The Waffle Lab is returning to its roots. Owner Rachael Roumaya told What Now Denver that they hope to open their new location at The Exchange around the end of November.
The Waffle Lab started as a food truck on the corner of what is now known as The Exchange back in 2012. Roumaya, her husband, Brad Roumaya, and Ashley Zeruto purchased the business in 2020.
The company will now have three brick-and-mortar locations — two in Fort Collins and the newly-opened restaurant in Boulder — as well as the food truck. Plans are in the works for more locations.
Instead of batter, The Waffle Lab uses a dough, which has to rise, and sugar pearls are added. “It gives it a really nice sweet taste,” Roumaya said. “Once the sugar pearls cook, they melt into that waffle and give it a crunchy, sugary pop when you eat it.”
The Waffle Lab is well-known for its chicken and waffles, which will not be offered at the new location at The Exchange due to another vendor in the area that serves a similar dish.
Roumayer could not release details of new dishes at The Exchange location, but they plan to roll out something “really fun” along with a few throwback menu items and savory options.
The European is one of The Waffle Labs’ top sweet options. It is a Liège waffle with Nutella, strawberries, bananas, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce on top. “It’s literally straight from the streets of Belgium.”
Hours vary by location with the original Fort Collins location at 130 W. Olive St. and the Boulder location at 1155 13th St. open only for breakfast and lunch. The Waffle Lab at The Exchange will stay open into the evening with plans to serve beer and wine.
The new location opening later this fall will take over the former space of FoCo DoCo, which moved locations. The Waffle Lab will be located at 234 N. College Avenue, Fort Collins, 80524.
