WING-OFF 14
THE FINAL WING-OFF!
WOGIE’S vs. LANSDOWNE ROAD vs. BAR-COASTAL
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!!
In January of 2007, 2 men had an argument over where to get the best hot wings in New York City. The debate grew intense and while an audience watched, they agreed to battle it out, wing vs. wing, to see who was right. Some rules were established, some friends were invited and some wings were eaten. In the end, everyone had so much fun that we decided to do it again, and again and again. Thus, the NYC Wing-Off was born.
It’s been years in the making with only one goal in mind, find the best medium and hot wings in NYC. Along the way we have had some fantastic wings, we’ve seen amazing wings be defeated by slightly more amazing wings and we were even invited into a kitchen to design our own wing recipe; “Don’t Stop Believin” sauce, we’ve donated to cancer research and now we can say, we have found the best hot wings in New York City.
The bracket challenge to crown a champion for the best medium and hot wings in the city was finally coming to a close. In the last 2 NYC Wing-Offs, we saw Croxley Ale House be defeated by Bar-Coastal and old favorite Lansdowne Road tie with Wogie’s. This meant a 3 way battle for the title. To commemorate the victory, the winner of the NYC Wing-Off was going to be awarded with the Burger Conquest Hot Golden Cock Trophy.
WING-OFF 14: Saturday, September 25, 2010
Wogie’s
http://www.wogies.com/
39 Greenwich Ave
(btwn Charle’s & Perry)
New York, NY 10014
Lansdowne Road
www.lansdowneroadnyc.com
599 10th Ave (Btwn 43rd and 44th St)
New York, NY 10036-3008
Bar-Coastal
www.barcoastal.com
1495 1st Ave (at 78th St)
New York, NY 10075-1355
WOGIE’S
Wogie’s beat out Town Tavern in WING-OFF 7 to advance into the final round where they placed on par with Lansdowne Road in WING-OFF 13. Today, there would be no room for ties as a winner had to be named. Aaron Hoffman, the owner and wing magician behind Wogie’s joined us for this momentous occasion. It was a beautiful Sunny afternoon and we decided to take up the entire Wogie’s outdoor patio.
After a couple of warm up drinks, the wings came out. Wogie’s is famous for their salt & pepper wing and it is crispy and awesome. Ask for a side of the hot and dip those suckers in for extra yum factor. You all know by now that we only judge based on medium and hot wings but that doesn’t mean we can’t order other flavors! But onto the competition
Wogie’s wings are very buttery which most certainly defines the flavor. They are crunchy, hot, savory, really good quality wings. The difference between mediums and hots was very little and was possibly going to hurt them in the tournament. None the less, Wogie’s definitely put their best foot forward and it was obvious that this was not going to be an easy match to call.
LANSDOWNE ROAD
Scruffy Duffy’s had the Wings that started the war. When they closed down, newcomer sports bar, Lansdowne Road picked up the tradition adding “Scruffy’s Wings” to their menu. They were the reigning champ of Wing-Off and were even retired from the competition. It seemed as though they could not be bested.
We grabbed a table in the back, asked for some beers and placed the wing order. The friendly staff at Lansdowne Road were happy to accommodate and the wings came up form the kitchen faster than any of us expected. Scruff Duffy’s wings were definitely spicier than those at Wogies. However, the wings were a little on the dry side. It was a meatier wing indeed and the heat from the hot definitely lingers on the tongue, a sign of a great wing. Unfortunately there was a bad distribution of sauce, leaving some saucier than others. No doubt this would handicap these otherwise delicious hot wings.
BAR-COASTAL
Bar-Coastal, a late comer in the Wing-Off bracket challenge has dominated in every battle they have taken on. When Bar-Coastal went head to head with. Brother Jimmy’s BBQ and The Back Page Sports Bar in WING-OFF 10, no one saw it coming. 2 NYC Wing-Off’s later, Bar-Coastal bested the East Village’s Croxley Ale House. Their Atomic Wing origin proved the name still meant quality to the NYC wing market.
Bar-Coastal’s wings were cooked appropriately; not too crunchy, not too chewy and with a lot of savory meat. They are also well bathed in wing sauce. Both the hot and mediums have a nice tang to the bite. There is a reason Bar-Coastal made it to the finals and it’s attention to detail in making quality wings.
We also munched down on the very popular “Kerry’s Way” wing, a mix of honey mustard, BBQ and traditional buffalo sauces that is just tantalizing. Another crowd favorite, the amazing and spicy Jerk sauce wings. Even though we were full to the brim, Jason, the owner of Bar-Coastal, insisted we try the newest addition to their wing family, “porkers.” Had I not eaten them myself, I would’ve never believed a pork wing was a real thing. Prepared in the Kerry’s Way sauce is makes this already unique food time amazing. But again….we only judge on hot and medium!
WING-OFF 14 OFFICIAL WINNER
– HOME OF THE BEST HOT WINGS IN NYC
– BAR-COASTAL!
Burger Conquest is proud to announce Bar-Coastal as the best medium and hot wings in NYC. The vote although very hard to make was unanimous. Owner Jason Catlin was awarded the Burger Conquest Hot Golden Cock trophy to signify their victory. Jason is what makes this place so good. Every single wing that comes out of his kitchen is made with precision, care and love. Serving an amazing wing is something intrinsically important to Jason. It’s the reason Bar-Coastal is always so busy.
On behalf of everyone that has participate in the NYC Wing-Off, we are proud to say Bar-Coastal has the best medium and hot wings in NYC.
So now what? This battle has taken place for many years and there is no way we are going to stop having the NYC Wing-Off, we are just going to reinvent it. So stay tuned until next time when we up the Wing-Off ante.
A massive, massive thank you to all the restaurants and bars that have stuffed us full of wings for years now. There wasn’t a bad wing in the bunch and we’ve enjoyed every single bite. On behalf of all my fellow Wing-Offers, we tip our hats off to all of you.
WING-OFF HISTORICAL
WING-OFF 1
January 28, 2007
Scruffy Duffy’s vs. Atomic at Down the Hatch
WINNER: SCRUFFY DUFFY’S
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 DUFFY’S
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 DUFFY’S
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 DUFFY’S
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
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 Charles & Perry)
New York, NY 10014
WING-OFF 8
BLIND TIGER ALE HO– USE vs. THUNDER JACKSON’S
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
Tuesday, August 4th
Johnny Utah’s VS. Point Break (formerly Nation)
WINNER: POINT BREAK
EX-PRESIDENTIAL RUBBER MASKS ENCOURAGED!
Johnny Utah’s
www.johnnyutahs.com
25 W 51st St (Between 5th and 6th Aves)
New York, NY 10019-6902
(212) 265-8824
Point Break
http://pointbreaknyc.com/
12 W 45th St (Between 5th and 6th Aves)
New York, NY 10036-4202
(212) 391-8053
WING-OFF 10
Saturday, November 21st, 2009
Bar-Coastal vs. Brother Jimmy’s BBQ vs. The Back Page Sports Bar
WINNER: BAR-COASTAL
Bar-Coastal
www.barcoastal.com
1495 1st Ave (at 78th St)
New York, NY 10075-1355
(212) 288-6635
Brother Jimmy’s BBQ
www.brotherjimmys.com
1485 2nd Ave (at 77TH St)
New York, NY 10075-2001
(212) 288-0999
The Back Page Sports Bar
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7175125/new_york_ny/the_back_page.htm
1472 3rd Ave (Btwn 83rd and 84th)
New York, NY 10028-1967
(212) 570-5800
WING-OFF 11
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
The Wing Bar vs.Bonnie’s Grill
WINNER: BONNIE’S GRILL
The Wing Bar
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-wing-bar-brooklyn
275 Smith St (between Degraw St & Sackett St)
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Bonnie’s Grill
http://brooklyn.citysearch.com/profile/7356065/brooklyn_ny/bonnie_s_grill.html
278 5th Ave (1st Street)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
WING-OFF 12
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
The Final 4, Part 1 – Bar-Coastal vs. Croxley Ales
WINNER; BAR-COASTAL
Bar-Coastal
www.barcoastal.com
1495 1st Ave (at 78th St)
New York, NY 10075-1355
(212) 288-6635
Croxley Ale House
www.croxley.com
28 Avenue B
New York, NY
212-253-6140
WING-OFF 13
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010
The Final 4, Part 2 – Wogie’s vs. Lansdowne Road
WINNER; DECLARED A DRAW
Wogie’s
http://www.wogies.com/
39 Greenwich Ave
(btwn Charles & Perry)
New York, NY 10014
Lansdowne Road
www.lansdowneroadnyc.com
599 10th Ave (Btwn 43rd and 44th St)
New York, NY 10036-3008
WING-OFF 14
The Finals – Wogie’s vs. Lansdowne Road vs. Bar-Coastal
WINNER; BAR-COASTAL
Wogie’s
http://www.wogies.com/
39 Greenwich Ave
(btwn Charle’s & Perry)
New York, NY 10014
Lansdowne Road
www.lansdowneroadnyc.com
599 10th Ave (Btwn 43rd and 44th St)
New York, NY 10036-3008
Bar-Coastal
www.barcoastal.com
1495 1st Ave (at 78th St)
New York, NY 10075-1355
Sorry I missed this one! I'd definitely love to go back to all three places at some point.
Great blog guys…I wish you had more exposure!
The first weekend of March 2014, I had my own wing off.
Went to both Landsdown Road Saturday, Wogies on Sunday.
Both were pretty good medium wings, but I’d have to say Landsdown won HANDS DOWN. I personally liked the fact that Landsdown were a little drier and had a nice even distribution of sauce without the unnecessary wetness. You generally don’t eat all that wasted sauce left over on the bottom of the plate anyhow. They also had a crispness that survived to the end. Wogies were good and like many other pretty good wing places, where they just don’t cook them quite long enough to really crisp up the skin. Where the meat is cooked, but still a little soggy on the inside where the veins and other stuff are more noticable. I do like the butteryness of wogies sauce. Maybe its more like the traditional hot-sauce-and-butter wings I grew up with. Both sauces had just about the right amount of heat. Defintely going back to Landsdown, but Wogies did not stand out enough for a repeat performance any time soon. Landsdown, while not really a true craft beer bar, has a few more beer options too. That said, the girls working at wogies got the edge on the friendly and cute factor!