WTF Is This Restaurant

That’s not a question. The actual name is Wisco Taco Foxtrot but you can use the acronym for short. It was made to be cheeky. The restaurant’s menu focuses on Wisconsin-inspired tacos and drinks, a combo you’re unlikely to see replicated anywhere else.

It’s brought to you by Jim O’Malley, who developed The Shops at Tyler’s Ridge off Airport Road in Southern Pines, where the restaurant is located. After looking for a business to fill the corner space, he eventually decided to create his own. Jim is originally from, you guessed it, Wisconsin. And like anyone from Wisconsin, working the state into casual conversation (or dining in this case) is just in his blood.

Jim worked with restaurant, marketing and branding experts to get his concept off the ground, even bringing them on a Wisconsin bar/restaurant tour for field research. On the menu you’ll see things like the “tailgate taco,” a bratwurst in taco form, and cheese curd tacos. The cheese curds will be made in house with a Wisconsin recipe. “What I like about the menu is that it’s unique but that it can be a quick in-and-out,” says Jim, who wanted the place to be great for all ages.

Although this is just a sneak peek, the space, you’ll see, leans into a retro aviation theme. Travel is one of Jim’s passions, and aviation landed in his heart; his son is a pilot and he even met his wife on an airplane. With the location just down the road from the airport, all the plans took off.

WTF also features a private room that can fit 24 folks, an outdoor patio with heaters and a stage for live music. There isn’t an official opening date just yet, but you could be saying “you betcha” to a waiter/waitress by February.