They hook you with the free sample. Toothpick-skewered chicken thrust at you by a skittish employee nervous about being out from behind the counter. Just one taste of the syrupy bird and you too will be hooked. Bourbon chicken can become a lunchtime addiction, and the Bourbon Street at Westshore Plaza is the area’s finest dealer. Bourbon Street’s chicken is juicy and plump, never overcooked and consistently delicious. Be aware: Devouring an entire portion of the juicy meat with white rice (extra sauce of course) will leave you in a diabetic coma for the rest of the workday. 250 Westshore Plaza, Tampa, 813-286-0790, www.westshoreplaza.com.
This article appears in Sep 14-20, 2005.