Tookie’s a tease…But i’ll wait for you!

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love — maybe i’m even addicted to – chicken salad. If I don’t have a fix at least once a week, I get cranky. My top 2 favorite chicken salads in town are at Village Deli and Tookie’s Grill. My friend Allison teased me with the idea of the delectable treat by inviting me to meet her at Village Deli for lunch, shortly before a meeting that I had to attend. Thanks, Al! As I result, I abandoned my laptop and ran outside to find something to fight the craving before heading into my meeting…Luckily, I remembered that there is a Tookie’s within the Shell Gas Station on Six Forks Rd. in Raleigh!

Tookie’s Grill originated from a restaurant at a gas station in North Raleigh. Don’t let the gas station fool you! They have items that you would typically find at a grill like hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled cheese, etc… but they they are famous for their chicken salad.

I rushed over, stomach growing, to learn that the deli is closed for renovations. I was in so much shock that I didn’t even think to ask how long…I just stood there in shock. Pouting (out loud) and sulked out the door. I won’t bore you with the details of what I found to fend my hunger off with, but it burned the roof of my mouth because I ate it so quickly.

Luckily last year, Tookie’s opened a full restaurant at Seaboard Station off of Peace Street in Raleigh. They have live music, beer and wine and homemade desserts. When Village Deli in Cameron Village was being renovated, last summer, I got my fix at Tookie’s II once a week. I can tell you that I will be visiting Tookie’s II or Village Deli tonight.

For those Tookie’s fans reading this you may not want to waste your precious gas money driving to Tookie’s I without calling to see if they are reopened first. If you have yet to try Tookie’s or Village Deli’s chicken salad, shame on you! You have an assignment…