its greatest asset. Clinging just perfectly to the steak w/o being wet or gummy; it doesn't dry out, either. Lightly-seasoned but firm this is more like a stereotypical definition of CFS breading.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work in tandem w/ anything else here. It's so good on its own it misses the mark since there's no blending of flavors: The three elements - steak, breading, gravy - are almost totally separate. You can, quite literally, taste each one on their own. Which is too bad because all the elements are here for a truly great CFS...
Lack of continuity or unity aside its a fair entry, especially good if you're not picky about your CFS. Best I've had in Gresham, too, by far.
This is about a good mid-level CFS as you can find. It's really quite good but due to limitations it doesn't move to the "great" category fully.
Near-perfect Texas-style breading here - that's by far its greatest asset. Clinging just perfectly to the steak w/o being wet or gummy; it doesn't dry out, either. Lightly-seasoned but firm this is more like a stereotypical definition of CFS breading.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work in tandem w/ anything else here. It's so good on its own it misses the mark since there's no blending of flavors: The three elements - steak, breading, gravy - are almost totally separate. You can, quite literally, taste each one on their own. Which is too bad because all the elements are here for a truly great CFS...
Lack of continuity or unity aside its a fair entry, especially good if you're not picky about your CFS. Best I've had in Gresham, too, by far.
CFS at Holman's
Well, I suppose I was due for a dud. I was surprised, tho', to find it at the usually-reliable Holman's in PDX.
As you can tell from the picture this is one big ol' portion of CFS. Strict German-style breading is a well-proportioned, too. But neither it, nor the meat, nor the gravy even(!) had any trace of flavor. I mean, like, this had anti-flavor, it was so lacking. Bland, flavorless, just defying expectations on any level. There was obviously no rub or spices added to the meat prior to frying; it was then coated in a totally-lacking coating and covered with a gravy that somehow, magically, was devoid of flavor. Again, it was almost as if they intentionally stripped this dish of its flavor, so extensive the intent expressed here. It's like a hate-filled CFS, full of nothing but contempt for those that order it.
And, again, that's very strange since the burgers at Holman's are pretty darned spectacular.
Weird - but, by far, the absolute worst CFS I've had in Portland and, really, anywhere.
As you can tell from the picture this is one big ol' portion of CFS. Strict German-style breading is a well-proportioned, too. But neither it, nor the meat, nor the gravy even(!) had any trace of flavor. I mean, like, this had anti-flavor, it was so lacking. Bland, flavorless, just defying expectations on any level. There was obviously no rub or spices added to the meat prior to frying; it was then coated in a totally-lacking coating and covered with a gravy that somehow, magically, was devoid of flavor. Again, it was almost as if they intentionally stripped this dish of its flavor, so extensive the intent expressed here. It's like a hate-filled CFS, full of nothing but contempt for those that order it.
And, again, that's very strange since the burgers at Holman's are pretty darned spectacular.
Weird - but, by far, the absolute worst CFS I've had in Portland and, really, anywhere.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
CFS at Rose's
Rose's has a long, local tradition of being pretty darned good so I was stoked to try their CFS. My original review's below. So, having the chance to see if it held up (the best test I've found for recommending any CFS here) I returned this past weekend. Here's what I found this time 'round:
Great spread for the money and probably the best gravy I've yet had. Kudos, too, for the unbuttered toast.
But as for the CFS itself, it's a middling effort. It's closer to the German-style of breading but w/ the density of a southern-style recipe. The end result is a happier marriage of the two but the overall sogginess doesn't do it any favors. Granted, its lack of taste is fairly easily dismissed by the superlative gravy coating it nicely; but the coating is what sits closest to the meat itself and should inform the steak. But here, under the gravy, it's pretty flavorless, made without much joy, just an additional entry on the menu.
Great spread for the money and probably the best gravy I've yet had. Kudos, too, for the unbuttered toast.
But as for the CFS itself, it's a middling effort. It's closer to the German-style of breading but w/ the density of a southern-style recipe. The end result is a happier marriage of the two but the overall sogginess doesn't do it any favors. Granted, its lack of taste is fairly easily dismissed by the superlative gravy coating it nicely; but the coating is what sits closest to the meat itself and should inform the steak. But here, under the gravy, it's pretty flavorless, made without much joy, just an additional entry on the menu.
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