A Review of The Wolf's Den Restaurant in Wesley Chapel, Florida
Visit the Wolf or Invite This Wolf to Your Own Door
In Wesley Chapel's Seven Oaks Plaza a small gastronomic miracle has occurred that will please locals and visitors alike - an independent, owner-run restaurant in the tradition of the diners in Long Island and New Jersey and (who knew?) Wisconsin. The owners closed their Wisconsin restaurants and moved to Seven Oaks a year ago. When a bagel-themed chain franchise in Seven Oaks plaza closed several months ago, the Wolf's Den opened quietly and has been growing its grateful clientele ever since.
Without so much as a grand-opening marketing push (at this writing, 8/3/08), neighborhood word-of-mouth has lured herds of the hungry into this den of dining delights. With its motto of "family meals at a fair price," the Wolf's Den is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It serves breakfast all day - beginning at 6:00 AM, with "commuter express" to-go breakfasts priced at $2.00-2.50. By the end of August, the Wolf's Den will be open 24/7.
The owner's experience shows in the quality of both the food and the service. The wait staff is experienced and attentive without being intrusive. The food is fresh and tasty, with reliably filling and familiar fare plus a few surprises. Potato pancakes "like Bubbie used to make" (offered with your choice of apple sauce or sour cream) sizzle at you on the breakfast menu. For lunch, amid a wide variety of standard salads, soups and sandwiches, you may be intrigued by the Tuna BLT Salad (with bacon, a hard-boiled egg and pineapple ring, plus a homemade muffin). The dinner menu will never bore you (although they do serve only Boar's Head on the lunch sandwiches). Your appetizer can be calamari, your "basket" meal can be the usual chicken tenders ... or deep fried cod. And for your full dinner, you can enjoy the comfort-food meatloaf, go Italian with veal Parmesan and spaghetti, or indulge your Southern USA roots with fried chicken - including all the sides you would expect.
The kids have a listing of their own usual favorites, and for the kid (or Jersey Boy) in all of us, pizzas in any combination of toppings you can dream up. Not that you have to eat the pizza there - you can get "take and bake" or the Wolf can deliver.
It's a diner, so there's dessert. Pie, of course, and ice cream. If you're feeling nostalgic for the local strawberry festival, there's strawberry shortcake with ... wait for it ... your CHOICE of biscuit or pound cake.
Enjoy diner-style comfort at the Wolf's Den at 27607 State Road 56 (next to SunTrust bank at the entrance to Seven Oaks, just east of Sam's club). You can also order meals for carry-out or delivery by calling (813) 907-9124 or faxing (813) 907-9713. This local writer just keeps going back for more!
Published by Trude Diamond
Trude Katherine Diamond has been around and never been square. Laughs through, and often at, most of it. Trude addresses the joys and irritants of societal issues, makes people think beyond their comfort zon... View profile
- Spiderman & Friends Computer Game ReviewChildren's educational software review of Marvel's Spiderman and Friends.
Service Review: The Geek SquadMy husband and I discussed who to contract to take care of the installation of my wireless Internet. We decided to give the Geek Squad a try. What follows is a review of the se...
Product Review of the Behringer Ultracoustic ACX1000 Acoustic AmpNot bad. Not bad at all. Price was right and it gives me more than I need. The pros and cons of the Behringer Ultracoustic ACX1000 Acoustic Amp are described in the followin...
Product Review of the Behringer FCB1010 MIDI Foot ControllerThese days with the popularity of Digital effects and MIDI implementation, a MIDI Controller is essential for the performing keyboardist or guitarist. Below is my review of the...
"Olive Garden" is Still an Excellent Italian RestaurantThis article reviews the restaurant "Olive Garden."
- Good Reasons to Retire in Florida
- Review of Brothers in Arms - Earned in Blood on PS2
- Reader Rabbit Dreamship Tales Review
- Mickey Mouse Computer Game Review
- Rugrats Go Wild Computer Game Review
- Winnie the Pooh Computer Game Review
- Tonka Firefighter Review
5 Comments
Post a CommentI've been away from the area since writing the original review of The Wolf's Den but recently returned. Apparently it was trying harder in its early days. I recently tried a breakfast and dinner -- neither food nor service were up to previous standards. However, if you want a great bagel breakfast or healthy wrap and/or smoothie for lunch, do try Big Apple Bagels at the west end of Canoe Commons (a small strip mall) on the south side of Route 54 less than 1 mile west of the light at Oak Grove Boulevard.
Was not impressed. We had to ask for silverware. The waitress offered to serve the soup prior to the meal, but it arrived with the meal. The steak was tough and they filled the plate with potato chips. Over priced for the portions.
The Wolf's Den Diner is for people who don't care about what they put in their mouth. It's just gross! The food is soaked in fat, oil, grease, and butter. And with all of those "killer" ingredients, one would think the food would taste great. Thats FAR from the case. I will NEVER step foot into this place again. Yes, the service is also lousy. Not a place I want to spend my hard earned dollars...
I've occasionally had spotty service when no experienced waitstaff was on duty to guide the newbies. Maybe try them for a weekend breakfast or brunch. The waitstaff then is usually very experienced.
We tried the place for the first time and I must say we were not real impressed. Food was pretty good but the service was lousy. No refills on our beverage, bread was left off our dinner etc. Most likely will not go again.