QUICK BITE: Big Chicken on Carnival Mardi Gras

The Mardi Gras is the first in a new class of ship in the Carnival Cruise Line brand.   There are several brand new food venues including Big Chicken which is a quick service location on Deck 16 Aft.  This restaurant has a celebrity sponsorship from Shaquille O'Neal.  

As you may have guessed, they feature chicken. Mainly several different chicken sandwiches and tenders.  Breakfast has a few more options with chicken biscuits and omelettes.  

For embarkation lunch we tried two of their chicken sandwiches as well as the chicken tenders.   

The Shaq is your basic chicken sandwich. It has crispy breaded chicken on a soft roll with Shaw sauce and some spicy pickles.  The sauce is equivalent to the "special sauce" at McDonald's.  Essentially ketchup and mayo with a hint of spice.   You can pick either dark or white meat.   

The Jerome sandwich kicks it up a notch with some Nashville chicken spice and some lettuce.  Both sandwiches were excellent.  Will be back to try the two others they have.   

The chicken tenders were meaty and crisp.  There is a topping bar where you can get a few different sauces including a Memphis BBQ 

Not to be forgotten is the fries.  Some chicken shacks would have throwaway fries.  Ones that would not overshadow the chicken.   At Big Chicken, the fries are auprisingly equal to the chicken.  They look like regular steak fries.   But they are thin, crispy and so well seasoned with salt and a peppery blend.   Will defint be back at Big Chicken.