BEST WINGS?
15 options to please local wing fans
The Super Bowl is almost here, and even though the Buffalo Bills aren’t in it, you’ll probably be watching and of a mind to wing it. Chicken wing it. • Dozens of places around town offer the game-day indulgence, and perhaps you have a favorite. • If, on the other hand, you have a favorite chicken-wing style and are looking for some new ideas about where to get them, here are 15. • Obviously, the list below — based on previous reader feedback — is not comprehensive. • Also, all these establishments serve wings in a variety of styles, not just the ones highlighted.
Buffalo-style chicken wings
Bar Bill Tavern, 1129 Empire Blvd., Penfield A Buffalo-area institution, Bar-Bill Tavern opened a location here last July, and it instantly became a go-to for crispy Buffalo wings in heat levels ranging from mild to “suicidal” and in a variety of flavors — Cajun, honey Dijon and lemon pepper, to name just three. Go to barbill.com. A heads-up: Bar Bill does not offer takeout service yet.
Jeremiah’s Tavern, 1104 Monroe Ave., Rochester; 1175 Jefferson Road, Henrietta; 2164 Fairport-Nine Mile Point Road, Penfield
A Rochester mainstay since 1978, Jeremiah’s has wings for every taste preference and heat tolerance. Take it easy on yourself and order them mild or see what you’re made of and get the Catatonic. Go to jeremiahstavern.com.
Windjammers Bar & Grill, 4695 Lake Ave. Dry-seasoned varieties at Windjammers include Cajun and lemon pepper. Or get them saucy. Options include cinnamon chipotle and Smoky Mountain (mesquite flavor, mild or hot). Go to windjammersbarandgrill.com.
Rochester-style chicken wings
Rochester-style wings have a sticky, sweet and spicy sauce and traditionally have a light breading. These restaurants offer some kind of a sweet and spicy sauce, but the wings may not be breaded:
Country Sweet Chicken & Ribs, 1600 W. Ridge Road, Greece; 1691 Mt. Hope Ave.
Wings are coated in Country Sweet’s own sauces, mild, barbecue and hot. Go to country sweet.com.
Sal’s Birdland, 309 E. Ridge Road, Irondequoit; 400 Air Park Drive, Chili
Sal’s uses a range of its own “Sassy” sauces, including mild, hot and Jamaican. Go to salsbird land.com.
L&M Lanes, 873 Merchants Road
The two-level bowling alley in Rochester’s Beechwood neighborhood serves a variety of wing flavors, including Medium Sweetie, Hot Sweetie and Garlic Sweetie. Go to lmlanes.com.
Extra-spicy chicken wings
Some like ’em hot. And three of readers’ favorites can be found at:
The Tap It Bar & Grill, 1761 Scottsville Road,
Chili
Tap It serves wings in Buffalo hot sauce. Other options include Mango Habanero and Honey Hot. Go to thetapitbarandgrill.com.
The Distillery, 1142 Mt. Hope Ave.; 2010 S. Winton Road, Henrietta; 10 Square Drive, Victor (across from Eastview Mall)
In existence for 44 years, The Distillery is known for its hot wings and serves them in its own Buffalo hot sauce. If you want to take things
up a notch, order the Ghost wings. Go to thedistillery.com.
The Angry Goat Pub, 938 S. Clinton Ave.
In addition to serving Cajun Buffalo wings, The Angry Goat in Rochester’s Swillburg neighborhood douses wings in its own Goat XX Hot Sauce. Go to the angrygoatpub.com.
Barbecued chicken wings
Wings from these places are smoked as part of the cooking process:
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 99 Court St. Spice-rubbed, pit-smoked and grilled, downtown destination Dinosaur serves wings mild (honey barbecue) to hottest (Devil’s Duel). Go to dinosaurbar bque.com.
Fairport Village Inn, 103 N. Main St., Fairport
You can get your wings smoked at the FVI and in a variety of flavors, including garlic Parmesan, Sweet & Sassy and XHot. Go to thefvi.com.
58 Main BBQ & Brew, 58 N. Main St., Brockport
58 Main serves hickory-smoked wings, spice-rubbed, slow-smoked and charbroiled.
They also offer smoked wings deepfried for extra crispiness. All are available in a variety of sauces. Go to 58main .com.
Places you may have missed
JT’s Pizza and Plates, 108 Main St., East Rochester
You wouldn’t know it from the name, but there’s more to JT’s than pizza and plates. Its wings have ranked high with readers.
Sauces include Sriracha honey, Wolverine and Atomic Golden Bee. Dry-rub options are garlic jalapeño, honey chipotle and apple pecan. You can order a 50-piece package for your Super Bowl party. Or if you’re just really hungry. Go to jtspizzaandplates.com.
Silver Iguana, 663 N. Winton Road Known for its tacos, enchiladas, burritos and other Mexican fare, the Silver Iguana in North Winton Village also serves chicken wings. As at several establishments already mentioned, the Silver Iguana smokes its wings and smothers them in what it calls its “own magical, secret sauce.” Go to silver iguanacantina.com.
Nashville Hot Chicken, 320 Phoenix Mills Plaza, Victor
Located 2 miles east of the village of Victor, Nashville Hot Chicken specializes in the Music City’s specialty, which is twice fried for crispiness. But the menu also includes wings served in a variety of spice levels and sauces. Go to nash chicken.com. Includes reporting by Tracy Schuhmacher. Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.