You asked for it, we delivered - pictures are included in this weeks Wingsday review - a special thanks to Mike for photographing the event.  This week, Ale Gator’s, the newest occupant of the old Red Lobster building on Lake Parker.  I’ve heard that this was the first Red Lobster ever; I wonder if that’s true.  On to the reviews!

“With a name like Ale Gators I really had no expectations (especially as it relates to wings) so I just went along with the flow. When we walked in I believe we were all pleasantly surprised as the staff was well dressed, friendly, and the restaurant was clean. We sat down at a seizure inducing table caused by a ceiling fan running under a light in the ceiling. This caused somewhat of a strobe affect on the entire table and was quickly resolved by turning the fan off. I ordered 10 of their hot wings and a side of fries. It wasn’t long before the food arrived and they looked good but were a bit on the small side. They were cooked well and had a really good buffalo style taste but I’m not sure I’d classify them as hot (more of a mild) (Trav: I couldn’t agree more!). I tried a few of the Bourbon wings that one of the other guys ordered and I liked those as well, they tasted pretty much like what you’d expect bourbon chicken to taste like. The fries were also tasty and helped complete the meal. There were a few things that we didn’t like though which included not having a bowl to put our eaten wings in (we probably should have just asked for some) (We have pretty high standards) and the price was a little high compared to some of the other establishments that we’ve visited. In all it was a very enjoyable experience and I’d say that it rates 3rd on my list overall so I give it 4 out 5 stars.”
–Shawn

This is a picture of wings /\

“Ale Gators is one of those places that I never knew existed prior to our arrangements to host Wingsday there. Regardless, wings are on the menu, and wings are what we do. (Trav:  Way to keep it real, Scottie)

Before I go into detail, allow me to stress that over the past several Wingsday outings, the other Wingmen have dubbed me a “Wing Snob.” I’m completely okay with this title; reviews need to be objective and thorough. I’m looking for the best, not just “good.” (Scottie is the very definition of a wing snob.  “I’m not sure these wings have the appropriate bouquet” - “could I see your wine list” - “do you have any grey poupon I could dip my wings in?” - okay, I made most of that up; but that’s what a wing snob is in my mind)

I ordered 10 “Buffalo Hot” wings. Measly-sized, but decent flavor. Nothing special to report on; they were your typical vinegary-hot wings. Breaded. Smothered in Sauce. Covered in scallions for some unknown reason. Were they bad? By no means. Were they good? Let me answer that question with another: Can anyone truly “mess up” a chicken wing? Exactly. (I think Mike may disagree with you)

I also tried the bourbon (tastes like: Cheap Whiskey + Gelatin = Bourbon Sauce) and the BBQ (tastes like: KC Masterpiece + Elmer’s Glue = BBQ Sauce). That’s all I have to say about those.

The place advertises that dipping sauces are included, “unlike our competitors!” Yeah, true. But your competitor’s don’t make my bill to be 14 bucks and change (plus tip) when I order 10 wings, fries, and a drink, either. (I didn’t completely get the “dipping sauces” thing - were the dipping sauces, like, ranch or something?  ‘Cause, if that’s the case, most of their competitor’s don’t charge for them.  Or maybe they’re not competing with those places.  I digress)

Places like Decisions or Kau’s would have me return solely for the pleasure of eating wings. Places like Kazbor’s would have me return solely for value. I would consider returning to Ale Gator’s for free pool and ping-pong, their assortment of various other barroom games, or the pleasant and open atmosphere – would I order wings? Sure, but I wouldn’t be expecting Culinary Delicacies.  (I’m loving this review.  I may just take Scott’s name off and put my name on it)

Wings: 2.5 Stars – breaded, small, decent flavor; but nothing exciting.

Value: 2 Stars – small wings/portions, $17.00 w/ tip for “okay” food.

Atmosphere: 4.5 Stars – plenty of TVs, pool tables, games, and ping pong! Family-Friendly (in daylight hours at least), plus a great view of Lake Parker.”
–Scott

This is a another picture of wings! /\

“Ale Gators on Lake Parker was the mark this week for our wing delight. Upon arrival I was greeted by ample empty parking right up front and was excited to pull in, only to notice upon closer inspection that the many empty spaces were reserved for motorcycle gangs. We 4-wheel drivers needed to proceed to the side or back lot to park. In total I counted zero motorcycles present for lunch. Puzzling. (We’re a third of the way through Steve’s review, and he’s still hung up on the parking) Anyway, the atmosphere was nice. I last recall the days that this building housed the first ever Red Lobster restaurant. An upscale seafood experience back in its hay day. On to the chicken wings. (Appreciate you working that in) The menu was brief. Buffalo, Buffalo Hot, Bourbon, & BBQ. I had the bourbon wings since everyone else seemed to migrate towards the hot buffalo wings. I likened the taste to a Asian Chao Chinese style bourbon chicken. The sauce was dripping off the wing. Saucy. They were a bit too sweet for my taste and had to really power through to eat all ten. Honey may be less sweet than these wings. Service was fast and friendly from our referee. I also tried the hot wings which were a strong performer. I give them a solid “good” rating. Ale Gators was overall a strong performer. I’d go surely go back and possibly venture off the wings to try some gator fare.”
–Steve

“Ale Gator’s. Hmm…what to say? Low class Hooter’s? Maybe. The only way I can describe this place is that it would be like having the opportunity to go to a high class strip bar, only to drive past it and pull in at Wild Charlie’s Truck Stop, Lube Center, and Live Nudes (this place doesn’t exist). (At one point, I was like - is this too harsh - but that line, the name of that truck stop - sheer brilliance - Mike, I applaud your blunt honesty)The food was mediocre at best. I ordered the hot wings and fries. The fries were unseasoned from what I could tell. The wings were tiny little things, smothered in pure vinegar. The water, however, was good. I would not go back…unless Travis is paying.”
–Mike

“I was immediately greeted by at least seven members of the friendly, staff who wore referee uniforms (can I pause here and say most of the waitresses were pretty - it’s like, we’re tap dancing around the fact that they hire attractive waitresses; a couple may have even been hot - just trying to be fair and just in our reporting), appropriate for the ambiance of a clean sports bar with TV, full liquor, games, Karaoke and music. We chose a round table that comfortably seated six. A bright light shined through the moving blades of the ceiling fan, creating a strobe effect, amplified by the inside of the shiny menus. Once the fan stopped, we regained our vision. Readers, you can simulate this by blinking rapidly, yes Wingsday is interactive.  (Greatest line ever!)

The wings are only available breaded. I ordered 10 barbecue wings and received a 3:7 wing to drum ratio and a salad of cut scallions on top. The amount of sauce glued to these wings would make anyone from NASA reconsider the method they use to stick the heat tiles to the space shuttle (This line may be better - Mike D. might be new, but he’s funny).  They were so overwhelming that I could not eat them all, and I shared two. The bourbon wings are good and taste like Asian Chao bourbon chicken at the mall. I did not try the hot wings today.

My tea was never empty and the management came by at least twice to ask us if everything was good. I thought $14.95 was a tad steep for ten wings, fries and tea, but Mondays .41 cent wings and two for one Margaritas is a head turner. I rate 3 of 5 stars with weight on the excellent service.”  (Word!) (can I still say “Word!”?)
–Mike D.

A bunch of diversity in the reviews this week.  It was a ton of fun.

If you’re a wing afficianado, and think you know of the best wings around, drop us a line - maybe the Wingsday crew will come eat with you!

Have a great weekend!

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This week, Kazbor’s Grille. First off, I’m sorry the review is being posted so late, but, well, I was lazy this weekend . . .

I walked into Kazbor’s not expecting much. I’d heard less than stellar feedback from folks who’d eaten at their other locations. What we found was a pleasant surprise:

“Rock the Kazbor’s! – (Editor’s note: It’s only by grace that I let you keep that headline) Yes, it’s lame, and a stretch… but The Clash played on repeat in my head during my entire dining experience. Regardless, I apparently did not share my fellow Wingmen’s sentiments for the fare we sampled.

In short:
1. The Hot wings were… not that hot. –2 Stars.
2. The Garlic Buffalo were very tasty, and a touch hotter than the “hot.” –3 Stars.
3. It was hard for me to get an accurate sampling of the Caribbean Jerk wings because my taste buds were dulled. I would say they were halfway decent. –3 Stars. (The reason they were fried is because before that I tried:
4. The Wicked Hot wings… they aren’t lying at Kazbor’s. Wicked-Freakin’-Hot [insert a Bostonian accent here]. — 4 Stars, for truly serving a HOT wing that still held is habanera-esque flavor.

Lastly, Our waiter was friendly and attentive, but he reminded me a bit too much of Brian, the flair-wearing, over-enthusiastic Chotchkie’s waiter from Office Space.

Overall, the fact that it was AYCE Wings for 9.95 with a side, coupled with a family-friendly atmosphere ALMOST made up for the no-more-than-mediocre wings. Great Value, “Ehh” Wings.”
–Scott

“I already had a preconceived notion of filth and poor food/environment even before I stepped foot into Kazbor’s. I had never actually heard anything about the one in Lakeland, since its practically brand new, but I had heard things about other restaurant sites. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in. The food smelled good, the atmosphere was clean. The only concern I had was that the place was small. Like, my chair kept bumping the guy’s chair behind me, small. Our server was very nice and attentive, but not overly attentive, which I like. My thoughts were something along the lines of, “All you can eat wings…how good can they be?” They were good, especially for 10 bucks. I started off with the hot. These were very good. Nice flavor. Nice wetness. No thick breading. I’m already a fan. For my reorder I got the garlic buffalo. OMG!!! I’m going to say it. Many won’t agree…the garlic buffalo have moved into my number one spot, out ranking Decisions. There, I said it. (Editor’s note: You’re right. I don’t agree. In fact, it’s only based on journalistic integrity that I resisted editing your review)

Stay away from the “wicked hot” unless you want to feel your taste buds melt off your tongue. The name doesn’t lie. It wasn’t exactly a buffalo style hot either - more of “lets just soak these things in habanero juice for a week to see what happens.” They were fun though. I ate one, it made me feel like a man. Overall I was very pleased with my experience. The wing may not be quite as large as Decisions, but you know how I feel, there is no need to say it again and anger the people around me (Editor’s note: Too late!). I think they are being paid off (Editor’s note: Yeah, that’s why I’m rolling around in an 8 year old car with 200k miles). You should check out campfire anthems sometime to really get the truth. I’m out.”
–Mike

“This week for wingsday we went to Kazbor’s Grille. We broke tradition and went to Wingsday on a Thursday but it was OK because Kazbor’s had all you can eat wings for $9.95. I’m not sure who recommended this place but it was a pretty good find. (Editor’s note: It was Trish, from Project Management, who left a menu on my desk). The restaurant itself was really nice and everything seemed really clean. I started my order of unlimited wings with 10 hot wings which came with a side (the experience just kept getting better). It wasn’t long before the wings arrived at the table and we dove right in. We went ahead and put in our order for more wings right after the first set arrived, this time I went the wicked hot (more on that below). The wings are about medium in size, non-breaded, and had a good consistency. The hot wings are pretty close to what I would normally expect and they really tasted good. After about 4 to 5 hot wings the wicked hot wings came out, geez they aren’t kidding. Just a word of advice you might want take something before to prepare your stomach and/or invest in some Tuck’s medicated pads afterwards if you decide to partake in more than one of these wings or maybe just one may do it (Editor’s note: I recommend putting the toilet paper in the freezer). I’ve never seen so many red faces, sweat beading on foreheads, and gasps for air (it was hot enough to take you breath away) from a group of grown men in my life. The wicked hot wings still tasted good you just couldn’t stand to have more than 1 or 2. I also sampled some of the Caribbean Jerk wings which were also really good and had a very distinct flavor without going overboard. In all I rate Kozbor’s 2nd only to Decisions ,which has been the front runner in most everyone’s book for quite some time. To sum it up I’d give the whole experience 4.2 out 5 stars.”
–Shawn

“This was my first wingsday and it was very amusing. We went to Kozbor’s Grille which was nice and clean. Some even commented that it was too chilly inside, but I found the place quite comfortable overall. I ordered the mild wings because unlike the others at the table, I had to share my food with my one year old daughter and I am pretty sure she would not have appreciated anything hotter. The service was a little slow and I think that had more to do with the kitchen staff rather than our waiter. The wings did finally come, but I had to wait till they brought out my ranch sauce before I could begin eating. I quickly noticed that I was the only one at the table that dipped my wings. I am not sure if I am an oddity or if the others just don’t know that your supposed to dip your wings in ranch or blue cheese (Editor’s note: Maybe it’s just that we’re purists, lady!). Either way, the wings were good even though I prefer batter fried over naked wings. My daughter was not impressed with the wings and pretty much ignored the pieces of chicken I gave her (Editor’s note: She’s like, 1. My one year old wouldn’t eat deep fried chocolate covered in peanut butter). Unfortunately, I was unable to finish my first set, so I did not partake in a re-order to sample any other flavors. I must admit, though, the most enjoyable part of this wingsday was watching the others try the wicked hot wings. There was a lot of sweating, tearing up and fire-breathing, coupled with predictions of utilizing the conference center once they got back to work. Since this was the first wingsday I was invited to, I had nothing to compare this dining experience with. With that said, I did enjoy food and the restaurant, and I will rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I am also pretty sure I now know why they keep the place so chilly.”
–Natalie (guest reviewer)

All in all, I don’t think any of us could complain about the aesthetics of the place - plenty of TV’s, viewable from every angle, a full bar, video games for the kids. It was, like Mike mentioned, a little cramped, but it was the kind of place I’d go back to just for the environment. I thought the wings were in my top 3 (off the top of my head, behind Decision’s and Beef’s). Since Kazbor’s is new, we’ll have to check back in a few months to make sure they’ve maintained the bar they’ve set.

Have a great week!

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This week, the Wingsday crew took on “The Winner’s Circle,” which is a nice little sports bar on South Florida Avenue. I’ll let the reviewers give you their take before I give you mine:

“I was left numb after tasting 9 distinct chicken wing flavors in one lunch this week. I could not even muster up the words to review them until Thursday. To generalize a bit, I thought all the chicken wings were a bit soggy but overall good quality and value. The breading absorbed lots of the wing sauce leaving all candidates feeling a tad pasty. The sweet tea was undrinkable here. Antifreeze would have quenched thirst better. For the sake of brevity, I’m going to employ 5 word reviews for each flavor sampled:

Hot - medium heat hint of sweetness
Bourbon - very sweet would eat again
Taco - best of show meaty goodness
Roasted garlic - super strength garlic birth control
Parmesan - fork and knife Italian meal
Chippy - chipotle soul sweet heat delicious
Vegas - lemon lime tequila unexpected surpriseCajun - pass, not your mamma’s jambalaya
Caribbean jerk - Simon & Garfunkel reminiscent, Scarborough Fair  

”
–Steve

“I’ve been to Winners Circle a few times but never ordered any food so I wasn’t sure what to expect. They’ve also recently relocated which was a good move because the new place seems quite a bit larger and cleaner. You can order 20 wings form $9.95 which is one of the best deals we’ve run across. Since the price was right and we were all in the mood for variety we ordered a total of 100 wings in 9 different flavors. Here’s a break down of how I rated each wing:
Hot (2.5 out of 5 stars) – This wing had a sweet taste but was very deceiving. Once you actually swallowed it left a burning sensation in your mouth that was intriguing. After about 4 consecutive hot wings you start to sweat and look for your favorite beverage. I wasn’t super impressed with the overall flavor so they ranked a little lower on my list.
Parmesan (4 out of 5 stars) – Wings had marinara sauce with some parmesan cheese. They tasted a lot like chicken parmesan and were quite tasty.
Vegas (1.5 out of 5 stars) – Wings were described as having a citrus flavor and seemed to have a hint of lime. Most of the group raved about how good these were, however I wasn’t impressed they tasted a little stale to me.
Taco (3.5 out 5 stars) – Wings had taco seasoning on them and tasted pretty good.
Chippy (Chipolte)/Cajun/Caribbean Jerk (2 out of 5 stars) – For me all these wings tasted like they were doused with a bunch of different grill mate seasonings (a little overboard) and I didn’t really get anything from them. Some of them tasted OK but none of them stuck out for me as tasting good.
Bourbon (2 out of 5 stars) - I was expecting something like you get from a Chinese restaurant just in a chicken wing. I was disappointed as I thought the flavor of these wings was somewhat sour and didn’t taste anything like what I expected.
Roasted Garlic (4 out of 5 stars) – We had a choice to go with Garlic or Roasted Garlic and we all decided that the Roasted Garlic sounded much more appetizing.

The wings certainly had enough garlic on them and they tasted really good.All of the wings were cooked well and they were probably medium in size. 40 to 50 minutes must have passed between the time that we ordered and when the wings started coming out to the table, which seems a little long. When I take the wings, service, and overall atmosphere into consideration I give the whole experience 3.75 out 5 stars.”
–Shawn

“Winner’s Circle is another place I’ve been to a few times before, but without such a discerning tongue. The easiest way to ramble through the cornucopia of flavors we sampled is to just go one at a time:
Hot: Halfway decent. More of a “sweet” hot than the traditional “vinegar” hot… but personally I don’t prefer hot/sweet. These’ll sneak up on ya… the hot takes about 45 seconds to hit. 3 Stars.
Roasted Garlic: Overdone. Unfortunately for my wife, I’m still belching garlic, hours later, after only two wings. Tasty, but too heavy on the minced garlic. 2 Stars.
Taco: Holy Frijoles! These tasted more like warm ground beef than chicken — very delicious. All it needed was some cheese and sour cream. A must-try wing for the curious! 4.5 Stars.
Vegas: Very tasty, but wing-to-wing, the flavor varied a bit to me. There’s a citrusy undertone… well, it was an undertone on the first Vegas I tried… and an overtone on the second. I think the latter wing was covered in more sauce, sitting at the bottom of the pile. Either way, not a bad wing. 4 Stars
Jerk: The key to this wing was the fresh Rosemary that was sprinkled on the wing. Tasted like biting into a fresh herb garden — delicious, different than traditional “jerk” recipes, but packs a ton of good flavor. 4.25 Stars.
Parmesan: Again, a must-try for the person who must try everything. Red marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese… on a wing! The Winggods have smiled upon me with this one. 4.5 Stars
Cajun: Typical. Spicy. Tasty, but nothing to write home about. You can find these wings in dozens of bars. 2.5 Stars.
Chippy: (Chipotle) Not my cup of tea. Probably the worst wing I’ve had in a while. -1 Star.
Bourbon: Again, not for me. I love whiskey… but not in my food. 1.5 Stars.Overall, the place was friendly and inviting, with lots of TVs adorning the walls and plenty o’ darts. The waitress seemed somewhat disinterested in us, and the food took quite a while to appear. However, for the money, the wait was worth it. Some of the least expensive wings we’ve seen. The wings themselves were somewhat tiny and a bit over-breaded, but the sheer quantity of flavors available makes this a must-visit… However, I wouldn’t say they’re in the Winner’s Circle, by any means.”
–Scott

“I graced good old Winners Circle with my presence once or twice back in my college days, but hadn’t been to their new location located within the Dixie Land area of Lakeland. I must say that I was happily surprised when I walked in. Cleanliness that the old Winners would have never had. ::side bar:: I use to take my wife to this same exact building when it was a little Italian restaurant for lobster ravioli. ::end side bar:: Anywho, I sit down with my friends (I’m the last one there as usual) and find out that we all ordered 20 wings, split into 2 flavors of 10 wings. Now right here, at any other establishment, I would have freaked out about the cost of 20 wings, but I was promptly informed that 20 wings was only 10 bucks. WOW! What a super deal!

We are now waiting. And waiting some more. We talked a bit, continued to wait. Finally, after a gut wrenching half hour the first set of wings arrives. Over the course of maybe 5 minutes all our platters of wings arrive and we begin our duty. Remember that word right there. Duty. I decided to go round robin on today’s event. I started with the Vegas wings. How delicious. The Vegas wings had a nice hint of citrus to them, almost like a tequila lime or something. Right from the start I was impressed. This was a very good wing. Next, I moved around the circle to Taco wings. I kid you not, these things smelled like tacos, and even tasted more like beef than chicken. Scary thing was that once again this piece of chickeny goodness was delectable. Ok, 3rd was “chippy,” which to a normal person was chipotle. These were ok. They had a nice flavor to them, and just enough kick for a good spice factor. Then garlic, bourbon, and cajun. Don’t kiss your wife aftereating garlic…although very good flavor, cajun was just ok, and I wasn’t a fan of the bourbon. They tasted like I was eating them out of a Jack Daniels bottle.

The hot wings were something to write home about. They were very good. They were also just like Jerry. They snuck right up on you. Initially they were sweet, and no matter how long the meat was in your mouth it was sweet. as soon as you swallowed, however, pull the fire hose out ’cause these things scorched. They were good but not as good as the hot wings from Kau Kau Koner. I also was able to partake in the jerk wing. It had a nice level of heat, along with some herbs and island flavorings. Lastly was the parmesean wing. This was very much like eating chicken parmesean at an Italian joint. With the grated cheese and marinara sauce, I half expected these to be served with side order of angel hair pasta.

I won’t comment this week on the weight staff. (my mom always said that if you don’t have something nice, don’t say anything at all) All in all I would seriously recommend this place for a good order of wings. Is it the best in town? It’s hard to say. I guess we’ll just have to keep atit next week.”
–Mike

To summarize, the “niche” wings (taco, parmesan, jerk) were so far to the ‘nth degree on the flavor scale that they became too much; I equated it to eating jelly belly gourmet jelly beans: the taco tasted like a ground beef taco. If I want a ground beef taco, why on earth would I order wings? The prices were excellent, and the quality of the food was good, if the service was a bit slow. I’d say I’d go to Winner’s Circle again; however, if I wanted wings, I’d go to Beef’s or Decisions . . .

See you next Wingsday!

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This week, we tackled one of the big “wing-chains” (not to be confuse with “wang-chun”). The WingHouse. The reviews:

“I had very high hopes for Ker’s Winghouse Lakeland since they are a large chain and because their name implies that wings are their specialty. I was let down. I ordered 10 breaded hot wings with their “WingHouse House on Fire® Sauce”. Winghouse’s heat scale goes like this: mild, medium, hot, house on fire, eXXXtreme. Give me a break. My 4-year old could have eaten the house on fire wings. If I go back, I’m ordering the extreme sauce. But that’s a big IF. Here’s why. Out of 10 wings, I bet five of them had broken bones. This does two things. First, it makes the wings difficult to eat because there are splintered bone fragments to contend with. Second, it makes me feel bad for the poor chickens and who needs that guilt? I want my chickens living a happy life just prior to being fried in boiling hot oil. It also occurred to me that maybe the restaurant’s focus is more on their service by the famous Winghouse girls. Service was average at best. The atmosphere is cool, if you don’t mind a restaurant where the patrons are 98% male. To quote Randy Jackson of American Idol fame, “It was just ayaught for me dog.”
–Steve

“To be honest, my entire review can be summed up in one word: “Ehh”

First off, the ordering here is just complicated. Even the menu agrees with that – it gives a detailed step-by-step “Instruction Manual” on the proper way to order your wings. Any food that requires more than one step to order correctly is just cumbersome.

The “House On Fire” Hot Wings (rated Four Fireballs out of Five by WingHouse) were just… sissy. I don’t even know if that word applies to food, but that’s the best way to describe them. This second-hottest wing on their menu was milder than most establishment’s “medium” wings.

The portion size also left something to be desired. Those who ordered “naked” wings – without the breading – were left with tiny piles of sticks… and that was before they were eaten. Additionally, the wings themselves were full of broken bones. I believe WingHouse orders their chickens directly from a Paraplegic Chicken Rescue Farm. (editor’s note: I don’t think this is offensive, so I left it in here. If it offends you, let me know)

“Value” is not a term I would associate with WingHouse. For around $12.00 (including tip) I received 10 measly wings and a soda. Want anything additional and it would cost you – 1.50 for all drummies, .79 cents for bleu cheese/ranch, and .99 cents for dressing AND celery. Listen. Don’t nickel and dime me, scantily-clad waitress.

I’m not even going to get into how much of a Hooter’s knock-off this place is.

The only semi-redeeming quality of WingHouse was the [over-]enthusiastic staff. We were greeted by the hostess upon entering, our waitress was attentive, the manager asked how our meal was partway through, and both the hostess and manager opened the doors, asked us again how the meal was, and wished us a pleasant day. Oh, and the blackened wings were tasty, despite their miniscule size.

Overall – 2 stars.”
–Scott

“Expectations were high today as we were going to WingHouse a place that is known for, well, their wings, as well as a few other things. I can sum up the entire experience in one word “Average”. The staff was friendly (attractive), the restaurant was clean and well laid out, and the food arrived in what seemed record time. I ordered 10 wings blackened (naked), all drumsticks which is a nice option. They tasted OK but the cook went a little overboard on the spices and I’m pretty sure I got my daily intake of sodium in the first bite. The drumsticks were also a little small in comparison but were cooked to a good consistent texture. I wasn’t impressed at all with the “House on Fire” wings that I sampled as they were a little soggy and didn’t pack much of a punch. In summary nothing really stood out about the whole experience so I give it 3 out of 5 stars.”
–Shawn

Sounds pretty mundane to me. I actually was the only one to sample the Dallas/Hot combination that another guy ordered - really good, although, I have to agree with the other guys on the brittle/size points. All in all, it wasn’t that it was bad, more that it wasn’t awesome.

That’s it for this week. Until next week, Follow our favorite fast food establishment’s slogan and Eat More Chicken!

1 Comment »

February 20, 2008

Okay.  Through a confluence of fluky events, we weren’t sure we’d have a full cadre of reviewers today.  Concerned with making sure we provide you, the reader, with a well rounded perspective, we decided to take our “skeleton” crew to Decisions again.  Decisions was the early leader in Wingsday, so what better place to regroup.  Plus, we can see if the first visit was a fluke.  It wasn’t.  Bring on the reviews:

“Upon hearing my Wingsday Debut would be at Decisions, I couldn’t help but feel apprehensive. I’ve driven past this place more times than I care to count, and never gave it a second thought. However, my preconceived notions were all put aside when I arrived; greeted by friendly wait staff and entering a clean, well-lit “Bar & Grill” whose lunchtime ambience was pleasant and inviting. Aside from the typical bar paraphernalia adorning the walls, once I was seated and eating, Decisions bared more of a resemblance (in daylight hours) to a mom-and-pop diner than a true Bar.

Overall, the wings were very tasty; cooked through, crispy, and with just enough sauce to keep the meat tender and moist, without being a sloppy, dripping, suck-your-chicken-through-a-straw, sopping mess.

The Raspberry Wings had me torn. As much as I was (unsurprisingly) not impressed with my first bite, they were like a bad accident; I just had to keep going back. The sweet berry taste made a pleasant “palate cleanser” in between garlicy or spicy wings. I still stand indifferent on this particular flavor. If offered, I would gladly chow down on a few in between Hot Wings… however, ordering a plate solely comprised of these wings may leave you asking for the peanut butter and white bread – and asking your mommy to cut the crusts off your PB&Wing Sandwich. 2 Stars.

The Cajun Garlic Wings were very good. A dryer wing – but in a good way – enough flavor without having to drench the chicken in gallons of sauce. More “garlic” and less “Cajun” however; lacking the kick that I had expected. Overall, a definite re-order for me. 4 Stars.

The traditional Hot Wing served up by Decisions was excellent. Enough spice for a little kick – but not so much spice that eating them dulls your taste buds. There’s plenty of underlying flavor that does not compete with the spiciness of the sauce, making an overall great choice. I’d return for this wing alone. 5 Stars.

The Teriyaki Wing is the only place that I feel Decisions faltered. Not that they were BAD, but they just really didn’t do anything for me. Again, the wings themselves were cooked well, crispy, and eye-pleasing; but the flavor was just not enough to get me going. If you like sweet or Asian-style, these may suit you just fine. 1.5 Stars.

The final selection was recommended by our pleasant, talkative, attentive waitress. The Hot/Honey/Teriyaki concoction was a bit much at first bite. Rather than melding together, I felt the flavors almost competing in my mouth; as if it were an Immunity Challenge in Survivor: Tongue Island. [Alternate Joke: “as if Officer Krupke was breaking up a rumble between the Jets and the Sharks in the alley behind my lips.”] Both my first and second attempts at enjoying these wings were squelched by the flavor Battle-Royale which ensued. However, while talking with my fellow Wingmen, I realized that I had been instinctively eating these continually without a second thought – so I must have enjoyed them on some level. 2.5 Stars.”
–Scottie

“I originally was told we were going to Champs, which made me very excited. About 20 minutes before I left to meet the guys I was informed that we were going to Decisions Bar instead. I’ll be honest…I was a little disappointed when I heard the news because I haven’t been to
Champs in years and was ready to have a little rendezvous. Alas, I showed up to Decisions and was surprised that the atmosphere was relatively clean and smokeless, contrary to the gossip I had heard. As always, I was late due to a meeting at work, but the guys had already ordered and started in. We split something like 60 or 70 wings between us. Here is the official breakdown -
Hot: good flavor, not tangy (thats a positive statement), not enough sauce
Teriyaki: not going to lie, these sucked
Cajun garlic: I have a good benchmark on these due to Bedrock’s last week. These were much better.
Raspberry: This is a very interesting concept. Fry the wing. Coat it with Smucker’s…or something like that. Not great but also not awful. Maybe a good dessert wing.
Hot honey teriyaki: I actually liked these the more I ate them. Due, however, to the teriyaki not being that great, I think these would have been better if they were hot honey garlic. That way you have a spice, sweet, and savory flavor.

The wings at Decisions were nice and crispy. They were cooked really well. They told us that due to the Daytona 500 they ran out of their usual wings and were using something else until they restocked. I guess they were a little smaller, so they gave us more than we ordered, but I
have nothing to base that against. The server was very good. She wasn’t your typical suck up kind of server you find in a Chili’s or something. She actually had a personality…and could put up with all of are crap. As of yet, Decisions is headlining this Polk County tour
for wings. Why are we only in Polk County? Central Florida here we come!”
–Mike

“The discerning tastes of Wingsday.com reviewers was called into question indirectly by some “pro” food critic at The Ledger in the Timeout’s dining section Thursday, February 7th. We at Wingsday take offence and would like to set the record straight here. Allow me to rebuff one Lenore Devore’s review.

Decisions Bar & Grill remains top-of-the-heap in the Lakeland area for chicken wings. The fresh aroma delights the senses as soon as you walk in the door. The only thing smokin in Decisions are the hot wings and serving staff. They could not be more accommodating and friendly. The wings are made fresh, so each order takes a full 20 minutes to prepare. If you get them any quicker — send them back, you can never be too careful. Decisions offers many tantalizing flavors including raspberry, Cajun garlic, honey bbq, and teriyaki. The standard hot are the best in town, but the raspberry and Cajun garlic deserve honorable mention. Service always comes with a smile at Decisions, and I assure you that you’ll leave with one too. Vince and Sheila, to you we tip our hat. 14 stars.

Lenore, I’m not saying I don’t trust you, and I’m not saying I do. But I don’t.”
–Steve

I can’t help but think how happy I’d be if you showed up at my house with ANY of the wings Decision’s served us. Hot, fresh, flavorful; and different in a creative way (as far as their take on “hot” or “cajun garlic”). I have not had better wings than we had here. The competition will have to be pretty good to top this.

That’s it for this week! See you next Wingsday!

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