Restaurant Review: Does the Waffle Lab Hit a Home Run?
I've always been a fan of the Waffle Lab food truck that you see in Old Town Fort Collins, and at local festivals. But have you tried their new sit down spot yet?
I had a chance to take my kids to their new sit down restaurant, which is located at 130 West Olive Street in Fort Collins. The one thing that surprised me was that we went there on the first night of New West Fest, and the location only had another three people in the restaurant.
When stepping back and thinking about it, I think that has more to do with awareness than the experience customers get at the new location.
So, here I am to make you aware that the Waffle Lab on West Olive Street is simply...AWESOME.
When you first walk in, make sure you grab a menu which is situated to the left of the door as you enter. When you look at the menu, you'll see that all of your Waffle Lab food truck favorites are still there and they have added even more.
There isn't extensive seating in the sit down location, but just enough to get plenty of customers in without it being overcrowded.
My kids and I started out our dinner with a large order of their belgium fries, which came with three dipping sauces. We got the ol' standby of ketchup, but also added an aioli dipping sauce and a cherry whiskey sauce.
Let me say...the cherry whiskey sauce? WOW. My ten year old son kept asking me if we could buy a bottle of that sauce, it was that good! I think the next time we go in we will definitely have to ask the question because it goes perfect with their fries.
Next up that I tried was their "Sweet Potato Hash".
The hash was served up with the perfect amount of onions, avocados, and tomatoes and they complemented the sweet potatoes nicely. Plus the layer of cheese that the Waffle Lab drops on top of the dish hits the spot!
My main dish was something that the Waffle Lab is known for...their famous "Chicken and Waffles" dish!
Admittedly, I have never bought this dish from their food truck. But now I am kicking myself for not trying it ahead of time. The breading on the outside of the chicken was cooked perfect, and the chicken itself was the right texture and moistness.
The sausage gravy had the right combination of sausage and spices that I grabbed a spoon and kept on "drinking" more of it. Then when you dip the food into the cup of maple syrup...WOW.
The only change I would make is I definitely want MORE maple syrup the next time I am in!
My ten year old son is always more adventurous than the rest of us, so he ended up getting the "Spicy Professor", which is bacon, cheddar, and fresh jalapenos on a waffle with a side of salsa. As you can see from the picture above, my son likes to separate his meal and "eat it in pieces". But he devoured this entire meal and walked away wanting more!
All in all, our first experience at the sit down version of the Waffle Lab was very much a successful one, and we'll be there again. Keep in mind, that just because it is a waffle...it doesn't equal cheap. You get what you pay for, which is great food. But don't expect to go in paying with a twenty dollar bill.
But again, it is well worth it!
On a scale of 1 to 5 waffles, the Waffle Lab gets 4.5 from me. Honestly, it would be a full five if I could get a bigger cup of maple syrup...haha!
So if you weren't aware that the new Waffle Lab location was open, get to West Olive Street in Fort Collins and try it as soon as you can. You won't be disappointed!
The Waffle Lab
130 West Olive Street in Fort Collins
Open 7am - 8pm seven days a week, and Happy Hour 3p - 6p Monday thru Friday
970-232-9433