OMG's chicken and waffles. Photo by Brittany Claud
The specialty of this neighborhood hangout is chicken and waffles. Discovering that, a disconnect began to form. Given the name OMG — online slang that the menu translates as Oh My Gosh! — and the location, in a fringy section of Church Hill, I expected a funky Internet café with Wi-Fi. The reality could not have been more different.
The recently redone interior was clean, but plain and devoid of personality, with seating only at the bar/lunch counter or along the wall of this narrow space. Russ and I perched on tall stools, sharing a tiny two-top that could barely accommodate the oversized portions — which took forever to arrive. The waitress, while sweet, was slow and inattentive. And the information that they literally had no coffee and that they had run completely out of dessert was disconcerting and extremely unusual.
After the initial disappointments, the house specialty was a pleasant surprise. The waffles, which covered the dinner plate, were fluffy, and downright breakfasty. Dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar, they came with three options for a fresh fruit topping. With the waitress's encouragement, I opted for the sliced bananas. They hid a mound of whipped butter. The maple syrup was warm. Large, crispy wings were carefully arranged on lettuce. There must be a section of heaven for true Southerners, and I know it smells like the OMG Café. Succulent and oh-so-tasty on the inside, fried and seasoned to perfection on the outside, these wings were damn good. I instantly understood the crazy amount of carryout that was flying out the door.
Russ' bacon cheeseburger with fries was also a winner. But since there are three components to a great dining experience — food, service and atmosphere — and OMG excelled in only one, I'd suggest carryout. Every foodie has a "bucket list." Here's your opportunity to check off something seemingly strange, but truly delicious.
412 N. 25th St., 269-0531
Prices: Entrées $7 to $15.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Wednesday; 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday to Saturday; noon to 7 p.m. Sunday
