I'm not usually a Chick-fil-A guy -- it's a little pricier than the competitors, so I don't stop by…read moreoften. But with this brand-new location opening in our area (along with all the buzz, protests, and controversy that came with it), I figured it deserved a fair try.
I opted for the drive-thru on a very chilly morning. They offer both walk-up and drive-thru, but the cold made the choice easy. The team members taking orders outside were clearly new and still finding their footing, and I genuinely appreciated how hard they were trying. The young man who took my order had a trainer nearby, and you could tell he was a bit nervous -- but he was doing his best. Same for the young woman who handed me my food on the pickup side. I tip my hat both of them.
And the food? Excellent.
Whatever else people may say about the brand, Chick-fil-A has always prided itself on quality -- and it shows. Everything was fresh, hot, and prepared just right. I may not stop in often because of the higher price point, but I get it. Quality costs more, and you can taste the difference.
But the biggest shout-out goes to the back-of-house crew.
It must have been right at that crossover between breakfast winding down and lunch gearing up -- which, in any fast-food place, is its own special kind of stress. And in a brand-new store during opening week? Multiply that pressure by ten. I worked in fast food back in my college days, so I have a pretty good sense of what's happening behind that swinging door: the constant rush, the tight choreography, the pressure to keep every station moving while also learning new systems on the fly.
Those back-of-house workers are doing some of the most important jobs in the building, and yet they're often the ones who get the least recognition. While the front-of-house team interacts with customers, the kitchen crew is back there hustling -- cooking food properly, assembling orders, keeping the place clean, restocking, troubleshooting equipment, and shifting between meal services. It's demanding work on the best day, and even harder when everything is still new.
We don't see those folks, but they're the heartbeat of the operation. Without them, nothing works.
And speaking as someone who has family working in the industry, I sincerely hope management recognizes how hard their back-of-house crew is working during these early weeks. A little patience and well-earned appreciation can make all the difference -- especially for the team members carrying the heaviest load.
So to the team behind the scenes -- thank you. My hat goes off to you.
And yes, I'll definitely be back.
