By Kelli Carmack
The Laker/Lutz News
The Twisted Sprocket Café, located in the Bexley community in Land O’ Lakes, is a hidden gem with cozy indoor and outdoor seating areas that are open to the public.
The café specializes in trendy breakfast and lunch items, such as acai bowls, avocado toast, quesadillas and many other items from its healthy menu. Its top-sellers include the Twisted Sprocket Salad (spring mix, chicken salad, feta, cranberries, pecans, bacon, cucumber and cherry tomatoes), the Bexley Club sandwich and a three-egg omelet that comes with four toppings.
While the Twisted Sprocket Café already has dairy-free food and drink items, café manager Adrianna Caruso is planning to add more gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options to the menu.
The café also serves beverages such as wine, beer from Big Storm Brewery in Odessa, and phenomenal coffee from Buddy Brew Coffee, a Tampa-based coffee company.
“Partnering with Buddy Brew Coffee is a great way for us to support other local businesses,” says Caruso, “Plus, its coffee is out of this world. The cafe uses Buddy Brew’s Cubano expresso roast, which has a nutty, dark spice flavor that is ideal for a full-bodied cup of coffee, and a decaf Colombia roast with notes of caramel, apple and tangerine.
Twisted Sprocket Café has an outdoor deck that overlooks a peaceful lake with cabin-like chairs and tables. During the colder months, guests can enjoy the lake view from inside the café, where they can stay warm next to community fireplaces.
Caruso encourages the public to visit the café, even if you don’t want to buy anything, and just need a new work area.
“Our café is a great place for people who work or do school from home, and need a place to study and focus,” says Caruso. “We have power outlets, free Wi-Fi, and even a conference room.”
Caruso started as a café attendant at the Twisted Sprocket Café three years ago and has worked her way up to manager. She prides herself on giving guests the best experience possible when they’re at the café.
“I want my customers to feel like they’re at home when they’re here,” says Caruso.
Caruso is looking forward to bringing back fun events this year, including happy hours, networking events and wine clubs. She’s also planning to have monthly specialty drinks, including black forest milkshakes, salted caramel milkshakes, pumpkin spiced lattes, and even mango-ritas.
The Twisted Sprocket Café is open Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Caruso currently is hiring part-time café attendants, with pay starting at $12/hr.
The Twisted Sprocket Café
16950 Vibrant Way • Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638
BexleyFlorida.com/amenities/twisted-sprocket-cafe • 813-491-4879
Published on 2/17/21
