Wendy's Tuscan Chicken on Ciabatta sandwich features a crispy-fried Homestyle chicken filet, tomato, a slice of Asiago cheese, garlic aioli mixed with roasted tomatoes, and spring mix on a toasted ciabatta bun.
I used a "buy one, get one" coupon and ended up getting a regular Homestyle version as well as one with a grilled chicken filet (it can also be custom ordered with the spicy chicken filet). The price was actually lower than the suggested price ($4.69) at
$4.49 before the coupon.
This is pretty much the unofficial chicken follow-up of the
Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger offered earlier this year. The only difference beyond the chicken is the lack of bacon (boooo!) and the roasted tomatoes and aioli are mixed together rather than separate.
I tried the grilled version first and the chicken wasn't dry but it was a bit chewy. There was an herbed flavor to the chicken over the crispy-fried version. The crispy-fried "Homestyle" chicken filet was more tender and sported a crispy shell that held up well in the sandwich. It didn't have as much flavor but the sandwich provides plenty. Between the two, I prefer the crispy-fried version for the better quality and texture.
The spring greens offered a good deal more flavor and variety than your standard iceberg or leaf lettuce but definitely make the sandwich a "dine-in" type deal unless you don't mind wilted greens.
The Asiago cheese was melted well and stood out in comparison with most fast food cheese with its distinct nutty flavor, which provided a nice accent at the end of most bites.
The ciabatta bun was lackluster for me. It's a bread that deserves a quick toasting just before making a sandwich for a bit of that fresh-baked flavor and so far all I've gotten is a lukewarm bun that had been toasted a while ago and tasted like it was straight from the bag.
The aioli had a strong garlic taste to go with the typical mayo experience and a tomato-y tang that gave it a bit of a Thousand Island-vibe. I enjoyed it but I preferred the separation of the tomatoes and the aioli in the cheeseburger version; there, the distinct flavors were more enjoyable and I particularly liked the roasted diced tomatoes.
Overall, Wendy's Tuscan Chicken on Ciabatta Sandwich makes for a good sandwich that doesn't get overly busy. The bun was particularly disappointing due to the lack of a decent toasting, which leaves my main problem with the sandwich as one of execution rather than with any of the actual ingredients. I also think the ingredients just work better with the bacon and hamburger patty of the Ciabatta Bacon Cheeseburger, but then again, everything is better with bacon.
Nutritional Info - Wendy's Tuscan Chicken on Ciabatta
Calories - 570 (from Fat - 240)
Fat - 27g (Saturated Fat - 7g)
Sodium - 1530mg
Carbs - 53g (Sugar - 4g)
Protein - 31g
The grilled chicken version isn't listed on their site.
