Pollard's Chicken & Catering, Virginia Beach

Pollard's Chicken & Catering’s boasts that they have the best chicken in town, and in their case, it’s actually true. Many locations garnered gold-medal status in the Best of Hampton Roads 2012 poll, orchestrated by the Virginian-Pilot’s online affiliate HamptonRoads.com. Beyond morsels fresh from the fryer, the eatery’s titular dish comes in many other forms, from buffalo wings and kid-friendly tenders to barbecue pulled chicken sandwiches. An array of other meat adds diversity to the dine-in menu, including barbecue pork ribs and tender crab cakes.

Pollard's Chicken & Catering also lives up to the other half its name, with various outposts also taking top honors for catering in the HamptonRoads.com poll. Clients can piece together their own spreads by ordering bulk fried chicken and à la carte hors d’oeuvres, or choose one of nine party buffets, which, like a well-packed piñata, include meat and vegetables for 25 or more people.