Our first visit to Tom Keller’s Ad Hoc Restaurant

My husband and I planned our dinner reservations at Tom Keller’s Ad Hoc around the famous “fried chicken” night. We couldn’t have been happier with the menu. Everything was served “family” style with unlimited portions. The wait staff was friendly and the decor is light and airy. It’s simple just like the menu. The fried chicken? Amazing. 

We started off with a nice crisp “summer salad” with a champagne vinaigrette. We actually ate the entire salad. It was light, refreshing, and simple. A great start to what was ahead. When they brought out the next course, the fried chicken, my mouth started to water. It was exactly what I had hoped for. It was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. I don’t typically eat dark meat but I devoured it as well as the white meat. I was a little skeptical when they served “lemon” infused mashed potatoes with peas, but I was far from disappointed. The mashed potatoes were perfect with just the right amount of lemon.

Next, they brought out a cheese plate. It was two different types of cheese, walnuts, and an amazingly flavorful honey. I normally don’t eat cheese but had to try it for the experience. I was willing to try anything they brought out; it was too good not to eat.

Even though we were there for the fried chicken, I wasn’t the least bit disappointed in the dessert selection. The dessert that night was a homemade ice cream sandwich. It was two chocolate chip cookies held together by rich vanilla ice cream. I couldn’t even hold it without getting bits of chocolate all over my fingers! I wanted so much to eat the entire cookie, but I was too full. My husband, on the other hand, managed just fine.

I would go back to Ad Hoc in a second. It would be fun to go there with friends. If you have the opportunity to go, I would highly recommend the fried chicken night, if you can find out ahead of time when it is that week.

Noteworthy:

Ad Hoc has since branched off and opened Addendum. True to its name “Addendum” is an addition or footnote to the Ad Hoc family, serving boxed lunches to-go. Check out Addendum to find out menu options and hours.