by “The Food Guy” – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine and Vero Beach Foodie
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It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a year and a half since my last review of this place. They are still going strong and now have a second location in the Museum of Art that opened just about a year ago. With a recently updated menu and lots of new items, let’s take a fresh look at this place and see what changes have been made and if the food is just as good as my first visit.
I think you know by now that Stacy Cook and I are diehard foodies and are always on the lookout for the next hot spot to get an awesome meal. He has been telling me how great this sandwich shop is for a while now, so I decided it was finally time to give them a try. Chef and owner, Mike Wood is a native Vero Beach resident, but after receiving his Culinary Arts degree from Johnson & Wales in Charleston, South Carolina, he decided to embark on a 15-year journey working his way around the country. He traveled as far as Alaska, New York, and even down to the Keys. He eventually made his way back to his hometown of Vero Beach and settled in and eventually opened the Wood N Spoon as we know it today just about 3 ½ years ago.
Parking is more than adequate for the size of the restaurant since they share parking spaces with some other businesses in the strip mall. Their trademark green color is evident on the sign over the front door and on the walls inside the restaurant. There are two dining spaces on either side as you walk in, and the counter where you place an order is in the middle of the room. You can also just have a seat at an open table and a waitress will assist you or step up to the counter and place a to go order. The dining room is clean and bright, and the owner and employee’s greetings are always warm and welcoming. Everyone seems to have a passion for what they are doing here, and it shows. One additional bonus you may not know about them is that they also serve hard packed ice cream!
Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat!
Breakfast Supreme – ($10.25) – Were you aware that they served breakfast? With an entire page on their new menu dedicated to just breakfast items, the options here are endless. Two perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs are served with hash browns, three slices of bacon, and two pieces of French toast. Everything was very fresh and delicious. Be sure to check out their special brunch menu, only served on Saturday mornings till 2:00pm.
Curry Shrimp Soup – (Price Varies by Size) – The soups here are always scratch made with some classic and unique flavors. This one is one of the unique flavors that he makes and keeps people coming back for more. A lot of people tend to shy away from curry since they think it might be spicy. In this case, it’s full of flavor with only a subtle amount of heat. It was smooth, creamy and the shrimp were perfectly cooked.
Tomato Basil (Price Varies by Size) – Here is one the classic soups I was referring to. A traditional, made from scratch tomato & basil soup. I’m used to a fully pureed tomato soups, yet this one had chunks of tomatoes in it which was a pleasant change of texture. Made with fresh tomatoes, it had that fresh bold tomato soup flavor that just warms the soul. Now if Mike would only let me order the grilled cheese off the kid’s menu, this meal would be perfect!
Chopped Chicken Caesar Salad – ($7.95) – While fall may be in full swing up north, it’s still summer here and nothing beats a fresh and light salad for a meal! Made with chopped romaine lettuce, it’s tossed lightly in a house made Caesar dressing and tossed with shaved parmesan cheese and chopped chicken breast. The lettuce was fresh and crisp and was tossed in the perfect amount of dressing.
Lamb Gyro – ($7.19) – This will the first time I’ve had a Gyro in Vero and this one is spectacular! Made with pita bread, it’s topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion, feta cheese, seasoned lamb gyro meat, topped with a tzatziki sauce. The pita bread was so soft and fresh, it’s the best one I’ve ever tasted. The vegetables were fresh, and the lamb gyro meat was tender and flavorful.
Roast Beef Wrap – ($7.19) – While this one is listed on the regular sandwich menu and being served on a ciabatta bun, this shows you the versatility of the kitchen to accommodate your wishes. Wrapped up in a flour tortilla is sliced roast beef, lettuce, tomato, mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and a balsamic dressing. All the ingredients were fresh and quite tasty. The balsamic dressing gave it a nice pop of sweet and tangy flavor.
Spicy Tuna Sandwich – ($7.19) – On our first review here, we tasted what is known as the “McBooha” sauce on the Southwest Chicken sandwich and fell in love with it. It’s a Moroccan inspired type of sauce with a little kick to it. We made it so popular, people came in specifically asking for it. He was only making small batches of it at the time of our first review, now he is making several gallons of it per week. Created on a ciabatta bun, it’s layered with tuna salad, cucumbers, roasted tomatoes, lettuce, and of course the McBooha sauce. The tuna was not overdressed in mayo and had a little crunch from the diced-up cucumbers in it. This might be my new favorite sandwich at Wood N Spoon!
In Conclusion:
This place continues to impress me each time I visit. I live close by and when my family passes through the area this is our go-to place for a quick and delicious lunch. The food is always freshly made and they are willing to change things up to your liking. They can also accommodate your dietary restrictions by offering several gluten-free soup and sandwich options. If you like things a little bit spicy, then might I suggest you stop by and try their Amazing McBooha sauce on just about anything you order. I know you’ll love it and won’t be disappointed!
I’m excited to announce that Wood N Spoon has signed up for next year’s Top Chef 2019 event in support of the Hope for Families Center. As a committee member and one of the official judges for next year’s event, I can’t wait to see what these guys come up with. Stay tuned for more information to come about this exciting event!
Have you tried Wood N Spoon? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.
Wood N Spoon Website | Wood N Spoon Facebook Page
Address: 2015 9th St SW, Vero Beach, FL 32962
Hours of Operation: Monday, 8:00am – 3:00pm, Tuesday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm, Saturday, 8:00am – 3:00pm, Closed on Sundays
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