When I was growing up in Statesboro, Hardee’s was a treat (it’s a law that every small town in South Georgia has to have a Hardee’s – look it up). I can remember the smells of the restaurant, the shakes (always strawberry), and the hamburgers had a certain flavor a little different (maybe the sauce?) from McDonalds, Burger Chef, Burger King, Dairy Queen, and Wendy’s. (That was about it for small-town South Georgia hamburger joints.)
You know that you’re home at Chick-fil-A.
I did sample the new Chik-fil-A Spicy Sandwich – it was good and had a little kick to it. I was part of a new promotion but it looked like they weren’t making a big deal of it at the Lawrenceville restaurant.
Every few months, I make the short trek to Thomson, Georgia, from Gwinnett County to meet my folks and leave one of my children for a visit to my childhood home in God’s Country, Bulloch County. We usually meet at the Zaxby’s since everybody likes the food.
When I meet my folks in Thomson, we always share a meal at the Zaxby’s right next to I-20.
This past Saturday, the day was beautiful and sunny. I took my daughter to meet Mama and Dad at the appointed Zaxby’s. When we got there at noon, fifteen or twenty people were already in line…none of them were my parents. It hadn’t been that long since I’d seen them and I think I would have recognized them. We waited about three more minutes and they pulled up in the parking lot. By the time that we got in line, only 3 or 4 people were ahead of us. The line was really moving quickly.
Mama and my daughter wanted the House Zalads with fried chicken, Dad got the #1 Chicken Finger Plate, and I got the Grilled Sandwich Sandwich Meal. I always get Sweet Tea and dilute it with some Unsweet just in case somebody dropped the sugar bowl in the tea pitcher (hello, Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s!) Note to self: buy a Zaxby’s Ice Machine…oh man, that ice is perfect!
I can’t remember anything.
Anyway, we got our order from Christian, the friendly blonde behind the counter. Her manager was helping out. She was very nice as well. We didn’t talk to anybody else although I did make four trips back to the counter for the food…then ketchup that I forgot…then a Diet Coke for Dad…then a water bottle that didn’t make it on the tray. I know one brunette that I kept walking by must have thought I was hitting on her…or either she recognized me from the “Don’t Take Checks From This Man” photo on the counter next to the cash register.
Zaxby’s Tea and ICE…the ICE from Zaxby’s has it’s own Facebook Page!
Everybody gobbled up their food. My sandwich was good with the perfect amount of Zax Sauce on it. The fries were spot on…not too greasy. Dad acted surprised that he ate all five of his chicken fingers but I don’t know who he thought he was fooling. Mama and my lil’ girl must have enjoyed there Zalads since they didn’t leave hardly a crumb.
I checked the Men’s bathroom; it was clean and tidy. The music was pleasant..some eighties hits.
The Final Verdict is In
This Zaxby’s I’ll give a 9.3 on a 10 scale. The only thing that might could be improved was the room temperature. It was too cool for some patrons who had thrown on coats…in August.
John Robert Conley 