Wings N Things (Albuquerque, NM)

So the reviews said this is the place to go for wings, home of the Armageddon Challenge (though I think I will pass on that for now - see the videos on YouTube, pure pain).   This place was hard to find and it doesn't look like much, but I don't grade buildings, I grade wings.  Besides, they have Top Gear UK on the TV, it's gotta be all good.

So, I just found out they don't do the challenge anymore (new ownership).  But, the recommended flavor with some hang time is Fallen Angel.  Give me that.  Then, I thought I might need some sanity to the write up, so an order of X-tra Hot, too, please.

Order in and they come back to tell me they are out of regular wings.  How does a place called Wings and Things run out of regular wings?  Their place is just called Things?   But, buck up, they haved baked wings which somehow also get fried (not sure how that works).  But, I get a discount and a review moves forward.  Bring it.

Wings show up, whoa these are small.  I mean look at this compared to my pinky:

Add to that, the wings are more dry than wet.   Sigh.  In a deceiving move, though, the X-tra Hot (seen here)

smells warmer than the Angel (seen here).

 But, let's find out.

Cooked like crap, soggy and no crunch.  Man, what a let down.  The fallen angel is very hot, with a hint a brown sugar, so it's rather nice.  The X-tra Hot is more your typical wing sauce with some more bite.  Flavor is decent, but you can't recover from that sauce and tiny wing.   Not to mention, I swear the ranch they gave me has turned.   They claimed they just opened it and perhaps my mouth is on fire, but my taste buds screamed YUCK, spit it out.   A first for me.   I've drooled, I've gone runny nose crazy.  But, this is the first wing I've ever spit out.

Size 1  Prep 2  Taste 1.5
Total 4.5

Congratulations Wings n Things, you've set a new low.  You should just call yourself Things.

Firehouse Tavern (West 55 and Columbus - NYC)

So this place was in the top 5 in NYC on a few lists, so I gots ta try that, brotha!   Wait, I'm in NYC, fuhgetaboutit.

So the wings arrive and my first reaction is uh oh.  Tiny and not sauced all round.  They look like the wing love train left the station and I got the remnants.  Let's find out.

First thought, if these are the top 5 in my city, its time to move.  Franks X-tra red hot and butter.  At least try to fool somebody.  Drop some pepper flakes in there or something.  Not to mention the wings were overcooked and a bit on the crunchy side.  All in all, a sad trip.  The buffalo wing may be from NY state, but this place doesn't do it justice.

Size 3  Prep 2  Taste 2.5
Total 7.5

Genesis Bar and Restaurant (1708 2nd Avenue NY, NY)

Wings show up smelling good but on the average size.  Only 8 for 8 bucks, welcome to the big apple.   Korean style, chili and sweet coating.  Let's eat.

Bigger size than I thought.  Slight breading on the wing, but probably the best prepped breaded wing I've had.  Which, for lack of a better analogy is called making lemonade from lemons.

Perhaps its the flavor, but way too much sweet flavor and not enough heat.  Its almost like eating glazed donut wings.  I could only put down 6.  I think they were just too sweet.  Flavor not so good.  I would like to try the Buffalo flavor here, just to see if that would bump up the score at all.  But, this is what it is.

Size 4 Prep 4 Taste 2
Total 10