Chicken wings were invented by mistake in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. This is Buffalo’s claim to fame, along with the infamous snow each winter and our sports teams’ inability to win a championship. In fact, I own a t-shirt that states, “We call ’em wings.”
A Western New Yorker can be identified at a restaurant with two phrases, “I’ll have the wings” (not Buffalo) and “with blue cheese.” We don’t eat wings with ranch.
I haven’t lived in Western New York since 2001, and I’ve made it my mission to find the best wings wherever I’ve lived. I’m proud to say that all of my kids love wings, and while their flavor preferences differ, they only eat wings with blue cheese. We are fortunate to have many great wing spots in and around Fairfield County!
Brookfield
JJ Stacks is located on Federal Road in Brookfield. JJ Stacks is a unique, kid-friendly joint. With mini-golf out back, a patio for outdoor dining, and a plethora of kid-friendly menu choices, you can’t go wrong with a family night out here. The owner is also a wing aficionado, always experimenting with new flavor combinations. There are currently 68 flavors offered, ranging from “Mild” to “Crazy” in heat. Our favorites are Blue Buffalo, “Medium” (Buffalo), Maple Bacon, and Lemon Pepper Butter.
Wing “night” is Thursdays from 11 a.m. until closing (wings are half-price!). This is a family favorite of ours. The adults can hang out and enjoy a meal and drink while the kids play mini-golf within eyesight! It’s great for larger gatherings such as sports teams and families. Advance notice is preferred to ensure the best service.
Newtown
Cover Two Sports Cafe is located in Sandy Hook. Tuesday night wings are half off! They come in 23 possible flavors in a kid-friendly environment with sports games on every screen. General Tso’s, Medium (Buffalo), and Lemon Pepper are our family favorites. Wings are also free on your birthday, quickly becoming a family tradition in our home!
Station 25 is on Rt. 25 (South Main Street) in Newtown. What started as a food truck, “Firehouse Grill,” a brick-and-mortar family-friendly firehouse-themed restaurant, opened to serve the truck favorites and other popular dishes, including wings. Offered breaded or non-breaded in 11 flavors, Lemon Pepper and Buffalo are our family’s favorites. Check them out on Wednesdays for $.75 wings!
Ridgefield
HooDoo Brown BBQ is located on Rt. 7 in Ridgefield. Parking is limited partly because the smoker is parked out front. They offer smoked wings in the following flavors; Buffalo, BBQ, Garlic Parmesan, RyThai, or Naked.
Danbury
TK’s American Cafe is located on White Street in Danbury. TK’s offers 76 wing flavors ranging from “no spice” to “really hot” in a sports bar environment. They follow the most traditional “Buffalo Style” I’ve found and even offer the Buffalo spiciness with their “suicide” wings.
New Fairfield
Icon’s Sports Bar is located on Candlewood Lake in New Fairfield. Icon’s opened in 2016 and offers 22 flavors of sauced wings and eight dry rub flavors. You can also order boneless wings with any sauces or dry rub flavors.
Multiple Locations
The Blind Rhino has two locations in South Norwalk and Black Rock. The Blind Rhino is a family-friendly American sports bar offering 21 flavors of wings. They recently added two food trucks to their flock, located full-time at Half Full Third Place in Stamford and Tribus Beer Co. in Milford. Their wings have won 25 awards, including seven at the National Buffalo Wing Festival in Buffalo, NY!
Just Outside of Fairfield County
Dew Drop Inn is located in Derby, CT. What looks and feels like a hole-in-the-wall dive bar has the best wings in CT (awarded multiple times). The flavors offered take up an entire front and back of a menu ranging from “Basic” flavors such as Naked, Hot, Medium, etc., and dry rubs (Imperial Coffee Stout, Lemon Pepper, Candied Bacon Siracha) to “Basically Ridiculous” including Cilantro Lime Tahini, Ranch BLT, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Cheesy Garlic Bread, to name a few. Please note that anyone under the age of 21 will not be seated after 8 p.m. It’s a great lunch location for families.
