A Mama-Daughter date to Wraptitude warranted a few words…
A bit out of the way and off the beaten path, nestled near Natural Bridge Caverns, Wraptitude is a curiosity. Boasting a creative menu of gourmet wraps, sandwiches, burgers, and drinks, as well as a playground for the kids, Wraptitude has a lot of family-friendly appeal.
At least from what Google could tell me.
And from what I can tell you, you can jump right to the Pros and Cons here.
Nathan had taken the boys on a Father-Son camping trip hosted by Grace Community Church on April 12th. I wanted to take full advantage of their time away by treating Nova to a special Mama-Daughter date night. I considered the Chick-Fil-A and Morningside Park route, but wanted to mark the occasion in a fun and unique way.
A search on Google and the resulting rabbit trail of suggested restaurants with play structures led me to Wraptitude. From what I could surmise from the Google photos, it looked like it had a lot of charm and plenty of outdoor space for kiddos to play. The food didn’t look half-bad either.
Alright, let’s give it a try.
Daughter Dinner Date
Friday evening, 6PM, we arrive at Wraptitude. So, issue number one, right off the bat: PARKING IS HORRENDOUS. But we’re here. It took 25 minutes to get here. This. Is. Happening. The parking lot, if you can call it that, isn’t really clearly marked. It’s narrow and stressful and messy.
That being said, it’s the space that Wraptitude has. Not much that can be done about that. If you don’t want to risk a hassle, there’s parking off the main road as well. Just requires a bit more hoofin’.
I took a chance and parked in front of a No Parking sign (from where I’d just witnessed someone leave), said a quick prayer that my car wouldn’t get towed, and retrieved dozing Nova from her rear-facing seat. Here we go.
Food for Thought
So, we walk up to a convenient sign that elucidates how Wraptitude works. Grab a menu, find a table. Then, when ready, you can order food at the counter outside and get drinks inside. Fortunately, I was able to claim a table close to the counter and bar entrance, only steps away from Nova.
But the ordering system at Wraptitude did present a somewhat inconvenient, somewhat sketchy quandary. Once food is ordered, it’s brought to you, but to grab drinks inside… My two year old daughter is at the table. Sure, only feet away, but she’d still be out of sight for a moment…
Understand, it’s one of my first opportunities to take a special one-on-one outing with my daughter. Don’t judge my helicoptery-anxiety toooooo much, k? Mmkay.
I took her with me to grab the drinks. Set her up with some graham crackers, while I went back for a straw, and my bougie baby was peachy keen. Had I been sitting any further away, it would’ve likely warranted more effort/inconvenience. Food for thought if you’re prone to anxiety and taking a little one by yourself.
Best Friendly Service
One thing I was caught off guard but supremely impressed by was the sheer FRIENDLINESS of the hostess. She greeted me with all of the enthusiastic, exuberant warmth and hospitality of someone you’d known for years but hadn’t run into in forever.
Let me wax eloquent on that point for a moment: her greeting caught me off guard because it was in delivered in such a joyful and sincere way that I had to do a double-take to make sure I didn’t ACTUALLY know her. She was kind, patient, and offered some great recommendations.
Particularly the “Sangrita”. A delightfully refreshing blend of Sangria and Margarita that hit all the right notes.
The server was also polite when he promptly delivered our food. So with our special drinks (the Sangrita for Mama and a Hi-C Pink Lemonade/Sprite combo for my girl) and meals before us, it was time to dig in.
Fresh, Flavorful Wraptitude Food
Wraptitude offers a multitude of options… And they all sound amazing!
Wraps, of course, but also char-grilled burgers made with all-natural, grass-fed beef. Salads, sandwiches, and tacos, too! Then, there’s the intriguing appetizers like the Besos Calientes: mouthwatering, bacon-wrapped, deep-fried, chipotle cream cheese stuffed jalapenos. I’m making it a point to try those when mine isn’t the only adult mouth to feed…
After much deliberation, I opted for the Cordon Bleu sandwich. As described on menu: Crispy chicken, lettuce, ham & melted swiss served w/ mayo & honey dijon on a sweet bun. That it was.
I’m never not honest in these reviews. I give all businesses a fair shake. That being said, I was satisfied with my meal. The Wraptitude Cordon Bleu sandwich did not disappoint. While it isn’t the BEST food I’ve EVER eaten, it was delicious and tasted fresh. Everything, including Nova’s chicken strip kid’s meal was HOT. The fries were crispy and well-seasoned.
My honest review is that Wraptitude offers what seems like high-quality food truck or upscale bar food fare. And for the prices, that’s in no way a complaint. Wraptitude sells itself as a laid-back, casual dining restaurant with fresh food. I detect no lie, and we enjoyed our meals.
A Good Attitude at Wraptitude
Our food was not the only thing we enjoyed during our dinner date…
I knew Nova was exhausted. Routine scheduling had all been kind of thrown off by special circumstance. It was nearing bedtime when we arrived at Wraptitude, past her usual dinner time. So it was certainly past the time she would’ve been settling into bed by the time we finished eating.
To be fair, I also knew she was exhausted because she squeezed in a little 12 minute power nap before our arrival. All understandable risk factors for some overtired acting out. But none of these issues became an“issue” while we were here. Really, neither one of us wanted to be in any hurry to leave.
I can’t say for certain if the food itself would have me in any rush to return… The atmosphere, on the other hand? The holistic experience that Wraptitude offers: the food, the hospitality, the family friendliness and aesthetic, the price, even live music. Wraptitude has kind of embedded itself in my brain.
There are plenty of establishments I’ve been to that I think fondly of while I’m there. But in the days that follow, the memory of the experience dulls to a lackluster disappointment. Was it worth it to go there? Meh, maybe not.
Wraptitude, in contrast, has had the opposite effect it seems. I had a great time while I was there, but had my attention and focus divided between balancing my daughter and maintaining a critical, honest eye. It’s been a couple weeks since our visit, and I still hold Wraptitude in high regard with fond “nostalgia”.
In a word, I guess I was…
EnWraptured.
Buh-dum-tss. Anyway, to wrap it up, it’s good vibes only at Wraptitude. The best way that I can describe the open, airy atmosphere there is that it felt like an outdoor family reunion. All the outdoor picnic seating. The casual, but lively, stimulating environment. Kids everywhere.
Kids running around, playfully, being friendly. Living their best, little kid lives. Which included a little toddler, maybe 18 months, dumping out our to-go box of leftovers on a dance platform when I was attending to Nova. Kids being kids, no biggie. I love it. Kids feeling free to be kids, I mean… Not the collateral cuisine.
Acoustically-balanced, in-no-way-deafening, live music on an outdoor stage. A well-worn, WELL-LOVED, charming play structure and climb-on dinosaur statues. Even a giant, red Adirondack chair. I witnessed a little boy help boost Nova up into it, before climbing up beside her to embark on a pretend-adventure of imaginative storytelling.
Wraptitude is some sort of curious, whimsical, magical place where you just get to slow down, soak it all in, take in some fresh air, envy the children of how effortlessly their friendships form, eat great food, and drink delicious beverages. Eat, drink, and be merry!
What more can I say?
That’s a Wrap!
Order Up: Wraptitude
Pros:
Incredibly family-friendly. Some charming, well-loved play structures for kiddos. Tons of seating, mostly outdoor, but bar-side seating is available indoors as well. Food is hot, fresh, flavorful, and well-seasoned. Think high-quality food truck/upscale bar food. For the price, it’s a great value, and Wraptitude has some creative menu offerings and delicious drinks.
Hospitable, exceptionally friendly service. Open-air, casual, laid-back environment with a chill aesthetic. Perfect for families with kids. Great visibility of the play structures from most of the outdoor seating, so you can enjoy your meal with the security of knowing your kids are close and living their best lives. The entire area is also fenced in. Added peace of mind.
Free wi-fi and call-in, drive-thru pick up options also available!
Cons:
Location, Location, Location! Terrible parking setup here, so if it’s primetime, good luck. It’s also pretty out of the way for us. I do, however, have plans to make a day of it at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch followed by a Wraptitude lupper with my family in the near future.
Also had some minor gripes about the ordering setup, but had Nathan been with or if Nova were a bit older, those gripes would be completely inconsequential. You leave the table to order food at a counter, but then go inside to retrieve ordered drinks. Slightly uncomfortable if you are flying solo with a toddler or infant.
All in all, Wraptitude is worth the trip, and Mamasaur & family will be back!