The Nugget Spot Serving 'Deflate-gate'-inspired Chicken Nuggets View Full Caption

EAST VILLAGE — An East Village eatery is having some fun with the NFL’s “Deflate-gate” controversy by offering up an “Underinflated Nugget” special.

The Nugget Spot, located on East 14th Street between Second and Third avenues, will serve 11 mini versions of its “grownup” chicken nuggets as well one “regulation-sized” nugget, said owner and chef Jason Hairston.

The special is a nod to allegations that 11 of the New England Patriots’ dozen footballs were underinflated, giving them an advantage against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game on Jan. 18.

“It’s just…a little jibe at the Patriots,” said Hairston, a Giants fan. The special costs $8.50 and will be available until Feb. 2.

The restaurant, which makes various types of chicken nuggets in-house, came up with the idea after a new employee cut up chicken nuggets that were too small, Hairston said. The bite-sized pieces of chicken are usually about an ounce-and-a-half each, he said, but the employee made them about half the size.

When a news story about the controversy came up on the restaurant’s TV screen, the idea was born, Hairston said.

In addition to the “Underinflated Nugget” special, the restaurant will also feature two special dips during Super Bowl week: a Seattle’s Best barbecue sauce in honor of the Seattle Seahawks and a Boston Lager beer mustard for the Patriots.

The Nugget Spot is also offering trays of its specialty chicken nuggets and dipping sauces for pickup on Super Bowl, starting at $50.

The small restaurant, which serves traditional chicken nuggets as well as more adventurous versions like the Cap’n Crunk, a slightly sweet, cereal encrusted nugget served with a spiced butterscotch sauce, opened in October 2013 and makes all its food in-house, Hairston said.

The Nugget Spot is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.