My overall experience was just 'ok'. They've been open for 2 months now, so my experience should be fairly standard at this point. I got the box combo with 4 tenders, cole slaw, fries, garlic bread and a drink.
Menu:
Don't expect variety; they do chicken tenders ONLY. Sides are coleslaw, Texas toast, and crinkle cut fries. The menu highlights combo meals excessively and come with 3, 4, or 6 tenders, each with more sides. There is a chicken sandwich combo but it's just 3 tenders and some lettuce in a bun which barely does anything to break up the boring menu. Every combo comes with a drink. There is a kids meal and catering options. So in total, there are 4 combo options for adults
There is an 'a la carte' menu which also includes the sandwich. However, the layout & design of the menu tries hard to steer you toward combos. Individual chicken tenders are listed in the 'sides' part of the menu but it has zero emphasis and easily missed. If you want tenders only, or with just fries, you can get it. I did not realize this until just after I ordered my combo. Ah, oh well.
Chicken:
Honestly, I was impressed. If there is anything they did right, it is with the tenders. Standard fast food tenders are often dry and battered too heavily. These were cooked just right and were very juicy. The batter was near perfect and not too heavy, similar to a sit-down restaurant level. The flavor of the batter and the chicken is pretty standard. No surprises. That's a good thing because this is where sauces would come into play.
Sauce:
Everyone likes to dip their wings and tenders in sauce, right? I had a choice between Caine's sauce and ketchup. I didn't see any other options. No ranch, bbq, wing/hot, honey mustard, etc. The Caine's sauce was good. It reminds me of a tangy blooming onion/awesome blossom sauce, but without the horseradish bite. Not having bbq or other sauces to dip into was quite annoying.
Crinkle cut fries:
Just about all crinkle fries I have had elsewhere are just like this. Same size, texture & consistency. Most of these were soggy and not really good. I didn't finish them.
Texas toast:
I got bread with a light dusting of butter and garlic. Not a lot of flavor and zero 'toast'. The bread was thick, soft, and fresh so it wasn't a complete failure.
Cole slaw:
Decent sized portion, but lacking flavor. It wasn't very tangy or creamy so what little flavor it had, quickly left your mouth. The cabbage was cut into squares instead of being cut into strands. It was crunchy and fresh, but still felt mass produced. Very meh and others down the street do slaw better.
Sweet Tea:
I love sweet tea so anyone who emphasizes theirs as being 'famous' gets extra scrutiny. This is fast food sweet tea and probably close to McD's. Like other fast food sweet tea, there is a lot of sugar but you can still taste bitterness through it. It isn't bad, but I have had a lot better. Good in a pinch.
Service.
Only a minute or two wait once I paid. While ordering, they asked me if I wanted ketchup. I was pleasantly surprised as most places don't say a thing, and I forget that it used to be given regardless of asking. I told her yes. Guess what wasn't in the bag when I got home? Well, not only the ketchup, but no napkins either. Eh, it happens.
Final thoughts:
Monotonous menu! Tenders only and just 1 sauce. We are definitely working with a one-trick pony here. Unless you eat tenders often, the lack of options will be an issue. The sauce is good but not something I want every time. Their sides are not good, and on the lower end of average. I will only be coming back for tenders. read more