In 2009, PDQ opened in Cornelius, N.C. under the name Tenders. This quick stop eatery gained popularity and expanded to other locations in Florida and North Carolina. PDQ opened its doors this month in Raleigh at 6305 Falls of Neuse Rd. There's a new chicken tender in town and you must pay PDQ a visit.

Photo credit: PDQ

When I walked into PDQ a smile instantly formed on my face as I was greeted by a friendly PDQ staff member. The atmosphere of PDQ is bubbly and welcoming. The restaurant has bright green walls, high ceilings and ample natural sunlight. When I walked up to the counter, the next staff person who interacted with me was just as friendly and helpful. He explained the menu and encouraged me to try the fresh tenders meal since it was my first visit to PDQ. The fresh tenders meal comes with hand-cut fries and a drink. As soon as I placed my order, I heard "Kristen, please come on down!" being announced over the loud speaker. Talk about speed! I couldn't believe how fast my meal was prepared. PDQ definitely lives up to their motto, "Fresh served fast."

I sat down in a comfortable booth to enjoy my tenders meal. The three crispy chicken tenders were juicy, hot and fresh. The tenders are lightly battered and pair perfectly with one of PDQ's homemade sauces. All sauces and salad dressings are made at the start of each day. You have the option of selecting honey mustard, sweet heat, chipotle BBQ, creamy garlic or ranch for your tenders meal. Of course, I had to try them all. My two favorites were the creamy garlic and sweet heat. The tenders and sauces melt in your mouth. The hand-cut fries are delicious and crispy. They are never frozen and made from ripe potatoes each day. The tenders meal also comes with a drink. You don't want to miss interacting with the Coca-Cola freestyle machine. The machine allows you to create over 100 different drink options. I enjoyed a Diet Coke with vanilla flavoring. The combinations are endless!

If you're trying to watch your calories, you can order the coleslaw with blueberries instead of fries. The coleslaw is a healthy option and I enjoyed this side. The coleslaw had the perfect amount of dressing and the vegetables and fruit were extremely fresh.

Another great side is the fresh apple slices with toffee dip. Dipping the slices in the gooey dip is fun, which is especially fun for kids. The toffee dip is flavorful and will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.

For a splurge, I ordered the hand-spun Oreo mint milkshake. This milkshake is one of PDQ's seasonal options. Their menu includes traditional milkshakes like strawberry, vanilla and chocolate. PDQ also has speciality shakes like Heath, Oreo, apple pie and malt. The Oreo mint hand-spun shake was thick and creamy. I was planning on drinking half, however, that didn't happen!

PDQ is the perfect place to stop by for a quick, fresh meal. The atmosphere of the restaurant is welcoming and it's a great spot to bring your family and children. Not only can you get a delicious chicken tenders meal, but you can eat healthy options like a grilled chicken sandwich or salad.

Written by local Foodie, Kristen. Follow her foodie adventures on Twitter!