AmericanDessertsFast Food

PDQ (Oakland Park, West Palm Beach, Tampa)

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***** PDQ (People Dedicated to Quality), 2015 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33409, (561) 594-1906.

On April 30, 2013 Jeff Eats told you guys about PDQ a “new” fast-food/casual chicken chain–that is scheduled to open its West Palm Beach location on Sunday, May 5, 2013. The April 30, 2013 writeup is reprinted “after” today’s “thoughts.”

For the record, this afternoon Jeff Eats “ate” at a Family & Friends outing in the West Palm Beach store and I gotta tell you, this joint is going to be an absolute homerun.

Before I tell you about my “meal”—for what it’s worth, I don’t really care for the name PDQ. To me, the letters P D Q really don’t convey what this joint is all about. Nothing for nothing, but the owners of this business have created a fast food/casual hybrid…think Panera Bread and you may appreciate where I’m going with this. What they “got” is an order at/pick up at the counter fast food restaurant that looks like an upscale sports bar. I loved the look of the joint (and yes, it’s got a load of large flat screen TVs) but if you do some checking, many people use the term PDQ to mean “fast” or “right away”…that said, I think the last thing that PDQ wants is for you to think of its food as being “fast food” The store is logoed with big letters that say, “People Dedicated to Quality”–so Jeff Eats sees where the PDQ comes from (actually if we wanted to get technical here it should be PDTQ)…personally, I wouldn’t have used PDQ because to a great number of people PDQ means “other” things. Jeff Eats’ personal favorites -Pretty Damned Quick and Pennies Dimes Quarters.

Now that Jeff Eats has pontificated on the PDQ name…let’s talk food.

First let me start by saying, this 4,200 square foot free standing building is absolutely great looking…it has a drive thru and looks like something right out of the Florida Keys. There is also a huge open kitchen and you can see everything being prepared. In talking with the its founders (who by the way, created the Outback Steakhouse chain) everything is freshly made and the restaurant has no freezers. While there, Jeff Eats got a kick out of watching the staff squeeze 100s of lemons for the fresh-squeezed lemonade—For you wise-guys out there, yes! I got a kick out of watching, nothing sinister, lewd or whatever your devious minds maybe thinking!

Jeff Eats “tried” the tenders, hand cut fresh French fries, chicken Caesar salad, fried chicken sandwich, turkey breast sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich, chocolate shake, apple slices with toffee—and I’m telling you, every item and I do mean every item was delicious. For the record–the food was “on the house”…which made it “easy” to literally order almost every menu item. If I got one bitch, I thought that the fries had just a drop too much salt on them—trust me, that one little itsy bitsy “problem” is easy to cure. Just a quickie, if you take a look at Jeff Eats’ 1/19/2007 Outback Steakhouse “review” note the salt-complaint… Goes to show you, Jeff Eats and the guys running this joint are consistent, if they are anything.

Check www.eatpdq.com for menu/prices/locations/pictures.

In talking to management, there are currently 4 Tampa, 2 North Carolina, 1 Oakland Park, 1 West Palm Peach PDQs…and “for” our purposes-2013-2014 planned locations-Wellington, Boca Raton and Pompano Beach.

Let me wrap this one up this way…

Based on what I saw, ate and heard PDQ is going to develop into a major national chain. The guys behind this deal know exactly what to do and how to do it…that is if they–

Just lose the salt shaker…

*****
April 30, 2013
PDQ’s menu features lightly fried chicken tenders/sandwiches, grilled chicken and turkey breast sandwiches, salads, French fries and shakes.

Just a quick heads-up…Jeff Eats is “hearing” tremendous things about a brand new-fast food chicken chain PDQ which currently has 4 Tampa/1 Oakland Park/1 West Palm Beach/2 North Carolina locations.

Haven’t tried the joint out yet, but some buddies of mine-told Jeff Eats that PDQ (Oakland Park) makes amazingly delicious grilled chicken/fried chicken tenders/turkey/salads/fries/shakes. One caveat, three of those buddies way back when- thought that the Edsel was going to be a homerun and the fourth guy to this very day-claims that aliens abducted him in 1989.

As I mentioned 4 seconds ago, there is one location in Oakland Park…this coming Sunday-May 5th, PDQ is opening a second South Florida location in West Palm Beach.

Check www.www.eatpdq.com for menu/locations.

For what it’s worth–the chain is owned by one of the guys who created the Outback Steakhouse chain. Nothing for nothing, a few quick conversations with a handful of fast food/casual restaurant developers–had them figuring that PDQ had a real shot to develop into a major chain. The consensus was, that PDQ may appeal to a huge segment of Chik-fil-A’s customer base that is looking for a more diversified menu. Throw in 4,500 square foot stores/with drive thrus that are open on Sunday—and just maybe, PDQ has the formula to be a homerun-chain.

Jeff Eats is gonna check this one out…if you get there before I do, let me know what you think.

44 Comments to “PDQ (Oakland Park, West Palm Beach, Tampa)”

  1. MK says...

    Jeff,
    My wife and I ate in the Oakland Park location and really enjoyed the food. Very good salads and that fried chicken sandwich on a bun is delicious.
    Good concept.

  2. gbh says...

    This one of the best food places I have ever eaten. It’s great looking, the staff is very competent, its clean and the food is very good. Ive been to two locations one in Oakland Park and one in Tampa.
    You are correct that the ff are too salty. I always make sure to mention salt when I order and I get them just right.
    One other thing the straws they use for their shakes is too thick and you cant get anything through them. They should have a spoon on their end.

  3. LarryT says...

    http://www.eatpdq.com
    Jeff, site looks awesome.
    Definitely going to try.

  4. Jde342 says...

    Jeff
    You are right about the meaning of pdq.
    Betcha they never even thought of its real meaning.
    Ate in ft laud restaurant and the tenders and shake were awesome.

  5. Jon G says...

    Tasted good but very small portions. Yes for more money you can add extra tenders but then it gets to pricey for what it is.

  6. PC says...

    Looks like Jesus Christ himself, um excuse me, Tim Tebow is getting involved with this franchise:

    http://tbo.com/news/business/tampas-pdq-chain-makes-fan-of-tebow-b82478966z1

  7. Ed F. says...

    Jeff,
    Here is what I found.
    This is based on Ft Lauderdale store.
    The chicken tenders are delicious.
    The French fries are okay but they are too thin and are salty.
    The lemonade is fresh squeezed but nothing special.
    The shake I had was too sweet.
    The place looks great.
    The help is as pleasant as can be.
    The food came out really fast.
    They really don’t need tvs.
    Would I be running back, not really.

  8. Ellen C. says...

    Jeff,
    This sounds like a good one.
    Just wanted to mention to you that you are so right on Outback’s food being way too salty. My husband and I stopped eating in Outback something like 5 years ago because the salt was off the chart. The baked potato was actually encrusted in salt.

  9. TooMuchSalt says...

    Definitely going to try PDQ.
    For what it’s worth, just type in IS OUTBACK’S FOOD SALTY
    your search will turn up pages and pages of consumer complaints as to the restaurant’s food having too much salt. For so many people to have the same SALT comment makes me think that there is definitely something to the argument.
    I know that I dont eat at Outback’s because years ago the salt overwhelmed the food to the point where I couldnt even eat it.
    Glad to see from your review that only the fries were a drop too heavy on salt.

  10. EaterJoe says...

    Jeff got to agree PDQ isnt a great name, I think that the product should be in the name.

  11. RKS says...

    I work 3 minutes from PDQ in WPB.
    I passed it today about 3:30pm and the parking lot didnt looked too busy to me.
    I think that the name stinks.
    PDQ doesn’t mean nothing.
    I saw the word tenders under the PDQ but tenders means nothing.
    From the road the building looks like. Cafeteria restaurant.
    Change the name.

  12. AbeD says...

    Jeff
    The guys who started Outback made a fortune.
    I don’t eat there and nobody I knows eats there because every damn thing is over salted.
    Apparently there are people who like the seasoning because the chain is huge.
    There has to be something wrong with their taste buds.
    All I say is if you say PDQ’s ff are salty, then they are salty. What’s the freaking big deal to serve them unseasoned and let the customer decide what to do with them?

  13. aSZ says...

    Saw the PDQ sign this morning.
    Really great looking place from the outside.
    The name needs some work.

  14. Ralphie says...

    Read yelp
    A number of comments on how salty the fries are.

  15. Laura N (WPB) says...

    Jeff, ate in the wpb store yesterday.
    It’s a great looking restaurant.
    It must have cost a small fortune to build.
    The open kitchen look is a fabulous idea.
    Personally I don’t see the need for all the tvs but no big deal.
    I had the tenders and French fries.
    I really enjoyed them but if I could I would make the fries a drop thicker. You are right a drop too much salt.
    I had a fresh lemonade which I saw them squeeze right at the counter. It was very good and very refreshing.
    I also saw the new Coke machines which allow all kinds of combinations.
    Very interesting device.
    I will definitely be back for another meal.

  16. DDF says...

    Tried the new store.
    Fried chicken sandwich was excellent.
    FF were over salted and soggy.
    Vanilla shake was too sweet and too thick. The straw they give you was virtually useless. They should give you a straw/spoon combo.
    Store looks nice.

  17. Donny Hahn says...

    was there opening day for lunch.
    I liked the look of the place and food was good.
    It’s not in Chik fil A’s league but it’s good.

  18. Xman3405 says...

    Jeff,
    PDQ is awesome.
    Ive eaten in Oakland Park and in WPB.
    The food is very good.
    Keep in mind that it is a fast food restaurant.
    Fresh, hot and tasty.

  19. BGT says...

    To the owners of PDQ:

    Your fries have too much salt on them and your shakes are too sweet. The rest of your food is killer.

  20. if these guys don’t know that no normal person can handle the salt poured on at outback I wonder if they’ll know here?

  21. Redmond says...

    Jeff Eats:
    For a fast food joint it was a breath of fresh air.
    The WPB store is great looking. That open kitchen makes the place.
    My husband and our two kids 11 &. 13 loved the vanilla and chocolate shakes as well as the ff. The tenders and grilled chicken salad were excellent. I got a kick out of the Coke machine and all of the flavors it can make. We will definitely be back.

  22. ZippyGames says...

    I wouldn’t set foot in an Outback if you gave me the food for nothing.

  23. KNT says...

    If anyone at PDQ is listening, fries are salty.
    Rest of the food is super.
    KNT

  24. 09LKT says...

    Loved the food. WPB phenomenal looking.
    Going to be huge all over USA>

  25. ED OWEN says...

    PDQ is going to be huge.
    Food is better than Chik fil A and you can get it on Sundays.

  26. DonutJoe says...

    WPB is a great looking restaurant. It is very deceptive looking from the road because the PDQ signage isn’t clear what the store is all about. PDQ isn’t a good name.

  27. Alan Berger says...

    Jeff,
    Just so you know ate in Ft Laud and really liked everything except the fries. Too thin cut and too salted.

  28. Larry Finerman says...

    Really liked the new store in WPB. Good vanilla shake. Fries were good and the chicken tenders were just right.
    Great concept and it should do well in WPB and around the country.

  29. Sid L. Turner says...

    Ate in Oakland Park store.
    Fried chicken sandwich was delicious. Fries were too salty.

  30. Jeff In Boca says...

    terrific concept. hear one is coming to boca in 2014.

  31. ARTIE C. says...

    Ate in Oakland Park loc.
    Great fried chicken sandwich and ff.
    Love the fresh lemonade.

  32. FASTJOE says...

    Jeff
    They spent too much building things.
    They could be in big trouble.

  33. Tommy Tremble says...

    Such a simple concept doesn’t require such oversized restaurants.

    • DCE says...

      love the openess. food is terrific.

  34. MKJ says...

    new store is opening in pompano tomorrow. it is right in front of muvico in pompano.
    they had an open house today and i tried chicken sandwich, ff, lemonade, vanilla shake.
    first time in a pdq and the food was excellent.
    the restauarnt is huge and bright and beautifully layed out.
    runs circles around chick fila and it’s open o sunday.

  35. DandyJoe says...

    First time at PDQ. tried the Pompano store. really liked the chicken sandwich and ff.
    Great looking store.

  36. LinkyLynn says...

    Great concept. Ate in new Pompano location yesterday. Food is terrific.

  37. JoeJohnson says...

    This was a really good fine. Good food and very reasonable prices. especially like its chocolate shake.

  38. Linda Greene says...

    Jeff, My husband and I recently had lunch in the new Wellington restaurant. We both thought that the food was very good and the décor and ambiance terrific. Love the entire concept and think that this will be huge all over the country. By the way this was our first visit to a PDQ.

  39. gbg says...

    everything is delicious.

  40. Brad says...

    Hi Jeffeats,

    My name is Brad Larino and I work in the PR and Marketing department for the PDQ restaurant brand (www.eatPDQ.com). For the second year in a row, PDQ is running a special Super Bowl party catering deal. Please keep us in mind if you write an article on local Super Bowl deals. All PDQ locations, including those in South Florida, will be participating in this offer. Please see below and attached for the details.

    Here are the details:

    Back by popular demand, PDQ offers a Super Deal for Super Sunday. Buy 25 or more of our famous chicken tenders and we’ll double the order for free. Offer valid ONLY on Sunday, February 2. We strongly encourage call ahead orders. Visit eatPDQ.com/locations for the restaurant near you.

    Thanks.

    Brad

    If you have any questions, feel free to email me or our Chief Marketing and PR Officer Jeff Kamis at 813-784-3642 or jkamis@eatPDQ.com

  41. TAQ54 says...

    PDQ runs circles around Chik.

  42. I have to been the Oakland park location a number of times. Delicious food and the restaurant is great looking. Runs circles around Chik fil A and it’s open on Sundays.

  43. Leon H says...

    Food is very good.
    Love the fresh lemonade.

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