Anchor Bar Question

[hotwing]

I grew up in Amherst but have never been there. When I was living in that area, one place that was always mentioned as having great wings was Rootie's Pump Room on Stahl near Millersport. They were excellent and always had framed newspaper articles from all the entertainment mags reviewing their wings. Funny no one on any of these threads has mentioned them. Are they still in business because that place used to always be busy and the wings were awesome.

 

I remember applying for a job there when I was in high school.

 

Didnt get it

[Gordio]

FYI, I had dinner tonight at the Aud on Transit . I didn't think anyones wings could be worse than Quaker State and Lubes, but the Aud gets my votes for worst wings in WNY. Be afraid, be very afraid.

 

Our softball team is sponsored by the aud. The trick there is you need to ask them for extra crispy. if not they come out half cook. The first two weeks we were there they sucked then we started telling the waitress to make sure they are extra crispy & they have been pretty good. I am not going to endorse them & tell out of towners that they should go there for wings but they are not that bad as long as you ask for them extra crispy. There are much better places to go if you want wings though, I agree with that.

[The Dean]

I grew up in Amherst but have never been there. When I was living in that area, one place that was always mentioned as having great wings was Rootie's Pump Room on Stahl near Millersport. They were excellent and always had framed newspaper articles from all the entertainment mags reviewing their wings. Funny no one on any of these threads has mentioned them. Are they still in business because that place used to always be busy and the wings were awesome.

 

 

Rootie's was my place of choice for wings, years. They always had a "two orders for the price of one coupon" in the UB paper. Rootie was a pretty nice guy, too...at least to me. Big Crispy and Flavorful. Pretty hot too, if you insisted.

[ricojes]

I grew up in Amherst but have never been there. When I was living in that area, one place that was always mentioned as having great wings was Rootie's Pump Room on Stahl near Millersport. They were excellent and always had framed newspaper articles from all the entertainment mags reviewing their wings. Funny no one on any of these threads has mentioned them. Are they still in business because that place used to always be busy and the wings were awesome.

Been closed for about 10 years, there's a bank there now. that's why they haven't been mentioned, but they did have great wings. Elmo's is still in that area and they have very good wings.

[Jdorn]

There not Buffalo wings but in Rochester the Dinosaur wings are to die for, dry rubbed, slow smoked gigantic wings that are lightly sauced. Oh man I gotta head there after work.

[buffaloaggie]

As most are saying, Anchor Bar is a tourist trap. Duff's is a great place as is Gabriel's Gate. Otto's on Union in Cheektowaga is another place I've gotten good wings.

[yall]

I totally forgot about Barbill's in East Aurora.

 

Great wings, great fries, and maybe even better are their beef on weck sandwiches.

[HarkinBanks]

Not everyone likes Duffs. Their wings tend to be relatively dry/crispy. If you like your wings like that, then you'll probably like Duffs. If you like your wings more saucy, you might not like Duffs.

 

Lots of places in WNY have good/great wings. I haven't been to Hemmingways downtown in many years, but every time I had wings there they were big and great.

 

Hemingways actually used to have the exact same wings as Gabriel's Gate. Dave Forness was the owner and also owned Birchfields and I believe 50% of the Buffalo House...they all had awesome wings. I know he does not own the Gate anymore but the wings there are still very good. Not sure about Hemingways, etc.....

[ricojes]

Hemingways actually used to have the exact same wings as Gabriel's Gate. Dave Forness was the owner and also owned Birchfields and I believe 50% of the Buffalo House...they all had awesome wings. I know he does not own the Gate anymore but the wings there are still very good. Not sure about Hemingways, etc.....

Hemmingway's is no more, it's now Encore or something...

[Gordio]

I totally forgot about Barbill's in East Aurora.

 

Great wings, great fries, and maybe even better are their beef on weck sandwiches.

 

 

I have not been to some of the places mentioned here. Bar Bills has the best wings I have ever had. There beef on weck is amazing too as you stated. Anchor Bar is overrated. Although Duffs is better then the Anchor bar, they are overrated also(I never been to the original Duffs, just the one in Orchard park).

[DwightSchrute]

Anyone ever been to Mammosers in village of Hamburg? If not, I'd definitely recommend Mammy's wings...phenomenal!

[nobody]

So which Duff's is the best Duff's?

[ricojes]

So which Duff's is the best Duff's?

Personally, I have only been to the Amherst location and have never been disappointed. They are definitely not dry there, if anything they are too saucy. An order of hot wings are literally swimming in sauce and if you like really really hot, the death wings may very well be the hottest around. Are they the best wings in the Buffalo area? That's debatable. I don't consider them the best, but they are definitely in the top 5...

[todzilla]

For my money you can't beat the #2 at Duff's. 20 wings, fries and gravy, and a pitcher of loganberry. I'll be hitting town on July 25 and will go there at least twice.

The only time I've seen Duffs wings dry is if you order them mild. Medium or above (I usually go medium-hot) are very saucey, you go through about 2 dozen napkins every time!

[12 15 11 7 10 11 7 5 14]

I am curious. I am from Ontario and I always get the wings from there but I was wondering is the rest of their food good? I always want to try something different but I don't go often enough to order something different.

 

 

I would submit that while Duff's is indeed head and shoulders better than the Anchor Bar for wings, the best place in Buffalo is the Shannon Pub... NF Blvd! Try it out, I bet you'll agree.

[yall]

So which Duff's is the best Duff's?

 

OP.

 

Simply because their hiring practices are such that every hot girl with a rack has a chance of being an employee.

[BuffaloBill]

i was just thinking about rootie's. back in the day they finished them on the grill with some franks and homemade BBQ sauce. hot damn!

 

 

Oh man you got me thinking now . I can pan fry some wings on the side burner then finish off on the grill .... I've got Franks sauce in the pantry.... guess what I am eating on July 4th????

[DrDawkinstein]

So which Duff's is the best Duff's?

 

the original Amherst location for sure.

[BuffaloBill]

the original Amherst location for sure.

 

 

Thay have had amazing staying power .... Duffs was the hot spot as far back as I can recall being serious about wings (early 80's).

[Stevie Ray]

Rootie was a pretty nice guy, too...at least to me. Big Crispy and Flavorful. Pretty hot too, if you insisted.

 

Had to read that twice, for a second I thought you were referring to Rootie!

[Red]

can't say that I am an expert...

 

but Anchor Bar blows!

 

I ordered a burger there one time, and it came out like a charbroiled hockey puck. I really don't know why so many transplants rave about that place.

 

I love Buffalo Brew Pub in Williamsville (rotisserie chicken is awesome), and Pearl Street Grille. Both have a great atmosphere and the food is excellent.

[Kipers Hair]

Not a big fan of duff's myself. If you like your wings really crispy they are very good. I actually cut my upper plate of mouth on a wing from there, and prefer a wing that has allot of sauce rather than super crispy myself.

 

John and Mary's is more my style of wings, but can see why people love duff's.

I agree on the Duff's thing....I think Anchor Bar still has the best...worth the wait? Not sure....

[Flbillsfan#1]

can't say that I am an expert...

 

but Anchor Bar blows!

 

I ordered a burger there one time, and it came out like a charbroiled hockey puck. I really don't know why so many transplants rave about that place.

 

I love Buffalo Brew Pub in Williamsville (rotisserie chicken is awesome), and Pearl Street Grille. Both have a great atmosphere and the food is excellent.

Chicken wings would not exist without the Anchor bar.

[Delete This Account]

I am curious. I am from Ontario and I always get the wings from there but I was wondering is the rest of their food good? I always want to try something different but I don't go often enough to order something different.

to answer the original poster's question (which had nothing to do about Anchor Bar vs. Duff's or anywhere else for that matter ... sheesh!), you might want to try their beef on weck or pizza.

 

then again, i've had better at other places. Duff's beef on weck (only had it at OP location) was extremely good. and there's always Charlie The Butcher, though it's too bad that he's no longer at Wegman's. as for pizza, make mine Casa (even though it's way too greasy, it's dang tasty).

 

as for good wings, The Swannie House (depending on who's cooking) might have some of the best BBQ wings around.

 

proceed.

 

jw

 

ADD: almost forgot, the Lafayette Tap Room down the street from Pilot Field/Dunn Tire Park/Coca Cola whatever at Jimmy Griffin Place is also a solid contender for wings.

[Delete This Account]

Chicken wings would not exist without the Anchor bar.

chicken wings wouldn't exist without the egg coming first ... or is it the other way around?

 

jw

[ricojes]

Anchor Bars Dinner menu pdf

[thebandit27]

For the OP, anchor bar has some good sandwiches, which I usually go for in lieu of the wings.

 

As for Duff's, I can't get them to make me a crispy wing; they're always soggy and drenched...not a big fan.

 

Also, I can't believe I've seen so many responses, and a lot from Amherst no less, without one mention of Elmo's. Elmo's is on Millersport in the plaza next to John & Mary's. Outstanding wings! Huge, flavorful, and you can get them mild, medium, hot, x-hot, bbq, honey mustard, or cajun. Also, they sauce them after frying and then grill them, which gives them a nice crispy exterior but retains the sauci-ness. IMO, they're a must have.

 

Also, Grover's on Transit has good wings, but they tend to get over-shadowed by the amazing-ness of their burgers.

[HurlyBurly51]

Personally, I have only been to the Amherst location and have never been disappointed. They are definitely not dry there, if anything they are too saucy. An order of hot wings are literally swimming in sauce and if you like really really hot, the death wings may very well be the hottest around. Are they the best wings in the Buffalo area? That's debatable. I don't consider them the best, but they are definitely in the top 5...

 

You realize that's not how wings are ideally served? Another deduction for Duffs.

[ricojes]

For the OP, anchor bar has some good sandwiches, which I usually go for in lieu of the wings.

 

As for Duff's, I can't get them to make me a crispy wing; they're always soggy and drenched...not a big fan.

 

Also, I can't believe I've seen so many responses, and a lot from Amherst no less, without one mention of Elmo's. Elmo's is on Millersport in the plaza next to John & Mary's. Outstanding wings! Huge, flavorful, and you can get them mild, medium, hot, x-hot, bbq, honey mustard, or cajun. Also, they sauce them after frying and then grill them, which gives them a nice crispy exterior but retains the sauci-ness. IMO, they're a must have.

 

Also, Grover's on Transit has good wings, but they tend to get over-shadowed by the amazing-ness of their burgers.

I mentioned Elmo's earlier, they do have good wings. Grover's is a little known good wing spot as well.

 

You realize that's not how wings are ideally served? Another deduction for Duffs.

Yes, I am from Buffalo. I usually get the medium hot from Duff's, I am not a fan of picking the wings out of sauce. But it seems to just be the hot and extra hot...

[Lori]

to answer the original poster's question (which had nothing to do about Anchor Bar vs. Duff's or anywhere else for that matter ... sheesh!), you might want to try their beef on weck or pizza.

 

then again, i've had better at other places. Duff's beef on weck (only had it at OP location) was extremely good. and there's always Charlie The Butcher, though it's too bad that he's no longer at Wegman's. as for pizza, make mine Casa (even though it's way too greasy, it's dang tasty).

 

as for good wings, The Swannie House (depending on who's cooking) might have some of the best BBQ wings around.

 

proceed.

 

jw

 

ADD: almost forgot, the Lafayette Tap Room down the street from Pilot Field/Dunn Tire Park/Coca Cola whatever at Jimmy Griffin Place is also a solid contender for wings.

True about the threadjack, but it's the normal outcome whenever someone says ANYTHING about Anchor or Duff's. Nice that a couple of people actually did answer the question, though.

 

And I love these threads, because as a non-Buffalonian, I can add to my list of places I need to visit up there. Heck, I drive right past the Audubon just before I get to Mom's place, and I've never been inside the joint -- an sin of omission I'll definitely atone for over the Fourth.

[thebandit27]

I mentioned Elmo's earlier, they do have good wings. Grover's is a little known good wing spot as well.

 

Ah, I must've missed that, you have good taste.

 

Grover's wings are great too, but they're not on the same level as their burgers. I could eat a GroverBurger every day; huge, delicious, quick, and unbelievably cheap (like $7.50 for a 12 oz. burger with cheddar cheese, onions, bacon, and bbq sauce). I also like that they're a cash-only joint. Only problem is that everybody and their brother in East Amherst goes there during the summer, so you have to call ahead like 40 minutes before you go or you'll be waiting forever.

[ricojes]

Ah, I must've missed that, you have good taste.

 

Grover's wings are great too, but they're not on the same level as their burgers. I could eat a GroverBurger every day; huge, delicious, quick, and unbelievably cheap (like $7.50 for a 12 oz. burger with cheddar cheese, onions, bacon, and bbq sauce). I also like that they're a cash-only joint. Only problem is that everybody and their brother in East Amherst goes there during the summer, so you have to call ahead like 40 minutes before you go or you'll be waiting forever.

I'll usually split a burger and order of wings when I go to Grover's, it's a nice little 1-2 punch. Good stuff! And surprising enough, Rock Bottom (across the street from Grover's) was voted best burger in this years "best of" edition of the Buffalo Spree. I'll have to try that sometime this summer, they have a nice patio...

[Delete This Account]

True about the threadjack, but it's the normal outcome whenever someone says ANYTHING about Anchor or Duff's. Nice that a couple of people actually did answer the question, though.

 

And I love these threads, because as a non-Buffalonian, I can add to my list of places I need to visit up there. Heck, I drive right past the Audubon just before I get to Mom's place, and I've never been inside the joint -- an sin of omission I'll definitely atone for over the Fourth.

sorry, it came off ornery, but wasn't meant to be ... i was hoping people would see through it when i went on and listed my favorites, further jacking said thread. guess i should've inserted one of them ubiquitous faces ...

 

jw

[Lori]

sorry, it came off ornery, but wasn't meant to be ... i was hoping people would see through it when i went on and listed my favorites, further jacking said thread. guess i should've inserted one of them ubiquitous faces ...

 

jw

Ornery? Not at all. Hmm ... wonder how insanely busy the LTR will be before the July 3 Bisons game?

 

An aside about the naming-rights thing: Early on, right after Pilot Field (I think), it was North AmeriCare Park for a while -- unless you listened to Ed Kilgore. He refused to use that moniker, sticking with "the downtown ballpark" whenever he talked about a Bisons game. I always liked him for doing that ...

[DrDawkinstein]

for everyone complaining about too much sauce... the NECTAR is the best part! what else are you going to dip you carrots and celery in before going for the blue cheese?!?

[Delete This Account]

You realize that's not how wings are ideally served? Another deduction for Duffs.

well, that's debatable.

 

jw

[stuckincincy]

True about the threadjack, but it's the normal outcome whenever someone says ANYTHING about Anchor or Duff's. Nice that a couple of people actually did answer the question, though.

 

And I love these threads, because as a non-Buffalonian, I can add to my list of places I need to visit up there. Heck, I drive right past the Audubon just before I get to Mom's place, and I've never been inside the joint -- an sin of omission I'll definitely atone for over the Fourth.

 

At the risk of being burned at the stake as a heretic, the recipe for baked wings on the side of a Frank's bottle gives a decent, crisp wing, with little mess. Useful when you have the urge, the raw wings, and no other ready source.

 

tips:

 

Cut'em up, rinse and pat off the moisture.

 

Put foil on the baking pan. I shake on a bit of paprika before baking.

 

turn them halfway during baking.

 

Bake them until they reach the crispness you prefer.

 

Don't oil them up, thinking the oil will sizzle and crisp. The wing fat itself will do that. If you oil them up, they will be soggy.

 

Do not move them up to the broiler after the bake is finished. They will ignite and burn in seconds.

 

 

I shake'em with some Franks, a pat of melted oleo, a bit of ground pepper, tumeric, marjoram, salt, and parsley flakes. Add some flamethrower sauce or cayenne if buzzing lips are your goal.

[The Dean]

the original Amherst location for sure.

 

 

Without question. The OP location is just OK, IMO,

[HurlyBurly51]

well, that's debatable.

 

jw

 

Not by old school Buffalonian's it's not There are some time honored truisms on the proper buffalo wing. Might as well bread your wings as well

[Delete This Account]

Not by old school Buffalonian's it's not There are some time honored truisms on the proper buffalo wing. Might as well bread your wings as well

with all due respect, let's pick another fun food such as pizza. i've had the traditional italian pizza, with sauce and no cheese on large oven-baked flatbread, and that's fine. and yet, i prefer going to places like regina's in boston or casa in buffalo and having cheese and pepperoni added to it.

i'm sure there are some old-school italians who likely shudder and question what's become of their pie ... while many others consider it to be an improvement.

and i'm not saying i prefer wings slathered in sauce, i'm suggesting that it's a matter of taste.

i prefer the duff wing over the anchor wing.

 

now when it comes to hamburgers, the Buff News was close to being on target in its rankings last year: vizzy's on kenmore ave. is the best in town.

 

jw