Wingers is considered by some around here to be one of the “classic” Utah Valley Restaurants. Due to its success, it has grown into nearby markets in Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and Wyoming.
First Look:
In visual style, Wingers seems to present a sentiment similar to the stereotypical family-type establishments of the 50’s and 60’s, however they also constantly have sports playing on several screens, and a bar you pass in order to get to your seat. The restaurant looked like it had recently undergone a facelift, with the tables and seats looking almost new.
The Experience:
When I walked in I was greeted promptly… and the communication was very efficient. Due to the look of the restaurant, I almost felt like they would be asking me how my grandmother was, and how the crops were coming along this year. On the contrary, I had barely walked in before I was seated at a comfortable booth, and the waitress was getting me water, and popcorn for my table.
I couldn’t help but notice that the restaurant was extremely clean. Even the floors were spotless. Just out of curiosity, I took my phone, and took a video of underneath the table to check for gum and spit wads. There were stains from where there had previously been some gum, but it was clean, and that made me appreciate the thoroughness of the cleaning.
The waitress seems like she's used to people moving fast. Things seem to be run very tight - with little room for error. It looks like they were perfectly prepared for and anticipating a rush tonight. I arrived at 6:00, and I was one of two people who were sat down on my side of the restaurant. I barely had time to look around before my salad was in front of my face.
The Food:
They supplied me with two dressings. One house ranch dressing, and one called “Creamy Amazing Sauce.” The creamy amazing sauce is very sweet, with a tang… it's literally a dressing with their delicious wing sauce in it. It's like a spicy thousand island, except none of the flavors are masked… You know what’s in it when you eat it. It's very simple, very good. The waitress said that people ask for creamy amazing sauce for their popcorn. I told her to prove it, because that just sounded disgusting to me. Looking me straight in the eyes, she ate some of my popcorn with the sauce on it. I tried it as well, and it's not unpleasant, but I like a little more tartness with my popcorn dips. To each their own though. I’d suggest you try it if you feel up to it.
The ranch is a sour cream ranch... very mellow, and a little bland for a salad, but perfect for dipping wings. I preferred the Creamy Amazing Sauce on my salad. It came prepared with two rings of onion, two cherry tomatoes, romaine and iceberg lettuce, and rye and white bread croutons. I liked the balance between the two lettuce types, as too much iceberg will give a very sweet taste to the salad.
Those who are coming into the restaurant seem to be very familiar with how everything works. Listening to those at the table next to me, it became obvious that they were regulars, as they were talking about several different plates that they had eaten, and held strong opinions about each. Apparently the consensus is that the salad with sticky fingers is delicious… but by the time I had heard that, I had already ordered my meal.
I had the sticky fingers meal, with beer-battered onion rings, and steak fries. The wings are covered with a secret sticky sauce, with some spice. They use hot sauce, corn syrup, and brown sugar on their breaded sticky fingers, and it all comes together to make such a scrumptious entree. The chicken is quality… though it does have a bit of a processed feel. (How could it be otherwise when 60-70% of the customers choose the sticky fingers…) The wings are filling, and the onion rings are thick and cooked just right. The steak fries were just a bit watery in the middle, making me think that they were just frozen before they were fried, but with a little bit of the creamy amazing sauce, or ketchup, they’re just another thick fry that adds another layer to your meal.
The dessert is their infamous Asphalt Pie. Their Asphalt Pie is a mint chocolate chip ice cream on a chocolate cookie crust, topped with whipped cream, a caramel drizzle, and oreo crumbles on the top. Delish. I loved the tastes and the textures, but I had very little room for it after a very filling meal. They provided a box for me to take the rest home.
All in all a good visit. I recommend that you get their Creamy Amazing Sauce- that, along with the flavor of the wings, was the best part of the visit.
