Raising Cane's

Kelli Hilderbrand, Grady JOUR 5590 Food Critic Extraordinaire

Raising Cane’s on a warm spring afternoon in Athens will satisfy your hunger every time. This mouth-watering chicken finger restaurant has 80 locations throughout the United States and serves only 100 percent premium chicken tenderloins. Conveniently located beside FTX bookstore at 795 Baxter St., the restaurant gives University of Georgia students the choice to swing by the drive-thru or sit in the contemporary dining area to enjoy the chain’s delicious fare. Named after founder Todd Graves’ yellow lab, Raising Cane’s friendly service and clean dining area make this one of the best fast food establishments in Athens.

When sitting in the dining area you are surrounded by paintings, pictures and murals of Athens’ culture. There was a wall dedicated to all the UGA bulldog mascots and another wall devoted to Graves’ Labrador retriever, Raising Cane. Raising Cane’s relaxing atmosphere appeals to both students and families.

Every chicken finger restaurant must have its own signature dipping sauce and Cane’s tangy secret recipe is a perfect accompaniment for chicken finger meals. The sauce’s thick consistency seems to come from a mixture of ketchup, mayonnaise, pepper and garlic powder. Zaxby’s signature Zax Sauce comes close to Cane’s Sauce but the Zax Sauce does not master the right creamy consistency.

On this visit I ordered the “The 3 Finger” meal, which is exactly what it sounds like: three chicken tenders, a handful of crinkle-cut fries, a piece of Texas toast and one serving of Cane’s sauce. When you order one of the four meals it includes a regular sized drink over crushed ice. The restaurant offers a variety of drinks, from the ever- popular freshly brewed sweet tea to national brand soft drinks.

What makes Raising Cane’s quality better than other chicken tender restaurants is the simple menu, which ensures the best quality food, convenience, and swiftness. Cane’s offers four different meal combinations. These include “The Box” (four fingers, coleslaw, Cane’s Sauce, fries, Texas toast), “The 3 Finger,” “The Caniac” (six tenders, coleslaw, extra fries, two Cane’s Sauces, Texas toast) and “The Sandwich” (three fingers on a Kaiser roll, fries, Cane’s Sauce). There is also a children’s meal available.

The fresh, never frozen chicken tenders are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. According to the Raising Cane’s website, the tenders are marinated for 24 hours, allowing the marinade to seep inside and keep the chicken moist and juicy. Each tender measures about the length of an iPod and the crispiness will make you crunch so loud that the other customers will envy your tenders.

Cane’s crinkle-cut French fries are made from Grade-A extra-long Idaho potatoes and are fried leaving them a perfect shade of gold. These french fries are better than what might be found at Zaxby’s because Cane’s fries do not have heavy seasoning. In my Cane’s meal, just the right amount of fries was delivered. The texture is perfect for grabbing and dipping them into your favorite sauces such as honey mustard, Cane’s sauce or ketchup.

The best item in the “The 3 Finger” meal is the buttery garlic Texas toast. This light and fluffy piece of bread contains seeds on the outer rim and is placed on the grill, giving it a hint of crunch. With its one and a half inch thickness, this Texas toast not only satisfies your hunger pangs but also leaves you wanting another piece. Zaxby’s Texas toast is no match for Cane’s because Zaxby’s bread does not feature that garlic buttery taste.

After a big game or before class, Raising Cane’s crispy and crunchy chicken tenders are ideal for that quick and convenient meal. Not only will you walk away with a full stomach, but you will also leave Raising Cane’s with a taste of Athens culture.

www.raisingcanes.com