It's never too early to think about the playoffs. If anything, considering how the Spurs have played this season, the collective San Anto populace should spend more time watching the Silver and Black on big screens. Though there wasn't a game on at the time, the screens at Wing Daddy's on Heimer Road were a mighty pull.
This El Paso-based franchise is slowly making its way across the Southwest and Mexico (where they already have five locations) after they initiated a franchising branch in 2014, six years after launching the original concept. Let's get familiar with these wing providers, shall we?
The Booze • Yes, there's beer on tap and in bottles, and local names such as Freetail make an appearance on a few tap handles. But the real draw here are the outlandish drinks you can enjoy. The drink menu is legitimately overwhelming, if only because I'm a sucker for all things Curacao (no, really) served in large margarita chalices. All of the concoctions hover at around $10, so it depends on what your goals for the evening are if you're hoping to imbibe more than two of these cocktails. I ordered the gummy bear piña colada topped with a toasted coconut rim, only to learn they were out of gummy bears (clearly, it's a popular item).
Though the peach vodka-fueled peach ring-a-rita looked amazing, and peach rings are a favorite, I landed on the Sharky Blue Hawaiian with Malibu, blue Curacao, pineapple juice and a trio of large gummy sharks. Those looking to really get things going can spring for the Fireball Piña Colada, which sounds like a party ... or dip into dos-a-rita territory with the adult beer float that uses Not Your Father's Root Beer, or Apple Orchard-rita. Whatever floats your boat goes. The grapefruit margarita is also solid if that's more your speed.
Happy hours are identical at all Wing Daddy locations, so make note of that. From 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, patrons can enjoy $2 domestic pints, $2.50 23-ounce domestic pours, $3 specialty pints, $3.50 23-ounce specialty drinks and $3 16-ounce frozen margs.
The Ambience • Think Buffalo Wild Wings without the huge capital and you're halfway there. This particular location was plenty roomy, well lit and the sound was on point.
Service was great — the all-female staff (this is essentially a sport bar at heart) was attentive and courteous.
Sounds • They all emanate from a dozen or so TVs that line the walls of Wing Daddy's. Though some sort of mixed martial arts match was on, the sound of choice was a throwback playlist of R&B/hip-hop/pop videos ... because who doesn't miss watching "Big Pimpin'" and "Just Dance" while eating chicken wings.
Bites • If MTV were to follow me around for a week or so (and they wouldn't, I'm neither good-looking enough nor am I within their target demographic, but play along), the reality show I'd more than likely star in would be "True Life: I'm addicted to chicken wings." Yes, I'm being hyperbolic, but chicken wings are one of life's ultimate pleasures. There's something raw and primal about digging into a batch of fresh-fried wings and drummies. Wing Daddy's are tasty and ginormous, though, I would love more leeway when it comes to choosing flavors (you can pick two for an order of 20). That said, I might have a new favorite lemon pepper around town. The menu also features a slew of other bar snack. You'll find fried pickles, sleezeballs — tater tots on steroids — and more.
Patio • Smokers out there should make note that there is an outdoor seating option at Wing Daddy's off Bitters and Heimer but you'll be staring at the backside of a Target and 281 traffic. Not entirely picturesque, but who needs idyllic views when you have gummy-bear-filled drinks?
Big drinks, bigger screens and 20 wing flavors to choose from — Wing Daddy's Sauce House has found a new fan.
