Since the creation of Buffalo wings in 1964, they’ve become a staple in our American society. Typically served at sporting events, these mouth-watering, deep-fried appetizers has become popular across the country—and Fairfield County is no exception. I recently returned to my four favorite Buffalo wing spots in the search for the best wings in town.
Personally, I gear more towards spicier wings—so naturally, wing sauce was a big part of my decision. Secondly, I judged the quality and the meat of the actual wing. Since I’m a major fan of spice, a good bleu cheese was also important in my decisions—what good is a Buffalo wing dish if there isn’t a delicious side dressing to cool down the fiery aftertaste? And last but certainly not least, I took price into account. Although I would pay just about anything for a good plate of Buffalo wings, I searched for the restaurant that would really give me the most for my buck.
4. bobby q’s barbecue
42 Main St., Westport
Price: $8.99 for eight wings
Located in the heart of downtown Westport, Bobby Q’s is well-known for its award-winning burgers, and while their wings aren’t the best around, they still do make a good appetizer. Cousin Nick’s Wings come in four different sauces: Cousin Nick’s Original, Honey BBQ, Chipotle BBQ and Cousin Nicks’ Blazin’. I ordered Cousin Nick’s Original, which came with eight wings.
The wings were a little on the drier, crunchier side, and the meat definitely wasn’t as tender as I expected it to be. The sauce also didn’t have the spice I typically look for—it was actually on the sweeter side. In fact, I was able to get through the entire set without taking one sip of my lemonade. If I could go back, I would have gotten Cousin Nicks’ Blazin’ sauce instead in order to satisfy my “spicy tooth.” Ultimately, what Bobby Q’s really needs to be recognized for is their bleu cheese. Although I didn’t need the bleu cheese to tame any spice, the thick and creamy sauce had a flavor-blasting taste that really earned the wings some extra brownie points. Rating: 3.5/5
3. Buffalo Wild wings
208 Summer St. Stamford
Price: $5.89 for six wings
Although this restaurant is a bit further away, and I think there are better options closer to town, it didn’t fail to satisfy my craving. Most commonly known for its wide variety of different Buffalo wing sauces, Buffalo Wild Wings never fails to provide everyone with a taste that they can enjoy. I went with the medium wing sauce, which usually provides a classic spice.
The sauce was definitely on par with what I was looking for—spicy enough to make me keep dipping the wings in bleu cheese, but intriguing enough to keep me reaching for more. The actual wings themselves were on the more tender side, but almost a little bit too tender to the point where I didn’t even realize I was biting through Buffalo wings. The bleu cheese was definitely below average—it was watery and barely stuck to the wings. Rating: 3.5/5
2. The BLACK DUCK
605 Riverside Ave., Westport
Price: $8.50 for 12 wings
The Black Duck is a classic Westport favorite, and its wings definitely lived up to my standards. The sauce had a memorable, irresistible taste. The wings were cooked almost perfectly, but were definitely on the tender side. Although the sauce and the wings themselves were outstanding, the bleu cheese needed work. The wings were extremely spicy; however, the bleu cheese was rather bland and wasn’t able to counteract the fiery taste of the sauce. What pleased me, though, was the amount of wings I was getting for such a low price. Twelve wings for under $10 is always a big plus in my book. Rating: 4.5/5
1. Archie Moore’s
48 Sanford St., Fairfield
Price: $7.95 for seven wings
I knew from the minute I tasted these wings that Archie Moore’s definitely had the best ones around. While many other restaurants had Archie Moore’s beat in some areas, Archie’s wings had the overall perfection I was really looking for. The taste of the sauce was spicy, almost addicting. The wings themselves were cooked to absolute perfection—while the outer shell was crispy, the white meat was tender. The chunky bleu cheese was able to curb the spiciness of the wings. When it comes down to it, the wings at Archie Moore’s had the flavor and taste that I was looking for throughout my search—the taste that leaves you wanting more, a taste that almost beckons. At the end of the day, Archie Moore’s had the taste that I dream about. Rating: 5/5
