New Larose bridge in works to replace pontoon path
June 3, 2008June 5
June 5, 2008
Most of my reviews have focused on family-owned, local restaurants. For a bit of a diversion, I’m bucking the trend to tell you about the dining options at WOW.
Yes, WOW Café Wingery & Café (referred to by most people I know as just “WOW”) is part of a chain founded in Covington, but the Houma franchise is owned by Jeremy Griffin, son of the family that brings us Griffin Restaurant on Tunnel Boulevard. Jeremy made a great choice in bringing this eatery to the region.
The restaurant is located at 1731 Martin Luther King Blvd., and is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. [closing time is extended to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays].
WOW’s founders designed their establishments to offer fun, casual, family dining, the centerpiece of which is 20 proprietary sauces and dressings. WOW serves wraps, over-sized salads, Angus burgers on Texas toast, and a host of southwestern items including wings (of course), fajitas, tenders and shrimp.
The restaurant features a unique twist, offering individual flat screen TVs at each booth and a host of magnum flat-screen TVs on the common walls. If you’re a sports buff, this place can serve as game night central or a spot to grab a quick lunch with friends. And it’s a great place to bring the kids for a family meal.
The atmosphere is relaxed with a bevy of booths along the walls a partial center partition dividing the bar from the dining area. Tables are well appointed between the two.
Although there is an outside dining area in front of WOW, it doesn’t seem to be utilized, which I suspect is because too much is going on inside the restaurant and, let’s face it, the view of Martin Luther King Boulevard isn’t exactly serene.
One thing that impresses me with this establishment is how it has handled adversity. WOW suffered a fire in 2007, which put it out of business for several months while it was entirely gutted and renovated. To the owner’s credit, WOW did reopen and now maintains the same friendly atmosphere it possessed pre-fire.
Customer service has been a pet peeve of mine as part of this column. WOW apparently has a formula that transcends the poor service so prevalent in many restaurants. The staff is easily identified by its casual blue jeans and black WOW T-shirts. My family and I had waitpersons that served us both before and after the fire. Something must be working right when you are able to rehire staff after a nearly six-month shut down. More than that, they are friendly, accommodating and not too intrusive.
The bar area serves five different draught beers along with over 50 varieties of bottled/canned beer from all over the world. Exotic drink specials are also available all week. On the non-alcoholic side, WOW serves tremendous milkshakes, to which you can have added Reeses, Butterfinger, Oreo or Heath Bar pieces – topped with whipped cream to boot.
On the food side, appetizers consist of Southwest Eggrolls ($6.99), Buffalo Shrimp ($6.99), fried mushrooms ($5.99), WOW’s famous cheese fries ($6.49), onion rings ($5.49), chips and salsa ($2.99), Extreme Nachos ($6.99) and the namesake wing sampler ($15.99).
We especially enjoyed the eggrolls and chips and salsa. I must admit that the cheese fries are hard to beat. As for the wings, this is a wings restaurant. WOW is consistently good in that department.
Chicken, shrimp, steak, garden fresh (mushrooms, onions, peppers and tomatoes) or cheeseburger quesadillas are also available, either as an appetizer or entrée. Of course, you have the option of a smorgasbord of sauces. WOW basically has 15 to 16 different sauces, from Kansas City barbecue (that’s a honey barbeque for folks who’ve never ventured out of the state), Jamaican (jerk), Thai, Asian (teriyaki), Texas (mesquite barbeque), Acadian to Buffalo.
On the lighter side, WOW serves great oversized chopped salads to which you can add grilled or fried chicken and/or shrimp. The combination can be served as a traditional salad or as a wrap (garlic-herb, wheat and spinach wraps are available).
For fans of this sandwich substitute, additional wrap options are available. I have only tried the spinach wrap, which I enjoyed.
WOW’s version of the burger includes a half-pound of Angus beef between two slices of Texas toast accompanied by lettuce and tomatoes. It is served in a variety of ways: Crescent City (lettuce, tomatoes and pickle, Philly (Monterey jack cheese, grilled onions, peppers, mushroom and ranch sauce), Texas (mixed cheeses, chopped onions with mesquite barbeque sauce and spicy mayo), El Paso (chili, mixed cheeses, jalapeno rings and spicy mayo), and the Big Easy (with double the beef).
You can also change the pace and substitute a wrap for the Texas toast.
WOW also offers a variety of fajitas, all made with the sauce choose you select. St. Louis ribs are on the menu. I haven’t tried them but plan to soon.
All entrees come with your choice of fries or a side. The side orders include a fruit cup, which I get for my kids with their meals; honey-mustard slaw; Cajun corn; barbeque baked beans; red beans and rice (also available as an entrée); onion rings; sweet potato fries; celery and blue cheese or Texas toast.
Kids have their choice of wings, grilled cheese, cheese quesadilla, cheeseburger or chicken strips, all served with a side.
Overall, WOW is a place I have enjoyed on too many occasions with both family and friends. The food is fresh and you can eat to a cholesterol-high or stay healthy, all on the same menu. The beer selection is impressive, as are the specialty drinks for the non-cerveza crowd. You can catch up on your TV shows all with good service and a friendly smile.
