Tag: culver’s

NT/WC’s Favorite Pizza & Burger Places

When it comes to pizza in our area, we have a lot of great options from which to choose, but it’s hard to argue with the readers’ selection of 900º Woodfired Pizza in the Shops at Wiregrass as their favorite in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel for both 2019 and 2020.

There’s also no doubt that 900º Woodfired owner Steve Falabella (2nd from left in photo) is one of the most beloved restaurant owners in Wesley Chapel. But, the fact that his place serves both authentic wood-fired Neapolitan style, as well as legit New York-style pizza continues to keep 900º Woodfired Pizza among our readers’ favorites (and ours!).

We’re partial to 900º Woodfired’s square, thin-crust Sicilian-style and unique Grandma’s pizza, as well as many of its tasty pasta dishes.

2 — Pizza Mania is the pizza place that has been open the longest in Wesley Chapel, and it’s always been a top favorite of our readers at its location in the Shoppes of New Tampa at Wesley Chapel for its NY/New Jersey-style pizza and Italian fare.

3 — Amici’s Pizza won this category in 2018 and finished second last year, and it continues to be a top-three favorite of our readers — and for good reason. It features true NY-style pizza and the best linguine & clams in The Chap.

4 — Via Italia was one of the best places to open in New Tampa in 2020 and while it’s more of a sit-down, authentic Italian “ristorante,” it does serve wood-fired Neapolitan, Roman, “Campione del Mondo” and other unique styles of pizza.

5 — NY NY Pizza repeats its finish as our readers’ fifth favorite pizza place in our distribution areas, another choice that’s hard to argue. We love it for its garlicky Grandma’s pizza, but try this mainly takeout place by the slice or by the pie.

The Next 10, in order of votes: Mellow Mushroom, Cappy’s, Marco’s, Best NY Pizza, Fratelli’s, Noble Crust, Little Italy’s, Capri, Pomodoro, MOD Pizza.

FAVORITE BURGER: BURGER 21

The Outlaw Burger and a Wild Blueberry shake.

A burger is often just a burger, and when cooked right, that can be enough.

But, at Burger 21 on BBD Blvd. in New Tampa, which opened its first location in 2010 with 21 menu items, a burger is rarely just a burger. It is, as the restaurant says, reinvented, which helps explain why it is this year’s readers’ choice for the best burger in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel.

Burger 21 offers a variety of different burgers, all served on brioche buns, ranging from beef to chicken to veggie and there’s even a seafood burger, featuring a spicy Thai shrimp patty.

The regular beef burgers come in double-stacked (the “OMG”), blackened or even BBQ-style.

You can even get your burger on a gluten-free bun, and the fries (including the sweet potato version) are a tasty side. The menu has salads for non-carnivores, and don’t leave without having one of Burger 21’s creamy, hand-spun shakes. — JCC

2 — Five Guys is the delicious bridge between fast-food and restaurant hamburgers and has been a fan favorite everywhere it’s opened, including locations in both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. And of course, the unique fries are addictive, too.

3 — Burger Monger received a recent makeover, so maybe that was part of the reason why it had its best-ever finish in our Reader Survey this year. Of course, its tasty burgers, hot dogs, shakes and new salads probably had something to do with it, too.

4 — Red Robin is another burger-oriented eatery which had its best finish in our Reader Survey this year. Red Robin features a large selection of “gourmet burgers and brews” and the bottomless fries are always a welcome treat (except for dieters).

5 — Culver’s is a cooked-to-order, fast-casual place that started in the Midwest but has continued to grow here in Florida with its delicious burgers and other sandwiches. The ultra-creamy frozen custard is really hard to resist, too.

The Next 6, in order of votes: Ford’s Garage, Glory Days, Bubba’s 33, Fat Rabbit, BJs Brewhouse, Mulligans.

Culver’s To Open In New Wiregrass Ranch Location Later This Month!

WHEN I think about fast food, I can eat an order of fries from that golden arch place or an occasional burger from that supposedly royal place or two pieces of fried chicken from the Colonel’s hangout.

But, that’s why I really don’t like to call Culver’s — the Midwestern tradition making major inroads here in Florida — “fast food.” Yes, they serve you quickly and yes, there is a drive-through, but Culver’s is actually perfectly priced, fresh food with plenty that I can enjoy…The fact Culver’s also is famous for its better-than-ice-cream frozen custard is just a bonus.

The other bonus is that Jannah and I live only a mile from franchise owners Ann and Marty Roeske’s location between Starbucks and Chick-fil-A on S.R. 56, in front of Costco, so you know I’m checking the specials board every day for my old and new favorite custard flavors.

But, Ann and Marty agree with me that Culver’s isn’t really “fast food.”

“It’s good food done fast,” Marty says. “Every item on our menu is fresh, served quickly and priced right, especially when you consider the quality.”

Ann and Marty are natives of Wisconsin, where the chain started with its original location in 1984. The Roeskes purchased one of the first 100 franchises there, sold it and moved to what they felt had to be an untapped market in Florida. Their Wesley Chapel/Lutz location was one of the first in the Sunshine State and there are now nearly 700 locations in the U.S. and nearly a dozen across the Tampa Bay area, including Ann and Marty’s second Culver’s — which is getting ready to open on Monday, December 31 (not a misprint), also on S.R. 56, in Wiregrass Ranch, just east of the Shops at Wiregrass, near Audi Wesley Chapel.

“The new location is even closer to where we live in Wesley Chapel,” Ann says. “We’re really excited about it. This is such a great area to live and work.” She adds that all Culver’s locations also will be open on New Year’s Day.

As For The Food…

Of course, Culver’s is famous for its Butterburgers, so called because of the butter grilled into the buns, and they are a cut above most any other burger in their price range. I also really enjoy the Midwestern-style fried pork tenderloin sandwich (delicious with pickles and melted Swiss), the chicken tenders and even the homemade soups, including the chicken noodle, chicken with wild rice and the clam chowder.

But, my favorite item on the menu to date is the beef pot roast, which you can get on a slightly gravy-soaked hamburger bun or as a meal with two sides.

The pot roast is similar to my Mom’s brisket recipe except for the gravy. But, the brown gravy is excellent (perfect for the mashed potatoes, too) and the pot roast itself is still fork tender, juicy and truly delicious. The crinkle cut fries are always hot and crispy and I even love the salads and lightly seasoned green beans with chopped onions. Fast food place, my bum!

One menu item that I personally don’t order but every Midwesterner in town is sure to love are Culver’s famous fried cheese curds.

“People really are crazy for the curds,” Marty says. “Anyone from Wisconsin, Minnesota or almost any Midwestern state will drive here just for them. They’re truly authentic.”

What’s For Dessert?

No one had to explain how good Culver’s frozen custard is to me. Every boardwalk in New York and New Jersey offered custard and I always liked it better than any soft serve, including my beloved Carvel. It has a higher fat content (surprise, surprise) than even most ultra-premium ice creams, and it’s so rich that even though I like to order a scoop with extra hot fudge, it becomes at least two or three decadent servings for me. The custard also is served in shakes and in Culver’s super-thick Concrete Mixers.

But, it’s the flavors of the day that keep me coming back for more. Any flavor with peanut butter, caramel, butterscotch and/or chocolate bars (Kit Kats, Snickers, etc.) already mixed in is a can’t-miss for this editor.

In other words, if you’re not already a Culver’s fan and you’re not craving any of the outstanding items described above, I suggest checking both your taste buds and your pulse!

For more info about our two local Culver’s, visit Culvers.com. The store in front of Costco is located at 2303 Sun Vista Dr. (33559) and can be reached by calling (813) 949-1414. The soon-to-open Wiregrass Culver’s is located at 28831 S.R. 56 (33543). And please tell Ann & Marty and their super-friendly crew that Gary at the Neighborhood News sent you!!!

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Culver’s Is So Delicious, You Probably Shouldn’t Call It ‘Fast Food!’

OK, SO WHEN YOU read the headline above, did you think to yourself, “Culver’s? I thought Gary doesn’t like fast food?”

And of course, you’d be correct. I’m not a chain restaurant guy, much less someone who eats any kind of fast food more than once a month (or less), so how is it that I’m about to rave about Culver’s, the 500+-unit, Wisconsin-based chain that has an extremely popular location right here off S.R. 56?

Because Culver’s really shouldn’t be called “fast food,” other than the fact that this growing chain, which has 45 locations in Florida, does usually deliver your food to your car or their comfortable indoor seating area within 5-7 minutes or so.

In fact, Culver’s of Wesley Chapel franchise owners Ann and Marty Roeske don’t refer to their second Culver’s (they also purchased one of the first 100 or so units of the chain in 2000 in Wautoma, WI, near where they lived,; that location is now operated by their children) as fast food at all.

“It’s cooked-to-order food that is served quickly,” says Marty. “The company is always finding new ways to cook the food faster, but will never sacrifice the quality that the families who love us have come to expect.”

Ann adds, “If a family from Wisconsin comes here to visit, if their sandwiches or cheese curds or frozen custard don’t taste exactly the same to them as they do where they’re from, we’re not doing our jobs.”

That’s why Craig and Lea Culver — who opened the first Culver’s in Sauk City, WI, in 1984 (along with their parents, George & Ruth) — insist that all Culver’s franchise owners have to be on-site, hands-on owner-operators who also must be properly trained to ensure that the quality that has made Culver’s famous in 22 states (and growing), especially throughout the Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions, as well as the Southeast, Texas and Arizona, always stays consistent.

More Than Just Burgers!

When I first heard Culver’s was opening in our area (the location on Nebraska Ave. at Bearss Ave. opened a year or so before the Wesley Chapel restaurant), I couldn’t figure out why so many Midwest transplants were so excited about it.

I was thinking, “OK, so it’s another burger place,” even though I’ll admit that I’m always excited about anyplace that serves authentic frozen custard — which is like your favorite ice cream, only creamier…sort of a delicious cross between soft-serve and “hard pack.”

But, while Culver’s “Butter Burgers” (no, they don’t make the burger with butter, it’s the bun that’s buttered, according to Marty) are delicious — they’re certainly better and fresher (Ann says Culver’s 100-percent Midwestern beef is never frozen) than most fast food burgers — I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Culver’s other sandwiches and menu items.

My favorite, for sure, is the beef pot roast sandwich, which seems to be the only “brisket” served in this area that isn’t barbecued/smoked. This premium chuck roast is as tender as my mom’s brisket, slow-braised in a classic blend of herbs and spices and is served in those juices on Culver’s signature bun (which absorbs them nicely). You can enjoy this tasty “sammy” with Culver’s horseradish or BBQ sauce, although it honestly doesn’t need any sauce at all.

I also really enjoyed trying Culver’s North Atlantic Cod fish sandwich and the chicken noodle soup (both shown in the photo, right), as well as the crispy chicken sandwich and tenders. I’ve never tried Culver’s grilled chicken sandwich, but I liked the flavor of the grilled chicken on the Garden Fresco salad and the sesame ginger dressing. I’m not the biggest chili lover, but “George’s Chili” is thick with meat and very tasty.

And of course, Culver’s recently added Wisconsin cheddar cheese dipping sauce and also is famous for its crispy, crinkle-cut fries. Plus, if you mention Culver’s crisp-outside, creamy-inside fried cheese curds to any former “Cheesehead,” they immediately start writing love sonnets set to music about them. Seriously.

All that having been said, the main reason I keep going back to Culver’s isn’t because of those items or the fact it’s a mile from where I live, it’s because of the frozen custard, a dessert I have enjoyed since the first time I visited the Boardwalk in Atlantic City in my teens. Every time I see Culver’s post a new flavor on their board on S.R. 56 mentioning Reese’s, Snickers, marshmallow or, say, the Oreo cheesecake custard on the previous page, I find myself detouring for a cup or cone, usually a cup and usually with Culver’s deep, delicious real hot fudge.

Just another fast food place? I think not!

Culver’s of Wesley Chapel is located at 2303 Sun Vista Dr., Lutz. For more info, including a great gift card special, see the ad on pg. 40, call (813) 949-1414 or visit Culvers.com. And, please tell Ann, Marty and their always-friendly, happy and courteous staff that the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News sent you!

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Racetrac close, Culver’s coming

Buying food from a gas station used to be unthinkable. But, the days of stopping in to your local convenience store for a shriveled up hot dog or to stick a frozen burrito in a microwave are over.

You can count Racetrac, including the new one getting ready to open on the southeast corner of BBD and Cypress Preserve Dr., among the convenience stores that have been evolving over the years and making food service, good coffee and even household items a staple of its business.

The new Racetrac, which is located directly across Cypress Preserve Dr. from the Chase bank and LA Fitness in Tampa Palms, is expected to be open by mid-June. It is among those gas stations putting an emphasis on making themselves into food destinations.

Wawa, located right up the road in Wesley Chapel on S.R. 56, has perfected this experience. Many mornings, there are more people sitting at red iron tables outside eating than filling their cars with gas, and the quality food has attained a cult-like status.

Racetrac, which also has a S.R. 56 location, is spending millions remodeling its stores to have extra seating and WiFi, so customers can order food and even stop in with the kids for frozen yogurt at one of the Swirl World stations — boasting 40 or so toppings for your dessert — without having to eat it on the go.

The 5,928-sq.-ft. Tampa Palms location will have 18 gas pumps and is one of 50 the Atlanta-based company is opening in Florida (and 10th overall in Tampa), as well as remodeling others.

MORE FOOD: According to paperwork filed with Pasco County, Culver’s Restaurant, which already has a location in front of the Tampa Premium Outlets (or TPO), as well as one on Bearss Ave. near I-275, is hoping to build another near the Shops at Wiregrass.

Culver’s, which is popular in the Midwest (it started in Wisconsin) with its frozen custard and Butterburgers, submitted a pre app form to build a 110-seat, 4,476-sq.ft. restaurant with 66 parking spots immediately east of the Shops at Wiregrass.

The new Culver’s will have direct access off S.R. 56 and the under-construction Wiregrass Ranch access road.

URGENT CARE: BayCare Urgent Care is coming to the New Tampa area, taking over the space formerly occupied by Pier 1 Imports (now at The Walk at Highwoods Preserve). We’ll provide more details in a future issue.

business notes culver's racetrac

Culver's Coming To Cypress Creek Town Center

Culver's is planning a Wesley Chapel location in the Cypress Creek Town Center Development of Regional Impact with frontage along S.R. 56. — Culver’s is planning a Wesley Chapel location in the Cypress Creek Town Center Development of Regional Impact with frontage along S.R. 56.

As development kicks into high gear in the Cypress Creek Town Center Development of Regional Impact (DRI) in Wesley Chapel, more tenants are announcing plans to move into the area. Most recently, Culver’s has scheduled a meeting with Pasco County officials to discuss their plans for a site along S.R. 56 that could be under construction in 4-5 months.Continue reading

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