Where Chickens Come Home to Roost
A favorite family fried chicken recipe has inspired a new chicken sandwich restaurant in Jacksonville. Appropriately named Roost, the eatery was launched by Curtis Abruzzo and his brother Nick, who also help operate their father’ s restaurant, Abruzzo’s Pizza.
Curtis Abruzzo says that when they were considering what to do with the space, “my brother came up with the chicken sandwiches because his wife is a very good cook and she has this fried chicken recipe.” He describes their offerings as a “real simple menu,” featuring chicken sandwiches, tenders, and wings as well as a chicken waffle plate.
Using his sister-in-law Elizabeth’s recipe, Curtis explains, they prepare everything fresh when it is ordered. The chicken is all hand breaded. He describes it as “real food. No preservatives or artificial colors.”
Curtis has been in the restaurant business for many years, having managed “ a couple of places around town.” He and Nick helped dad Gary Abruzzo launch his first pizza restaurant in Piney Green a little over 11 years ago. They added a second location on Western Boulevard about eight years ago. Roost is next door to the original pizza spot, on Balsam Road.
Piney Green is home to Curtis and his family. He says he “grew up right around the corner,” in Walnut Creek and Hunters Creek so Roost is literally and figuratively “close to home.”
Their Piney Green location works well for Roost. They are located just across the street from White Oak High School. There are not many food establishments along the road between Western Blvd and Lejeune Blvd.
Gary Abruzzo retired after 27 years in the Marine Corps. Originally from New York, the family moved to Piney Green in 2001. Curtis says it was “always a goal of the family to open the pizzeria.”
Dad Gary still helps with the “back of the house” administrative work, such as taxes and insurance. Curtis describes his father as “kind of the brains” who helped set up everything. Curtis credits his mother as well, as she does a lot of the space and menu design and orders supplies. He adds, “all of us pulled together.”
When considering the new restaurant, Curtis says, “ we really didn’t know what we were going to do with it.” Initially, he and his brother considered “burgers and beers and a little bar or something like that.” Then his brother came up with the idea of the chicken sandwiches.
The simple menu has been a hit in the short time that Roost has been open. There are also sides and desserts, including churro ice cream and a chocolate chip cookie ice cream. “And the fried pickles are really good,” Curtis adds.
The fried chicken recipe that launched Roost has become very popular, even though they also offer grilled chicken on the menu. They also make their own ranch dressing. Curtis says the sweet and sour nuggets are “real popular” as well.
Future plans may include bone-in chicken, starting with legs and thighs. They may also add “mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, stuff like that,” Curtis adds. Keeping the menu simple is important to them, though. Curtis says they will also be offering delivery service in the next few months.
Roost Chicken Sandwiches 75 Balsam Road, Jacksonville 910-333-0052
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11am to 9pm Friday and Saturday 11am to 10pm
Closed Monday
