Award-winning PDQ (People Dedicated to Quality) is bringing its famous chicken to Long Island this summer, with plans to open the first New York restaurant in Farmingdale at 1004 Broadhollow Road.

PDQ always uses fresh, never frozen chicken and features its signature homemade sauces and dressings. PDQ in Farmingdale will offer the company’s chef-inspired bowls, seasonal premium sandwiches and unique sides, in addition to classics like PDQ’s famous hand-breaded chicken tenders, made-to-order sandwiches, delicious fresh salads, and hand-spun milkshakes. PDQ offers chef-driven recipes and mindful ingredients typically found in a fine casual restaurant with the value, speed and convenience of the fast food and fast casual segment.

Dean Poll and Thomas J. Fanning, Sr. will head up the local group in charge of PDQ’s entrance into the market. Poll, born and raised on Long Island, comes from a long line of famous restauranteurs, including his father, James Poll. James owned the memorable Pappas restaurant in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, while Dean and his brothers purchased Manero’s in Roslyn, which they transformed into what is now known as Bryant & Cooper. Dean also owns the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park and the legendary Gallagher’s Steakhouse on 52nd and Broadway. Poll has been active in the community, serving as a board member for the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) and an Executive Committee and Board of Trustee member for the Boys’ Club of New York (BCNY).

The successful career for Fanning, Sr. began as proprietor of The Pig & Whistle restaurant on Long Island. He then pursued a career utilizing his management experience, becoming one of the top estate and strategic business planners for CIGNA’s I.F.D. division. Fanning, Sr. then partnered with two former colleagues to open Arnone, Lowth and Fanning, which became one of the top five life insurance brokerages in the country. Fanning, Sr. now serves as Managing Member and Owner of Heritage Strategies, LLC. In addition, he has leveraged his business expertise to become a venture capitalist and real estate investor in groups such as Gold Coast Bank, Vesta Rincon, LLC, ROAR, BFF Holdings and others. Fanning, Sr. has been recognized for his community involvement and serves as Vice Chairman of the St. Francis Foundation, Chairman’s Committee for SCO Family of Services (SCO) and Chairman of the Fairfield University Dolan School of Business at his alma mater.

“We are thrilled to partner with two veteran business leaders in Dean and Tom, and introduce our PDQ brand to New York,” said PDQ Co-Founder and Principal Owner Bob Basham. “Dean and Tom have a long history of proven results in people-oriented businesses, and their insight and expertise will be critical as we enter New York for the first time.”

The Farmingdale location will be operated by Ryan Basham, son of PDQ Co-Founder and Outback Steakhouse Co-Founder Bob Basham. Basham has had an illustrious career in the restaurant industry, founding Outback with Tim Gannon, Chris Sullivan and Trudy Cooper in Tampa in March of 1988. Since that time, more than 1,500 restaurants have opened under the brand, including Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s, Roy’s, Cheeseburger in Paradise and Outback International.

Basham, along with PDQ CEO and Co-Founder Nick Reader, are the two principal owners of PDQ and the partners spent more than two years developing the concept behind the brand and the quality of the food and establishments. Prior to his current position Reader was the CEO of MVP Holdings, a private investment firm. In addition, Reader served as CFO of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the youngest at the time in the National Football League.

PDQ’s first New York restaurant will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, including dine-in, to-go and drive-thru options, as well as catering for any function. For more information on PDQ restaurants, visit EatPDQ.com or follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

About PDQ

Founded in 2011, award-winning PDQ - short for "People Dedicated to Quality” - offers chef-driven recipes and mindful ingredients typically found in a fine casual restaurant with the value, speed and convenience of the fast food and fast casual segment. Outback Steakhouse co-founder Bob Basham and MVP Holdings CEO Nick Reader are the two principal owners of PDQ. The partners spent more than two years developing the concept behind the brand, focused on quality of the food and people. Beloved throughout the Southeast and now beyond for its hand-breaded chicken tenders, PDQ crafts delicious salads, sandwiches, bowls and hand-spun milkshakes fresh in store, every day. PDQ is committed to creating deep roots in its local communities and has given nearly $6 million in dollars and in-kind donations to local charities, schools, and organizations since its inception. On October 30, 2011, the original PDQ restaurant opened its doors in Tampa (FL) and the concept now has more than 60 locations throughout Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. For more information, visit www.eatPDQ.com.