First we gave you pizza. Then came the burgers. Now, we explore the ultimate bar food in The Little City: the chicken wing. Falls Church’s wing scene brings no short supply of baskets full of the mini-poultry appendages. Whether you’re in the mood for spicy, mild, sweet or burn-your-lips-off blazin’, the City joints’ offerings inside can hook up your wing fix.
First we gave you pizza. Then came the burgers. Now, we explore the ultimate bar food in The Little City: the chicken wing. Falls Church’s wing scene brings no short supply of baskets full of the mini-poultry appendages. Whether you’re in the mood for spicy, mild, sweet or burn-your-lips-off blazin’, the City joints’ offerings here can hook up your wing fix.
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack
130 North Washington Street • clareanddons.com
The tell-tale char marks on Clare & Don’s wings is a sure sign that this isn’t your regular deep-fried chicken. The unbreaded wings are first lightly fried and then finished up on the grill which makes for some delightfully light and crispy skin. You can dress them up in any of C&D’s five sauces including the traditional Buffalo and Sweet & Spicy Mango. CHEAP WING ALERT: From 8 – 11 p.m. on Wednesdays, get them on the cheap for 50 cents each.
Wing Statistics
Regular Order: 8 wings for $6.00
Cost: $0.75 each
Average Wing Weight: 1.2 oz each
Flavors: Buffalo, Jerk, BBQ, Teriyaki, Sweet & Spicy Mango
Heat Index: *
Dogwood Tavern
132 West Broad Street • dogwoodtavern.com
The wings don’t touch the grill at Dogwood, instead opting for a full on dip in the fryer. These chunky, breaded suckers come in two options on the menu, Honey Pepper and Buffalo, but if you ask real nice, they might hook you up with a house favorite blend of BBQ mixed with buffalo sauce. CHEAP WING ALERT: On Monday from 5 until midnight, grab Dogwood’s wings for just 50 cents (six minimum, no max!).
Wing Statistics
Regular Order: 8 wings for $8.50
Cost: $1.06 each
Average Wing Weight: 1.5 oz. each
Flavors: Honey Pepper, Buffalo
Heat Index: *
Famous Dave’s
370 West Broad Street • famousdaves.com
A word of caution: don’t bring a weak tolerance for heat if you decide to go spicy at Famous Dave’s. While you can take it easy with their Rich & Sassy and Buffalo sauces, you’ll start to feel the heat with the Devil’s Spit and Pineapple Rage. But prepare to break out the napkins if you take on Wilbur’s Revenge. Those blazing bundles of chicken and bone will leave you mopping the sweat off your forehead long after you’ve finished eating.
Wing Statistics
Regular Order: 12 wings for $9.49
Cost: $0.79 each
Average Wing Weight: 1.2 oz. each
Flavors: Rich & Sassy, Buffalo, Devil’s Spit, Pineapple Rage, Wilbur’s Revenge
Heat Index: ****
Ireland’s Four Provinces
105 West Broad Street • 4psva.com
If you opt for the wings at the Four P’s, don’t plan on eating anything else anytime soon– these are some downright massive hunks of fried chicken. The crispiest of the crispy, the wings come plain, but you can ask them to toss ’em in tangy Texas Pete Hot Sauce or choose the to do-it-youself route and use the supplied sauce as a dip. CHEAP WING ALERT: On the Happy Hour menu, from 3:30 – 7 p.m., Monday-Friday, wings are just $4.95.
Wing Statistics
Regular Order: 10 wings for $7.95
Cost: $0.795 each
Average Wing Weight: 2 oz. each
Flavors: Plain, Texas Pete Hot Sauce
Heat Index: *
Mad Fox Brewing Company
444 West Broad Street • madfoxbrewing.com
Mad Fox brings more breaded wings to the plates of Falls Church diners and, while not as thick a batter as some of F.C.’s others, they still pack a good crunch. So much so, it’s in their name: “Seriously Crispy Wings.” The wings and drumettes come dressed in either a Spicy Wing sauce or with Mad Fox’s own Wee Heavy Ginger glaze.
Wing Statistics
Regular Order: 8 wings for $12.00
Cost: $1.50 each
Average Wing Weight: 1.75 oz each
Flavors: Wee Heavy Ginger, Spicy Wing Sauce
Heat Index: *
Red Hot & Blue
169 Hillwood Avenue • redhotandblue.com
With more barbecue comes more wings. Red Hot & Blue, nestled in the corner of the Tower Square shopping Center on Hillwood Avenue, offers a flavor up for just abou anyone with their Mojo Mild, sweet BBQ, Hoochie Coochie Hot and dry rub varieties. CHEAP WING ALERT: On Wednesdays, Red Hot & Blue hooks up an order of 10 wings for just five bucks.
Wing Statistics
Regular Order: 10 wings for $8.49
Cost: $0.849 each
Average Wing Weight: 1.6 oz. each
Flavors: BBQ, Mojo Mild, Hoochie Coochie Hot, Dry Rub
Heat Index: * *
