The Three Best Wing Spots in Buffalo, According to a Toronto Chef
After ten years of officially and unofficially testing wings in Buffalo, Allen Meredith of The Elmwood has a few places he keeps coming back to.
Allen Meredith has spent the better part of a decade eating his way through Buffalo’s wing scene. So when we asked The Elmwood owner where he goes for wings, he did not hesitate.
Gabriel’s Gate
145 Allen St, Buffalo, NY, 14201
His first answer was Gabriel’s Gate.
“It’s kind of my favourite for the most classic kind of plain wing,” Meredith says. “No additions, just Frank’s [hot sauce] and butter basically. It’s super simple and they’re amazing.”
For Meredith, Gabriel’s Gate is the reference point. Not trying to reinvent the format. Just a classic Buffalo wing done properly.
Bar-Bill
185 Main Street, East Aurora, NY 14052.
The second spot on Meredith’s list is Bar-Bill, located about 20 minutes south of the city.
Compared to Gabriel’s Gate, Meredith describes Bar-Bill’s wings as a slightly more amped-up version of the classic Buffalo wing.
“They’re a little bit sweeter, a little extra spices in there, but they’re still really, really good,” he says.
Nine-Eleven Tavern
9-11 Bloomfield Ave Buffalo, NY 14220.
His third pick was Nine-Eleven Tavern.
The name sounds like a bit, but Meredith explains that the tavern was established in 1981 and happens to sit at 9–11 Bloomfield Avenue.
For him, those wings represent a dirtier, heavier style, the kind that helped inspire the South Buffalo wings served at The Elmwood.
“Those are big, dirty wings,” Meredith says. “They’re a little fattier tasting and just a little funkier, a little more umami.”
The List
According to someone who has spent ten years studying Buffalo wings, the list is as follows.
 | A guest post by
|