Fall River’s Alianca Platter House Sells Out Chicken Claws on Opening Day

Alianca Restaurant has long been a favorite in New Bedford's South End, but owner Susie Amaral has now expanded her flavors into Fall River with the grand opening of the brand new Alianca Platter House.

Located in the former Mr. Chicken spot on Bedford Street, the Platter House focuses on hearty Portuguese platters, grab-and-go meals, and daily buffet specials. On opening day, the line stretched out the door as curious neighbors and loyal Alianca fans came to sample everything from ribs and chicken to traditional dishes like bacalhau and carne Alentejana.

One item that caught me off guard? Moelas. It's a traditional Portuguese stew made with chicken gizzards, hearts, and yes, chicken claws.

“It’s a classic dish,” Amaral said. “People love dipping bread in the broth. It’s very authentic, and it sold out twice on opening day.”

Not everyone on The MGM Show was ready to dive into the dish, though. While Gazelle declared he’d try anything (including fish eyeballs), I am a basic bro when it comes to food. I am super boring. I'm not a chicken feet kind of guy. Amaral laughed, saying even she prefers to skip the claws, but plenty of her customers can’t get enough. It was one of the new Alianca's most popular dishes this week.

The new Platter House was born out of growing demand for Alianca’s catering trays, which had become so popular in New Bedford that Amaral sometimes had to close the restaurant’s kitchen just to keep up. Now, with Fall River’s new location, she can keep both operations running strong.

For me? I'm sticking to the delicious roasted chicken, ribs and cacoila. I know, I know.  I'm a simple guy.