There’s something charmingly nostalgic about walking into Chicken Salad Chick in Estero, Florida. The pastel green walls, the dainty red flowers collected by the registers and the logo bring back memories of a simpler time.
Coming from someone who is not a Florida native, I’ve never seen one of these chain restaurants before. Some may not think too much of it, but it feels more like the set of a 2000s rom-com than a fast-casual restaurant. I expected to see Jane Nichols in a pencil skirt, balancing a to-go cup and a phone call about bridesmaids’ dresses, humming Natasha Bedingfield with wired earbuds.
Originally a small Southeastern chain, Chicken Salad Chick has quietly expanded beyond its roots since 2008, bringing a gentle feel of comfort food to college towns and northern suburbs. There’s something refreshingly unapologetic about a menu that circles around, literally, chicken salad: mayo, protein, crackers and maybe grapes if you’re feeling extra whimsical that day…