It’s a wrap
Wrap Shak owner gave up corporate chain life
By Susan Reilly news@hippopress.com
Craig Farrington started out in the restaurant business 35 years ago. He had spent two days washing dishes at the Howard Johnson’s in Weir’s Beach when the cook didn’t show up for work and he was put in front of the stove.
He spent six years cooking and then moved into corporate jobs with large fast food chains, eventually becoming director of operations at a nationwide fast food chain.
Although working for the big guys had its benefits, he says that he always wanted to own his own place.
“It has always been a dream of mine to have my own restaurant, and when I found this place, it had the look and feel that I wanted,” said Farrington.
He had spent a year and a half looking at restaurants when he happened upon the Wrap Shak. He bought it a few months ago.
“It is not a hole in the wall. It has an upscale feel, it is very fresh and bright inside, it was what I was looking for,” he said.
Farrington says that a new menu is in development and in the meantime he has expanded the existing menu to include a selection of soups, quesadillas, personal-size pizzas and breakfast wraps.
The launch into breakfast was a no-brainer, he said, because he has a crew in at 6 a.m. to cook, so he might as well open the doors.
Breakfast wraps include the basic egg and cheese ($3.29), a steak, egg and cheese ($4.79) and the Mexican ($3.79) and Greek ($4.19).
While the menu does wander around the globe a bit — there are some Asian and Italian flavors and a Greek influence — it is rooted in a southwest-style cuisine.
The menu includes salads, such as a honey barbecue chicken salad ($5.79) and oriental sesame chicken salad ($5.79). There are hot and cold wraps, including an Italian meatball ($5.29), eggplant parmegiana ($5.49) and roast beef dijonnaise ($5.69).
Wraps are not the only carb available; plain good ole’ sandwiches can be had with a chicken salad ($5.49) made with apples, almonds and grapes, and Italian cold cuts ($5.79) baked until crispy.
Also, soups. Everything at the Wrap Shak is made on the premises; no frozen soups here. The menu has a chicken noodle ($2.29), a cream of broccoli ($2.29) and a lobster bisque ($2.99) plus daily specials.
And there is a children’s menu. Look for grilled cheese wedges ($3.99), chicken fingers ($4.59) and a pizza ($4.49) all served with milk and cookies.
Farrington says he is really enjoying his new venture.
“I have never had so much fun in my life. While the fast food companies are operations geniuses, the food is what it is. Here, I would put the food up against anyone’s. It is quality and flavor,” said Farrington.
Wrap shak
Crossroads Plaza, 123 Nashua Rd., Londonderry, 689-7125
Hours: Monday – Saturday 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m..
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