The long-awaited Raising Cane’s is open, and Chapel Hill High School students have been rushing to try the newest restaurant on Franklin Street.
Construction began in April 2022 and finished in time for the November 7 morning grand opening, though customers started lining up at 6:30 p.m. the evening before in anticipation.
Assistant restaurant leader Annie Backhaus said a few thousand people were served on opening day. These numbers continued to grow as the week went on, as lines stretched out the doors for weeks.
Junior Gina Barberio was among the numerous people who visited opening day. She described the food as “fire,” a phrase used to express something delightful. She also noted that she would go back, which she did, returning twice more that week.
Junior Avery Poe also went on opening day and explained that he would return since he “got a lot of food for pretty cheap.”
Senior Matthew Bland, who also patronized the eatery on opening day, said the food was good but “overhyped.”
“The chicken was perfectly crispy and warm with the sauce, and the bread was really good,” Bland said. “The fries weren’t anything special, [and neither was] the coleslaw.”
Senior Sarah Zwaryczuk, another opening day attendee, noted that the food was “comparable to Chick-Fil-A,” which is a positive comparison for her. She also explained that the interior is “very on-brand for UNC.”
Each Raising Cane’s has its own unique name, with the Chapel Hill location christened “Dream Hill.” Jeremy Strayhorn is a “restaurant leader” of the franchise location and encouraged patrons to “dream as much as [they] want” in a speech at the opening ceremony.
The fast food restaurant is particularly known for its chicken tenders and its signature sauce. The franchise also offers crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, Texas toast, chicken sandwiches, and a variety of drink options.
“The 3 Finger Combo” includes three chicken fingers, french fries, one Cane’s sauce, Texas toast, and a drink for $8.99. A kids’ combo with two chicken fingers, french fries, one Cane’s sauce and a drink runs $5.99.
Many other students have visited the franchise since opening day. Senior Connor Goldstein described the restaurant as “kind of underwhelming,” but noted that he plans to return. Junior Mattheus Hobler thought more highly of Raising Cane’s, saying that it “definitely lived up to the hype.”
Junior Sully Springer has also visited the eatery since its opening. Springer was “skeptical, but my doubts were proven wrong. It is really good fried chicken.” He noted that the portion sizes were good, and he plans to return “when the crowd dies down.”
The franchise—which filled the space previously occupied by the restaurant Lula’s—is located at the intersection of Franklin and Columbia streets in downtown Chapel Hill and is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to midnight. The location stays open until one a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
