PDQ, which stands for People Dedicated to Quality, is a fast, casual eat in or drive-thru restaurant with locations mainly in the southeastern part of the United States. The company is committed to its mission and values of high quality food and superior customer service. All restaurants are clean and comfortable.

All PDQ restaurants play an active role in their communities with a number of ventures. One of the most notable is the Million Thanks Partnership which is held at each location on the first Monday of each month. On these days, each guest is invited to design and send personalized thank you cards to US troops serving in various parts of the world.

HISTORY

The first PDQ restaurant was opened in Tampa, Florida in October 2011. It was conceived by Bob Basham, a co-owner of Outback Steakhouses, and Nick Reader, a former MVP CEO. They worked for two years to take the fast food chicken restaurant to a much higher level by blending quick efficiency with outstanding service.

The initial name of the restaurant “Pretty Darn Quick” was changed as soon as the founding team realized that they wanted their restaurant to be so much more. They recommitted to their original founding principles, focusing on stocking only the freshest ingredients, made-to-order items, and the best hospitality. The restaurants were originally compared to In-N-Out Burgers which made the owners happy but a few twists make PDQs stand out from the crowd.

Everything on the menu at PDQ is made-to-order and not prepared in advance. Since everything is fresh, there are no freezers. There are no intercoms at the drive thru window but rather a server personally takes your order. As a matter of fact, that service window has been coined the “Hospitality Hut” and has proven to be much more accurate than the typical electronic systems.

Another unique feature is the open kitchen. You get a birds eye view of the restaurant’s operation and can watch your food being prepared especially for you. As of March 2016, there are 54 PDQ restaurants in eight states with ten additional restaurants planned to open before 2020. At last report, each store averages about $3 million in annual sales.

REVIEW

In 2014 the Restaurant Business Magazine ranked PDQ as the #1 fastest growing small chain in America. That same year the Nation’s Restaurant News made PDQ the Hot Concepts Recipient. PDQs specialize in hand-battered chicken tenders, made-to-order chicken and turkey sandwiches, hand cut fries, fresh salads, and hand spun shakes. Even with growth the company has never waivered from their commitment to the finest and freshest quality ingredients.

The chicken tenders are the menu headliner but the sandwiches are a close second. The take outs are wrapped and placed in a box so that they remain warm and in tact until you eat them. One of the most popular sandwiches is the Cali Club which is a grilled chicken breast on a brioche bun, with ranch dressing, bacon, lettuce, and tomato. The fries are hand cut from fresh potatoes and par-baked before frying to make them extra crispy.

PDQs also make their own dressings and sauces. These seven special blends are bleu cheese, buffalo bleu, creamy garlic, chipotle barbecue, honey mustard, ranch, and sweet heat. The shakes are hand spun and the lemonade is fresh squeezed. Most menu items are priced under $7 and you can purchase most combos (sandwich or salad with a drink) for under $8. All these menu items are also available on the catering menu.

PDQs are now located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, and even New Jersey and Nevada. All have the same easy ambience and take pride in making sure all customers leave happy. This franchise continues to grow and the future continues to look bright.