Following a whirlwind return to Melbourne, my size twelves were back on US soil and, as per usual, thirsty for buffalo sauce... Ahem...
Across the street from my hotel, in the Garment District, was a little craft beer joint named the District Tap House. Did I go there for wings? No I did not. Were there wings on the menu, thus changing my entire night's plans? Yes there was and yes they did.
Hot off a 24 hour journey, I ate the wings, made the notes, and now... How did the District do? You know the drill. Let's Run the Rules!
The Scores
- The Specs: Drums and flats. The eternally hated "standard". The Lord of the Wings clearly hates me but this is the usual format. RATING 5.
- The Sauce: Not Franks, as far as my jet-lagged palate could tell. That said, The District uses a tasty hot sauce of some kind, and there is definitely some butteriness (noice) in the backbone. Some kind of smoky, fruitiness too which, ordinarily, I'd hate but... There you go. RATING: 7
- Crunch: Not a lot of crunch on display here. To the point where I wonder... are these wings oven baked or, perhaps, smoked? Wholistically, that's not a bad thing but... this is a crunch rating and with no crunch, comes no rating... RATING: 3
- Serving size & price/Value for Money: 12 flats/drums for USD$20, so we're still hovering around that $2-something per wing level. Cut, paste, and repeat... RATING:5
- Heat/spice level: Excellent heat level at the District, and I don't mean that spicy bartender... The wings build brilliantly - probably that mysterious hot sauce - and, after 12, I'm on fire in all of the right ways. RATING: 8
- Flavour: Delicious wings. Unquestionably good. Perfectly cooked, juicy, and packed with delightful chicken-ness. Would I call them Buffalo Wings By the strictest of rules no. But are they good wings? Yes they are. RATING 9
- Celery: Was there Celery sticks? Yes! And they were strangely delicious. Is celery somehow different in New York??? RATING: 6.
- Dipping Sauce: Ranch. Ranch is not right. RATING: 1
- Other Stuff: Fun craft beer venue, with sports ball on TV's across the room. Plenty of excellent New York IPA's (and TONS of other great beer) to match the spicy wings, and some friendly bar staff too. RATING 8.
OVERALL RATING 57/80. Two Moist Towelettes!!! Does that mean double bonus points? Perhaps that's a little harsh but that's 5 bonus points for the District!
Heart-warmingly, the District's score of 57 (tainted by the moist towelette perhaps) put is at 6th on the table! Proof that good wings will always rate highly. As long as there's celery, and/or moist towelettes...
Really fun bar, in the middle of Manhattan, that I'd absolutely return to again. The wings, whilst not technically buffalo IMHO, are still really good and worth trying.
Venue Details:
246 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018, United States
