There’s a new-ish chicken joint in town, and it’s the place to be on Thursday evenings when kids eat free! Waldo’s Chicken & Beer in Cahaba Heights keeps it simple: The only thing on the menu is chicken, either on the bone, on a bun, in a bowl, or in a basket. All sandwiches, baskets, salads, and plates come with a made-from-scratch side, with a choice of fries, mac-and-cheese, white beans, collards, potato wedges, coleslaw, or tomato-cucumber salad.
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Seven-year-old Allie Lawrence is a big fan of the cheddar biscuits.
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Kids eat free night fosters a sense of community and family at the centrally located restaurant. We recently went after practice with a group of friends and ordered a variety of items, including the pulled rotisserie chicken salad (crunchy and fresh!), Fowl Mouth (fried thigh with habanero oil and jalapeño slaw), tender basket with fries (a hit with all three of the kiddos), and a round of cheddar biscuits for the table (verdict: We ordered more!). We’ve heard great things about the Waldo’s Wings, which are brined overnight before being roasted and fried crisp, served tossed in buffalo, Alabama white, rooster, or barbecue sauce, lemon pepper rub, or habanero oil.
The open, airy space offered plenty of room for patrons, and the staff was friendly. Our food came out quickly and correctly—a major place when you have tired, hungry kiddos. The place was hopping with activity the night we ate there, which made the atmosphere feel festive but family-friendly. We also ran into a few friends who had already discovered the delicious chicken themselves. The kids-eat-free tradition adds an extra layer of hospitality to the restaurant, making Thursdays a favorite day for families to gather and create memories over a tasty chicken feast.
Visit waldoschicken.com/cahaba-heights-alabama.
Waldo’s Chicken & Beer
Where: 3009 Pumphouse Rd, Suite 102 in Cahaba Heights
Hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Kids eat free with purchase of an adult entree on Thursday nights (one child per adult meal).