Chicken Wings

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What the HELL is this about? Chicken Wings.... there's NOTHING finer than beer and chicken wings. It's MY webpage, I put whaterver I want up here!

The Art of the Wing

Hot Wings are simple. They are supposed to be that way. They are meant to be eaten with one hand, while the other holds a nice big cold beer. I can't cook for shit, but I know how to make wings. Also, wings is kind of a misnomer. Legs are the money meat. The wing pieces are complicated. Too much work to get to the meat. Wings take two hands to eat properly. Legs only require one. Keep it simple. Plus it's WAY easier to say "wings" than it is to say "drumettes" when you are hammered. Try it. The real point of all of this is the SAUCE. The piece of chicken is supposed to be complimentary to the sauce. It's supposed to be the vehicle for the sauce. The key is to keep the chicken simple. Not too dry, and never soggy. I can't stand soggy chicken.

So I've decided to start adding dates for the ratings. THere seems to be a lot of inconsistency based on different cooks so, from here (07/05/08) I'll start dating the ratings.

So here's how the rating system works: (20 total points and I will bow down and worship)

HEAT: 0-10 for the sauce
MEAT: 0-10 for the actual size of the individual pieces (not the overall portion). I know they're called "wings" but legs are the money meat, so you get more points for more legs.

You got suggestions, recommendations, complaints, etc... Lemme Know

WINGDOME: My favorite place...Cold Beer, Hot Wings, 'Nuff Said. Updated!

HEAT: They have a range of "Alarms" from 0-7. 7 Alarm wings are sold one at a time and for a very good reason..... They're FREAKIN' HOT!. I've never tried anything lower than 3 Alarm, the heat source for 3's and 4's is cayenne. 5's and 6's have some serious habanero goin on..... 7's, for professionals only! - 9.5 points!
MEAT: A little below average. Fairly small and a lot more wings than legs. Pieces are "naked" (no breading), fried, then the sauce is applied. The last time I indulged at the mighty Dome, seems they had improved their meat supplier. Based on that, I'm going to bump their rating up by 2 points. Guess they read this rating and wanted to improve !!!! HA HA!- 7 points

16.5 Total Points

Slim's Last Chance Chili Shack (06/08) : Wings off of the Appetizer section. The wings are a new addition to the menu. Hope they keep them on there.

HEAT: The bartender said the chef had made a "special" sauce for the wings. It was really good. More BBQ flavor than straight heat, but mighty tasty. I added some Habanero sauce after a while. - 5 points
Lightly breaded and fried, then tossed in the sauce. All drummettes. Pretty damn close to perfect on the meat. No flaws here. Hope they stay with the same vendor for the chicken. We have a winner here as far as the meat. - 10 points

15 total points

The KEG updated

HEAT: My company moved next to a Keg, so I've had a lot more of these recently. Not much heat goin on here, cayenne base, about a half point above the Outback. Good tasting sauce though. - 4.5 points
MEAT: Consistently good size and all drumettes! Very meaty. I wish the Wingdome would buy their chicken from the same supplier. - 9 points

13.5 total points

PYRAMID BREWERY, Seattle : Deep fried wings and drumettes convered in a spicy BBQ sauce. I'm a big fan of these! The breading is crunchy and the sauce doesn't make them soggy. Very good!!!!!

HEAT: Not overwhelming, but it left my tounge tingling and that's a good thing. - 6 points
MEAT: Good sized pieces, very fried...... very tasty! - 7.5 points

13.5 total points

TGIFriday's This is an *honerable mention*. I've gotten "special" wing treatment by a cook named Dan. So these aren't on the menu, but if you go to TGI Friday's in Kirkland, ask for Dan's wings......

HEAT: Dan's done an awesome job on the heat. Usually when I complain about heat, I get a bunch of cayenne based "hot sauce" poured on. Dan's a little more creative. Seems to be a Cajun style heat base. No habenreo, but a nice warm feeling. I'll go with a 7 on the heat. Maybe he'll read this and bring it up a bit to try and claim first place..... 7 points!
MEAT: Not bad on the size, more legs than wings. They're fried but not overly breaded. Nicely sauced. I'll even give an extra half point for the garnish. - 6.5 points

13.5 Total Points

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE (South Lake Union): Kukaburra wings off of the Appetizer section Updated 07/05/08

HEAT: I have established a special relationship at this particular Outback, so they get their own review. Order the wings "My Way". Naked, well done, and extra hot. While the heat seems to change depending on the cook, you WILL get some heat.- 7 points
MEAT: Used to be consistently good on the meat. Always legs, though medium in size. But now they have changed the meat and are going with wing pieces. They lose points for that. Ace the breading, and you will be good to go - 6 points

13 total points

Admiral Thriftway, West Seattle : Chipotle Wings in the Deli section. I stumbled across these tasty morsels by accident one day, so I HAD to try them. They were in the cold section though, so those of you that like your Hot Wings warm will have to put them in the oven!

HEAT: Chipotle has a distinctive taste and makes a good heat source. I don't know why more places don't use it! - 5.5 points
MEAT: - Check this out... They were in the self-serve part of the Deli, so I got to hand pick my own damn wings. That kinda skews the rating since I picked out the biggest drummettes, but hey. There was actually some good, meaty pieces to chose from. Lightly breaded and fried and smothered in chipotle! 7 points

12.5 total points

MATADOR (West Seattle): Wings off of the Appetizer section

HEAT: Hmmmm a nice sauce. A little chipotle for the heat. Not bad, very tasty.- 5 points
Always legs, though medium in size. Nicely breaded and fried. I love the crunchiness.- 7 points

12 total points

HOOTERS: No introduction needed..... If they used the WINGDOME'S sauce on their wings, I'd probably open my own franchise....

HEAT: They have catchy phrases like "3 Mile Island" in reference to the heat, but the don't bring it. Though they are hotter than the outback. Still seems to be a cayenne heat source though. - 4 points
MEAT: Actually, the pieces are pretty big, though covered in a lot of batter then fried. The wings pieces are actually bigger than the Outback's legs, but the breading gets in the way of true wing indulgence. I hear they have "naked" wings now though, but haven't tried them...yet. - 8 points

12 total points

Coho Cafe in Redmond, Wa. : buffalo wings appetizer served Coho style. Jumbo drummettes in sweet n spicy garlic ginger red pepper sauce.

HEAT: Interesting sauce. Left a slight afterburn, not bad. 4 points
MEAT: While not "Jumbo" by my standards, they weren't bad. All drummettes, lightly fried. 7.5 points

11.5 Total Points

Joey's (South Lake Union): Wings off of the Appetizer section

HEAT: They serve you wings with a side Hibatchi. They give you actual FIRE with your wings. I am not kidding. FIRE. How cool is that? Not to mention the, um, "talent" of the waitresses is a nice added bonus. Think a higher class Hooters without the hot pants. Oh, I forgot I was supposed to be talking about the wings. Um, nice flavor, no heat. +1 for the fire though - 5 points
MEAT: all wing pieces... lightly breaded. Nice lunch meal. Nice crunchy breading, not overdone. Did I mention they give you FIRE? - 6 points

11 total points

ROCKSPORT in West Seattle:

HEAT: Classic Buffalo style red sauce.... Not much heat even when you ask for "the hottest you got". 3 points
MEAT: Actually, the meat is pretty good sized. Mixture of wings and legs, prepared naked. Enough meat to sink your teeth into.7.5 points

10.5 total points

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE: Kukaburra wings off of the Appetizer section

HEAT: Not a whole lotta' heat going on here.... I always say "bring me the hottest you got", but am always wishing I brought some extra Habanero sauce. Seems to be a mostly cayenne based heat source. - 3 points
MEAT: Consistently good on the meat. Always legs, though medium in size. Lightly breaded and fried. - 7.5 points

10.5 total points

The Roaster in Seatac (By the Seattle Airport): Wings off of the Appetizer section

HEAT: The sauce was "sweet" with a tiny bit o' kick to it. Not bad.... More of a BBQ flavor.- 4 points
MEAT: The menu said "flash fried". When I read that, I think "crispy". These were NOT "crispy". These were "soggy". All wing pieces, but nicely sized. They specialize in rotisserie, so I am guessing that the wings were done that way. I recommend that you take the "Flash Fried" part off of the menu. Don't set my expectations, and not deliver. The meat came off of the bone nicely, go with that. As a side note, the have HUGE beers, so that is a plus - 6 points

10 total points

LIGHTHOUSE GRILL, Alki Beach

HEAT: Not much, tiny bit of cayenne comes through, Typical red sauce- 3 points
MEAT: A little better than average - 7 points

10 total points

THE PUMPHOUSE, in Bellevue Wa.

HEAT:As always, I say "Bring me the hottest you got", but am always wishing I brought some extra Habanero sauce. Cayenne based heat source. - 2 points
MEAT: Meat is good, all legs, naked and fried - 7.5 points

9.5 total points

MAHARAJA (West Seattle): Wings off of the Appetizer sectionThe menu sez "Marinated chicken wings cooked in a hot, zesty sauce". While they may be marinated, I couldn't taste anything hot nor zesty. I thought they were plain. I recommend getting some of their Tikka Masala sauce, HOT for dipping. That helped a lot. But I gotta rate them as they come -

HEAT: 1 points
MEAT:Naked legs that are really good sized. All they need is heat to jump up points.- 8 points

9 total points

RED ROBIN : Buzzard Wings from the appetizer section of the menu.

HEAT: Classic red cayenne sauce that seemed to baked on, not much heat - 3 points
MEAT: 10 drummettes garnished with celery and big thick carrot pieces..... naked and fried - 6 points

9 total points

T.S. McHUGH's, Queen Anne

HEAT: Sauce was light, and cayenne but there was something a little extra in there. Not bad........ - 3.5 points
MEAT: 8 pieces, mixed, naked and fried. Average size. - 5 points

8.5 total points

SPORT Restaurant, Seattle HUGE sports bar with a ton of TVs everywhere! We had the Spicy Buffalo and the Jamaican Jerk wings. You get "a pound" of wings, so numbers will vary.

HEAT: Neither style had much heat going on. A little tickle on the tounge, but that was about it. - 3 points
MEAT: Pretty small drummettes..... even the biggest pieces were medium sized at best. - 5 points

8 total points

FLOYD'S PLACE, Queen Anne

HEAT: Well, there's isn't any... But you can get BBQ sauce on the side. It has a tiny bit of kick to it. - 0.5 points
MEAT: All medium sized drumettes breaded and fried... really fried. But they we're damn good for not having any sauce on them. - 7.5 points

8 total points

DUKE'S CHOWDER HOUSE, Alki: Chipotle Wings Appetizer

HEAT: classic Buffalo sauce. I didn't taste any Chipotle, but there was a slight trace of cayenne. Slight....... - 2 points
MEAT: all drumettes, medium in size, naked and lightly fried. - 6 points

8 total points

ESPNZone, New York New York hotel, Las Vegas :

HEAT: Just your average red Buffalo sauce. Nothing fancy - 2 points
MEAT: Average sized wings and drumettes. Naked and fried, and covered in sauce, just like you would expect. Light on the heat. 5.5 points

7.5 total points

MECCA CAFE, Queen Anne

HEAT: Not quite sure what was going on here..... Red sauce, a little thick. Absolutely NO heat. Really salty, didn't even finish all the wings...... - 0 points
MEAT: 6 drumettes not bad size, about the same as outback naked and fried - 6 points

6 total points

Richie D's American Grill & Sports Bar, Mountlake Terrace : Very unimpressive, average meat and weak sauce. I even told the cook that I was going to rate his wings here. And, not that it matters much, but celery and carrot garnish was totally lame.

HEAT: Not much, the sauce was red, but that's all I remember - 1 points
MEAT: Average Average Average - 4 points

5 total points

THE PIKE PLACE BREWERY :

HEAT: Cayenne soaked breading, extra half point for the "effort" - 1.5 points
MEAT: I swear they are frozen and baked, the meat came off the bone easily but the word "soggy" immediately comes to mind. - 3 points

4.5 total points

HIT IT HERE CAFE, Safeco Field : They have 2 "different" wings listed on the menu. The only difference is that one set comes with sauce on the side, the other is tossed in sauce.

HEAT: On the side, or tossed, they ain't throwin any heat - 1 points
MEAT: On first glance it looked good, but it seemed really fatty on consumption, and a little soggy as well. I think they were frozen and baked instead of fried. - 3.5 points

4.5 total points

KFC : They do Chicken....Right? Well, I have had worse...... see below

HEAT: Um, well, none, but they will give you hot sauce to go - 0.5 points
MEAT: There might actually be some "chicken" underneath all the breading, but I can't tell for sure - 0.5 points

1 total point

COOPERS PUB in Lake City : Well, the first time I went there, I was QUITE impressed with their wings. BIG wings and legs smothered in a classic Buffalo style red sauce....... The 2 times after that is a totally different story. I've got to do the rating on the last 2 visits and, sadly, discount the first.

HEAT: Void, Null, None, Weak............. - 0 points
MEAT: It's amazing they can find "chicken" that is this small...... - 0 points

0 total points

Mainstage Comedy Club Lower Queen Anne : It's a comedy club, and their wings are a joke. Avoid these unless you want to laugh at a pathetic attempt at wings. Not only are they tiny, but they arranged them on the plate together, in a way that amplified the tinyness. Seriously, there were 8 wings grouped together in a little tiny pile of wing feebleness.

HEAT: not worth typing about the lameness - 0 points
MEAT: see above - 0 points

0 total points