365512 Mon Jan 29 12:57:59 -0800 2007 63 18 Manhattan 0 2239041 anybody know where i can get good baked wings in NYC? i know only of 4th street bar in the east village... Mon Jan 29 12:57:59 -0800 2007 69786 luke643 1 2239074 You had me until I read the word "baked" ... Mon Jan 29 13:06:23 -0800 2007 2239041 16028 seal 1 2239116 Frying is just like baking, only in oil, right? Mon Jan 29 13:14:02 -0800 2007 2239041 69781 elecsheep9 1 2239145 seal - buffalo wings are baked. talk to your friends from buffalo. Mon Jan 29 13:20:52 -0800 2007 2239041 69786 luke643 2 3508451 Um, no. I lived in Rochester for 7 years, and have eaten Buffalo wings in a million joints all over upstate NY, including their original home, the Anchor Bar in Buffalo. True Buffalo wings are NEVER, EVER BAKED OR BREADED. They are tossed naked into a deep fryer until crispy, then sauced. To answer the original question, I find that Atomic Wings has the most authentic, upstate NY tasting wings in the city. Blondie's wings are good too, but not as good as Atomic, IMHO. Brother Jimmy's also has decent wings - they have an all you can eat night too, which is nice, since wings tend to be REALLY expensive in NYC (by Rochester/Buffalo standards, anyway). Wed Mar 19 13:58:17 -0700 2008 2239145 56050 biondanonima 1 2239181 Luke, I hate to be so contrary with you, but no authentic buffalo wing is baked, it is deep fried. I went to school in upstate New York, and have had Buffalo Wings throughout the state, including in Buffalo, and I don't think I have ever had them baked. Heck, the "history of the buffalo wing" on the Anchor Bar's website explicitly states that "Teressa had deep fried the wings and flavored them with a secret sauce." http://www.anchorbar.com/origins.asp Mon Jan 29 13:32:20 -0800 2007 2239041 69781 elecsheep9 1 2239276 Luke anywhere you go for wings will say how many should I "drop" - meaning how many should I put in the fryer. Good Buffalo wings are not breaded however. If you are looking for nonbreaded wings the best I've had are at Rathbones. Mon Jan 29 13:52:27 -0800 2007 2239041 12472 wingman 1 2239291 I've never seen a real buffalo wing baked, or breaded for that matter. Blondies on West 79th Street has always been my favorite. Great onion rings and fries too but the wings are to die for. Order them extra crispy. Mon Jan 29 13:56:20 -0800 2007 2239041 12099 sivyaleah 2 2241273 Both Hooters and Ship of Fools bread their wings - not traditional Buffalo Wings but some people do get that confused. I still think Blondies uses too much vinegar in their sauce. Tue Jan 30 08:18:16 -0800 2007 2239291 12472 wingman 3 2241315 Maybe that's why I don't like Hooters. Oh and the sleazy waitress factor too, but that's a whole other issue. Tue Jan 30 08:34:11 -0800 2007 2241273 12099 sivyaleah 1 2239340 Anyone who thinks wings are baked, must be baked themselves. The traditional Buffalo WIng started in the Anchor bar in Buffalo NY. It is a chicken wing or mini drumstick dropped in the deep fryer. The souch is straight hot sauce (Texas Pete, Tabasco, Red Hot....) mixed with melted butter to adjust the heat. Mon Jan 29 14:08:10 -0800 2007 2239041 67865 bakedbeans 2 2239894 I don't know of any place that traditionally uses mini drumsticks. When you start with whole chicken wings, the typical way to prepare Buffalo wings is to cut the wing at it's two joints, resulting in three pieces. One piece is the wing tip which is usually discarded. The remaining two pieces have a separate bone structure, one of which appears to be a drumstick, but is in fact half of the wing. Tipsy Mon Jan 29 16:14:56 -0800 2007 2239340 16161 TipsyMcStagger 1 2239372 One of the best wings around is to be found at Bonnie's Grill on 5th Avenue in Park Slope. Mon Jan 29 14:13:27 -0800 2007 2239041 69781 elecsheep9 1 2239713 Blondie's or Atomic Wings, I find to usually be the best. And to join with the chorus, no buffalo wings are baked. In Brookly, Bonnie's are great too and will be getting from there for the Super Bowl. Mon Jan 29 15:26:29 -0800 2007 2239041 12118 jdf 1 2241263 I have no idea if they are baked or fried, but the best wings in Manhattan are at Scruffy Duffy's. Tue Jan 30 08:16:29 -0800 2007 2239041 21629 Michael Ambrosio 2 2243977 I agree with Scruffy Duffy's. Not sure if they are best in Manhattan, but they're pretty darn good. Hot, crispy...mmmmmm. I should note, I can't think of any other reason to go to Scruffy's except for the wings (unless you're a Steelers fan or like your beers absolutely freezing cold). Tue Jan 30 20:10:37 -0800 2007 2241263 15979 Sugar 2 3350281 Scuffy Duffy's has the best wings. Always consistently delicious. I could eat them every day. Wed Jan 30 17:47:00 -0800 2008 2241263 162144 quatrosojos 3 3389354 So is the verdict Scruffy Duffy's or Blondie's? Taking a friend out for her birthday this Sunday or Wednesday, and looking for a great wing place that also has good beer. Tue Feb 12 08:49:48 -0800 2008 3350281 49232 aacharya 4 3389386 I think they're both great, and you won't go wrong on that front. Blondie's has more seating (The UES location more than the UWS location). Don't think you'll find good beer at either. Just run of the mill domestics and imports. Tue Feb 12 08:55:05 -0800 2008 3389354 12118 jdf 4 3389695 Scruffy Duffy's website says their last open night was feb 6th - sounds like they are closed. Tue Feb 12 10:07:05 -0800 2008 3389354 107418 steeltowngrl 1 2241422 In Manhattan, I love the wings at Dinosaur BBQ. For the city as a whole, it's gotta be Bonnie's Grill in Park Slope. Tue Jan 30 09:05:24 -0800 2007 2239041 12006 lambretta76 1 2241561 alright, i talked to my buddy from buffalo last night. he said anchor bar was the original (though there is a claim from another rival bar...can't remember name) He said that yes, the original was fried, but that it makes next to NO difference whether they are fried or baked, a matter of preference in buffalo, what matters is the sauce that the wings are cooked in. that is the key apparently. Tue Jan 30 09:35:00 -0800 2007 2239041 69786 luke643 2 2241580 I just don't know how taht can be. Having spent years upstate, I've still never seen a buffalo wing baked. It completely changes the consistency and texture of the wing, regardless of how good the sauce used is. Tue Jan 30 09:37:10 -0800 2007 2241561 12118 jdf 3 2241645 gotta agree. traditionally speaking fried is it. however, i can see nouveau baked buffalo wings talking a foothold in buffalo. why not? maybe thats the health food diet version? heh. true too however sauce is the key and also that breaded is an incorrect version. around here i like BLONDIES wings, great place to watch sports too -- although they are mobbed for big events. DOWN THE HATCH is good too. Tue Jan 30 09:47:23 -0800 2007 2241580 11372 mrnyc 2 2241644 How long has your buddy lived in Buffalo? The frying alows the skin to get cripsy which seals in the moisture of the chicken; this is what gives a good wing a nice "snap" when you bite into it. Like jdf - I have never seen, or heard of any respectable wing establisment baking a wing. He may have it confused with grilling/ smoking like BBQ places such as dinosaur does; but that gives the wing an entire different flavor as well. In the abscence of any good wings in Manhattan and well not having a deep frier in my apartment I have tried to bake wings and they come out much more like the Dino variety than the anchor bar - yes the sauce is still good but the wing pales in comparison. Tue Jan 30 09:47:19 -0800 2007 2241561 12472 wingman 1 2241744 buffalo wings are deep fried. period. Tue Jan 30 10:06:00 -0800 2007 2239041 60717 psawce 1 2241876 Kool Bloo that just opened up has really good wings. Their cajun wings are also awesome they are done in only a dry rub of spice and perfectly crisp.. sooo yummy Tue Jan 30 10:45:29 -0800 2007 2239041 67740 grlygrl 1 2242279 Yes, as a proud graduate of Buffalo State and patron of every 5-cent wing night that the surroundings had to offer, there is no debate: the wings are deep friend. However, as said earlier, experiementing with the old classics is not always a bad thing. Pretty much have to second the Blondies and Down the Hatch recommendations here. The wings at Dinosaur, while scrumptious and deserving all the praise they get here, are not traditional Buffalo wings... Tue Jan 30 12:02:45 -0800 2007 2239041 49517 wiessner1 1 2242335 I had pretty good Buffalo wings at ACME last week, which surprised me given it was a southern comfort/cajun place (you can choose Buffalo or BBQ). I know for Superbowl they're having a promotion on all take-out orders: free order of wings for every $50 spent. If you eat there, all appetizers are half-off (including wings). Tue Jan 30 12:13:53 -0800 2007 2239041 68636 EVOhNo 1 2242734 Being a Buffalo native- they are always fried. Best delivery wings I have had are from Best Wingers Express they have a good sauce but you can also get some variations like garlic cheese and awesome tangy bbq wings. Another place- Grand Saloon has great wings. A little more tangy sauce but big juicy wings (when you get a good showing). Btw I attached a picture of my Anchor Bar wings from last year when I was home :) (although Bar Bill in East Aurora has the best!) Tue Jan 30 13:32:50 -0800 2007 2239041 11223 roze 2 2244623 Wow - I never thought I'd see East Aurora mentioned on the Chowhound boards! Wed Jan 31 06:22:48 -0800 2007 2242734 12472 wingman 3 2244638 You guys are spot on! After going to Anchor bar, Duffs, and the Bar Bill.....Bar Bill comes out on top. Everytime im there (often) it is top notch! Wed Jan 31 06:30:12 -0800 2007 2244623 43144 shorts 4 2246339 I secretly dream of winning the lottery and opening up my own nyc version of the bar bill-- I'll let you know if it ever happens :) Wed Jan 31 12:57:09 -0800 2007 2244638 11223 roze 1 2242771 Firehouse on the UWS. Tue Jan 30 13:40:47 -0800 2007 2239041 65420 acpi 1 2245001 Add the Stoned Crow to the mix! They make destination worthy wingd there! Wed Jan 31 08:19:09 -0800 2007 2239041 41268 Sweatshirt Guy 1 2245353 Thought the thread was about best wings and not cooking techniques... Big fan of Baker street on 61st and 1st Wed Jan 31 09:39:55 -0800 2007 2239041 20498 marye 1 2246449 I live in Buffalo, wings are deep fried & sometimes put on the bbq for the "charbroil". Wed Jan 31 13:14:36 -0800 2007 2239041 70687 tigerelsker 1 2247217 Dinosaur is the best in Manhattan, second place goes to Blondie's Wed Jan 31 16:06:51 -0800 2007 2239041 62026 jwobkk 2 2247544 Dinosaur's wings are great, but they're not buffalo wings. Wed Jan 31 17:42:58 -0800 2007 2247217 12118 jdf 3 2249651 can you describe please? Thu Feb 01 10:17:28 -0800 2007 2247544 12656 bigjeff 4 2250061 Essentially Dinosaur's are a smoky barbeque style. They're great, but not a buffalo wing which is essentially wings that are deep fried and tossed in a buffalo wing sauce. Additionally, a "buffalo" wing sauce is a mix of hot sauce, vinegar and other spices, whereas the Dinosaur wings are barbeque based. Thu Feb 01 11:49:12 -0800 2007 2249651 12118 jdf 1 2247511 ok, I posted something about Top 5 wings a few days ago and got no response, I'll just chime in here with my favorite wings, three of which are not actually buffalo wings but one of which (Pete's Tavern's buffalo wings) claims it is and, is really great: 1. Kasadela's Tebaya (EV classy izakaya with the stickiest, gooey-est and most delicious chicken wings) 2. Tebaya (Chelsea takeout with similar style of wing, pretty damn tasty) 3. BBQ's Honey-basted Wings (yes, BBQ sucks, but these wings, tho sweet, are delicious) 4. Pete's Tavern Buffalo Wings (these are not the bufffalo wings you know; instead they are sweet, crispy, crunchy, delicious) 5. The Hong Kong Chicken Wings (OK, this is not in New York City but in Harvard Square in Cambridge, but these are great too; gooey stickey sweet sauce, fried to a crisp, and in a similar style to the above) http://www.chowhound.com/topics/365465 Wed Jan 31 17:33:09 -0800 2007 2239041 12656 bigjeff 2 2258293 I second that Kasadela makes the best chicken wings in the city. However, their tebasaki are not buffalo wings. I went the the inventor of tebasaki - Furaibo - in Nagoya, Japan, last year and Kasadela's version holds up favorably. Furaibo was better, but not by much! Sun Feb 04 07:57:10 -0800 2007 2247511 12006 lambretta76 3 2265645 oh for sure not buffalo wings, I just wanted to interject with some non-buffalo wing choices . . . Tue Feb 06 12:55:06 -0800 2007 2258293 12656 bigjeff 2 3145747 bigjeff, last night I tried the wings at Pete's Tavern because Jamon was, well, Jammed, and I was starving in the nabe with 6 people. The wings were okay; I give them a 6. Being hungry, I ate them all, but IMO they fell short of being recommendation-worthy. As you noted, they are not Buffalo wings, despite what the menu says. The flavor was good, I agree: on the sweet side, but with a saving touch of cuminy spice and heat. However, the sauce was gloppy and the wings themselves were of the overly-fleshy variety, IMO. The blue cheese dip was horribly thin (the consistency of milk), and the celery was wilted. BTW, our burgers were passable, although my knee-jerk "medium" (I have given up on ordering my real preference, medium rare, in all but the finest joints due to due to repeated undercooked disappointments) arrived well-done. So I guess I should have ordered rare? The fries were below average, of the thick and wedge-shaped variety reminiscent of hospital cafeterias. On the upside, my Guinnesses were good and they had no problem seating 6 people at 7:30 pm--no doubt in large part because of their culinary shortcomings. Wed Nov 21 10:51:29 -0800 2007 2247511 140397 Mr. Particular 1 2250021 Hey Luke, finding baked wings in the city outside of your own kitchen is definitely going to be a task. I can't imagine any restaurant serving them. To echo others on the board, I love the Dinosaur smoked and grilled wings. I grew up in CNY and did the 10.99 pizza and wing specials for dinner a lot. I don't really care for fried wings anymore. My friend back home made some killer baked wings (buffalo style, for what its worth) and they were amazing! Just my 2 cents. Thu Feb 01 11:39:22 -0800 2007 2239041 14117 billyboy 1 2257218 Baked wings are great, if you make them correctly. I will say at the outset that I have no inside scoop as to which NYC restaurants bake them, so I'm speaking only from my own kitchen here. I bake wings all the time (and will do so for the game tomorrow). Like a lot of things, the wings will be good if you don't try to cut corners. Here is my method for very crispy, tasty wings: Ingredients: Whole wings from the poultry section (note: if you buy pre-separated, frozen wings your wings will suck. No way around it.) Hot sauce or wing sauce (see below for the difference) Steps: 1. Cut off the wing tips and dispose, separate the remaining wing into two pieces. I use poultry shears for this - you can use a chef's knife or a cleaver if you like, but I find the shears the easiest method. 2. Spray a baking sheet (with low sides to prevent fat from running into your oven) with cooking spray. Arrange the wings skin-side side down. 3. Bake in a 425 degree oven for 30 minutes. 4. Turn the wings over with thongs. 5. Bake for 30 minutes more. 6. Toss wings in the wing sauce (if you bought hot sauce, mix it with melted butter). 7. Return to the cookie sheet and bake for 10 more minutes. The wings will come out crispy and delicious. I dip them in ranch dressing but many prefer blue cheese. I highly recommend Marie's for wing-dipping. Not that this will settle the debate, but my experience is that if you're going to make wings yourself, this method will be easier, taste better and be better for you than using a fry-daddy or trying to deep-fry them in a pan. I've had great results and lots of compliments making them this way. Sat Feb 03 16:02:47 -0800 2007 2239041 49526 PickyMBA 2 2266153 For a little extra crunch, I like to put the wings under high broiler for 5 minutes. A tablespoon of brown sugar and butter, and a teaspoon of vinegar with a 1/4 cup of hot sauce (half sambal oleck and Frank's hot sauce). Tue Feb 06 15:01:17 -0800 2007 2257218 58655 vsoy 1 2258389 here's what i love about baked wings: if the wings are little, you can put a whole wing segment in your mouth, half suck, half bite, and the bone(s) come out clean. Tender, delicious, so much more satisfying then the gooey mess that fried and slathered wings. i am glad there are a few more out there who agree Sun Feb 04 08:54:49 -0800 2007 2239041 69786 luke643 2 2258434 Luke, baked wings taste fine - I make them at home - much less mess than frying. However, again, real buffalo wings are not baked, as is evidenced by all the posts in this thread and it will be unlikely you will find a baked buffalo wing anywhere in NYC other than your own kitchen. Sun Feb 04 09:18:17 -0800 2007 2258389 12099 sivyaleah 1 2259002 Baker Street Ale House makes Great Wings, (not baked), and they deliver. 1st ave at about 62nd st. Sun Feb 04 13:18:54 -0800 2007 2239041 12476 toddyb 1 2266073 well, that was a mouthful from all. I love me my baked wings, and will hold the flame for them forever! and someday i will trek out to buffalo and do all the eating of wings i can baked and fried. until then, it's 4th street pub for me. Tue Feb 06 14:36:47 -0800 2007 2239041 69786 luke643 1 2284852 DEFINITELY worth the trip to 133rd Street for Dinosaur BBQ's wings. I had them twice over last weekend up in Rochester. They are fantastic. You can also get their sauce at Fairway and make them yourself! Mon Feb 12 11:12:35 -0800 2007 2239041 73882 kimbaby57 1 3015513 My favorite wings in NYC are at 1849 on Bleeker st. And on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday they are 20 cents a wing. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, with really great flavor. Yumm. Mon Oct 08 13:50:22 -0700 2007 2239041 133146 VeraLynn 1 3015688 Never having been to Buffalo my favorites are in NYC- The Back Page Sportsbar and in Lake Harmony PA-Shenanigans Mon Oct 08 14:39:02 -0700 2007 2239041 10173 guttergourmet 2 3015943 Shenanigans? That restaurant with all the goofy stuff on the walls and the mozzarella sticks? Mon Oct 08 16:00:09 -0700 2007 3015688 120663 mccan 1 3018383 McAleer's on the UWS makes a good wing, and, even better, they are free. You buy two pitchers and they give you two free orders of wings. Tue Oct 09 11:17:03 -0700 2007 2239041 126423 lookingforpig 1 3019639 I know the worst wings in the US is Moe's at Cincinnati airport terminal c. I just ate them and for the first time in my life I couldn't eat the dozen. Good wings at Jakes Dilemma, albeit not the best, they're solid. Blondie's are really really good. Atomic is really good as well. I like the lowfat version by using breast meat with the skin still on. Crystal hot sauce is the ONLY hot sauce that should be used. Down with tabasco and the rest. Tue Oct 09 16:42:15 -0700 2007 2239041 116508 mattbrown23 1 3148940 the wings at great jones cafe is really good too Fri Nov 23 07:59:46 -0800 2007 2239041 135161 shereesss 2 3149705 Scruffy Duffy's still gets my vote. Although it appears they will be closin the end of the year and moving to an as-yet-undetermined location. (Im hope it's near my office or home!!!!) And Buffalo wings are NEVER baked. Baked wings may be tasty if prepared well, but Buffalo wings are always fried and never breaded. (OTOH, I have been known to grill wings and shake them up with my wing sauce--they are incredibly tasty and I actually prefer them to 'true' Buffalo wings--the char flavor mixes with the wing sauce nicely.) Fri Nov 23 14:10:28 -0800 2007 3148940 39465 drmoze 1 3389541 I agree with Blondies being the best. But here's one that I don't think has been mentioned and they have excellent wings...Rare. It's on Bleecker at 6th, accross from that mini park they just got done renovating. Excellent "Lollipop Wings." Very tangy sauce, very saucy and hot. Tue Feb 12 09:29:59 -0800 2008 2239041 154746 myclawyer 2 3506897 THEY ARE NOT BUFFALO WINGS but are delicious in their own right: Corner Cafe, Bleeker and Broadway. Wed Mar 19 07:36:47 -0700 2008 3389541 140397 Mr. Particular 1 5130042 okay folks, i have traveled the country for the last 15 years in my job. note my screen name. this is what I have found: first great wings are fried and unbreaded. it's not a debate. HOWever, i have baked them and it works if you steam the fat out of them first. but personally, one day I am going to open a bar that grills them...Landsdowne (or scruff duffys as i just found out) on 10 ave in manhattan has a really nice HOT wing and the best I have had yet in NYC. It's not that generic light orange hot sauce, which quite frankly i think Blondie's is. they are tasty, but not great or the best by any stretch. Virgils in Time Sq has a whole differnt kind of moist fall off the bone BBQ wing. they are not a hot wing, though they do have residual heat but damn tasty. Stillwater in the east village has an amazing Bourbon BBQ wing too. in brooklyn, bonnies did not blow me away first visit and i have not been back since, but I have read SO many great reviews, I need to give them another shot. just too many good reviews. i look forward to trying rathbones and dinasours others listed below. best Sun Oct 25 16:35:28 -0700 2009 2239041 1119164 woodbone wing king 2 5130494 There's been some turnover at Bonnie's and I hate to report that the last couple of times I've been to Bonnie's I've been underwhelmed, so much so that I probably won't be returning. The burger has gone downhill, too, with Dram Shop now being my fave in the nabe. (Not same style, but excellent - haven't had their wings yet.) A new wing bar has opened up on Smith St. in Carroll Gardens that has had some good buzz, but I haven't been. Sun Oct 25 19:08:36 -0700 2009 5130042 12006 lambretta76