Wolf’s Den — Your Neighborhood Diner Is Focusing On What It Does Best!

By Gary Nager

 

The last time I wrote about Wolf’s Den restaurant owner Roger Wolf, I was telling you about the passing of Roger’s beloved wife Patty (“Patty Wolf – The Smile & Spirit Of Wolf’s Den – Remembered At Memorial,” March 16, 2013) from ovarian cancer.

Fast forward just seven short months and a lot has happened at Wolf’s Den, which Roger and I like to call “Wesley Chapel’s Neighborhood Diner,” located on S.R. 56, in front of Sam’s Club.

The man who was among the first U.S. troops to serve in Vietnam nearly 50 years ago (when he was just 17) has been looking for the best way to expand his hours and menu at one of our area’s most successful mom-and-pop eateries.

First, he looked at moving, because there simply wasn’t an adjacent space to his in his current plaza. But, when a deal to open directly across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from the new Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (in the spaces previously occupied by Baja Fresh and other now-closed eateries), Roger decided to expand his hours and his menu at his existing location and he also plans to one day get a beer and wine license.

In the meantime, Roger has greatly expanded his service area at Wolf’s Den by creating an attractive and well-covered patio area, perfect for the cooler weather heading our way soon. “We even welcome to bring their pets, if they want to dine outside here,” Roger says.

But, after about a month of being open for dinner every day, Roger decided to “go back to focusing on what we do best — serving the best breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch in the area at the best possible prices,” although Wolf’s Den is still staying open for dinner on Thursday and Friday (until 8 p.m.). It also is now open Saturday-Wednesday from 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

“Unfortunately, not enough people thought of coming here for dinner,” Roger says, “although people who did come really liked our new dinner entrées, so we are keeping those around. But now,” he laughs, “you can order them for lunch or even breakfast, if you like.”

My favorite dinner entrée at Wolf’s Den is still Roger’s uniquely crispy, but always juicy golden fried chicken, which I usually get with mashed potatoes and gravy and either fresh green beans or Roger’s homemade cole slaw, but I have enjoyed his veal parmesan, fried pork tenderloin and (even though I’m not the biggest BBQ fan), his new BBQ entrées, including BBQ brisket, pulled pork, chicken and the tantalizing ribs pictured at the top of this page and, of course, all of the fixins’ for your BBQ favorites, including some of the best baked beans I’ve had in this area.

Roger says that his liver & onions dinner and his Friday all-you-can-eat fish fry are also popular dinner choices.

Back To Breakfast Basics

I will admit, however, that my favorite meal at Wolf’s Den is still breakfast. I can get my eggs over easy, my hash browns and bacon extra crispy, deliciously creamy grits and even add extras like homemade waffles, French toast or fluffy, larger-than-plate-sized pancakes topped with steaming hot blueberries or other tasty toppings.

“And I know no one in this area can touch our prices for the quality and portion size of our breakfast,” Roger says, confidently. “This place is packed every morning for breakfast.”

I also have met a lot of people at Wolf’s Den who order their favorite breakfast items for lunch during the week, too, and of course, there can be lines on Saturdays and especially on Sundays for brunch, but Roger’s professional staff always makes sure you get in and out as quickly as possible.

For lunch, in addition to the aforementioned dinner entrées, Wolf’s Den is a great place for delicious, overstuffed sandwiches — including juicy burgers, open-faced roast beef sandwiches with gravy, an excellent corned beef Reuben, aptly-named Patty melt, huge triple-decker turkey club and so many more, I can’t name them all. On my most recent lunch visit, I really enjoyed Wolf’s Den’s tasty turkey burger and extra crispy waffle fries that are better than you’ll find anywhere (straight fries available, too).

 Pizza, Anyone?

Although Wolf’s Den isn’t a “pizza place,” I have to admit that I’m impressed with Roger’s pizza. Although I normally prefer my pizza New York-style, with a crisp, thin crust, at Wolf’s Den, I actually prefer the still-crisp and hearty, thick-crust pizzas at Wolf’s Den.

“We also can create a take-and-bake pizza with any toppings you like,” Roger says. “You take it home, pop it in the oven, and in 20 or 30 minutes, you have a delicious, fresh pizza that’s better than anything you’ll find at a grocery store.”

And, with the coupons you’ll find in Wolf’s Den’s ad on page 56 of this issue, you can save $1.50 on any small or medium pizza, or $2 off a large. Or, save 10% off of your breakfast, lunch or dinner, or $5 off any order of $25 or more.

For additional information, visit Wolf’s Den in the Seven Oaks plaza at 27607 S.R. 56, call 907-9124 or visit WolfsDenRestaurant.com.