This just in from Internet chat rooms: College students love chicken wings.
Wingslingers, 2167 N. High St. – at the corner of Lane and High – is one of several places to find the delicacies in the University District.
In-house service is quick, and pick-up orders typically take less than ten minutes. The inside of Wingslingers is small with just a few tables and clean, shiny, wood floors. Quirky paintings of circus freaks adorn the walls, enlivening the otherwise plain interior. It serves beer and is a fairly quiet place to catch the NHL playoffs if you lack cable or just want to get out of the house.
The wings are not very big. There’s not a whole lot of meat on the bone, but the taste is respectable. And they’re cheap- 30 cents apiece when dining from 5-9 p.m. Monday-Friday. Otherwise, they are $2.95 for 6, $4.95 for 12, and so on.
There are nine sauces to choose from. Barbecue comes in four levels: mild, honey, medium and hot. Medium only has a tinge of hotness, so if you’re looking for hot, stick with the hot barbecue, “really hot” or “sadistically hot.” “Garlic hot” is a superb alternative for heat seekers who want a bit of zest with their tears. Non-hot flavors include honey mustard, sweet and sour, and teriyaki.
The other chicken option, the Breast Strips ($4.50/6, $8.50/12), are thick, crisp pieces of white meat and far more meatier than the wings.
The hoagie market on campus is vicious. There are even more places with hoagies than there are with wings. Wingslingers’ NYC Grinders are hidden by the lure of fried poultry, and with good reason. They aren’t awful, but not great. The toppings, including the meat, are mediocre at best. The grinders are served on toasted white baguettes and leafy green lettucee.
The Chicken Cordon Bleu ($3.75/6″, $5.95/12″) is one of eleven choices. The chicken comes in small chunks, and there are average amounts of ham, but definitely not an overload. You can taste bread more than anything else.
The Club ($3.75/6″, $5.95/12″) is disappointing. The bacon is paper-thin and even hard to taste. As with the Cordon Bleu, the ham and turkey are skimped upon. Yet, the tomatoes were fresh and the mayo just right.
Small popcorn-sized, heavily breaded, probably frozen-at-one-time shrimp make up the Shrimp Basket ($5.50). There is a large portion of the little critters, but again it’s all breading and no substance. The wedge fries that accompany the shrimp on the other hand, have a great natural potato flavor, almost like fair or carnival fries with a better taste and thicker cut.
The Southern Fries ($3.95) might be one of the unhealthiest concoctions in Franklin County, but just thinking about the dish is gratifying. The waffle fries don’t taste as good as the wedge fries, but they are loaded with cheese and shredded bacon and come with a side of ranch.
With so much unwholesome, greasy, fattening comfort food in the area, Wingslingers comes away at the top of the game. If you haven’t gained your freshman 15 yet (even if you’re a sophomore), here’s your chance.
Wingslingers is open 11-2 a.m. Monday-Thursday , 11-3 a.m. Friday, noon-3 a.m. Saturday and noon-3 a.m. Sunday.
