My First Chick-fil-A

I've known about the existence of Chick-fil-A since I was a tween. As a homeschooled kid who socialized on online platforms with other homeschooled kids all around the world, I had my share of American friends who absolutely adored the brand.

I knew about it, though I never thought much about knowing about it.

Then, as a thirty-one-year-old adult, I walked down the 46th Street in New York City with my husband on a temperate early autumn day, and we both spotted the cute red font smiling at us at the corner of 6th Avenue.

We were both eager to try it.

But what struck me, even before we had a single bite of a single order, was that here stood a fast food restaurant we both knew about - but for reasons far beyond food.

We knew the company closes its stores on Sunday.

We knew the company did extensive philanthropy.

I knew all my college friends, before our campus finally earned its own branch, missed the chain dearly while they slurped down food in our cafeteria.

And here I was, a Chick-fil-A newbie, walking into the cheerful corner store hand in hand with my husband.

We took our time ordering, and we had to keep asking the very patient Chick-fil-A employee what she recommended. Then, ten minutes later, we slid on the high stools by the window, and ate our first bites of the famed Chick-fil-A.

And the food was amazing.

How is this restaurant not known for its food?

The chicken sandwich, the chicken nuggets, the sauces - everything about the food left a deep impression of happiness, and we made sure to squeeze in at least one more meal there before we had to leave New York.

But what impressed us even more was the people.

Despite all the gloom, the smoke, and the angry people walking outside in the urban jungle that was midtown Manhattan, everything inside the store was bright and happy.
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"Have a great day!"

"My pleasure."

"Have a good one."

"Do you need a refill?"

"How can I help you?"

Every word said to us brimmed with graciousness. The manager handed out completed food orders with a bright, amiable smile on his face. When we waited longer than others did for our order, they threw in a free sandwich for us with a dozen apologies that we never even asked for.

The food was great - underrated great.

But it's rare for the atmosphere of a fast food chain to surpass the actual food it served.

This was a company that prided itself in its Christian roots, and it was so humbling to witness how those roots reflect themselves in every branch and every leaf, every bite and every word.

It was an honor to try our first taste of Chick-fil-A.

If we had our way, it would definitely not be the last.