Nelly’s Pub and Grill is located on 51 Federal Street in St. Albans City. This pub is casual and great for the whole family. When you first walk in, you are greeted with the smells of America: fried chicken and beer. Directly in front, servers are running around making sure all customers are happy. The bar is filled with regulars, and jokes are flying around the room. To your left and right are tables with families chowing down on their meals. There are televisions on the walls with a multitude of different sports playing, and at night, there’s live music. The small but well-decorated room is filled with holiday knick-knacks, wine bottles, and Vermont-themed decor.
Right as you walk in, you are greeted by a server at the bar, and they tell you to sit wherever an open seat is. By 6:00 pm, the place was filled, so I sat at one of the few open seats at the bar. As soon as you are seated, you are asked what drinks you want. There are many alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to choose from; I got a Diet Coke. After you review the menu selections, the server takes your order. The food ranges from basic bar food like nachos and fried chicken to wonderful poutine and salads. While you wait for your food, you can enjoy the entertainment the live music has to offer, or you can talk to the waiters who know how to hold a good conversation. As soon as your glass is empty, the servers refill it without being asked, and before you even get your food, the amazing service wows you. The environment is freeing and warm, and before I know it, my food is here.
The first bite of my chicken-bacon-ranch sandwich is out of this world. The sandwich had a perfect combination of crispy lettuce, salty bacon, and a flawless ratio of ranch to chicken. The shiny bread showed my reflection, and the slimy cheese was drooling from the chicken burger. I chewed the sandwich, the textures and flavors fusing, as my dreams of having abs are crushed. I took a bite of the flaky fries that came with the meal, drowning them in ranch. Everything about this food is extraordinarily breathtaking, and by the end of the meal, I was fully distracted by my full stomach and watering mouth.
What sets this sandwich apart from others is its tender chicken breast. There are two ways you can get this sandwich: grilled or fried. I prefer the fried because it is like no other. Compared to other restaurants in Vermont, such as Jrs or The Drake, Nelly’s fried chicken sandwich is the best in the state.
The next time you are looking for a place to eat, try Nelly’s Pub and Grill. The environment of the restaurant is astonishing, the food is amazing, and it is a great place to have fun with family and friends. When you are there, get the chicken-bacon-ranch sandwich; it is the best thing you will ever get the privilege of tasting. The restaurant and the sandwich are both award-winning in my heart and get a 5 out of 5 stars.
