Wingporium

Wingporium is a small sports bar that serves wings, ribs, burgers and other pub food. When I saw the amount of flavors they offered I had to check this place out. When I arrived at the location on Islington just south of Bloor I was a bit skeptical because at the moment there is no sign on the front of the building although there were plenty of signs in the window display.  The inside was smaller than it looked from the outside with tables lining the walls and a few others clustered in the middle. The t.v.’s were all hanging on the walls varying in size and the large 70” t.v. to the right of the bar made up for the fact they didn't have a projector. 

               

                Because they do not offer a pint and a pound deal we decided to go on a Tuesday night when wings are on for $6.50 / pound with the purchase of a beverage. Other good daily deals are all you can eat wings on Monday for $22.99 / person and 2 pounds of wings and a pitcher for 24.99 on Sundays. On the menu they divide the 88 flavors and sauces into the typical groups: dry, mild, medium hot and suicide. Beside the flavors they indicate if they are a staff favorite  new addition, or a bestseller to help narrow down your options. This visit we tried the spicy maple glaze, interview with a vampire, all dressed and chipotle. If you’re a big fan of garlic and parmesan I recommend the interview with a vampire but my favorite were the spicy maple glaze. Although I was disappointed that they weren't as spicy as I was hoping, the maple glaze made the wing taste like it was wrapped in candy bacon. If you haven’t tried candy bacon I recommend you try it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5hqoFnGgiM 

                

                 The other awesome thing Wingporium offers that I think more places should is you can get any flavour wing sauce on an order of potato wedges. We ordered the interview with a vampire on ours and they may be the reason I come back.  

On Tap:

- Stella Artois
- Stella Artois Light
- Hoegaarden
- Alexander Keiths Pale Ale
- Alexander Keiths Red
- Budweiser
- Bud Light
- Labatt 50



Location: 1000 Islington Ave, Toronto, ON M8Z 4P8
Website: http://www.wingporium.ca/

Puck N Wings

Puck N Wings is a great hockey themed bar style restaurant at Young and Finch. This place specializes in wings with close to 50 flavors and sauces, some great, some not so much. On the night that I went to Puck N Wings there was a UFC event so we arrived early anticipating a large crowd and backed-up kitchen. Our server was a very nice and polite blonde female who was very friendly and knowledgeable of the drink and food menu. Our drinks did take a while to arrive but again it was an event night and the place was starting to fill up.

The menu rates the hotness of the wing sauce on a scale of 1 – 5. They divide the sauces and flavors into a couple categories: NHL Lineup, Punch Line, World Cup Lineup, Dry Rub Guys and Future Stars. The wings are fairly expensive at regular price, costing $11.99 per pound or $23.49 for 2 pounds. They do take a while to come out but they are fresh made to order and there is a notice on the menu. The wings are very good though, large and meaty with a nice breading and come with lots of sauce and a side of vegetables. I ordered 2 flavors, blue cheese buffalo and Island Heat. The Island Heat was very good but I think the blue cheese buffalo was one of the best wing sauces I have tasted in a long time. It was spicy and creamy and there was more than enough to cover all the wings. Hopefully next time I drop by there will be an NHL game on the t.v.’s.
         

Location: 362 Bloor Street West, M5S1X6

Website: pucknwingsbloor.com 

St. Louis Bar and Grill

St. Louis bar and grill is a great place for value priced food any night of the week. This place is perfect for students with half priced wings on Wednesday and half priced apps on Thursday you can get a ton of food here on a tight budget. They also have 32 0z. mini-pitchers, which are my favorite, and other  great deals on beer offering a pint and a pound on Sundays for $13.99 or the personal mini-pitcher with a pound for $15.99. The wings are smaller than average, a little greasy and the skin isn't crispy at all but they are full of flavor  The best part about the wings is how the sauces are categorized based on the amount of sauce put on. The categories are dry spice, lightly sauced, saucy, and very saucy.  The also rank how spicy the sauce is out of 5 flames. My favorite flavor was the mixed honey garlic and hot sauce called hot & honey. Unlike most places, the sauces with 5 flames are VERY hot. The hot sauces also tasted very good and did not lose the flavor in the spice.

                

            The bar area seemed small when we walked in and was mostly empty when we arrived at 7:00 on a Thursday night. There were only 3 t.v.’s and all were only visible from the bar or the seats very close by any further away from the bar you could not see a t.v. the wait staff was very friendly and quick although there were not many other people to serve. The server was very knowledgeable of the food and drink menu and was also very informative of all the deals available that night.

               

            Overall the food was decent, not exceptionable, but the value and quality compared to the price was more than reasonable. A great place for students or anyone on a tight budget.

On Tap:

-          Molson Canadian

-          Coors Light

-          Budweiser

-          Shock Top

-          Alexander Keith’s

-          Rolling Rock

-          Rickard’s Red

-          Rickard’s White

-          Stella Artois

-          Heineken

-          Guinness   


Location - 4548 Dufferin st.
website - http://www.stlouiswings.com