Photo courtesy of The Lord of the Wings
Post by Jeff B., aka the Lord of the Wings – until recently an Ottawa-based food blogger specializing in the favorite food of sports pub patrons world wide. Check out his blog for news, recipes and reviews from Ottawa and beyond. Apartment613 wishes LOTW the best of luck in his new city and job.
I was very honoured when Apt613 asked me to sum up my top five places in Ottawa for Chicken Wings. It came right before a big opportunity, which I’m sad to say will have taken me away from Ottawa by the time this is posted. I first came to Ottawa excited about the city and its people, but when first arriving I was not impressed with the Capital’s chicken wing scene (I still don’t like getting sour cream instead of the traditional blue cheese dressing or ranch). But as I get ready to leave, I find myself thinking of the great wings at the many pubs and eateries I will miss (except for coming back for visits).
On my blog, The Lord of the Wings, I have an elaborate scoring system for the wings I consume, but what I look for in a good chicken wing – and what I think most people also like – boils down to three main factors: is it a large/ fresh/ tender piece of meat? Does it have a crispy, crackling skin? And is the wing saucy and tasty? It’s very important to recognize that chicken wings, like most food, are a very personal thing. Some people don’t like breaded wings, or spice or even big wings. I love an extremely spicy wing, but flavour is key. I like a large wing, but not if it’s tough and rubbery. And I don’t mind if it’s breaded or not. But that’s me.
The following is a list of some of my favourite places for wings in Ottawa I will miss. They all basically have big, crispy, tasty wings. Of course in my few short years here I didn’t get to sample everywhere, so if you have a favourite, I’d love to know.
 |
PJ QUIGLEYS
250 Greenbank Road One can easily miss PJ Quigleys Bar & Grill down on Greenbank and tucked into a mini mall. The outside might not be much to look at, but the wings are excellent. Fresh chicken dusted in flour and deep fried then tossed in house made sauces. They have all the heats as well as five other flavours. The wings are crispy, meaty and really tasty, while the service is always friendly. When people ask me for my favourite place for wings in Ottawa, PJ’s is where I send them. |
 |
CHESHIRE CAT
2193 Richardson Side Road Not exactly in Ottawa but just outside Kanata on the way to the Diefenbunker is the Cheshire Cat. Fresh and local is very important to this pub and it shows in their wings. They do a classic Buffalo style wings here (Buffalo being a non-breaded/dusted wing that is deep fried and tossed in a cayenne-vinegar based hot sauce and butter – nothing else should be in the recipe) but there are other flavours to choose from. The chicken is really fresh and meaty, very crispy skin and a great tangy classic wing sauce. And the atmosphere can’t be beat! |
 |
GEORGETOWN SPORTS PUB
1195 Bank Street The Georgetown really goes all out for their wings. They are first baked in seasoning then deep fried to create a very crispy wing. But they do need to be crispy to stand up to the thick sauces they make for the wings. There are more than fifteen flavours and dry rubs to sample, many of which are exotic and flavourful. No one has wings like the Georgetown. |
 |
HONEST LAYWER
141 St George Street I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the Honest Lawyer, as I had terrible service there on some visits, and good service on others – and unfortunately the service can really turn you off a place. Fortunately they have really great wings. They are big, dusted and crispy and come in 16 flavors. On Mondays their AYCE special gives you the chance to sample through those all the flavours. |
 |
LOCAL HEROES
Various locations When I first came to Ottawa, people told me Local Heroes was the place to go for wings. You have the choice of small or jumbo wings (don’t bother with the small) and if you want the wing tips on (I keep them on because that’s a little more crispiness for an excuse for dipping more sauce). The wings are breaded and deep fried. They have 13 sauces to pick, although I’ve always kept to the classic hot and suicide which come thick and buttery. |
Any great wing places we missed? Let us know in the comments.
Good picks!
I really love the wings at Clocktower also.
My co-workers and I do wings weekly. At first we toured around Ottawa trying many different places. Eventually we settled on the Clocktower. Between the beer, the other menu items and the wings it served us well. I won’t argue its the best in town, but it’s probably up there.
I wish I was more original but the Clocktower’s wings are quite good. Spicy maple bbq is my favourite.
Too bad you’re leaving town, LotW. I’ve really enjoyed following your blog. Hope you keep it up wherever you settle.
While not a popular choice as it isn’t an Ottawa Valley product, St. Louis on Elgin serves by far the best wing I have eaten since moving to the capital region. Don’t get mad at me because it is a Toronto franchise. They taste as good as the original Bistro on Avenue, and they come with the famous dill dipping sauce.
Sadly, no great local wing culture in Ottawa. I am now waiting for a Duff’s franchise to open up.
My son is a wing aficionado and swears that the Earl of Sussex wings are way better than the Clocktower. He experienced both within the last week.
@amwaters Will have to check Earl of Sussex!
I also very much enjoy the Clocktower wings. The Clocktower does most things excellent (beer, food, atmosphere).
The Lieutenant’s Pump also provides some satisfying wings. The wings are normal sized (I always get suspicious at large or very large wings, because chicken’s don’t usually get that big) and there is no breading, but the sauces are good and the meat is tender.
I’m personally a fan of Quinn’s on Bank Street. Big crispy pieces with a big variety of sauces. Wings Girard is my favourite I think.
Oh, you can bet I will try them all out. Love me some wings!
Pint & a Pound @ St. Louis on Elgin has always hit the spot for our ball team after … and sometimes BEFORE our games!
Went to PJ QUIGLEYS this weekend on your recommendation. The wings were excellent. The Suicide sauce was truly painful. Had to down a couple of pints of new kid on the block Hog’s Back beer just to make it through!
BTW, I really liked Hog’s Back. Really tasty, with a very interesting finish!
http://www.hogsback.ca/
Two spots that I love and go to often have not yet been mentioned. Wild Wings of course on St. Laurent..bit more pricey but many flavours to chose from. Either saucy or dry spiced it’s a great place to try something new.
and my all time favorite… Derringer’s on Montreal Road. Excellent Wing deal Wed nights. The manager, learning that it was our first time there, came out to our table see us and not only did he give us free samples and shots(!!) to try but the wings were fabulous!!
I vote for the Main St. Pub out in Stittsville , big & meaty , I usually do medium so i can’t comment on the other flavours , but the best in the west so far . i have been to The Chesire cat , but dod not sample the wings , I will in the future & Quigleys is not far at all cheers !
I was once asked, “If you were a condemned man on death row, what would be your choice for a last meal?”
The answer to that one was easy; “Dry wings with hot sauce on the side, from PJ Quigley’s Bar & Grill in the Greenbank Mall on Greenbank Road! It just doesn’t get any better that that!”
I agree 100%….the best wings I have had in the west end of Ottawa!!!
Quinn’s has the best wings hands-down. Lots of variety – my personal favourites – JD Maple (yes, made with JD), Spicy Plum Curry, and Thai Chilli Heat. A real “Cheers” atmospher. Owner Quinn is there most nights, and BTW is also the new owner of the Ashton Pub where he is quickly improving the wing situation at that local establishment also.
I’m a regular patron of PJs and there wings are good. But if I’m up for a good nosh, the wings at Marshy’s on Centrepoint are my favourate. I highly recommend giving them a try.
They also have all-you-can-eat on Thursdays and during Sens home games.
I’d say the Royal Oak needs to be on here. By far the best wings I’ve had in Ottawa. I have also tried PJ Quigley’s wings a few times as its right near my house, and have been disappointed. On a list of worst wings I have EVER had PJ’s would be on it.
Hi guy coming ottawa today and wants to try wings here in Toronto the best wings so far I tasted are Duffs they are just amazing so suggest me something where I am gonna find the best wings in Ottawa and I live spice and always get their spiciest wings so please do reply
the best wings in Ottawa, fer sure!
The best wings are found at Quinn’s Ale House, Ottawa
My favourite, and most oft-consumed, wings can be found at Pubwell’s at the north end of Preston St. Their island spice sauce is a caribbean jerk-type concoction that lights up the senses, and strikes a perfect balance between “runny nose hot” and “eye-watering hot”, which is just how I like ‘em. Being the closest bar to Bluesfest it gets jammed for two weeks in the summertime but otherwise finding a seat is rarely a problem and the staff greet a host of regulars by name. Give it a shot!
Wings Gerard at Quinn’s are hands down my favourite. Quinn’s is just an amazing pub all around, I wish I still lived within walking distance of that place. Clocktower’s are good (Bank St. location is by far the best) but has anyone else noticed a decline in quality? I’ll have to try PJ Quigleys though. Any suggestions for the East End?
Here’s another vote for Earl of Sussex – I was pleasantly surprised the other day. Big, juicy wings with excellent sauces. Also, their bar rail drinks are now $3.31 each, that’s hard to beat.
+1 for Pubwells
some of the best I have had is southern cross!
They are really that good!
Lieutenant Pump’s hot wings are good. Lots of great choices at Wild Wing. The worst ones I’ve had in Ottawa were at O’Grady’s.
Wild wings in kanata!
They also have gluten-free sauces for those of us with allergies