Category: New Tampa

By Gary Nager

It’s hard to believe it’s already been six months since the Ker’s WingHouse opened on S.R. 54 (just west of the corner of Old Pasco Rd.). Of course, the Wesley Chapel location is just one of more than 20 WingHouse restaurants in Florida, and the company itself has a 20-year history in the Tampa Bay area. Founded by former Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos offensive lineman Crawford Ker, the first WingHouse opened in Largo in 1994 and there are plans to open locations throughout the Southeast.

All WingHouse restaurants are open for lunch and dinner and feature full-service bars with a wide selection of liquor cocktails and major domestic, imported, and specialty beers. Signature items include Ker’s famous “Naked” Chicken Wings — skinless drummettes that are marinated, baked, and tossed in one of Ker’s award-winning wing sauces — and the Dallas Burger: two juicy 8 oz BBQ burgers topped with bacon.

All WingHouse locations also feature state-of-the-art TV packages for all of the big games and Pay-Per-View boxing matches and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fights.

But, of course, the main attraction at every WingHouse are the world-famous “WingHouse Girls.”

The girls are the foundation of Ker’s concept. These “ultimate girls next door” wait tables, tend bar, work as hostesses, participate in brand promotions and are the company’s cheerleaders — and the primary reason the Wesley Chapel and other locations are all so popular. Wesley Chapel general manager Tony Santos promises that his WingHouse girls are always attractive, polite and provide great service, positive attitudes and pretty smiles — all to encourage guests to make frequent visits and become loyal customers.

Every month or so, each WingHouse has certain days called “Dress to Impress,” where the girls wear special outfitts or costumes. The two most recent were the always-fun Halloween and Military days in October and November, respectively. The next “Dress to Impress” will feature the girls as “Santa’s Little Helpers” on Friday, December 20, and Tony promises that although the outfits can be a little more risqué at other locations, “We usually have the girls tone it down a little for this location, because we get so many families here.”

And, with so many beautiful young women working at all of the WingHouse locations, the company puts out an awesome yearly calendar (buy yours at the Wesley Chapel location), which for 2014 features two of your Wesley Chapel WingHouse girls — Alex (photo left) and Skyla.

But of course, this is still mainly a dining review and I’m definitely a fan of not only WingHouse’s aforementioned “naked” wings (I prefer the medium Buffalo-style, blackened and Asian versions), but also of the huge “Grouper’s Teammate” and mahi-mahi sandwiches, which I prefer grilled or blackened with a side of WingHouse’s perfectly spicy red cocktail sauce.

I also have enjoyed some of the WingHouse’s great daily lunch (served 11 a.m.-4 p.m.) specials, including Monday’s meatball sub, the hot ham & cheese sandwich on Thursday and fried fish & chips on Friday.

I’m also partial to the regular WingHouse burger, although there are some options that I’ve heard people rave about, including the mushroom Swiss burger. I also have had no problem devouring any of the four wrap sandwiches on WingHouse’s menu, although my favorite is the big Philly cheesesteak wrap. I’ve never sampled WingHouse’s Texas chili or chicken and sausage gumbo, but I do enjoy the zesty chicken tortilla soup. And, WingHouse’s salads are fresh, huge and share-able. There’s even a great kids menu and desserts like New York-style cheesecake, Key lime pie and ice cream.

For more info about the Wesley Chapel Ker’s WingHouse (5510 Post Oak Blvd.), call 428-7157, see the ad on page 30 for great coupon specials (including a buy-one-16-oz.-draft-beer-&-get-the-second-one-free and a buy-six- lunches-get-the-seventh-lunch-free special) or visit WingHouse.com. And, please tell Tony and the girls we sent you.