Football and wings are like Lennon and McCartney, Montana and Rice, Tracy and Hepburn, Astaire and Rogers, Simon and Garfunkel, Stewie and Brian. Awesome on their own, but better together. And with the Super Bowl coming up, I figured I’d throw back to my “Dinin’ With Dinan” days and share my list for the best wings in the area. Feel free to weigh in or add your own favorites if you don’t see them below. With that said, I think you’re bound to find something you like here, whether you’re pulling for Peyton or rooting for Russell. I’ve included hyperlinks for your ordering convenience.
1. Dinosaur BBQ, Stamford – This Syracuse import continues to roll (just like the Orange hoops team) as the franchise expands across the Northeast. The wings are smoked then grilled and finished with a slathering of Dino’s BBQ sauces with varying degrees of heat. The result is a crispy, charred exterior and smoky flavor that doesn’t compromise the wing’s natural juiciness. My go-to wing sauce at Dino is Wango Tango…which also happens to be my blood type. Slightly sweet with a bit of a kick, these wings are unquestionably the best of their kind this side of I-81.
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2. Coalhouse Pizza, Stamford – The Ma Rainey’s Roadhouse wings are so good they almost steal the show from the pizza itself. Marinated in beer for 24 hours, then coated in panko, fried and finished with a dazzling array of sauces, the huge wings at Coalhouse are consistently delicious. My favorites are the Medium hot wings…you’ll notice a hint of Worcestershire and just enough heat to keep you thirsty to pair it with your favorite beer.
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3. Joe’s Pizza, New Canaan – Possibly the biggest sleeper on this list, the Sweet & Sour wings are the top choice at this New Canaan institution.
4. Archie Moore’s, Fairfield – There is beauty in simplicity and the wings at Archie Moore’s certainly fit the bill. Fried and coated with their signature wing sauce, these are the best traditional Buffalo wings around. Archie’s wing orders appropriately come in multiples of 7…just like touchdowns + the extra point. Be sure you put your orders in early, as the Fairfield location is a madhouse on Super Bowl Sunday.
5. Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Darien – Co-owner Dan Marino never won a Super Bowl, but the wings at Anthony’s are certainly championship-caliber. Roasted in a coal-fired oven and served with herbs and caramelized onions, the wings are delicious with a sneaky little kick at the end.
6. Stanziato’s, Danbury – This popular gourmet pizza place has a unique spin on wings as they bake them in their wood-fired oven. Mix and match their traditional hot wings with a garlic/citrus-infused version.
7. Porky’s, Shelton – Limited flavors (Buffalo, BBQ and Thai), but the wings are consistently big and flavorful.
8. Vinnie’s Backyard, Stamford – Nice variety of sauces overcomes smallish-sized wings at this popular Springdale neighborhood bar. Try the General Tso’s wings.
9. Little Pub, Wilton & Ridgefield – The “ladder co. #1” wings feature Frank’s Red Hot sauce, but see if they have some of their wings specials on the menu and give them a shot.
10. TK’s, Danbury – With more than 52 sauces from which to choose, this Danbury staple gets points for variety, though wings can be small and inconsistent. Still, when they are good…they are very good.
