Lunch in the Gump Reflux 6/29/09

Wagon Wheel Ratings:
1. The food was well prepared though bland. The condiments were poor ie. generic katsup and soy bits. We did receive a cornbread basket shortly after arrival.
2. The atmosphere was open and clean. I did not visit the facilities so no comment on them.
3.The service at the Wheel was excellent.
Comments: Table #23 is in the far corner away from the eavesdropping ears of the predominantly male clientele that awaited this review. The owner apparently was not told of our presence or he surely would have greeted us, advised us of the appropriate menu items to order and comped the meal.
Overall, 3.5 Biscuits out of 5.

The Wagon Wheel

The "Lunch in the Gump" gang tried out the Wagon Wheel restaurant located at its new location at 1961 Bell Street and found it to exceed expectations which--honestly--were not all that high to begin with based upon historical performance at the old, dingy location. Parking was easy and plentiful. The place was clean, cool, open and smoke free. We were greated and seated quickly even though the wait staff did not recognize us as important restaurant reviewers. Our disguises worked again!

First, we all tried the "complimentary" salad bar. Minimalist but fresh and, of course, it did remark at how we all had lost some weight.

Doyle B. ordered the fried pope chops which he raved about along with the Blueberry Cobbler which caused him to smile with blue teeth. Brunson rated the place at 4 biscuits.

John C. ordered something fried also. He gave the meal 3.5 biscuits. He shrunk away afterwards to take a nap.

TT went "off the board" for a hamburger steak smothered in onions to which he added cheese from the salad bar. He gave the meal 3.5 biscuits.

Binion went for the Cuban sandwich and substituted a salad for the fries. The Cuban was pretty darn good but no match for something from Miami. He gave the place 4 biscuits.

All in all, the Lunch in the Gump gang paid (with tip) a little less than $10 a pop which is about par for a meat and 3 in the Gump these days.

The consensus: The Wagon Wheel qualifies for future "Lunch in the Gump" outings: 3.75 Biscuits.  They supposedly serve a mean breakfast also.