The new community of Bexley in Land O’ Lakes is getting lots of recognition for its parks and trail system, beautiful homes from prestigious builders, and new elementary school that opens this fall.
Yet to be discovered by many, however, is Bexley’s best-kept secret —The Twisted Sprocket Café.
This gem of a café is located inside The Bexley Club, which is part of the amenity center for Bexley residents. People are often surprised to learn that the community’s restaurant is also open to the public, and that the cafe offers so much more than a traditional grab-and-go menu found at most clubhouses.
The Twisted Sprocket Café is headed up by clubhouse and café Manager Ashley Davis, a talented young chef and FIU graduate who has created a surprising menu of delightful recipes that are getting rave reviews from local food bloggers.
One of the café’s most popular sandwiches, the Bexley Club, received outstanding kudos by blogger Mike Sylvester, who posts at The Geeky Traveler website.
“The Bexley Club,” Sylvester writes, “is jammed, packed full of goodness and wrapped in a soft, but warm, crispy Tuscan baguette and layered with a little ranch dressing.”
Sylvester describes the Twisted Sprocket Salad as “overflowing with flavor and textured with walnuts, dried cranberries, tomatoes and bacon, all served on a huge bed of spring mix. The honey mustard vinaigrette that was chosen rounded this salad off perfectly.”
Most menu items are made from recipes created by Davis, including smoothies and milk shakes, French toast, omelets, pastries, sandwiches, flatbreads, quesadillas and desserts.
The Cafe overlooks a lovely lake in a serene woodland setting that is a mile or so from busy State Road 54 to the south and the Veterans Expressway to the west. Decks overlook the lake with cabin-like chairs and tables, and guests enjoy the view inside from tables, booths and a friendly, old-fashioned counter. During cooler months, folks enjoy fireplaces located inside the café and on the deck.
“We’ve created an inviting, comfortable restaurant that is perfect for eating inside or out,” said Davis. “The décor has an eclectic feel that is neither modern nor rustic, but something in-between. It’s perfect for morning coffee with friends, someplace different for business meetings and a relaxing restaurant with no wait for families getting together for a weekend breakfast or lunch.”
Davis invites area residents to bring their laptops to the café and spend a few hours catching up with work, or staying in touch with family and friends. The Café serves Buddy Brew, a rich specialty coffee made in Tampa, craft beers from Big Storm Brewery in nearby Odessa, and has a respectable section of wine.
Working alongside Davis, are Assistant Manager Ashley Fairbanks, and café attendants Leah Palacio and Adrianna Caruso.
HOURS: 10 to 6 Mon – Sat • 12 to 6 Sunday
16950 Vibrant Way, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638
(813) 491-4879 • bexleyflorida.com
