The Spinning Wheel has all of the right ingredients to be an amazing restaurant, the ambiance, the location, the staff... But both times we have gone we have been really disappointed with the food.
While their menu is a bit sparse in terms of creativity, they do offer a wide range of items and have a great beer and wine list. What really disappointed us was the fact that as you pull up and walk through the door its easy to have very high expectations because the place is so nicely done, who ever did the renovations and decorating here really nailed it, but the food does not stand up to the atmosphere.
I think perhaps my husband and I are guilty of seeking out restaurants with chefs who really have a passion for food, places like Baileys Backyard, The Little Pub and Clock Tower Grill. The food here is really comparable to any american pub, or dive. Its not horrible by any means, but its nothing to make us go back again- and I say that with the ultimate remorse because as I mentioned, its beautiful, comfortable, the staff is great and its super close to our home. We want to love the Spinning Wheel, but there are too many other places who offer what they offer and do it much better.
Their crab cakes are so doughy and bready I could not even eat them, it was a shock. I eat crab cakes at almost any restaurant that serves them and I have had them many ways. These were heavy, filled with way too much bread and mush and had very little crab. When I think of a crab cake, I think light & bright with the flavors of scallions, and other ingredients and a slight crispy brown edge. They were sent back.
Their Sea Bass is good, my husband ordered it and I also had it with him, very nicely done.
Their burgers need help. The meat has no flavor, there is no juice, and they are just so disappointing overall. There are about 6 places I can think of off hand who make amazing burgers in the area if you are looking for a quick cheap meal- this is not one of them. VERY basic. They do offer a veggie burger- which we didn't try, but it was nice to see it on the menu because we have children who have to avoid certain foods and not many restaurants offer alternative options.
The cannonballs were under-seasoned, greasy and just okay. The french fries are also desperately in need of salt, or better yet a different recipe- they are really thick, dry steak style fries, with little flavor.
In an ideal situation a new chef would swoop in and take this place to the next level. There are so many amazing farms in the area and in a new era of farm to table dining there is an entire market waiting to be tapped-- I wish they would jump on it and push forward. As I said, the place is OK, but unless they get someone else in there to breathe a little life, creativity and excitement into the kinds of food as well as the quality we wont be back for a while. Their food standards should be every bit as high as the beautiful restaurant they have built. read more