From the same people that bring you Burger Conquest, we bring you the New York City Wing-Off. A crew of men on a search for the best wing in NYC. Wing-Off judges solely on quality of the Medium and Hot wings only. Service, ambiance, beverage selection, price and other menus have no factor but they sure do count for a good time! Also, NO WOMEN ALLOWED!!
WING-OFF 10: Saturday, November 21st, 2009
BAR-COASTAL vs. BROTHER JIMMY’S BBQ vs. THE BACK PAGE SPORTS BAR
-Upper East Side Edition
Bar-Coastal
1495 1st Ave (at 78th St)
New York, NY 10075-1355
(212) 288-6635
www.barcoastal.com
Brother Jimmy’s BBQ
1485 2nd Ave (at 77TH St)
New York, NY 10075-2001
(212) 288-0999
www.brotherjimmys.com
The Back Page Sports Bar
1472 3rd Ave (Btwn 83rd and 84th)
New York, NY 10028-1967
(212) 570-5800
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7175125/new_york_ny/the_back_page.html
WING-OFF is a charity event to benefit cancer research! All participants are required to donate money to join in Wing-Off. All donations from this event will be going to Sean McGrath Fund. “The Sean McGrath Fund was created in memory of the late musician (Saves The Day, Mouthpiece, Hands Tied), whose two-year battle with cancer ended in 2004. Through the Princeton Area Community Foundation, our Fund’s mission is to financially assist a wide variety of causes reflecting Sean’s life, relating to music, compassion, and health issues including cancer.”
On this event in particular, the gentlemen of Wing-Off raised $130 in donation. If you would like to donate you can do so directly or through Burger Conquest by click the link on the right side bar.
And now, the WINGS!
BAR COASTAL
Bar-Coastal is one of the original Atomic Wings licensees in NYC.Atomic Wings is a chain located in NYC that imports their chicken directly from Buffalo, NY and claims to serve them in the authentic buffalo wing way.Most of them are stand alone, but Bar-Coastal, much like Down the Hatch (inspiration for the first ever Wing-Off), serves them in their bar.
Jason (the man behind Bar-Coastal) and his staff, definitely get an A+ for treatment as they rolled out the red hot carpet for the Wing-Off crew. Holding us a few private tables, made it a lot easier for us to sample different wings, compare notes amongst ourselves, talk with Jason and in general, have a great time all while sampling a great beer menu.
Serving up Medium, Nuclear, Jerk BBQ and the off-menu special, Kerry’s Way (a mix of honey mustard, bbq and traditional buffalo sauces). All of the wings were cooked perfectly; Nuclear (Hot) and crispy. Kerry’s Way had a nice spicy meets sweet mix. The crowd fave were the Jerk BBQ, which had a smoked black pepper accent, but for official Wing-Off blessings, we only judge on Hot and Medium. Both of which were hot, full of flavor, meaty, juicy, buttery, crispy and made just the way we like them.
“0” />BROTHER JIMMY’S BBQ
Up next, the NYC based “Southern Style” BBQ restaurant chain, Brother Jimmy’s BBQ. Claiming themselves as the “home away from home for the A.C.C. alumni.” The A.C.C. is a Division 1 conference in the NCAA. Offering several different locations, each with different themes, we hit the original on 2nd Ave. Brother Jimmy’s specializes in BBQ, especially Carolina style but also serves up some well known hot wings.
Our friendly and upbeat server Brooke, showed us to 3 tables in the back (always good to move us away from the others!) and promptly took our wing and beer order. Their wings come one of 2 ways, Chipotle or Buffalo (medium) and we ordered 1 bucket of the latter for each table. For the sauce oriented, BJ’s offers 6 additional sauces that come on the table, each in their own bottle. Be careful picking them up as they are not capped and will easily squirt “Blazin'” sauce 2 feet in the air before landing on what was a clean pair of jeans.
The wings came quickly and accompanied by a large bowl of blue cheese, a “vat” if you will. Any real wing lover, loves to dip and there is nothing more frustrating than a tiny receptacle of blue cheese that runs dry faster than a rain puddle in a desert and acts like an awkward first date, only accepting the “tip.”
The wings were crispy, served hot, and had a decent flavor. Spice-wise, these wings don’t have much to offer. There is some nice flavor but “hot” these are not. Acting like Bob Ross, I created an easel of the sauces on my plate to paint happy little wings with. They were all decent, but nothing stood out. All in all, some good middle of the road wings but if you want spicy or uniquely flavored, move along little doggy.
After plowing through our wings, Brooke brought out 3 “Fish bowls,” 1 for each table. This is a massive fruity mixed alcoholic beverage literally served in a fish bowl with a multitude of straws, usually intended for speed drinking. Since the premise of a Wing-Off is a challenge from the get go, we had no problem accepting Brooke’s idea of the tables racing. My table won!
Well Brooke, you wanted to make the blog and you did. Hope you’re happy.
THE BACK PAGE SPORTS BAR
Generally a Wing-Off is between 2 locations only and even though eating at 3 different wing places sounds “awesome,” believe me, the 3rd one is difficult, even if it’s the beloved Lansdowne Road. It is tough to organize these things and with The Back Page Sports Bar not only having a reputation for great wings but only a few blocks away, we had to do the right wing. (See what I did there?!?!)
The restaurant was kind of empty which seemed a little odd for an Upper East Side Sports bar on a college football game day but hey, all the better for the Wing-Off crew. While the place was kind of vibe-less and sterile, the wait staff were attentive and quick. With no delay, we ordered up some Medium and Hot Wings as well as a round of beers.
The wings were good. Right amount of meat, right temperature, juicy, buttery, peppered and with a an appropriate amount of heat. This is a decent wing. We tore through them really quickly and placed an order of Extra Hot wings. They arrived without much delay and despite everyone feeling bloated and full, we tore through them. Same wings, but honestly, not that much hotter.
Honestly, not a bad wing in the bunch but someone has to win. This date in particular was chosen to celebrate a Happy Burgerthday to Wing-Offer’s Kyle and Schap!
WING-OFF HISTORICAL
WING-OFF 1
January 28, 2007
Scruffy Duffy’s vs. Atomic at Down the Hatch
WINNER: SCRUFFY DUFFYS
Scruffy Duffy’s
www.scruffyduffys.com
743 Eighth Avenue
(between 46th & 47th)
New York, NY 10036
Atomic at Down the Hatch
http://www.nycbestbar.com/downthehatch/
179 W. 4th St
New York, NY
WING-OFF 2
June 3rd, 2007
Scruffy Duffy’s vs Blondie’s
WINNER: SCRUFFY DUFFYS
Scruffy Duffy’s
www.scruffyduffys.com
Scruffy Duffy’s 743 Eighth Avenue
(between 46th & 47th)
New York, NY 10036
Blondies’s
www.blondiessports.com
212 W 79th St
(Between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway)
New York, NY 10024-6225
WING-OFF 3
September 11, 2007
Mudville 9
http://www.mudville9.com/
126 Chambers St
(Btwn Church and W.Broadway)
New York, NY 10007
Phone: (212) 964-WING
WING-OFF 4
January 20, 2008
Scruffy Duffy’s at Lansdowne Road vs. Texas Arizona
WINNER by disqualification, SCRUFFY DUFFYS
Lansdowne Road
www.lansdowneroadnyc.com
599 10th Ave (Btwn 43rd and 44th St)
New York, NY 10036-3008
WING-0FF 5
June 27, 2008
Lansdowne Road vs. Croxley Ale House vs. 1-2-3 Burger Shot Beer
WINNER: SCRUFFY DUFFYS
Lansdowne Road
www.lansdowneroadnyc.com
599 10th Ave (Btwn 43rd and 44th St)
New York, NY 10036-3008
Croxley Ale House
www.croxley.com
28 Avenue B
New York, NY
123 Burger Shot Beer
www.123burgershotbeer.com
738 10th Avenue
New York, NY
WING-OFF 6
October 6th, 2008
Scruffy’s Retirement Party at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
www.lansdowneroadnyc.com
599 10th Ave (Btwn 43rd and 44th St)
New York, NY 10036-3008
WING-OFF 7
December 7, 2008
TOWN TAVERN vs. WOGIE’S
WINNER; WOGIE’S
Town Tavern
http://www.towntavernnyc.com/
134 West 4th St
(at MacDougal)
New York, NY 10012
Wogie’s
http://www.wogies.com/
39 Greenwich Ave
(btwn Charle’s & Perry)
New York, NY 10014
WING-OFF 8
May 9, 2009
BLIND TIGER ALE HO– USE vs. THUNDER JACKSONS
WINNER; Both DQ!
Blind Tiger Ale House
http://blindtigeralehouse.com/
281 Bleecker St (@ Jones St)
New York, NY
Thunder Jackson’s
http://www.thunderjackson.com
169 Bleecker St (@ Sullivan St)
New York, NY 10012
WING-OFF 9
August 4, 2009
Johnny Utah’s VS. Point Break (formerly Nation)
WINNER: Point Break
EX-PRESIDENTIAL RUBBER MASKS ENCOURAGED!
Johnny Utah’s
25 W 51st St (Between 5th and 6th Aves)
New York, NY 10019-6902
(212) 265-8824
www.johnnyutahs.com
Point Break
12 W 45th St (Between 5th and 6th Aves)
New York, NY 10036-4202
(212) 391-8053
http://pointbreaknyc.com/
WING-OFF 10
November 21, 2009
Bar-Coastal vs. Brother Jimmy’s BBQ vs. The Back Page Sports Bar
WINNER: Bar-Coastal
Bar-Coastal
1495 1st Ave (at 78th St)
New York, NY 10075-1355
(212) 288-6635
www.barcoastal.com pan>
Brother Jimmy’s BBQ
1485 2nd Ave (at 77TH St)
New York, NY 10075-2001
(212) 288-0999
www.brotherjimmys.com
The Back Page Sports Bar
1472 3rd Ave (Btwn 83rd and 84th)
New York, NY 10028-1967
(212) 570-5800
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7175125/new_york_ny/the_back_page.html
I consider myself a wing lover… most people I know would also consider me a wing lover and I find this quote offensive:
"Any real wing lover, loves to dip"
Dipping is disrespectful to the chicken and the holy land known as buffalo!
RIP Scruffy Duffy's
Another good Wing-Off! Bar Coastal's wings were really good… I'd like to reiterate. I would definitely not hesitate to bring anyone there for some delicious wings.
dude everyone i know from buffalo dips
ANYWAY –
Bar Coastal is pretty damn good. Not a contender next to Landsedowne, but really solid. I'll be back there soon, especially for the secret Kerry's Way – that was awesome.
Jimmy's is a place I've been to a few times but never thought of wings since I was on such a BBQ mission. They were shockingly good. HUGE and meaty, crispy but still juicy. The sauce was definitely boring and salty, but throwing the side sauces on was fun.
Back Page was pedestrian and nothing to write home about – usual wings you can get at any competent place. Beer selection was boring and overpriced.
Landsedowne is still king, Mudville is up there (especially their other sauces which I know doesn't count) and Towne Tavern's medium is the best medium we've had.
Mr. CWA… The Chicken Wing Aficionado's Kyle Radzyminski calls out Bar Costal for the best overall wing experience. Good wings & good service. Great combination.