THE LIVING ROOM

Let’s Talk “The Living Room”

Location: This restaurant is in the Wiregrass mall across Cantina Laredo in the Wesley Chapel area. Parking can be a challenge on the weekends, so plan on arriving a tad bit early or expect to take a long walk. They also have a location in Dunedin, FL.

Service: I made reservations for this place as I didn’t know what to expect on the weekend. When we entered the restaurant, we were seated right away by our host. The service was excellent from the host to the server, except for one part; I did not care for. I wanted to order a drink, which I did, and when I revisited the menu and asked to change my drink order, I was told by my server that she had already put in my prior order indicating I could not change my drink. I have never had this happen to me. Otherwise, our server “Joy” was great! They do offer a military discount, but at the same time, expect to pay a 20% gratuity.

Food: This hidden gem is located right in the Wesley Chapel area. It was all about the experience today. Let’s start with the food; for appetizers, we ordered Buffalo Cauliflower (crispy house roasted cauliflower, celery ribbons, bleu cheese) and the Crispy Brussel Sprouts (gorgonzola, pistachio, blackberry gastrique). They were yummy, except we felt like the cauliflower was lacking in the buffalo sauce. At the table, we had Tuna Poke (cucumber salad, sesame seeds, ponzu, avocado, “forbidden” black rice, crispy shallot, wontons); Porcini Mushroom Burger (8oz Patty, roasted wild mushrooms, black truffle mayo, herbed goat cheese, caramelized onions, arugula, brioche; Black Pearl House Salad (mixed greens, gorgonzola cheese, toasted pine nuts, sherried currants, warm poppyseed vinaigrette; and Chorizo Stuffed Chicken Chorizo, asiago, and caper stuffed chicken breast, mashed red potatoes, herbed pan gravy, sweet onion sage bread pudding, broccolini, and baby carrot. For my drink, I ordered the Dragonwater Mojito (virgin) silver rum, dragon fruit, house pressed citrus, watermelon, mint. The food was okay. We felt like there was a lack of flavors in some of the dishes. I will try it again, as I signed up for their rewards program and earned some cash which I can redeem for the next visit. So, I will visit again.

Ambience: From the outside to the time you enter the restaurant, you are invited into a homey feeling. The inside decor reminds me of restaurants such as “The Library and Oxford Exchange.” Very eclectic in style, the unique lanterns around the room, the warm colors, and the paintings brought that cozy feeling of home. Totally loved the ambience of the restaurant. 

Price: $$$

A Dash of Encouragement: Dedication. When I think of that word, I think of commitment, purpose, and action. So today was all about dedication. We have responsibilities and obligations that we must complete every day. We are committed to God, we are committed to our family, to jobs, to friends, to being a parent, and the list goes on. So today, I ask myself the question, which is dedicated to me, my plans, or my purpose, and I can honestly say, I have people who love me and are committed to me. So first, God, my husband, child, family, and friends. They may not always show; maybe I don’t always show it, but one thing I know is we are dedicated to someone or something. So let’s not lose sight of what and who we must be devoted to first. Dedication is commitment; some fear it, and some run to it. So wherever you are on the journey, I hope you find it.

A DASH OF LIFE, LAUGHTER & LOVE