First impressions, from a distance - ample personnel, great signage directing to their drive-up, and looking like a very near approximation to the local Chick-fil-A (except that Cane's was open and it was a Sunday afternoon).
Closer inspection and our ordering experience - not a huge line, so quick service, yet the rushed young man taking our order met our car far from the first menu available. He was impatient with us not knowing what our options were, explaining that chicken fingers were $2 each (then correcting himself that they are $2.39) and giving us the total for six of them plus two large cups of Coke Zero. The next staff we met had a bag of food to hand to us, along with the two cups. We parked in the lot under a lovely shade tree and opened the bag.
What was and wasn't in the bag - We received a plastic box with six chicken fingers of about an inch to inch-and-one-half in diameter, and in lengths ranging from three inches (2 of the strips) to five inches (1 of the strips). No sauce of any kind, when we'd assumed there would be some - the sauce was a point that others had mentioned to us previously - and just one straw for the two drinks, along with two napkins. The breading and chicken was nicely cooked - but unexpectedly bland. Again, others' reports of how grateful we should be that Cane's had come to town? They had definitely raised our expectations. Perhaps excessively.
My wife and I repeated at least three times to each other: "They're new." And when the front of the house (or driveway, as it were) and the back of the house find their rhythm in a few months, we might try again, if we're in the mood for chicken strips on a Sunday.
Otherwise, there's a proven alternative just up the street. And, frankly, even though there's no drive-thru at either place, there are strong performers available from the delis at either Safeway or Lucky - even on Sunday.
If you're among the Raising Cane's fans out there - I'd love to hear what it is that draws you back, especially if you're driving past other nearby options to get there. read more