Gene Street can’t stay out of the restaurant business. And why should he? The man who, along with partner Phil Cobb, started J. Alfred’s, a dive bar where Al Biernat’s now sits, has bought and sold too many restaurants to count. (Black- Eyed Pea, Good Eats)
Gene also wrote one of the best stories published in D Magazine. He chronicled his trip to southern-fry everything he could while traveling in Vietnam.
Now Gene, along with children Gene, Marco, Mariel, Dace and nephew Tony Street, will open Street’s Fine Chicken in the flagship Black-eyed Pea building on Cedar Springs. Gene has owned the building since 1975.
The family promises an “elevated southern house” with a “variety of traditional dishes, each prepared with French flair by executive chef and partner Tony Street (Congrats, Tony on 20 years at Y.O. Ranch). There will be craft cocktails, a “boutique wine list, and craft beer. The chicken, brined 24 hours, is served “roasted and toasted.”
Street’s Fine Chicken is a full circle for this rowdy family of restaurateurs. I must wonder if Gene will be behind the bar opening Coors bottles with his teeth.