Moral Fox – Fried Chicken – Restaurant- Review

On a quiet Notting Hill Street there was a withered green door and behind the withered green door a Moral Fox lay in wait…

Beyond the withered green doors, and sprinkled with 13 secret seasonings, the Moral Fox’s signature chicken fills the air of this dimly-lit hangout. The Moral Fox lay in a former Caribbean social club ‘The Globe Eating House’, remnants of which can still be seen in and outside the building. The chess and card-game players are long gone, but the current owner, Robie and his team, have inherited some cool hand-written signage in traditional Caribbean brightness. With no exterior signage, the Moral Fox relies on word-of-mouth to draw in the punters and you really do feel like you’re part of a secret club when you enter the party.

Starting as a sold-out pop-up, the Moral Fox grew out of the owner’s need for a fried chicken fix upon his return from working and living the U.S.A. The chicken-based menu which also includes ‘Chilli Creamed Corn’, ‘Macaroni Cheese’ and ‘Sweet Potato Mash’ reflects his down-south travels, and each recipe is cultivated to a comforting taste. Robie is dedicated to keeping his menu small, but constantly evolving – he himself prepares many of the creations and he’s never far from a vintage cookbook, learning the tasty secrets of days gone by.

On the What2 plate, we ordered the ‘Spicy Fried Chicken’ and the original ‘Fried Chicken’, all the above mentioned sides with a liquid helping of the crisp ‘Homemade Lemonade’, ‘Raspberry Lemonade, and the creamy antique cocktail recipe, the ‘Godmother’.

The chicken, especially the skin (which they sometimes serve as a side) was uber tasty. Non-greasy, crispy, just the way fried chicken should be. Owner Robie owes his perfected chicken to his trusty immersion circulator, which cooks the chicken in sealed bags – each time, the same perfection.

Perfection seems to be a running theme in this restaurant. If you’re looking for a favourite budget-friendly new spot, The Moral Fox has perfect food, perfect vibes and décor perfectly incorporating history with the new. Only having been open for 3 weeks, it has the atmosphere of a much-loved, decades old high-street favourite; the secret door frequently creaking open to welcome yet another wide-eyed chicken-lover, strutting in to the sounds of 60’s black America. It feels more like your friend’s (really big) lounge, rather than a restaurant.

Food isn’t the be all and end all to the Moral Fox hat; the restaurant houses a downstairs club with brightly-coloured walls and even a VHS collection, complete; yes you can watch videos whilst you party! As the months go on, we are sure this place will become a staple in every cool Londoner’s diary.

For a meal, drink and dessert, you’re looking at around £15, and for the quality and atmosphere you get with it, it’s a small price to pay.

Unfortunately for us, we couldn’t stay all night – but when the withered green doors close behind you and you’re back out into the crisp London air, it’ll all feel like a dream. Luckily for us (and you) it’s a reality and this fox will always be there to welcome you back.

Team What2

£ || www.moralfox.co m ||103 TALBOT ROAD W11 2AT