Chicken Salad Chick
Anyone that knows Russ probably knows he is a big fan of chicken salad so when we passed a place called Chicken Salad Chick in Georgia he was immediately intrigued. We were already well-nourished the day we passed it, so he settled for a Google search to give him the scoop on the place (no pun intended, get it scoop of chicken salad - teeheehee). About a week later, we passed another feisty green sign with those same 3 words. This time, we were in Palm Harbor, Florida and in search for a great place for lunch. It is a relatively new franchise with around 65 locations in the southern states. We loved hearing how the owner, Stacy Brown, grew from a home-based kitchen in Alabama to numerous locations all over the Southeast.
Chicken Salad Chick's menu is refreshingly simple, with options of chicken salad sandwiches, pimento cheese, soups, and a handful of sides. They feature 12 different varieties of chicken salad ranging from traditional, to fruity, to spicy, and even a little savory in between. The flavors are all named for “chicks” such as Classic Carol, Fancy Nancy, and Jalapeño Holly. Chicken Salad is served as scoops or sandwiches and can be made a meal deal with a side item and drink. Russ and I ordered a variety of scoops and were pleasantly surprised when our meals arrived with a COOKIE! It was a REALLY good cookie, and I know my way around an iced sugar cookie.
The staff were incredibly welcoming upon our first visit. We were greeted at the door by a lovely lady that did a wonderful job of outlining the menu and giving us some recommendations. After we proceeded to the counter to order, another cheerful lady offered us some samples of a few of their chicken salad concoctions.
So far all of the chicken salad varieties we've tried have been tasty, but I’m sure upon additional visits we might nail down some favorites. The grape salad is delish with red & green grapes covered with a sweet cream cheese mixture and topped with brown sugar & crushed pecans. At first it sounds a big odd, but it makes for a really nice, cool, light dessert. Highly recommended. I do look forward to also trying their version of broccoli salad on a future visit as I’ve heard some good things about that too. In additional, any place that has "pellet" ice is a winner in my book - they even had a sign on the soda machine that said "Chewable Ice Served Here"!
Chicken Salad Chick’s decor is spot-on for a southern-style restaurant. It feels like you are walking into someone’s home with a nice mix of booths and tables and pretty fixtures. Despite being a “fast-casual”style, the tables were lined with fun and festive tablecloths that added a bit of flair to the experience. The super cute decor and attention to detail with things like wainscoting and trim made the dining experience extra enjoyable.
