Chicken Salad Chick Cajun Roast Beef Sandwich

Chicken Salad Chick's dining room features elegant and colorful touches, from crown molding accents to faux windows, creating an upscale vibe throughout.

Craven salad, that creamy staple of finger sandwiches and corporate dejeuner platters, is stepping out like a Southern debutante onto the First Coast dining scene.

Chicken Salad Chick, an Alabama-based fast-casual chain founded by a stay-at-home mom, expanded in June to the Publix-anchored Reedy Branch Commons shopping center at Baymeadows Route and the I-295 East Beltway. The franchise is Chick'south starting time area location - one of more than 30 in vi states - although the franchise owner plans another scattering here.

From the dining room's alternating green-and-white-striped colour scheme, faux windows and crown molding accents, to bill of fare particular names like Dixie Chick and Olivia's Old South, the chain'southward Southern brand is large and in charge. It's not a stretch to imagine the cast of "Designing Women" filming a reunion show hither.

Beyond the branding, how does a eating place devoted to 1 item find a mass entreatment? Serve that item xv different means, not unlike the wing houses that go on their chicken on the os. From the hickory-smoked Barbie-Q, to Kickin' Kay Lynne with buffalo sauce, Ranch dressing, salary, shredded cheddar and jalapeños, to the signature Classic Carol for salad purists, nigh should discover a flavor or heat level to satisfy. Get your salad a la carte past the pound ($10.99 per), equally a dollop with wheat crackers, on a sandwich, or equally a philharmonic with soup or one of five side items.

My friend and I dropped in after piece of work i recent Tuesday night to test-drive the carte du jour, which is as svelte every bit the red-skirted lady on the eating place's logo. The closest we could manage for a starter - in that location is no dedicated appetizer menu - was a dollop of pimento cheese ($5.59, also available as a sandwich). More than tangy than creamy, the blend of sharp cheddar and pepper jack cheeses made for a pleasant beginning.

One pocket-sized letdown, though: for gluten-intolerant and carbophobic guests, nosotros would have liked to come across culling dipping options beside wrapped crackers. The same goes for the craven salad, of which all varieties already are gluten-free. Offer crisp veggies, or surround information technology with a fully involved salad.

Devoted chicken salad fans who want to sample several flavors should get the Chick Trio ($eight.89), which includes iii salads or side items atop lettuce with crackers and a pickle spear.

My friend chose the Classic Carol, Barbie-Q and Olivia'south Old S. While the Classic was textbook white and creamy, it needed more than a pinch of common salt to bring out the flavor. By contrast, Barbie-Q's smoky, pulled pork gustatory modality won over my palate. Just don't error its darker complexion for tuna salad (it's not on Chick'south menu anyway). Olivia's Quondam Due south boasted a healthy helping of sweet pickle and egg for a chunky, delightful texture.

While I'one thousand not a huge fan of shredded chicken, Chick had me covered with a choice of 4 deli sandwiches. I bundled my selection, the Cajun Roast Beef on sourdough, equally part of the Gourmet Chick ($eight.89). Chick is flexible with substitutions on its Specials bill of fare; I swapped one of my 2 side items for a cup of the soup of the day, in this case Loaded Tater, along with pasta salad. Although I ordered my roast beef sandwich all the way, it came beyond drier than I would have liked and light on flavor. And while the Loaded Potato soup made up for the sandwich's flavor shortage, topped with bold chunks of cheddar and bacon, the contents of the "cup" (code for condiment-sized plastic container) was cold on arrival at our table. The al dente pasta salad was tasty enough just wasn't a standout.

Outside of seasonal offerings such as Cardinal lime pie and a more extensive selection of plattered treats from its catering bill of fare, the Cookie of the Day (99 cents each) is your only standard-menu sweetness. My soft-baked White Chocolate Macadamia Nut was a chunky, chewy delight.

For a counter-service institution, service was attentive at every turn, with plenty of visits to our table.

While chicken salad purists will have no shortage of flavors to explore at Craven Salad Chick, the proprietors should shore up the menu'south supporting bandage and add more options to back-trail those salads. If they practice, this Chick's menu will shine as brightly equally the dining room.

For more than of Jay'due south dining experiences, visit his blog at www.jaymagee.com.