I need to find killer buffalo wings

[sml779]

aside from getting in the car and driving to NY - where do I go in Boston :) the posts online are old and the recent ones are not good!

cheap and late night eats are a huge plus...

thanks!!!

[JoJo5]

Has anyone tried the Buffalo wings at Wings Express on Moody St. in Waltham? If so, how do they compare to Buff's Pub wings?

Thanks,
Jo

[AHan]

I personally think Buff's are way overrated. Usually overcooked, small sections, and while nothing wrong with the sauce it is only Frank's with nothing else added, except cut with margarine on medium and mild wings. I think Wings Express is on a par if not better.

[jgg13]

Buffalo wing sauce is Franks & margarine ... I don't see the problem.

[AHan]

Yes, I understand, although some places and little touches here and there. I just find it funny when people rave about Buff's when there is really nothing that sets them apart. It's Franks and margarine.

[jgg13]

From what I've seen, most people's raves of Buffs are that they're the closest thing you'll find in the area to a proper Buffalo wing. So far, I've not seen you refute that.

[AHan]

I don't think most people would know a "proper Buffalo wing" if it bit them on the ass. People rave about them because they like them, that's all, not that they are in any way more "authentic". Again, I think their wings are pedestrian-- small, overcooked, overpriced, and the place is usually too crowded at the times I would go there. I think many places are as good or better--Chicken Bone, Wings Express, Coolidge Corner Clubhouse are all preferable to me on one level or another.

[Prav]

Seriously, I'm a happy Prav to be munching on any wing as long as it's delicious. That's what being a 'hound is about.

[jgg13]

I'm not saying that I care about an "authentic buffalo wing", just that most of the raves I"ve seen of the place bring that point up. I actually prefer my wings to not be quite as cooked as you see those sorts of places do (where the outside is quite hard/crispy), but that's just me.

[LStaff]

Had the boned wings the first time I went to Wings Express in Waltham, and they weren't anything special - and wicked expensive - with celery and blue cheese as an extra charge as well. So I usually stick to the boneless with spicy bbq.

[firewrx612]

Whenever I happen upon good authentic Buffalo Wings around here, I always ask the wait staff, "alright, who in the kitchen is from Buffalo?" and there is always at least one person.

I haven't tried Buffs, I'll have to give it a shot.

Coolidge Corner Clubhouse used to have decent ones, when there was a guy from Buffalo in the kitchen, but I haven't been in a while. I had decent ones at a bar in Martha's Vineyard (the owner's wife was from Buffalo). That's about it around here.

When in Buffalo try the wings at Duffs, and Gabriel's Gate are really good too.

[ScubaSteve]

a guy next to me at the Clubhouse had an awesome looking plate of huge Buffalo WIngs week before last. when asked he described them as 'Righteous' and i believed him, they looked that good.

[Chowzmeister]

I have to agree with an earlier post - Chicken Bone in Framingham served me up the best wings I've had in a long time, a couple of months ago. Cooked just right, with a little crunch, and plenty of hot sauce (well maybe a little heavy handed). These were definitely NOT rubbery as stated in another post (that is my pet peeve with wings at many places). I guess any place can have an especially good or bad day in the kitchen - I definitely got my wings on a GOOD day!

[AHan]

Do you ask who's from China when ordering Chinese food, Japan for sushi, Mexico for Mexican, Carolina for BBQ, etc.?

[firewrx612]

No, no, yes, no.

[cockscomb]

as much as i agree with buffs in newtown the best place in this state is in chicopee. quicky's wings are the best. if you haven't had them please do. i actually paid a cab service to deliver them. 20 bucks for wings and a 90 dollar cab fair was still worth it.
i know you said boston but jast had to throw in quicky's cuz it is that good although it is further away

[TomH]

Buff's Pub in Newton or Wendell's in Norton. Those are my top two and I find them both to be fantastic, meaty, and true to the "Buffalo" style.

[celeriac]

Wendell's wings are great, but absolutely NOT true Buffalo style. They're cooked just right, but the sauce is not based on Frank's and butter. I remember thinking it had a strong garlic component, and mayyybe a bit of some hoisin sauce.

[almansa]

My favorite, hands down, were at the Summer Shack. Crispy and soft at the same time, with goopy sauce that seemed no more than Frank's and butter, although they may have stuck with the traditional margarine. But alas, they have replaced them. Call to protest!

[Melmybelle]

Buff's honey hot ordered extra crispy/well done are a great lunch spot, though not cheap. Red Hat on Cambridge street (Gov't Center/Beacon Hill) has really good 10 cent wing specials... though they don't serve with enough celery and blue cheese, in my opinion.

[twentyoystahs]

Just an fyi, tho' i know this is wasn't the OP's actual question. I think Buff's has the best & most authentic buffalo wings around. It's rare to see a table without a platter of wings. However --I went recently with a friend of mine who has an aversion to "meat on the bone.." (ok, maybe this wasn't the best spot to choose)...I didn't realize that when I suggested Buff's as our meeting spot --but anyway, I told her that we still had to get their buffalo wings --how can we go to Buff's without getting their buffalo wings??? ....but in "boneless" form instead. Ugh. These really weren't good. Seemed to me to be some sort of frozen-pre-made-Sysco product. Flat, generic chicken fingers that were sorta soggy...the sauce was ok, but honestly --I wouldn't get them again. From now on, it's wings in their original form (with bones) or something else on their menu.....

[steinpilz]

The wings at Union Grill in Newton Centre are pretty good but there's only one choice for heat in the Buffalo style (they also do BBQ and terriaki). I lived in upstate NY for a few years and also miss the wings there, but these aren't bad.

[jferg18]

Pepperoncini's in framingham actually has very good buffalo wings. I would say identical to those at Buff's in newton. They have a special there during all Redsox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins games too.....25 cent wings!!!

[ChickenBrocandZiti]

I went to Game On! a few weeks ago to watch the Pats and the Packers with a Packers fan and found the wings there to be pretty good, had to request extra wing sauce but they where quite good. I also like the grilled wings at Red Bones.

[phatchris]

The wings at Uncle Pete's are'nt typical buffalo wings but are very good and have a hot/sweet chili glaze.

[bitsubeats]

Not really buffalo style, because their sauce isn't just frank's and margerine but I really like dj's (on the cape) and the wings at deep ellum

The wing's at DJ's come with home made blue cheese dressing and there is actual huge chunks of blue cheese in the dressing with poppy seeds (could do without those though). A lot of the wings are okay here in boston, but the blue cheese sauce on the side is pretty horrible...either being really runny or without any chunks of blue cheese in it.

[cnoyes]

Whiskey's has really good 10 cent wings Sundays through Thursdays from 4pm to 11pm. Nice and crispy. I hate soggy wings. You have to order them at the bar though.

I had Beer Works buffalo wings the other day. Those were really good to, not as good as Whiskey's.

[takeanytiki]

Buff's hallmark is consitently great wings. You can order any time they are open and will always get a solid score. Toms Busy Bee hit higher highs but there was always the risk of a clunker batch. "The Bee" sadly is now closed - will re/open under new mgt this summer. Wendell's has by far the hottest wings (upon request) but in general the pieces are smaller and they come swimming in sauce. Joe Sent Me (Waltham/Cambridge) puts out a nice plate of wings but are not classic buffalo.

[steinpilz]

I celebrated Earth Day yesterday by walking down Commonwealth Ave from Walnut Street in Newton to to the Boston Common (no river cleanup sorry, so this posting will have to be my community service).

Along the way I stopped at Sunshine Cantina by BU, had a Paulander Hefeweizen and another good beer (skipped the 112 dirfferent tequila choices, but I'll be back for that) and wings. The wings were vg -- small, not breaded, and fried crispy. The 'original recipe' sauce wasn't quite what I've had at Duffs or the Anchor Bar, probably made with oil rather than butter and so thicker, but still not bad and hot enought for me.

[phatchris]

Lower dephts are just o.k. in my book, I really like the Island Wings at Goody Glovers, though not Buffalo style a great spice rub.

[mmcc900]

I'm from Buffalo but have lived in Boston for 20 years. I have sampled Buffalo wings at scores of boston area establishments, usually with much disappointment. Currently, I can only name two places that have excellent "Buffalo Wings"... 1) The Allston Sports Depot in Allston, and 2) The Liberty Bell on main street in Stoneham. The Depot is also a bar so you can grab a beer with your wings. Liberty Bell is more like a sub shop, so for that reason it's less of an evening destination.

[ipsofatso]

I went to Buff State in the 70s so I know a bit about wings: Ditto on the Allston Sports Depot. Tought the wings at Halfway Cafe were also decent. Buffs in Newton are a solid "B" but so are the wings at the Sunset Tap. I also had good wings at Christophers in Cambridge but that was a good decade or so ago...

One surprising wing spot: The base lodge at Mad River Glen (ski area) in Fayston, VT has most killer wings. I mean close your eyes and you are tranformed to a roadside joint in Batavia. Seriously good. OK, slightly out of the way, but great after a day on the slopes.

[horrible]

I've recenlty found some very decent wings at the Lower Depths (old Deli Haus). The menu makes some mentions about Syracuse. Maybe the manager is a WNY native?

Good heat, nice and crispy. Best I've found in Boston, but I have to get over and check out the Depot now.

[Joanie]

I remember being able to smell those wings from down the other end of the bar at the Lower Depths. Which I guess is a good thing.

[psora]

Thx to both of you for the heads up about the Allston Sports Depot. I'd assumed they'd be just standard lowest common denominator bar food and never tried them there.

[bachslunch]

The best Buffalo wings I've had in the (more or less) Boston area was at Wendell's Pub in Norton, with runner up being Buff's Pub in Newton followed by Wing It in Allston.

The Anchor Bar in Buffalo of course did them wonderfully when I went several years ago.

[Chrispy75]

I second Wendell's. If you're looking for some real heat, ask for double dares. They're not on the menu anymore because too many people with something to prove would come in, order them, wimp out and try to send them back. They'll usually make them if they've seen your face a couple of times. Otherwise, suicides will do just fine.

[Velda Mae]

I went to the Depot for the first time last night and thought the wings were the best I've had since I was in Buffalo. They were crispy, meaty and the sauce was perfectly fiery and vinegary for my tastes. A gigantic portion costs $8.99. FYI, there is only one size you can order and there is only one sauce, unlike other places where you can choose 6, 12, 18, etc. and your level of spiciness. An added bonus was that our waiter was so friendly and efficient during the peak Sox-Yankees madness.

[mmcc900]

Went to the Sports Depot in Allston last week and was shocked with the horrifying news that they no longer have Buffalo Wings on their menu. Crap!!! I'll have to stick with my weekly order from Liberty Bell in Stoneham whose wings are excellent (no matter what Chris VR says). I'm from Buffalo, in fact I used to work in a restaurant there and we made wings by the ton. In case anyone is wondering, the recipe is simple: Deep fry frozen wings for 12 minutes at 350ºF. Toss in a 2:1 ratio of Frank's Red Hot Sauce and melted margarine (or butter) -- that's it! No honey, no BBQ sauce, etc. (The wings should be completely coated with sauce but not swimming in a deep pool of it).

[steinpilz]

Thanks for the recipe! I also love the garlic version of buffalo wings, do you just cook the garlic in the butter before adding?

Regarding wings, I went to Buffs Pub in Newton Corner for the first time a few weeks ago and their rendition was pretty good, the sauce was acid though so maybe they add vinegar.

[Chris VR]

Huh? Did I say the wings are no good at LIberty Bell? I have no recollection either of eating them or saying that! Old age catching up with me?

EDIT: huh well there you go, right below :-) And I did say hey are pretty good. Well it's been 2 years, maybe I need to try them again!

[Chris VR]

I tried the wings from Liberty Bell this week. A lot better than I'd expect, but still missing something that would make them like the eentral NY wings I crave- vinegar maybe? But still pretty good for takeout and they are nearby, so thanks for the recommendation!

[cdoobiest]

Hi, which Liberty Bell. Seems to be a bunch of them around? Thanks

[Chris VR]

This is the one in Melrose, in the Foodmaster shopping plaza. But I think they're all the same people, so theoretically it shouldn't matter which one you try.

[bentleyz]

wing it in packard's corner, allston!

[Archimedic]

Having lived in upstate NY for 28 years I was shocked at the poor state of buffalo wings in Boston. I went to one pub and ordered "medium" and was told "they only come one temperature hon", not in CNY, you can go from mild to volcanic and anywhere in between.

My solution was to buy a small deep fryer (Delonghi at Macy's $100), some Franks, or Cyrstal hot sauce and to melt some butter, any temperature you want anytime you want!

[steinpilz]

How do you manage the oil for that fryer (what oil, how much, how often do you change the oil)? Thanks.

[The Chowhound Team]

Please head over to either the Cookware board (to discuss the fryer) or the Home Cooking board (to discuss recipes) and repost your question, so we can keep this board focused on finding great chow in Boston. Thanks!

[DoubleMan]

I'll probably get hammered for this suggestion, but whatever. The Wings chain, which survives solely on college populations in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic just opened a spot in Brookline (they also have one in Amherst). While they are much more popular for their boneless wings, which I prefer, they do a great job with the fryer and have great sauces, I'm partial to Golden BBQ.

Probably not a place for "traditional" Buffalo wings, but I think their wings are the best around.

http://www.wingsover.com/pdfs/brookli...

[BobB]

I haven't eaten there, but I've passed by and noticed that they offer their Buffalo wings in five levels of heat.

[tamerlanenj]

And, for what it's worth, Our House in Allston (NOT the one in Boston!!!) has very very good wings, and $2 bottles of brubaker. Open until 2 a.m.

[tamerlanenj]

Coolidge Corner Clubhouse has great wings. Beware, they leave the whole chicken wing intact, so you get actualy WINGS instead of the two different kinds of pieces with the tips cut off.

[psc109]

I second the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse. I always ask for 'em well done/crispy.

[sml779]

Thanks for all the help - I am going to cure my craving ASAP.

Agreed with most of the postings- I lived in Florida for a while and they have tons of wing places but all huge and rubbery and mostly battered. I really dont like the battered and wouldnt consider them to be not be authentic - but that's just how I know them to be. Wings from Buffalo are medium sized and cripsy - perfect!

Im going to try Buffs (maybe because it reminds me of Duffs in Buffalo) and see how that goes. I always tell everyplace i order wings (even in NY) that I want them crispy and well done. I've turned away plates of wings because I can't stomach the rubber.

[JBM]

Sadly, I've never found any wings around Boston that compare to those of my ROC childhood. Buffs is probably the closest to Buffalo-style wings. I haven't found a Country Sweet-esque wing but look forward to trying the Silvertone offering that Horrible describe above.

A general observation: my memory of those from Western NY is that they are actually quite small and that the key is a really, really crisp skin. Around here, they tend to be much larger, not as crispy (more about the meat, less about the crispy exterior) and just slathered in tabasco.

[horrible]

JBM, you've hit the nail on the head. The local purveyors have their priorities mixed up! Small and crispy is what we need. I think alot of places figure if the wings are super hot nothing else matters.

[GrowingBoy]

The wings at O'Leary's in Brookline (Beacon St. at St. Mary's where the T goes underground) are terrific. Large wings, I think double-fried, they're crispy and well-sauced. They make a good burger and have a decent selection of beers on tap as well. I don't know what the one here is like, but I've enjoyed the wings at Hooters (sorry) down south.

[twentyoystahs]

Buffs in Watertown is the best around here. Believe me, I've done my research. I recently tried the Ideal Cafe (in JP, based on a previous posters recs) They were ok. Also got takeout wings from James Gate, also good, but at $8 for an order of 7 wings, you've gotta spend lotsa cash to get a pile of wings. Again, I'd go with Buffs. Maybe not as good as wings real Buffalo wings (from Buffalo) but as close as you're gonna get. (I've never had the real wings from Buffalo, so perhaps I don't know what i'm missing, but I think Buff's wings are great.)

[LStaff]

I'm also from NY and miss the wings I used to eat in college. Always crispy with buffalo sauce (hot sauce, vinager, butter).

The closest I've had in the area is at The Wave Sports Pub on Waverly Oaks in Waltham. Only problem is that they usually undercook the wings, so you have to empasize that you want them well done and crispy and hope for the best. Sauce is exactly what I remember buffalo sauce to be.

[hiddenboston]

Tom's Busy Bee in Watertown has killer wings, as does Buff's Pub in nearby Newton Corner.

[Velda Mae]

I liked the Busy Bee's better than Buff's Pub but it has been closed the past two times I've driven by. Are they still in business?

[Joanie]

You don't mean Busy Bee on Beacon St. do you? They're closed on Sun., open til 2 on Sat. and 7 on weekdays.

[Velda Mae]

No, I've been to the Busy Bee on Beacon St. and know their hours. I mean the Busy Bee Pub on Rte. 20 in Watertown not too far from Acapulco restaurant. I've been by there during hours when a bar would usually be open and it's been dark. I just tried to find a listing for them in Bigbook and was unsuccessful.

[MC Slim JB]

The Busy Bee on Beacon Street in Brookline is an old-school diner, a classic greasy spoon.

The Busy B in Watertown on Route 20 closed earlier this year. It is now called Fit Z's Bar and Grill. It has a Greek-American chef, and still does wings, though I haven't tried them.

[MeffaBabe]

Believe it or not Uncle Petes in Revere has the absolute best buffalo wings I have ever had. They are unlike the typical red sauced buffalo wings with blue cheese- they are so totally different and delicious you will never want to go back to the "usual" styled wings again.

[SmokeDawg]

Having eaten at Uncle Pete's and left in sugar shock - there was sugar in the "cornbread", the slaw, the "baked" beans, the mac & cheese, not to mention the strange-tasting BBQ sauce, I would guess they cover their wings in some sweet gloppy sauce. How were they different?

[tpapa2]

I second Cambridge Commons. Also, try Redbones in Davis Square - they have great grilled wings and I believe I had good buffalo style wings there as well (?) .

[Northender]

While I have never been, over the years many posters have raved about the wings at Buff"s Pub in Newton Corner (right off the Pike)and friends who have been echo this.

[Chris VR]

Buff's is the best I've found- my base of comparison is going to school in central NY, where they really know how to do wings right.

[hargau]

In Framingham, not Boston. But open late and really good wings
http://www.thechickenbone.com/menu.asp

[horrible]

I went to The Chickenbone for the first time last week and was unimpressed.

The skin on the wings was rubbery and they were drowning in sauce. Decent heat in the buffalo sauce though. A dozen went for just under $9.

I'm still looking for the wings from my college days in upstate NY, crispy wings with just enough sauce to add flavor and heat without sogging down the skin.

I had some very nice Rochester style wings at Silvertones recently. It's a sweet/hot glaze that's very addicting. Not crispy though.

[hargau]

Let me know if you find them. Something like pontillos buffalo or Chester Cab. Were Silvertones like Country Sweet? You say not crispy so im guessing they were not battered like country sweet.

[horrible]

The sauce was very similar to country sweet. Not battered though. The wings were very big/meaty too. (FYI Christmass Tree shop had country sweet sauces a few months ago)

Pontillo's and Chester Cab....Your giving me some serious cravings. My fave in ROC were at the Distillery. They were almost too "well done" but that's how I like them.

At least now we can get Beef on Weck at All Star

[coookie]

when i lived in harvard square, i always liked cambridge common (north of the square on mass ave). they have good wings - both boneless and bony (bonefull?); get an order along with their beer sampler. and they're open till 1 or 2 am, depending on the night.

http://www.cambridgecommonrestaurant....