Is Abbotsford one of Melbourne's lowkey "up-and-coming" districts? I have no idea - did you think you were on The Age's website?
What I do know is that Lulie Tavern exists in Abbotsford, amongst a range of other food and drink venues on Johnston St - and they have Buffalo Wings on the menu! Thus, in June of 2024, I skipped to the Lu-lie Tavern to find out what they offered!
The Scores
- The Specs: Flats, just flats. Which is fine. This is fine. RATING 5.
- The Sauce: Lulie's sauce tasted somewhat un-Franks-like. It might be a local hot sauce instead, or one of the Tavern's own making. Which, again, is fine. But the site that you're currently reading recognises Frank's as the OG. RATING: 6
- Crunch: These wings were CRUNCHY! However, that's a -breading related crunch and not your standard floured & seasoned wing. RATING: 5
- Serving size & price/Value for Money: 12 flats for AUD $22, which is under the site-average of around $2 per wing. RATING:7
- Heat/spice level: A pleasant level of heat on these wings. Few would be troubled by the spice but of course... that's not how we roll here. Needs more heat! RATING: 5
- Flavour: Very tasty wings. Good crunch and seasoning. Well cooked. Not buffalo as such but still very tasty RATING 9
- Celery: No celery. Just pickles. That's a Nashville thing, my friends, not buffalo... RATING: 0.
- Dipping Sauce: Ranch. Fucking Ranch. RATING: 0
- Other Stuff: Lulie Tavern is a cool venue, unquestionably. Its quite "American Dive Bar" or even roadhouse-y in style. And there's a rooftop bar too which is, conversely, very Melbourne. At the time of visit, there was no suitable IPA on tap, just neighbouring brewery, Bodriggy's pale ales on tap. Speccy juice was my choice of poison. RATING 7.
OVERALL RATING 39/80. No Moist Towelettes and no bonus points. These are tasty wings, described as "Buffalo" on the menu but if you serve buffalo wings there are (or should be) rules! Thus, despite Lulie's generally good wings... they are not gonna rate very highly here.
I'd go back to the venue, probably, but not for the wings!
Date Visited: 23rd June 2024
Venue Details:
225 Johnston street, Abbotsford, Victoria, Australia, 3067