Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers — Restaurant in Phoenix

Hands down, the best fast-food I've ever experienced. That's right... EXPERIENCED, I didn't just eat it, I lived this place.

First off, I am not a fast-food person. I avoid fast-food because it gets in the way of my yoga and I don't want to live with hypertension or die of a heart attack. Now, I do love me some McDonald's every now and again and have indulged at a couple In-n-Out Burgers so it's not like I don't understand what a guy needs when the hankering for an order of fries or a McDouble comes about.

I live in Canada, so there aren't any of these restaurants up here. In fact, in all of the years I've traveled to the US, I've never heard of Raising Cane's and I'm devastated that I cannot have that time back. My daughter and I were in Phoenix for a sports tournament and wound up being out a bit later than expected and had missed dinner. She, being the teenager she is, found a restaurant dedicated to chicken fingers. Admittedly, I scoffed at first and grumbled about greasy, rubbery gristle. Being the father of the year that I am, I drove her to this establishment.

We both ordered the Box Combo. I was hesitant to order even this much since I don't "do this" but the vibe had me, I was sold. The menu is limited to a few choices and this is exactly how efficiency is borne. It took us seconds to order. We sat down at a recently vacated booth and just as I noted the table was still unwiped, an employee rolled up with disinfectant and a cloth to clean it for us - Unbelievable. It seems hyperbolic but, I'm telling you that everything was seemingly going right, so right.

Our number was called and I fetched the order. Ok, it's chicken fingers. Ok, there's this reddish looking sauce. Ok, some slaw... but what in the sam hell... is this fried bread?! I'm intrigued.

The food was piping hot. I took one of the fingers and broke it in half too cool it off... It wasn't greasy. Weird, right? So, while it cooled, I figured I'd take that fried, sesame topped bread for a rip. I FN died, guys. Soft, buttery bread. Now, it's a small-ish piece and that made the moment so much better. That piece of soft deliciousness was there for a good time and not a long time. The chicken finger had cooled enough so I wouldn't blister the top of my mouth and I dipped it into that reddish sauce I mentioned above. Well, there aren't enough expletives in the world to appropriately underscore just how pleased I truly was. Peppery, creamy sauce, followed by a crisp (but not crunchy or hard) breading and into a juicy, legit chicken breast. That chicken finger was the perfect size for that dipping container - you know, like there wasn't overflow and there wasn't any battle to get the chicken finger sufficiently into the dip. So, I wasn't sure yet... but I knew this was something. You know, like when you first try on that jacket in the store and turn 1/3 of the way around in the mirror and give the half nod, turn the other way, stretch your arms out a bit, feel the pockets and brush down the front of the coat with both hands, even though it doesn't change the look and think, this may be what I'm looking for? That feeling. Then you take the coat home and wear it out for the first time, catch yourself in the reflection of the glass door at the mall and tell yourself, yes... this is something. Well, that's how it turned out in my mouth when I took the second bite of that still, slightly piping hot chicken finger, appropriately dipped and unreasonably un-greasy. Folks, I ate it all. Every last bit of food in that cute, appealing basket.

Now, this isn’t a knee-jerk review. I didn’t just get home after gorging because I fasted all day. I’ve sat on this for a few weeks and still believe I had the best fast food experience of my life. Service, atmosphere and the food – all excellent. I know this sounds all crazy but as I said, I don’t typically do fast food and this time around was deserved of such a review. We’ll be...

The worse service I have EVER had with a restaurant. When I walked inside restaurant, there were about 5 to 6 people befind the register counter and no one standing in line, thank God because it's ALWAYS crowded! So Ashley said oh I can help you. So when I walked up she asked me what I wanted to order and after that it was horrible. She then was trying to find someone to do something to the register, the guy who walked up is a very old man tall and VERY RUDE. He didn't say anything to let me know it would be a delay for me placing my order. I stood there for about 5 to 10 mins while they fixed the register all the while other customers are walking in and receiving help from the other cashier, like I should've been handled. So after the register was fixed, she took my order 3 finger combo, with no drink, no toast, no canes sauce, just got a little bit more fries to substitute for the others I didn't want. So while my food is being prepared and cooked, I decided to go wash my hands and go outside to have a cigarette until my food was ready. When I walked back in, I didn't see my food ready, so I proceeded to the napkin area to get ketchup and napkins, then I sat down. I saw other customers who came in after me, getting there food. So I decided to get up and ask the rude old man, hi is my food ready, he asked what's your name and I told him, he said yes it's been ready for 5 to 10 mins, that's impossible because I did not take long at all washing my hands and took me few drags on my cigarette. So the old rude man said, would you like your food now. I was like are you serious, why the check would I be standing here asking if my food was done if I didn't want it. So as the rude old man is now informed that I want my food, he asked the cook in the back for my food with my name and the cook throws the food on the counter in front of the chef line. That was sooooooo rude, then the rude on old said yea the order with no drink, no canes sauce, no toast and NO CHEESE! This is not funny, after you were already being such a rude individual. I will NEVER EVER come to this canes AGAIN! I feel like they are racist towards black people, especially the black people with Locs...

Very poor service. I went last week in the afternoon, and ordered for The Box Combo and asked if the fries can be made crispier. I was told yes and said it will take few more minutes. I never knew the few more minutes means never. They never called me, while they kept calling others who came later than me. I patiently waited, thinking maybe they are making fresh for me but when none of the customers remained, I finally went to the Manager asking for my order, and he was surprised. He went and looked at the paperwork order which he found it, and then asked one of his employees to handle it. That employee then asks me, 'Oh you wanted crispy fries - right? Anything else you need". I didn't know how to react. I was literally very upset, as I have been waiting for 15 mins, and I was getting late for my work, and with no apology no courtesy or compensation or offers, he simply comes to me to confirm my order. I simply said, yes please and he brought my order within 1 minutes and surprisingly the fries were not at all crispy. The chicken was also not crispy and not properly breaded. The employee handed it to me and left, while offering nothing for the inconvenience. Usually, the staff and Managers at Raising Canes are very nice, but not sure what happened this day, when neither the manager nor the staff handled my poor...