I tackled the Double Down yesterday. And it was pretty damn good.
First off, I hadn't been to a KFC for years. The Double Down reminded me that, in the scheme of fast food and chicken, KFC ain't bad. In fact, I would say it's one of the better pieces of fried chicken you can get within 2 minutes of placing your order. Anyway, the quality was a nice surprise, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
You can get the Double Down on it's own or with a side and sodie for a total, in downtown Chicago, of $7.78. Both my dining companion and I opted for the Mac & Cheese which, besides the overly-orange color, was pretty appetizing. While the idea of another source of cholesterol and sodium may sound disgusting, it's actually a good idea to order a side, as the Double Down comes out HOT! After sampling the opener for a minute or two, we headed over to see the headliner.
Both pieces of chicken breasts were larger than I would have thought, but were as greasy as expected. Your lips have that post-meal grease on them afterwards. I'm not a huge bacon fan, but the two strips melted into the cheese were placed perfectly - not one- or lop-sided. The cheese itself was also pretty good; I bet the KFC focus groups probably got to sample a few different cheese combinations, but whoever suggested a blend of Monterey Jack and pepper jack was spot on. My dining companion, although more excited about the Double Down than I was, didn't finish his. I ate nearly every bite, save for a piece of fried chicken fat at the end of the top bun-breast.
I would HIGHLY recommend this food if you are under the influence of alcohol. If you're hungover, I think the amount of grease would make your life liveable again.
But do it NOW: Limited Time Only, people!
Bernard's Review: 3.5 stars (out of 4)
@daveB from Oakland: Even after eating it for 5-10 minutes, it is still very hard to hold without the wax paper, due to it's temp. I guess the alternative is using a knife and fork (does KFC even have those? We both got sporks with the mac), but that, too, seems like an out. I think the only way is to dive in with wax paper in hand, or wait for it to cool. But who wants to wait for it to cool? FAST food is all about the instant gratification.
