LDNReview
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Poor Boys
Included In
Nothing at Poor Boys is small or modest. Everything at this New Orleans-inspired spot in Kingston, from the jumbo jalapeño poppers to the lively groups cheersing ice cream floats on a Friday night, feels larger than life. Excellent OTT comfort food, a lively dive bar atmosphere, and laid-back service, make this restaurant a go-to for a casual catch-up, a meaty brisket feast eaten in silent concentration, or a portion of chicken popcorn and a beer for one when you’re feeling particularly precious.
On a corner of Kingston filled with restaurants, Poor Boys takes the majority of the crowd, no matter the time. At weekends the queue skirts around the side and goes all the way down to the river. If you’re tempted to give up on it, just glance through the window at the person giving googly eyes to a brisket sandwich and they’ll give you all the motivation to wait it out. Once you’re in, the sounds of glasses clinking, smell of fried chicken wafting from the kitchen, and the jovial staff casually working the room as if at a house party, set the tone. But it’s still chilled enough that you’re able to catch your friend up on your life in excruciating detail, without having to shout your blood test results to the whole restaurant.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
The red glow from the big neon ‘Poor Boys’ sign on the ground floor gives a warmth to the wood-pannelled room that encourages over-ordering and careless dipping. Walk up the spiral red staircase and you’ll find a quieter, smaller space. We’re not saying this is the rejects’ corner, but we’re not not saying that. Basically, this is the overflow space, so if you get the choice, stick to the main dining room. It’s where the fun, lively, high energy dive bar mood is. But FYI we’d still sit in the not-not-rejects section if it meant we could eat an overstuffed po’ boy.
Although your order is served in cardboard boxes, it’s comfort food at its finest. If you’re not in the mood for sharing, the Poor Boy sandwiches are the way to go. It’s like a table service, build-your-own footlong brioche sub, except the options here are less processed meat and more fresh buttermilk fried shrimps, black angus prime brisket, and cajun blackened chicken. But the best way to experience this place is to come with a group of hungry people who you’re not afraid to get messy in front of, and order the seafood sharer. Twenty coconut shrimps, a handful of calamari, and a couple of grilled oysters later, and you’ll only be about a third of the way through this genuinely aggressive amount of fried seafood. Eat with your hands, be mentally prepared to spill cajun mayo down your t-shirt, and definitely box up leftovers to go. Huge, fried, and messy is the mood—and getting stuck in is encouraged.
Food Rundown
Sauces
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Coconut Shrimp
Mac and Cheese
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Buttermilk Fried Shrimp Poor Boy
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Seafood Sharer