PDQ Is Pretty Darn Quick & Pretty Darn Good, Too! By Gary Nager OK, so you’re driving along S.R. 56 and decide that you’re hungry, but you’re in something of a hurry. Well, whether drive-through or dine-in, the new PDQ Fresh Tenders, Salads, Sandwiches & Shakes is a fast, fun, attractive place with a delicious (but admittedly, a little bit limited) menu. PDQ, which today has three locations (the other two are in Carrollwood and South Tampa), will grow to seven locations by the year’s end, and the place has a pedigree. It was founded (as “Tenders”) in North Carolina by a new restaurant company created by Outback co-founder Bob Basham. But, PDQ isn’t about impressing you with history lessons, it’s about trying to get you to come back for its
food, service and high-energy atmosphere. The menu includes plump, freshly fried tenders (served with amazing sauces; more on them below), grilled and “crispy” chicken and turkey sandwiches, hand-tossed salads with unique (especially for a “fast food” place) dressings, fresh-cut fries, freshly made cole slaw, fresh apple slices with a decadent toffee dip, amazing handspun shakes in a variety of delish flavors and the coolest fountain sodas in the biz. And that’s it. In other words, if you’re not up for a salad, sandwich or fried tenders, you need to take your business elsewhere. But, if you’re looking for a unique take on fresh poultry, here are a few of my favorite items on the menu. In my opinion, the fried tenders are better than Publix’s and the crispy chicken sandwiches are better than Chick-filA’s... and I really love Chick-fil-A sandwiches, too. I just think the chicken itself is superior. The grilled chicken salad, grilled chicken and turkey sandwiches also are served fresh, hot and tasty, and all of PDQ’s entrée items
taste even better to me with either the zesty “Sweet Heat” or creamy garlic dipping sauces. The creamy garlic also is an outstanding salad dressing, although I do love PDQ’s Caesar dressing and I’ve heard many customers asking for both the unique blueberry vinaigrette and low-fat “Fiesta” dressings, too. The fresh-cut, skinon fries are crispy (but not overly crisp) pefection (but diet-deadly) and the homemade fresh cole slaw has a little spice and a lot less mayo than most I’ve tasted. Yum. The hand-spun shakes are utterly delicious, but definitely not on the diet for those trying to watch their weight (like yours truly). Instead of the shakes, I have enjoyed both the regular and diet Cheerwine, which is a tasty, 95year-old cherry soda bottled in The (clockwise from top) fresh tenders and North Carolina, and especially, the fresh-cut fries, grilled turkey sandwich with amazing, 100-option soda machine creamy garlic sauce and grilled chicken which allows me to fill my drink salad with blueberry vinaigrette dressing are with all the ice I want and cover it all worth trying at PDQ on S.R. 56. with my favorite 75-percent diet and 25-percent regular Barq’s truly unique dining concept that’s pervanilla root beer, but you can opt for fect for families — kids and their parany combination of any other Cocaents love the food — and there’s even a Cola product. nice outdoor seating area with misters Wesley Chapel PDQ manager Eric to keep you cool. Knott and his enthusiastic team (they PDQ (27757 S.R. 56) is open will even come to you in the parking every day at 11 a.m. and until 10 lot and walk you under an umbrella if p.m. Sun.-Thur., and until 11 p.m. it’s raining and you don’t have one) of on Fri. & Sat. For info, call 528more than 70 invite you to check out a 8770 or visit EatPDQ.com.
For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 20, Issue 18 • August 25, 2012 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com
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