Collegiate Times

No doubt about it, wings are delicious. It is my honest opinion, as both a human and consumer of fine chicken meats, the greatest end a “clucker” can meet is as a sauced-up hot wing.

I imagine mother hens might chastise their children, saying things like, “You’re going to wind up mechanically separated if you keep acting like that. Go ahead and become beef jerky. Your brother grew up to be a buffalo wing!”

If hot wings represent the pinnacle of chicken achievement, then Blacksburg must be in the Ivy League of wing institutions. We have quantity. We have quality. We have a variety of selection. You name what kind of wing you like, and chances are you can find it within the blocks of downtown Blacksburg. Without a doubt, the Best of Blacksburg wings category was a tight race.

Coming in third place is Sharkey’s. I feel like Sharkey’s doesn’t belong at the bottom of this list. It is my go-to location after football games. Even when we take a loss, I know Sharkey’s is there to help me fill that football-shaped hole in my chest with hot wings and good beer.

In second, Bull & Bones Brewhaus and Grill. Admittedly, I have never eaten wings there. I’ve actually never eaten anything there because I can buy three meals at most other places for the price of one at Bull & Bones. I suppose if you get what you pay for, the wings must be good there. If I went, the wings would probably be the only thing on my tab — that and water.

Buffalo Wild Wings took first place. I will admit, probably to the revilement of wing snobs everywhere, I enjoy B’dubs’ wings. I am, however, leery of the deluge of sauce that accompanies every serving. You end up tasting more sauce than chicken. It’s almost as if it is trying to hide something under all of it.

I guess I revise my prior statement. I enjoy B’dubs’ wing sauce. But hey, you can’t beat cheap wings on Tuesdays.

I’m sad to see one unique wing not make the list, so I’ll give it an honorable mention. Cafe de Bangkok has some of the hottest wings I’ve eaten, and they are delicious. They aren’t traditional, so they may not be for everyone. But, chances are if you dine in Cafe de Bangkok, you like Thai food, and that means you’ll love their wings.

If I were to choose the rankings myself, I’d put Sharkey’s in first followed by B’dubs. As stated before, I can’t accurately judge the wings from Bull & Bones. I suppose hundreds of votes can’t be too far off, though so I’ll slot them in third.

If you agree or disagree, head downtown and vote with your stomachs. Go forth wing-warriors, and satisfy your fowl appetites.

A version of this article appeared in the Oct 19 issue of the Collegiate Times.