This is it! This is the origin story! The very place where Buffalo Wings were supposedly invented! Buffalo, New York, Anchor Bar on Main Street... This. Is. Gonna. Be. Awesome. Do we even need The Rules? These wings will be great, right? But how will we rate the wings?
Close Your Eyes, and lets Run The Rules!
The Scores
- The Specs: Flats and drums... Given that I'm in Buffalo AND at the birthplace of Buffalo Wings, perhaps I should accept this to be the norm? Nahhhhhhhh! RATING: 5.
- The Sauce: Its Anchor Bar. The sauce is as authentic as it gets. You can taste it and its a beautiful thing... what there is of it. The Anchor Bar wings were surprisingly dry, to the point where the wings were slightly unpleasant after a while. RATING: 7 - Points off for the lack of abundance!
- Crunch: Very obviously deep fried. Including something of a seasoned flour/dry rub coating. Winning. RATING: 7
- Serving size & price/Value for Money: USD$28.99 for 20 drums/flats. Give or take exchange rates, and various banks dipping their paws into my wallet, that's about AUD$2.25 per wing. Standard! RATING: 5
- Heat/spice level: Anchor Bar's famous 'original' sauce is listed on the menu as medium heat. Which, is perhaps over selling it somewhat. Not a huge level of heat here, as I cruised through 20 wings with no sign of temperature crisis. RATING: 5
- Flavour: The sauce is delicious. But there's simply not enough of it. And, after ploughing through 20 of them, it becomes hard work - the wings are overcooked (though weirdly still tender and juicy), and under sauced. A frightening (and disappointing) combination. RATING 7
- Celery: Was there Celery sticks? Yes! RATING: 5.
- Dipping Sauce: Blue Cheese? Yes, but it wasn't good. Very ranchy and no chunks! RATING: 3.
- Other Stuff: Anchor Bar is... what you might call a Tourist Trap. Whilst the wings are perfectly serviceable, they were not amazing. Bar staff were pleasant, though a little absent, as I tried to pay my bill. And there's an Anchor Bar IPA on tap which is West Coast, and is the perfect Wing accompaniment. Shout out to Ellicottville Brewing! RATING 6.
OVERALL RATING 50/80. No moist towelette bonus...
At the time or writing, Anchor Bar sits itself in 7th place, knocking out its direct predecessor, Boo Radley's in Toronto. I think that's probably fair. Whilst disappointed that the wings didn't blow my head off, they really were half decent - and deservedly rank higher on this list than more than half of previous venues.
Venue Details:
1047 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14209, United States (and various others)
Facebook: @anchorbuffalo1 Instagram: @og_chickenwing
Website: anchorbar.com
