Beasley’s Chicken and Honey, an iconic Downtown Raleigh restaurant, permanently closed last weekend. The beloved Ashley Christensen staple opened 14 years ago, rising in popularity for its unique spin on fried chicken dishes, which — as the name suggests — they infused with honey.

I was a frequent diner at Beasley’s since its opening; it was the default location for my family’s Friday night outings. The cuisine was simple, comforting, and never got boring, which made it easy for my family to agree on.

Over almost a decade and a half, the restaurant went through some notable changes, which I have been reminiscing about since finding out about its closing.

When Beasley’s opened, they did not use physical menus. The entire food and drink menu was written in chalk, on the wall above the bar. Over the last few years, however, the restaurant introduced physical menus for the food. Temporarily, they erased the chalk menu entirely, but then rewrote it as the drink menu. I was thankful they kept that unique characteristic.

Also several years ago, Beasley’s expanded its space. Chuck’s, another Ashley Christensen restaurant, was located next to Beasley’s. When Chuck’s closed down, Beasley’s took up both lots. However, during all the times I’d eaten at Beasley’s since that incorporation, I never noticed diners being sat in the additional room.

Additionally, the restaurant used to have a community-style table running across the center of the room, but they did away with that after the pandemic.

In their last few months of operating, Beasley’s started taking reservations, which they’d never done in years past. Perhaps the change was one final attempt at bringing in more customers.

Beasley’s also had some minor menu alterations during its run. 

Their hot chicken sandwich was originally called the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, but they changed its name to the Carolina Reaper. My dad ordered that sandwich almost every time we ate at Beasley’s, and despite the name change, he maintained that the dish was of great quality. Beasley’s had so many signature dishes, like the hot chicken sandwich, so it is sad to see them go. 

Around the time of the pandemic, Beasley’s introduced a burger and fries to their menu. It was one of the only menu items that wasn’t chicken, and quickly became my favorite dish. Despite their niche being chicken, they were successful in expanding their food selection, as the restaurant kept the burger as a menu item for the rest of its career.

Although Beasley’s underwent some changes during its lifetime, it maintained several distinctive characteristics. Its decor was always rustic and referential to Raleigh, with old photographs and posters. Customers drank water from mason jar glasses, and they dined at maple-colored wooden tables with metal stools. 

Beasley’s Chicken and Honey was one of the great Downtown Raleigh restaurants. When my family and friends visited from out of town, their first request was usually to dine at Beasley’s. Where else can you get chicken and waffles, or a fluffy, homemade chicken biscuit — with the slightly sweet hint of honey? I’ll always look back on Beasley’s as a childhood favorite, and I’m sure that its customer base will miss its familiar, Southern cuisine.