Now that his comfort-food concept has been so well-received at City Foundry STL, chef Nate Hereford is expanding Chicken Scratch to a brick-and-mortar space in Glendale.
The second location will be at 9900 Manchester, in the former Filomena’s Italian Kitchen building, which later served as the original location of Pi Pizzeria + ¡Rico!. Hereford hopes to open the restaurant in mid- to late November.
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The Menu
As with the original location, which opened last October, the new restaurant will specialize in “seasonal eats and rotisserie meats,” notably dry-rubbed rotisserie chicken. “Rotisserie chicken is craveable, especially nowadays when people really are wanting food that makes them happy. So, we are honing in on that—it’s comforting and delicious,” says Hereford. “This made a lot of sense, going through the process to retool it for this location.”
The restaurant will also offer a wider selection of sandwiches, salads, and side dishes. Instead of the three or four of sandwiches offered daily at the Midtown location, the new spot will feature five or six, he says, including a take on the ubiquitous fried chicken sandwich. “We put that on the menu in the final hours,”” he says. “People wanted it. We came up with the best version we could. It has a good flavor profile, and it’s extremely popular.”
The menu may be simple, but the complexity of flavors sets it apart. For instance, the house-made Scratch Sauce is an herb buttermilk mix compared to Ranch, but the restaurant’s rendition focuses more on tarragon and dill than the familiar onion and garlic. Another tangier condiment is the “horsey mustard,” enlivened by horseradish. And the restaurant will offer a “liquid gold au jus,” too.
Chicken Scratch also serves a cabbage slaw with a Thai basil and yogurt dressing, tossed with pumpkin seeds and raisins. The rotating sides are prepared with the changing seasons and local landscape in mind. Currently, the restaurant at City Foundry is serving a roasted and marinated beet salad, topped with a popular house crunch mixture. Another mainstay: JoJo Potatoes, wedge fries coated in a seasoned batter.
The Atmosphere
Chicken Scratch–Glendale will have a liquor license and feature indoor seating, in addition to a drive-thru pick-up window. Picking up family meals will be convenient, says Hereford, and customers will be able to order online.
“We will have snacks on the menu and want people to come, hang out,” he says. “If they are waiting for an order, they can sit, have a drink and a snack while the food is being prepared.”
Hereford’s wife and business partner, Christine, grew up in Warson Woods and has a catering background, so the couple plans to develop that aspect as well.
“This spot gives us more room to be creative,” says Hereford, a former executive chef at Gerard Craft’s now-closed Niche. “Yes, my background is in fine dining, but it’s all about making delicious food and making guests happy.”
For additional updates, including the opening date, follow Chicken Scratch on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
