Archie Moore's

188 Willow Street New Haven, CT 06511

The wings show up and I am underwhelmed. Maybe I've been spoiled lately with good luck, but these are kinda dinky. You can only order wings in batches of 7. So it's either 7 or 14. Not sure how much of a gluttonous fat ass you think I am, but I opted for the 7 (and a side salad you bastards).

Very boring wing overall, which is sad from a place boasting best in Connecticut honors. They even sell their sauce, which I am dumbfounded as to why. It's straight up wing sauce. That's the thing. There are no options here. Not even mild, medium or hot. Just wings. It's like this wing sauce tries to please all the people all the time. We all know the famous saying about that stance. The prep was decent, nice crisp outside, juicy (what there was of it) inside. But, overall the offering was boring, small and no individuality. Strike three, and as Kenny powers says, you're fuckin' out.

Order 7 wings.
Size 2 prep 4 taste 3 total 9

Interesting side note, I overheard from the bartender that Archies claims the Anchor Bar in Buffalo stole the recipe from them. Which makes sense, those wings were pretty middle of the road also.

Anchor Bar

(previous review)

1047 Main Street Buffalo, NY

This place gets a nod for being the place where it all began. Their wings are straight average across the board: size, prep and flavor. They may have started it, but there are others out there doing it better and tastier.

Wild Wing Cafe

1437 Sam's Drive Chesapeake, VA 23320

Order 8 - 4 Chernobyl 4 Flaming Parmesan
Size: 3 Prep: 3 Taste: 4 Total: 10

As the wings arrive the wings look of average size with maybe a couple that are rather smallish. You can smell the spicy on the Chernobyl. Parmesan has what is expected, a thick coating of Parmesan cheese. Let's eat.

Remember the where's the beef lady? Well, call me the where's the heat man. The Chernobyl had more of a regular franks and butter hot sauce, but with some cheyenne powder sprinkled on. It makes your lips tingle a little, but it's not the warming sauce feeling you get from a nice hot sauce. And the Flaming Parmesan was really lacking in heat. It's like this place has their heat volume turned down for the masses. Too bad. The Flaming Parmesan was a nice pepper parmrsian flavor, but the wings were kinda smallish. Overall, prep is a bit soggy. Since I don't just judge on heat factor, I'm throwing them a bone for the flavor. They are slightly original and they boast over 20 flavors. I might have to try some different flavors if I find myself near one again. But I'm not going out of my way to find one.

Sharp Edge Beer Emporium

(previous review)

302 North Saint Clair Street Pittsburgh, PA

Their buffalo bites, while not technically a hot wing, are really good. Boneless chicken pieces friend and flavored very well – interesting flavor choices like buffalo ranch, but even the traditional hot is good to go.

Big Shot Bob's House of Wings

(previous review)

344 Union Ave Avalon, PA

This place can be hit or miss (I've gone there when they've run out of wings), but they boast a nice selection of sauces. The wings themselves can be on the small side, but the sauce variety makes up for it. Try to Coraoplis Gunslinger or Talk of Beaver Falls for a good flavor wing. There is Hottest of the Hot if you dare (beware, we considered renaming this flavor to "Forced Sodomy" after trying.)

Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats

(previous review)

320 Rehoboth Avenue Rehoboth Beach, DE

Order: Teriyaki Wings

Not a hot wing as far as spice goes, but a really good taste – sweet and tangy.

Birmingham Bridge Tavern

(previous review)
2901 Sarah St Pittsburgh, PA

Order: 12 Eric the Red
Size: 4 Prep: 3 Taste: 4 Total: 11

Decent size with good heat – sauce is tasty, but maybe a tad salty; prep is standard, not really crispy and maybe a bit overdone, but nothing too noticeable. However, the sauce pulls the whole ensemble together

Center Ave Slice

(previous review)
332 Center Ave Pittsburgh, PA

Order: Dozen Hot
Size: 3 Prep: 2 Taste: 3 Score: 8

Comments: Wings kind of soggy, not crispy and sauce is typical Frank and butter; typical pizza shop wing. Side note, the pizza is the bomb!

Trolley Stop Inn

6247 Library Rd
Bethel Park, PA

Order: 10 hot and 10 hot lava
Size: 3 Prep: 4 Taste: 4 Total: 11

These wings are pretty deceiving. When they first arrived, I kind of turned up my nose. However, the more I looked, the more I found to like. At first glance the wings are kind of dinky, but they have a bunch of good sized ones mixed in, so we get average size wings there. They are also sauced very well, too. And the smell, they give you that nice buffalo scent, but I know the heat is also riding shotgun. Let's eat. The prep is pretty good, but the only let down is that the wings are slightly overdone. It's almost as if they had larger wings, the amount of cook time would be perfect. But the outside is crispy and very tasty. Let's move to taste. The hot lava isn't exactly lava-esque. It's almost what hot is at any other wing place. But, it's very good. The hot has a nice, almost sweeter flavor than the hot lava. They are both good sauces, but not great. It's the lack of originality that keeps them from getting a 5 for taste. All round a very good wing. I wouldn't go out of my way to get these wings, but if I were in the neighborhood, I'd definitely hook those up.

All Sports Café

(Past Review)

2326 Grandin Road Roanoke, VA

Order: 10 Traditional Hot
Size: 3 Prep: 2 Taste: 3 Score: 8

Comments: Breaded wings (roll eyes); not a good wing to start out, but this place came recommended from reviews. Wing size is typical and look bigger, but the breading is deceiving. The sauce has some kick but not much different from your typical hot wing.

How it all began...

So it started as a joke – "Let's write a book about the search for the best hot wing in the world."  So, I figured that's a pretty tall order, let's start on a more manageable level – how about in the United States?  So, here we go.

So, then the next question is, what constitutes the best wing?  Well, my friend, there are a few ways to judge a wing and much goes into a great wing.  So here goes:  size of the wing, preparation, sauce and taste.  Let's look at the details of each.

Size of the wing:  some places will serve you the typical hot wing, normal old wing dings.  For the purpose of this blog, they will get a 3 out of 5 because it is your typical wing.  Some places will give you a larger wing, but larger wings aren't necessarily better when it comes to preparation.

Preparation:  this is key – and there are some differences of opinion.  So, I'll tell you mine.  Wings shouldn't be breaded – and while I'll try to be as openminded about this as possible, I just think breading kills a hot wing – save it for chicken tenders.  Two, wings should be nicely cooked, not really crispy like fried chicken, but not soggy for sure.  And the meat should not be overcooked and hard to chew.  And raw, forget it.

Sauce/taste:  This makes or breaks a great wing.  I've had wings that looked great and the prep was good but either the sauce was your plain old franks and butter or just bland.  So, here's my general thoughts on sauce.  Franks and butter, while the standard for hot wings, it shouldn't be the end all be all.  That said, I like my hot wings hot, with a bit of kick.  Believe it or not, you can make a great wing with an original sauce that has some kick.  Now for the most part, I will stick to hot wings, but you may see reviews for other sauces as well.  And speaking of sauce, it has to have some.  I had wings once where they quickly and hastily coated the wings... they were plain fried chicken and I ended up resaucing them myself at home to get some flavor on them.

So, the rating system is:

Wing Size: 1-5 (5 best)
Preparation: 1-5 (5 best)
Taste/Sauce: 1-5 (5 best)

And I'll throw in my comments.

So, I've had wings in the past and while I do have my favorites, they are pre-blog ratings (PB for short).  So, I may throw some places that I cannot do a proper rating, but I do have general comments on, so I'll notate as such.  Also, I've been keeping reviews on places for almost 3 years now, so I'm going to start by getting my old reviews up here mixed in with new reviews.  Again, I'll notate as such.  It's ironic that the first wing I will review is in the town where I was born, Roanoke, Virginia.  Let the games begin!

Test post

Yes, that's my dog. Yes, he's a Steeler fan. Yes, he has pooped in my car... sigh.