When my sister, Johanna, comes in town from her native Houston, one of the first things she does is make a bee-line to Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. She’ll bring a big bag home and it doesn’t last long. I have to admit; Cane’s Chicken is awfully good.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers was founded in Baton Rouge, LA by Todd Graves and Craig Silvey in 1996.
Todd Graves had always dreamed of opening his own restaurant. His eventual partner, Craig Silvey, wrote a business plan while at LSU. Silvey got a B- on the paper, but an A+ in real life. They took out an SBA loan, opened a restaurant and by 2008, the chain had grown to over 50 locations.
Cane’s is not cheap. A meal for 4 can cost $30 or more. That’s because everybody eats lots of Chicken Fingers. Their special Cane’s Sauce is also fantastic. I believe I eat the chicken because of the sauce, not the other way around.
Cane’s Sauce is made with a secret blend of seasonings and spices and made fresh every day in each store. Only managers at Cane’s have access to the recipe and they are held to a confidentiality agreement regarding any details of the sauce. When I go to Cane’s I order and pay for extra sauce. It is dynamite on avocado and many other dishes.
Cane’s does not offer an extensive menu. Basically, four combos: “The Box Combo,” “The 3-Finger Combo,” “The Caniac Combo” and “The Sandwich Combo.” They offer a Kid’s meal and do a lot Tailgates – quantity orders of between 25 and 100 Chicken Fingers.
Their service is pretty quick through their drive-thru windows, though sometimes you have to wait a spell on a busy night. If you’re in a hurry, you can call ahead at 434-293-4331.
In Charlottesville, Cane’s is located at 1805 Emmet St., not the easiest place to get in and out of, but as good as the Chicken Fingers are, it’s worth the bother.