While they’ve been delighting diners across the country since 1996, Raising Cane’s is a newcomer to the Naperville/Aurora area since opening the chicken fingers restaurant on April 25 at 698 S. Route 59, just south of New York Street near Fox Valley Mall.
“Naperville is an amazing community and we are extremely excited to be here,” said Anna Ball, the Chicago area marketing adviser for Raising Cane’s.
Ball said Raising Cane’s offers only the highest quality chicken finger meals — which is what makes them stand out among other restaurants — and their commitment to the community also causes people to take notice.
“Ever since he opened his first restaurant, (owner) Todd Graves has been giving back to the community,” Ball said. “It’s just something we do and it’s extremely important to us.”
Here’s the dish on this new local eatery.
What’s on the menu: Chicken fingers — fresh and never frozen — are the star of this show, and come with Cane’s famous dipping sauce, a tangy sauce with a little bit of spice that is made each day from a secret recipe only known by the general managers. Sides like Texas toast, coleslaw and crinkle-cut fries round out the menu.
About the owner: Todd Graves opened the first Raising Cane’s restaurant in Baton Rouge, La., in 1996. The eatery is named for Graves’ first dog, Raising Cane, a friendly yellow lab who would hang around the building site during renovation. There are now 322 locations across the U.S., including three in the Chicago area: Naperville, North Riverside and Oak Lawn.
Mission: Raising Cane’s vision is “to have locations all over the world and be known as the brand for quality chicken finger meals, a great crew, cool culture, and active community involvement.”
Decor: Raising Cane’s has a clean, eclectic interior that includes exposed brick, concrete floors and bright tiled walls. An easy-to-read menu board greets diners who place their order at the counter before finding a cozy booth or table to enjoy their food. There is plenty of Naperville memorabilia throughout — like sports jerseys and photos of local celebrities — which is typical of each Cane’s location and a reflection of their commitment to being part of the community.
Specialties: Since this is a chicken finger restaurant, of course it’s the premium chicken breast tenderloins that are marinated overnight and then hand-dipped and fried in a canola oil blend. You can get them in a basket (three, four or six tenders) or served on a Kaiser roll (three tenders) with lettuce and Cane’s sauce.
We’re different because: “Our chicken fingers are never frozen, always fresh, and that really sets us apart. They are hand- battered and then cooked to order,” Ball said.
Extras: Raising Cane’s has a convenient drive-thru for guests who prefer to eat it at home. Catering — or “tailgates” as they call it — is available for parties big and small. They also have a “Caniac” club card which comes with special perks and tracks members’ purchases.
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Price range: The three-finger combo is $6.96, and comes with fries, Texas toast and a drink. The box combo is the most popular, and includes four tenders, fries, Texas toast, coleslaw and a drink for $7.80. The kids’ meal is under $5, and includes two tenders, fries, drink and a prize. Tenders can be purchased individually for $1.29 or in a “Tailgate” pack like 25 for $32.99 or 50 for $54.99.
Logistics: Raising Cane’s is located at 698 S. Route 59 in Naperville, just across the street from Fox Valley Mall. They are open Sunday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-midnight. Call 630-778-0536 or go to www.raisingcanes.com.
Jane Donahue is a freelance writer for the Naperville Sun.