The Omnibus

Issue date: 10/21/04 Section: The Review

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On Sept. 19, something new and wild hit Springfield. Buffalo Wild Wings came to town. Knowing little about buffalo, but excited about the chance to learn more, I grabbed my Nebraska-native roommate and headed to Springfield for a new experience.

I quickly discovered buffalo wings do not come from buffaloes - they are actually chicken wings. First conceived in Buffalo, N.Y., the wings became associated with buffaloes as they moved west. These chicken wings are smothered in hot sauce and go well with football and coke.

Buffalo Wild Wings was created when two Buffalo natives moved to Ohio and started craving chicken wings. Instead of driving back to New York, they decided to open up a restaurant and thus, Buffalo Wild Wings was born. Now, one of these fine restaurants sits in the new Battlefield Marketplace on Battlefield Road in Springfield.

The actual name is Buffalo Wild Wings Bar and Grill. Half the joint is dedicated to the bar with the other half being a little more inviting to those who do not drink. Decorated in the style of a sports bar, the walls are covered in sports paraphernalia. There are also several television screens on each wall - so you can always find something to watch.

The best part about the atmosphere at Buffalo Wild Wings is the nifty little game boxes used to compete in a trivia contest which is broadcasted on a few of their TVs. The trivia content varies each night and is a welcome distraction.

The service at Buffalo Wild Wings is also a little bit unusual from what is typically experienced. This restaurant boasts a "seat yourself" attitude and, after waiting awhile for service, the waiting staff finally appears. After the food is ordered and delivered, the waiter or waitress is never seen again. Unless the customers need something, the staff never comes back to the table, which makes tipping an option. Overall, the style of this restaurant is very laid-back and casual, making it a place where people feel right at home.

Now on to the reason to go: the food. Chicken wings are not the only things Buffalo Wild Wings serves. They have a full menu, ranging from burgers to salads, with plenty to choose from in between, including desserts. But why bother going to a place called Buffalo Wild Wings if you are not going to eat the wings?

The restaurant offers 12 sauces to choose from, broken down into three categories: smooth, smokin' and spicy. For those who do not like spicy foods, the smooth category features teriyaki, sweet barbecue, mild and smoky southwestern. In the spicy category, they have medium, spicy garlic, Thai and Caribbean jerk to choose from. For those who have no taste buds - or want to simply clear their sinuses - there are the smokin' sauces which include hot barbecue, hot and wild and blazin' among others.

The normal price for wings is a little steep for poor college students (I got six wings for $4 and left wanting more). If you go on Tuesday, however, you can get 35-cent wings and on Wednesdays they have 50-cent legs. Most of the other food is similarly priced and a whole meal can be enjoyed for under $8.

If you are in Springfield on a Tuesday or Wednesday, then this is a good place to go for dinner.

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