Sorry about yesterday. There was a problem with our data management solution, resulting in bad data. We’ve fixed that situation. Here are Scott’s rankings:

1(tie). Kazbor’s
1(tie). Decision’s
3(tie). KauKau Koner
3(tie). Winner’s Circle
5. The Gym
6. Ale Gator’s
7(tie). Ker’s Winghouse
7(tie). Hooter’s

(It’s important to note that Scott did not rank Beef’s, Bedrock’s, Chili’s, or Salem’s as he didn’t attend those days. Those establishment’s will NOT be penalized in the overall rankings)

Keep in mind that we realize these aren’t all of the wing establishments in Lakeland - our quest is far from over. Also, it’s important to note that these are ranked on 6 subjective criteria: Wings, Heat, Variety, Service, Value, and Atmosphere.

Scott’s Individual Leaders
Best Wing: KauKau Koner
Best Heat: KauKau Koner
Best Variety: (tie) Decision’s/Winner’s Circle
Best Service: Ker’s Winghouse
Best Value: Kazbor’s
Best Atmosphere: (tie) Ale Gator’s/The Gym

Tomorrow, we’ll let you inside Steve’s head (scary!) . . .

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So, a week or so ago, I tasked our regular contributors to fill out a spreadsheet ranking the wings and establishments we’ve eaten at so far.  There are 5 regular contributors: Scott, Mike, Steve, Shawn, and myself.  Each day, we’ll release one of our polls until day 6, when we’ll release the accumulative poll.  Without further adieu, here is Shawn’s official ballot:

1. Kazbor’s Grille
2. Decision’s
3. KauKau Koner
4. Beef O’ Brady’s
5. Winner’s Circle
6. Bedrock Cafe
7. Ale Gator’s
8. Chili’s
9. Salem’s
10. Ker’s Winghouse
11. Hooters

(It’s important to note that Shawn did not rank “The Gym” as he was on vacation that week)

Keep in mind that we realize these aren’t all of the wing establishments in Lakeland - our quest is far from over. Also, it’s important to note that these are ranked on 6 subjective criteria: Wings, Heat, Variety, Service, Value, and Atmosphere. Although Kazbor’s scored the highest, Decision’s is Shawn’s Best Wing.  The rest of Shawn’s leaders - Kazbor’s and KauKau tied for Best Heat - Kazbor’s, Decision’s, and Beef’s for Variety - Decision’s for Service - Kazbor’s for value (although, to be fair, we went on “all you can eat wings” Thursday) - and Ale Gator’s for Best Atmosphere.

Tomorrow, we’ll let you inside Scott’s head (scary!) . . .

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This week, we went to the mother of all wing establishments. Without Hooter’s, the wing industry would not even be an industry. This is where many a man is first exposed to, ummm, chicken wings. We’d kept pushing this venue back on our schedule, believing it would provide us with a new baseline. It did.

“It was inevitable. Wingsday must review all chicken wing establishments in the area and we couldn’t leave out Hooters - a giant in the wing business (and another business!). Hooters’ reputation was the only thing giant about it. Well, almost. Hooter’s chicken wings are as bulimic as their waitresses. Each could stand to put some meat on their bones. I tried the 911-hot chicken wings, naked. They are the second hottest wings on the menu. Only three mile island are said to be hotter. They were small, dry and lacking in meat. After consuming 11.5 wings (one was severely damaged) I’m starving (I was too - it’s sad to spend fifteen dollars on lunch and then need to get dessert on the way back to the office). The sauce was a deep red paste smeared on as an after thought then dehydrated, possibly via heat lamp. It tasted more like a tomato based spicy pasta sauce. Thankfully, I borrowed a Cajun and a parmesan wing from fellow wingmen. The Cajun were good, the parmesan were gross, dripping in cream sauce. I doubt I’d miss Hooters (the restaurant) if I never laid eyes on them (ummm, it?) again. I’m surprised how poorly the major wing establishments are measuring up against the hole-in-the-wall unknowns (Word - this is the most amazing thing to me; no-name places killing the big names. It’s like David and Goliath, only, if like David and Goliath were both chicken wings).”
–Steve

“Today we visited Hooters on the South side. Overall I must say that I was not impressed, in fact it sucked (I love the bluntness of this statement). Here is a breakdown of the day:

1. Arrived at 12:30 PM
2. Very busy
3. Service was extremely slow (Unbelievably slow. We were with a large party, but still, it was ridiculous)
4. Iced tea was watered down
5. Ordered 10 Spicy Garlic/Cajun wings
6. Food took approximately 45 minutes to come out
7. Wings were very greasy
8. To much sauce on the wings
9. Wings were also salty and to much pepper
10. The wings were so small I thought they were pulled from a Cornish hen
11. When I was finished I was still hungry
12. Even with the inside decoration it was not worth the price I paid, money or physically

Overall I would have to say that I am not sure I would visit Hooters again.”
–Jason

“Hooters. The name says it all. You know, now that I think about it, that’s all they really have going for them. There wasn’t much of a lunch rush today. In fact, it was a lot quieter than I remember Hooters being back when I frequented the establishment weekly. Oh how taste changes as you grow. I could tell it was going to be an interesting lunch from the moment I approached the table. To say that our waitress was tense/flustered would be like saying people go to Hooters for their quality cooked wings. I digress. The service was crap. The wings were crap. Even most of the “scenery” was crap. I can say, however, I never choose to eat at this place unless I have friends going there, which was the case for today.

Our waitress was totally (not) on top of things, scrambling all over the place, not knowing what plate was which flavor (this has happened to us a few times; if you advertise multiple flavors of wings, and you brag about how well you do it, how ’bout keeping ‘em straight for the customer. I would say that half the time we are forced to figure out the flavors on our own). At one point she blamed it on the cook’s colored toothpick technique. Later, she was complaining how she is usually very organized, but 3 girls didn’t show up for work. I don’t want to hear you complain. I just to eat a good wing. Well, I didn’t eat a good wing. I got 10 hot wings, naked, and an order of curly fries. The wings were the smallest pieces of meat that I had ever seen (that’s what she said) (funny guy! You beat me to it!) and the curtly fries were unseasoned and soggy. The only thing that would have made this experience better was 1) someone else had paid 2) beer would have been involved, or 3) all the waitresses were running around naked. I think the last option wouldn’t have been child friendly, or even a Hooters establishment at all. I think that this wing experience will be my last week with the Wingsday crew. I don’t know if I can emotionally handle another let down like this. (I’ll most likely be back next week)”
–Mike

“I approached this outing with apprehension – in the past I always used Mr. Everyman’s excuse for visiting the establishment: “Honey, it’s just because they have good wings, I swear!” (A similar ploy to “I only read it for the articles.”) However, I knew once my discerning taste buds sampled the food here, I might lose my excuse (What Scott meant to say here: Now that I’ve become a wing snob, I can’t check out the Hooter’s babes anymore, since their wings suck).

And I did. For starters, the wings/drums looked like they came from New York City pigeons more than actual chickens. Smallest wings ever. [Insert “large (chicken) breast” joke here.] (Okay - you know what they say about small wings?)

Moreover, the flavors just weren’t that great. Any combination of flavors was a nightmare… icky, gooey, too much seasoning. A mess. The hot wings were okay. The teriyaki was bad, but I hate teriyaki anyway. The Cajun were okay. Somehow I lucked out and picked (in my opinion) the best-tasting wing on the menu – the Spicy Garlic. That’s not saying much, though. The best tasting wing at Hooters is like being the smartest person to repeat 5th grade… twice.

From now on I’ll have to tell my wife I go to Hooters for the oysters (I would go for the shrimp!).”
–Scott

“The wings were good. Not really the best wings I’ve ever had. My favorite part about lunch was dipping the fries in the ranch. I liked the fries - not the best I’ve ever had, but they were good. I guess I would go back.”
–Christian (age - 8 - filling in for his dad and reviewing wings as part of “Bring Your Child to Work Day”)

Make sure to check Wingsday this week as we unvail our rankings thus far in the “Wing of the Year” competition.  Have a great weekend!

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