Around the time Chick-fil-A was making the news for their controversial “religious” beliefs, Proposition Chicken co-owner Ari Feingold decided it was time for his chicken to take a stand, too. And for the last eight years or so, Proposition Chicken has billed itself as a fried chicken joint specializing in both quality and equality.
Not only do they use only the freshest ingredients (including a homemade batter made with vodka, which makes their chicken extra crispy), but the voting-themed restaurant makes a point to support equality in all facets — be it advocating for gay marriage and a woman’s right to choose, or taking a stand against caged and hormone-stuffed chicken (they use Mary’s air-chilled chicken, which is raised antibiotic, hormone, and cage-free).
With one restaurant on Market Street and another in Oakland (as well as four ghost kitchens throughout the bay area), Proposition Chicken is now set to open its third restaurant in Laurel Village Shopping Center, at 3465 California Street, the former home of Rigolo Cafe, by the end of summer 2021.
The new spot will be reminiscent of the funky Oakland location, with lots of neon and salvaged wood accents, light fixtures designed from chicken coops, and, in traditional Proposition Chicken fashion, one blank wall inscribed with the words “this wall intentionally left blank.”
In keeping with tradition, the new location will donate 10% of its Monday proceeds to local nonprofits — something the restaurant has been doing at his current locations for years. But when it comes to giving back, there’s nobody Proposition Chicken cares more for than its own employees. “I’ve been blown away by our team’s resilience, patience, and understanding throughout such a difficult time,” says Feingold, who hasn’t laid off a single employee during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s brought tears to my eyes over and over.”
And whether you like your chicken “fried, flipped, or fake,” Proposition Chicken’s signature wings and strips are so insanely crispy and juicy, they’ll probably bring tears to your eyes, too.
