A portion of chips can send you in many directions at 2:30am on a Sunday morning – it being implied, of course, that they conclude a long Saturday night. My snacking at this precise hour did not follow a night at the Vic, nor the Union, rather a shift at work during which I had to ignore my tummy grumbles and picture the neon lights at the end of the cobble-stoned tunnel: Big Boss.
Once again, I was accompanied on my travels by my colleague both at work and at The Stand, Editor-in-Chief Eve Parsons. We are not oblivious to Big Boss’ ways and wonders (in fact, we were some of the first customers through the door on opening night many moons ago) and so we knew to BYOD* and bypass their overly lavish application of sauces. A portion of curly fries, priced at £5.50, includes a sauce of your choosing but we went naked this time in the name of an unbiased, unsauced first bite for Vic Does Chips.
I will say, however, that sauce was a necessity. The texture of these curly fries were the kind that mainly consisted of crunch. There was batter and there were crumbs and I almost felt like I was biting into toast during each dry bite. However, there are very few problems that cannot be solved with mayo and, once our fries had been appropriately squirted with that white delight, it made for a much better treat.
The flavour, on the other hand, was surprisingly satisfying blend of zesty spices and the right level of saltiness. The seasoning pops without being overpowering, giving a balanced kick to the texture and cool mayo. While not mind-blowing, they are flavourful enough to keep you fighting over them.
My opinions of Big Boss’ atmosphere are just that: mine. I risk offending regulars to the space in the following words: a nightclub met a fast-food joint and neither won but they conceived Big Boss. The red carpet, pink neon lights and ordering screens feel like they are trying too hard to elevate the experience in a space that is dominated by polystyrene boxes. A chaotic clash of choices, and yet it is still students’ top choice night after night.
Inevitably, I will return. At 2:30am, it is the kind of messy masterpiece that feels like exactly the right choice – even if you regret it by 3.
*BYOD = Bring Your Own Dip
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