The community of Fresno swarmed to the brand new Chick-fil-A restaurant located on Blackstone, which opened Sept. 18. Cars filled the parking lot and took all of the space provided. The drive-through line almost never consisted of fewer than 20 cars. This made me wonder if the new chicken-themed restaurant would live up to the hype.

For devoted fans, camping out overnight to be first in line not only proved to be worth the wait because of the desired food, but also to be the first to experience the new Fresno food craze.

Every meal I tasted on my first visit seemed rather healthy, which put a new spin on fast food chains. Chick-fil-A’s goal is to provide quick and healthy service that promotes a good lifestyle. They pay careful attention to the chicken in order to ensure that it preserves its freshness.

In 1946, Truett Cathy opened his first restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia, called the Dwarf House. From there he founded Chick-fil-A which now maintains over 1,400 locations across the country. The restaurant is open six days a week and closed on Sundays due to the owners’ decision, influenced by their Christian faith.

Chick-fil-A provides efficient amiable service to the families of the community. The casual atmosphere allows for a relaxed and simple afternoon lunch or dinner. The small play area in the back of the restaurant encourages customers to bring their children.

My family and I entered the restaurant and sat down at a table near the center of the room. Within the first five minutes, an employee approached us and offered free samples of vanilla soft-serve ice cream. It tasted like any average soft-serve ice cream, but tasted refreshing in the late afternoon. Another employee drifted around the room asking customers whether they enjoyed their food. This showed that service plays a prime factor in the business.

Once we decided on what to order, my dad walked up to the counter to purchase the food. In about three minutes our food was ready. We decided on various meals in order to grasp the different options.

My uncle ordered the spicy chicken cool wrap while my dad chose the chick-n-strips. The colorful cool wrap, rolled in multigrain flatbread and filled with green leaf lettuce, red cabbage, tomato, monterey cheese, cheddar cheese, spicy sauce and grilled chicken breast, provided a healthy meal for a reasonable price. The chick-n-strips, hand-breaded and marinated in special seasonings, looked a little greasy but had a good flavor and a fresh taste.

I ordered the chargrilled chicken sandwich, which included boneless chicken breast marinated in special seasonings, dill pickles, green leaf lettuce and tomatoes served between a wheat bun. The chicken was very appetizing with just the right amount of seasonings. Every meal seemed quite healthy which puts a new spin on fast food chains.

While Chick-fil-A seems popular throughout the community and across the country, it was not particularly my favorite. The food tasted good and the atmosphere was inviting, but to me it was just another fast food restaurant. However, I liked the fact that it promotes a healthy lifestyle and eating habits. The meal total came out as $24.51 for three meals and two drinks.

For more restaurant reviews, visit Trent Souza’s Nov. 4 article, Daily Grill dishes class.