The Wheel

The owner is the coolest nicest man in town. Had pitchers of beer to giveaway due to fresh changed taps. The place wasn’t even open bit he chased my girlfriend and I down the street to give us free beer, then let us hang out anywhere in the restaurant (awesomely decorated, Tim Burton/​John Waters meets rural Americana). We posted up upstairs on the patio and then in the second floor lounge area. Can’t wait to come back during business hours.

When you’re in a restaurant and you hear people say «it was the best meal I’ve ever had» at one table and «don’t eat here» or «this taste funny» at another table, it makes for a confusing vibe. Our dinner was good and the staff was kind but the food didn’t really feel worthy of the cost. If you go here, just know that you’re entering a place that seems to have consistency problems with both the food and the management. Also, it’s worth mentioning, you should make a reservation but don’t count on them holding it. We showed up for a reservation and the hostess/waitress/owner’s wife sat us at the only table left without asking if we had a reservation. When we were seated, we mentioned to her that we had a 7:30pm reservation for two. She replied, «well, you got the last table.» So, in other words, had someone come in 5 minutes before us, they would have given our table away.

They have the weirdest pairings, the wackiest drinks and appetizers that you never would think could work, but I have to tell you, the night we were there, everything came together beautifully! The wild boar and the chicken experience were delicious. Service: excellent. Try it.

Horrible experience!!! My girlfriend made a reservation a week prior for 7pm on a Sunday and when we arrived an hour prior we noticed the place was dark inside and door was locked. So we decided to come back at 7 to see if they were now open and found out they were still closed, doors locked, no sign or notice outside. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE! We called a week later just to find out what happened and they rushed us off the phone because they were «busy». This is my very first review of any restaurant or establishment and that is because I’m so aggravated that a place can treat people like that. Don’t waste your time with this place… They obviously don’t care about their customers.

Would come back to Jim Thorpe JUST to go to The Wheel. Great atmosphere, friendly service — amazing food. The owner, Tom, made our night and Sharon was a great hostess. As it’s been said here on Unilocal,the menu is unorthodox but if you’re going out to have a new experience then this is the place. Had the wild boar and the Aztec chicken experience. They were both deliciious and fresh. My ladyfriend and I have been talking about the food ever since. Also, try the chef’s soda bread and homemade butter.

By far the best dining experience I’ve had. The atmosphere is eclectic and fun, the music was very enjoyable. The staff, as well as the chef/​owner were so welcoming. We dined there tonight to celebrate are wedding anniversary and the meals were all amazing. Ingredients were fresh, everything was prepared to order and the menu was exciting. I personally had the lobster baked mac and devoured it. I also had the short ribs they were so flavorful and tender.

My one star is given for the fact that my husband and I showed up at 745pm on a Friday for an 8pm reservation made a week in advance over the phone only to be told the kitchen had already closed. What? Mind you there was another couple dining who seemed to be at the end of their entrees. We had a reservation I explained. They apologized and told us to come back the next day and they would try to squeeze us in. Again what? Squeeze us in? I would have expected a promise of a table the next nite with something on the house. I couldn’t even get mad I was so shocked. Needless to say we did not return the next nite and we will not be back again. Judging from other reviews this type of situation happens too often at Wheel.
For anyone still interested in giving Wheel a try. I can say the décor and vibe seemed really cool. It was cosy with classic jazz music playing, funky décor and low lighting. The menu was small and prices were 20 – 40 for entrees. Definitely have a back up plan in case «the kitchen is closed» and I would not recommend it for a special occasion for that same reason.

We arrived at Wheels with good reviews. We came early and were told we could wait the half hour until our reservation time or come back which is what we did. When we arrived we were given the same table available when we came early. The owner never came to our table to greet us. The food was low quality especially for the high price. Service was mediocre. The boar was passable but not great and the clams appetizer was so chewy it could not be eaten. The specialty lobster mac and cheese was devoid of taste. I would avoid this restaurant

Where to start with this one? First, I love artsy fartsy places like this. The décor is all over the place — I mean that in more ways than one. It’s all over the place literally because it’s on the walls, the ceiling, the trees outside, everywhere you look there’s something. And it’s all over the place because I’m not sure what it is trying to be? The menus are old vinyl record sleeves and there is a ton of neon as well as old farm equipment and a human form wearing a gas mask. Still, I love that it is an explosion of crazy all in one place.
Now the drinks! I had some sort of toasted coconut rum concoction. It was one of the single greatest cocktails I ever had in my life… ever! EVER!!! (See photo)
The food, spectacular! My friend had the short ribs, he said they were the best he ever tasted and said he would drink the liquid were it not embarrassing as there was another couple near us. I had a vegetarian pasta dish with a delicate vodka sauce. I had the same reaction, I wanted to lick the plate clean.
The chef/​owner stopped by our table — what a lovely man! Really enjoyed him, his food, his drinks and his establishment. So why only 4 stars? Because of our waiter. Miserable guy, simply mad & miserable. My friend and I got the impression he didn’t like us or care to wait on us. I have no idea why, we don’t know him and we were nothing but polite from the moment we walked in. When I asked for a second round of drinks I thought he was going to literally throw something at us. He was gone for about 10 minutes before bringing another round even though there was only one other couple in the place. I guess he was having a bad night, still, he shouldn’t bring his drama to work.
I would go back again in a heartbeat — but I would ask not to sit in his section.

Terrible service. Décor is cool, but not too sure what they are trying to accomplish. Waited for a very long time to get water. There were only 3 other tables so why did we wait 20 min to get our waters. Food was below average especially for the price! The price quality ratio not so good. I would avoid this spot, however everywhere in Jim Thorpe is expensive for no reason.

Wow… what a let down. After numerous recommendations we decided to eat at the wheel. At first, all was great. Then my husband asked if they had the boar on summer menu, owners wife said yes. 10 minutes later another couple ordered the same thing saying the chef was a friend and he wanted the boar as well
Our entrees came out and she brought out pork… not boar. She then proceeded to tell us that we ordered pork… and she only had one left… and of course it was going to friend of chef. Unreal. Dinner ruined.
Never again.

I actually created a Unilocal account to review this place. Horribly overpriced and terrible food. Stay away from the Thai shrimp. It’s terrible. Service was decent at least. If you go, get the lobsters Mac and cheese appetizer. It was the only thing worthwhile. Crab cakes weren’t bad either. Menu is very weird– so if you don’t like REALLY eclectic food, skip this place.

I went there last weekend with my son while camping. We were looking for a nice place to eat and it was recommended by a local. It was a quaint setting that was uniquely decorated. We were immediately seated and attended to. We ordered appetizers (lobster mac & cheese) which I thought was good. There were more specials then items on the menu and it was hard to keep track. I ordered the pork fennel which as long as you didn’t eat the pork was good. The meat was very tough and disappointing as it seemed it was one of their signature dishes. Maybe I went in expecting to much but it wasn’t close to my expectations. The prices were reasonable but I would not go back.

Great experience here!
The specials were more abundant and sounded more interesting than the menu itself.
Appetizer: the watermelon, arugula, feta cheese with lime special was great! very refreshing and not overwhelming with the lime
Wine: good amount for $ 7
Entrée:
— Vegetarian dish: well made pasta dish (alla vodka), the sauce was fantastic! had chunks of real tomato in it and was home made. The pasta was also very good.
— Meat dish: wild boar was fabulous! very succulent and well seasoned. very good presentation of the dish, it was evident that they took their time in not only preparing but decorating for aesthetic appeal too.
Dessert:
— The chocolate mousse was good, but about an average dessert. Still tasty
Portions are not gigantic, but fills you up to a good point.
It’s a bit on the pricier side ($ 25+ entrée), but well worth it in my opinion.
One of the better options in Jim Thorpe.
MAKE A RESERVATION!!! We walked in and made a reservation the night before we planned to eat there. Not exactly sure why one is needed, but during our dinner multiple people came in without reservations and were turned away or had a long (1+ hr wait). With a reservation, there is no problem. Couldn’t find them on OpenTable though, so wish they were on for easier reservation booking.

I had the worst dining experience of my life at the wheel. I’ll just start with our arrival. We got there on time and were seated after a table was being cleaned for us (there was only one other table in the restaurant that was seated) so I was confused as to why they were seating us at a table that needed to be clean… but I brushed it off thinking they wanted us to have the best seat by the window. We sit down and were greeted by a young woman who brought us some water and told us the specials. This is where the weirdness really began. She described the dish in one liners only saying for example we had pasta primavera and then would go on to the next without giving any more information… like what comes with it? How much? what kind of sauce? no details at all. I probed her for information and still really didn’t get anywhere. So we decided to go with what we had already decided on and then asked for a bottle of wine, which she could not serve us because she was under 18… completely understandable. I was a server I get it. Then a very very nice gentleman appeared with our wine and all was well for about 35 minutes. By this time we had not received our apps and I was getting antsy. We were 1 of 2 tables in the restaurant and had the mac and cheese for app which shouldn’t take too long even including prep time. It finally came out after I had asked how long, but then to find we didn’t have silverware or water? I had been so busy enjoying the wine I didn’t even notice that was all that was on the table. After asking for silverware we were given a knife by the girl and napkins then given a fork by the guy. I was confused and pissed off by this point and after taking a bite of my food it was bland and just plain bad. We cancelled our entrees and offered to pay for our bottle of wine and proceeded to leave. it was the weirdest hour and a half in a restaurant. Like I said i was a waitress all through college. I cut places too much slack so for me to cancel was unbelievable. It is the first time I have ever walked out of a place and it was so dissapointing and I felt horrible. I just couldn’t rationalize spending that kind of money for poor service (besides ther very nice gentleman) and food. Maybe they were having an off night but all in all i would say go down the street… to the more reputable fine dining restaurant.

My husband and I spent a long weekend in Jim Thorpe, PA and had the opportunity to try a handful of the top rated restaurants while we were there. The Wheel was hands down our favorite!
The chef is not only an artist in the kitchen but also has a great eye for art. The dining room is eclectic and unexpected.
The service was exceptional — open and friendly. We even got a tour of the space upstairs and met the chef in the kitchen.
Most important of all of course was the food. We had the lobster mac & cheese which did not disappoint. I had a Thai Shrimp special with a wonderful combination of flavors with rice and fresh greens mixed in. It sounds weird but was soooo good. My husband had the Roast Pork Thorpe which we loved as well.
If you go to Jim Thorpe you MUST go to Wheel or you are missing the best in town.

We had the special-​a tapas lunch. It was absolutely fabulous. Included a glass of wine and 6 small courses. All were really good. I would HIGHLY recommend this place. So glad I didn’t look at the Unilocal review first this time ;)

The Wheel needs this review aside from my good experience simply because this one negative one posted doesn’t fairly portray this restaurant as what it is.
Ambiance: my fiancé and chose it because of it’s warm, kitchy and inviting décor outside, complete with rustic wheel artwork and an enticing menu of specials scribbled on the cardboard.
Inside is much of the same décor, but we were surprised to find white linened tables and a more formal dining area. From the outside, I expected a cozy bar and some little nook tables.
Menus are served within old record albums (I had Billy Joel), which was a cute touch.
We were asked by the hostess if we had a reservation but it was no problem that we didn’t and we sat immediately as it wasn’t yet busy. (It did fill up across the 90 minutes we were there, so a res is probably a good thing.)
There was an interesting staff/​server rotation we caught onto: one guy circulated the room to take drink orders (and also disappeared in the back to make them… with care! Yummy mojitos with lots of mint and a few raspberries and lime), one guy was the food server who told us the specials and served our food and one girl who brought out bread and butter (a little plate accompanied by olives, cured meat, and fresh cucumber slices) and a side dish of grapes. Lovely touch.
We shared the lobster Mac and cheese to start. It was bubbly and piping hot with large chunks of lobster.
We both ordered the specials: I had a shrimp Thai dish which I would give a 3.5 stars to. It was delicious with big shrimp, coconut milk based sauce, rice, peppers, onions over a bed of greens, but lacked a little originality. My fiancé’s monkfish however — melt in your mouth! And this type of fish is easy to overcook and make rubbery. It came with a great homemade mash side and a yummy melted butter pot for dipping. Mmm.
We were too full for dessert but managed another mojito.
Random notes:
The bathroom is unisex and really nice. Spacious, candle burning, lots of décor and very clean.
The back of the space is fairly big kitchen and prep area. We walked down the street and stumbled upon the back (kitchen) entrance the next day and it was decorated just as cute!
The cocktails are made with care.
The servers are a little all over the place but not for lack of attention and they mean well.
The food is not five star amazingness to the enth degree, but it is a far cry (in my very humble opinion) from the sad one star it was given.
I would go back.

My partner and I made a reservation to eat here at 8. The mystery began when we arrived at 8, after having been told we could NOT get a reservation earlier, to find only two of the tables had people sitting at them. We were also seated before the hostess/​waitress asked us if we had a reservation. Yeah, but I guess we didn’t need one.
Then we sat looked at menus and waited and waited and waited while our hostess disappeared, came back to seat another group that arrived, gave them water, chatted them up, and apparently forgot we existed. When we caught her eye I asked for water, and to have her replace the wine glasses since mine was chipped on the rim. She took away both glasses, with my partner’s napkin, and he never saw a napkin again. Meanwhile, the chef/​owner came out to entertain the other group and also totally ignored us.
We started with the shortribs, which sounded delicious but came out awash in their own juice without much extra flavor.
I had the Aztec chicken experience, which was in reality a bad Mexican baked chicken experience. It consisted of: a plate of store-​bought tortilla chips, and a half an avocado with a dollop of sour cream and flavorless salsa on top. The salsa was mango, but since mangoes and tomatoes are not in season right now, I guess it was a bad menu choice.
Beside the chips, baked together in one tureen, were strips of chicken and some black beans on the side smothered in cheese, with more sour cream and more awful salsa on top. Because everything was baked together, there was a lot of liquid in the container that quickly made it look like vomit soup. I stopped eating after a few bites.
My partner had overcooked baked manicotti swimming in the juice of un-​drained ricotta cheese.
Overall, the store-​bought tortilla chips were the best part of the meal, along with the wine we brought ourselves.
I feel a little bad about this review, because the waitress and the chef seem so EAGER and the little restaurant is very cute, but there is just nothing good about the food we were served. Good decorations and enthusiasm, unfortunately, can’t save a crappy restaurant.

The Wheel is a great restaurant! The food is outstanding and eclectic. The owner/​chef Tom is personable and passionate about his food. The décor is quirky and engaging with lots of unique art. Check out the bathroom!!! Wheel is an outstanding addition to the Jim Thorpe dinning scene.