Look for two new concepts to open in the greater Orlando area, one of them PDQ. No, really, that’s the name, PDQ. But it doesn’t mean what you think it means. In this case the initials stand for People Dedicated to Quality. It’s a concept from MVP Restaurant Partners out of the Tampa Bay area. MVP is comprised of folks from the Bloomin’ Brands (Outback Steakhouses, et. al.), including Bob Basham and Chris Sullivan. (There are also ties to Carmel Cafe, which opened last year in Winter Park.)

There are currently approximately 21 PDQs, mostly in Florida but also in other Southeastern states and Texas. It was described to me as “better version of Chick Fil-A,” which I assume means it has cow mascots that can spell better. Chicken tenders are the forte, but they are never frozen — no freezers within the stores — and they are breaded in front of the customer when ordered.

I know — PDQ, MVP, you’re thinking WTF. Well, WTF is the other concept that will be coming this way. But instead of an expletive-ending blurt, WTF means Wow That’s Fresh. MVP has yet to open its first WTF, but it will likely debut in Brandon soon with another west coaster to follow. An Orlando WTF won’t open until early 2015, I’m told. The concept is also fast casual but will focus on burgers, dogs and pizzas. The restaurants will boast 1000-degree ovens that can cook a pizza in one minute — order it at the drive through kiosk and it will be ready for you by the time you pull around and pay for it.

The company is looking for spaces in the Winter Park/Maitland area for the first PDQ, which could open in the next few months if that space in found.

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