Wagon Wheel — Restaurant in Cave Creek

My husband and I loved going Wagon Wheel. We'd drive all the way across the valley to get a bite from there because we enjoy the food that much. It's like a good home-cooked meal, no fuss, in and out with a great vibe... usually.

The last experience changed everything.

We ordered pick up since we were going to be on the road, we decided we couldn't dine in but still wanted the yummy food. It was terrible from the phone call to me walking out the restaurant. I called and Alabama answered, I began speaking and she shouted at me to speak up. So I spoke up and she literally told me to hurry up and order. I had a couple questions but she was so pushy I just ordered and sucked it up. I hung up with a pit in my stomach but I didn't let that deter me, everyone has bad days. So I let it go. We arrived about 20 minutes later and I walked in and a woman was sitting at at the stools and looks me up and down with a frown and says are you the pick up order? I smiled and said yes. Then Alabama walks up and points at a bag of food and says "well, there it is." So I grabbed it, looked in the bag quickly and asked if they had any to go hot sauce, salt/pepper, jelly and butter? Both her and that woman looked at me as if I was the dumbest girl on earth & Alabama said "no, we don't." So I asked if I could use the condiments on the table and again got looked at rudely but given permission to proceed by both women. I handed Alabama a $50 so she could pay my check and i started preparing my food. I stood there trying to go as fast as I could, trying to get our food half way decent since there was nothing on it, not even butter on the toast or pancake. I sprinkled salt, pepper & Tabasco on our eggs, added sugar to my grits and grabbed 2 jellies. But realized I needed syrup and utensils. By this point I'm embarrassed because the woman at the counter was just glaring at me, customers are coming in and I was in the way but I needed syrup and utensils. So I asked and both Alabama and the rude lady said no. But a younger woman appeared and smiled at me and said "of course!" And she went and poured me 2 little cups of it, and some forks and napkins then handed it to me. I just wanted to get out of there at this point. I couldn't believe how incredible nasty I had been treated. I walked to the cash register to grab my change since no one brought it to me. Alabama handed my money to me and I turned around and hurried out. Here's the best part... as I'm approaching the door to the patio, I hear her literally yell "SHE DIDNT TIP US, THAT WOMAN DIDN'T TIP US!!!" Everyone in the building heard it and I wanted to cry I was so mortified.

I walked out to my truck where my hungry family waited, and handed my husband our food. He could see I was visibly shaken and asked why. I told him to hold on and I walked back in and threw a $10 bill down on the counter and said I was sorry I had forgotten the tip and walked out.

Truth is, no one but the nice young woman and the cooks deserved an penny of my money that day. Alabama you were terrible and the gray haired woman with a bob haircut with that awful frown was even worse. I heard you speaking kindly to others, but you chose to be rude and ugly towards a kind, generous customer who up until then loved going there to eat and to see YOU! I'll never go back, and I'll tell everyone to avoid your establishment after being treated so poorly. What a shame.

BTW our food was cold and my grits in a coffee cup was a joke. My husband never even touched his chicken fried steak because he lost his appetite seeing how upset I was. Thanks...

When I say the worst service in the west I mean it. Where to start, hmmm maybe its the stench of this nasty "mom & pop" sweatshop, maybe its the fleas and cockroaches who more then happily sit next to you while you try to eat your greasy food. Perhaps its the old washed up vet in the back who doesent wear a cap and is literally sweating bullets back there, all the while NOT WEARING GLOVES and handling your food with his old bare hands. And I'm just getting started, Lets move to the "customer service". Oh Yeah!? there is none!!! our waitress was rude and snappy. I had to literally walk up to the counter to beg for a refill, and trust me its not like she didnt see us, the place is the size of an oversized closet, and may I add, there is NO AC, all they use is a small swamp style unit that sucks at that. Im not being mean people, this is all true. What else? hmmm how about the fact that I asked the waitress for a refill of something else because my drink was in fact FLAT, and she mocked me Literally said Your Crazy!!! I drink it all the time, and continued to laugh and mock me in front of her hillbilly redneck friends

I cannot believe this place is still in business in 2025. We brought a family of five in for what we thought would be a casual breakfast and ended up paying $80 for the privilege of being ripped off. To make matters worse, they overcharged on gratuity — without asking.

Their so-called “famous” cinnamon raisin French toast? Don’t be fooled. It’s literally the same $2 loaf you can grab at the grocery store, sliced up and resold to you for $8 for TWO pieces. Nothing fresh, nothing special — just daylight robbery on a plate.

And let’s talk about the atmosphere. The entire place felt filthy — sticky tables, dusty corners, and a vibe that screams neglect. The bathroom? Honestly worse than most run-down gas stations in the middle of nowhere. Grimy, smelly, and the kind of place that makes you want to bathe in sanitizer afterward.

Then, the cherry on top: cash only. In 2025. Who still does this? It’s not just inconvenient — it feels shady, especially when paired with the inflated prices and surprise gratuity.

Between the inflated costs, cheap grocery-store “specialties,” filthy conditions, and outdated practices, this place is an embarrassment to Cave Creek. There are plenty of honest, family-friendly restaurants nearby — literally anywhere else would be better.

⭐ 0/5 —...