Ray J's American Grill

Sports bar · Marcy-Holmes

Ray J's American Grill

Sports bar · Marcy-Holmes

3

500 Central Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

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Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null
Ray J's American Grill by null

Highlights

Voted best chicken wings in MN; jumbo wings, great beer  

Featured in Eater
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500 Central Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 Get directions

minneapolis.ray-js.com
@rayjsne

$10–20 · Menu

Reserve

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500 Central Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 Get directions

+1 612 353 4554
minneapolis.ray-js.com
@rayjsne

$10–20 · Menu

Reserve

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Aug 8, 2025

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@eater

Where to Find the Best in Wings in the Twin Cities | Eater Twin Cities

"This cozy Northeast sports bar is a haven for wing lovers seeking refuge from busy downtown Minneapolis. Ray J’s is known for its jumbo wings, which cater to tame and adventurous taste buds alike. Instead of the bleu cheese or ranch that accompanies the wings, ask for Ray J’s homemade garlic sauce to add some zing. (That said, Ray J’s blue cheese is homemade.)" - Eater Staff

https://twincities.eater.com/maps/where-to-find-wings-in-the-twin-cities
View Postcard for Ray J's American Grill
@eater

A Late-Night Dining Survival Guide for the Twin Cities

"Last call for chicken wings, sesame beef tips, patty melts, and other classic bar food at Ray J’s is 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays." - Justine Jones, Eater Staff

https://twincities.eater.com/maps/best-late-night-eats-dining-restaurants-minneapolis-st-paul-twin-cities
View Postcard for Ray J's American Grill
@eater

Where to Find Stellar Wings in the Twin Cities

"This cozy Northeast sports bar is a haven for wing lovers seeking refuge from busy downtown Minneapolis. Ray J’s is known for its jumbo wings, which cater to tame and adventurous taste buds alike. Instead of the bleu cheese or ranch that accompanies the wings, ask for Ray J’s homemade garlic sauce to add some zing. (That said, Ray J’s blue cheese is homemade.)" - Ali Elabbady, Eater Staff

https://twincities.eater.com/maps/best-chicken-wings-minneapolis-twin-cities
View Postcard for Ray J's American Grill

Luciana Benítez

Google
The sweet potato fries are delicious. Good variety of sauces for the wings. Great service and the beer options are good.

Andy Galles

Google
Great spot for lunch. Prices are fair, the food was great, and service was spot on. The free parking lot behind the restaurant is nice. Great breakfast burger and fries.

Brendan Bayer

Google
these wings absolutely slap. got half smoky ranch, half nutty. both were perfect and the ranch dipping sauce couldn’t be better. as a big wing fan, would totally come back!

Anna Weber

Google
Went here for lunch on a Saturday and it was not busy at all. Our server was wonderful and brought us samples of the sauces when we couldn’t decide. We got the wings and the artichoke dip which were both FANTASTIC. My only complaint is that the staff in the kitchen were playing their music very loud, which was a little disturbing, since the TVs in the restaurant were also on.

Kailee Carlson

Google
Classic bar food. The garlic burger with waffle fries hit the spot after a run. I would get this again. We got a full order of wings and were able to get half Nutty Rooster and half Asian Sesame wings. The Asian sesame was extremely saucy. The nutty rooster definitely tasted better than the Asian ones. Lots of people in there on a Thursday night watching sports on the big tvs. Overall a pretty good experience!

Mr. Isom

Google
I order the garlic Parmesan wings and cheeseburger sliders (which they sent a cheeseburger) and it was amazing. I didn’t call to complain about the mishap on the sliders because everything was amazing. They give you REAL wings. No wing cut in half and call it two wings. I’ll most definitely order from here again.

Cléa Caussé

Google
Wings are really big, and good! The staff was very nice and we had a good time there for the Super Bowl.

Daniel Lopez

Google
This is my favorite sports bar in the city with the best food!! The whole staff is incredible. Wyatt is fantastic, Sophie and John the bartenders are incredible. As far as food oh man are you in for a treat with big full wings the Bomba wings with jalapeño ranch is so good, the Cajun pasta is also to die for.
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Josh D.

Yelp
One word - wow! More words... this place is fantastic! The menu has almost too many great sounding options. I got the Cajun pasta of course, but also ordered the Ray J's deluxe flatbread/pizza. Let's start with the pasta. It was DELICIOUS! Both the chicken and the pasta had great flavor. The creamy Cajun sauce was a little spicy. The garlic bread was as absolute win to soak up the remaining sauce. The pizza was an absolute impulse purchase after reading through the menu. Worth it. I loved the topping combination.
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Laurie G.

Yelp
The food is pretty good. The wings used to be excellent but not so much in the last year. The afternoon I was there I sat at the bar, not busy at all & the bartender took about 8 min to say anything to me, I almost left. I may go back again, maybe it was a fluke!!
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Tiana D.

Yelp
Anytime I'm craving wings, Ray J's is where I'll go! On a recent trip, my partner and I split the bacon cheeseburger and a full order of wings - the nutty rooster and drunken sauces are both great! The burger was good, pretty bare bones, no frills. Parking is easy, a table is easy enough to find, beer list is great! Service can be a bit slow as wings usually take a bit.
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Teesha M.

Yelp
Good food and a nice crowd not overly packed with people. They have bug screen tvs to watch the game on a sports night. The waitress are always making sure you are attended to.
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Kailee C.

Yelp
Classic bar food. The garlic burger with waffle fries hit the spot after a run. I would get this again. We got a full order of wings and were able to get half Nutty Rooster and half Asian Sesame wings. The Asian sesame was extremely saucy. The nutty rooster definitely tasted better than the Asian ones. Service was pretty good. Lots of people in there on a Thursday night watching sports on the big tvs. Overall a pretty good experience!
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Kasey S.

Yelp
FOOD: Some of my favorite wings in the cities! Not only did I leave super full after splitting these wings, but they were SO yummy and crispy! I'm usually a boneless wing gal (shameful I know), but these definitely converted me. I know Minneapolis has many awesome wing restaurants, but this is my favorite! SERVICE: Service was good. Super friendly waitress that dealt with us constantly asking for new ranch:) It wasn't super busy so our food came out pretty quick. AMBIANCE: I sat on the patio, which was large and nice to be outside. However, the ambiance on the inside is definitely better than the patio, as the outdoor area was a bit dated. LOCATION/PARKING: Parking was very easy to find on the street, and walking is very accessible if you live in the Northeast area. There are many other restaurants nearby that you could swing by for apps or drinks before/after.
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Cale S.

Yelp
I ordered the full order bone-in drunken sauce and Asian sesame sauce The good: these are big luscious wings. They give you a generous blue cheese cup. The bad - they ran out of celery sticks. The sauces are so salty that I couldn't finish more than two wings. I don't think I can get those two sauces again. I would have to look for a sauce that is light on the salt or very neutral. Tip: I took the wings home and buried them in jasmine rice, which diluted the bold, salty flavor. I actually could just eat the rice with the sauce.
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Robert W.

Yelp
Ray J's is a local American Bar and Restaurant serving your typical American fare. This place is quite popular in the neighborhood at all times of the day thanks in large part to their large menu, affordable prices, and good bar atmosphere. There are TVs everywhere in the restaurant showcasing all of the major sports games. There is ample seating with a lot of large booths and tables capable of seating some pretty large groups. I have come here with groups as large as 12 before during the day and they have been able to seat us no problem. They have specials on Mondays and Tuesdays, but the Monday special is unbeatable where you can get a cheeseburger and fries for $8! And it's a pretty large burger so quite the deal. The service is always pretty good, they are able to split large checks for groups, they know their menu pretty well, and are very attentive with refilling water. The food is all good, but my favorite thing to order from here are the Wings! They were voted best wings in Minnesota and I think they're definitely up there. They are MASSIVE with each wing being the full "wing" - tip, flat, and drumstick together so keep that in mind when you order. My favorite wing is the Homestyle, but they can be a little too salty for me sometimes. Also, they serve food til really late so often times this is the last place serving food open in the neighborhood (besides White Castle). Definitely a fun spot, and a go to for my friend group!
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Linda B.

Yelp
Last night I joined friends here for dinner & bingo. I had heard many positive comments about RayJays and the food. We were seated in the booth my friends enjoy most by a very nice host, and our waitress Madison was just wonderful. My fav beer is on tap - Castle Danger Cream Ale. As I watched some food orders going by I realized they are generous. A giant plate of chicken wings went by & I was tempted. Then I located the Patty Melt and I was deeply tempted as my friend said it's excellent. After considering the Beautiful Large Hot Roast Beef Sandwich...possibly a half order would suffice. Finally because I'm a pizza freak I ordered a Woodfired Pepperoni & Sausage pizza, toasted extra done just the way I like it. Heavenly pizza.
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Tony H.

Yelp
Great place to watch a game and have elevated bar food! Staff are true pro's, you'll never have an empty glass.
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Shane D.

Yelp
It's a great spot to watch any sporting event. Hands down, the best wings in Minneapolis!!
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Sara W.

Yelp
We had asked the local brewery staff a place to get a good burger, they suggested place, I would not agree. It wasn't very busy but we did go early on a Friday. Our food took a while whivh we were ok with as then it was fresh. We ended up losing our server before we even got out food. Not sure if they do that in case the food is wrong you don't blame the new server. So the food was ok, it wasn't horrible but it wasn't the best we've had. The burger did look amazing but was just ok, not much flavor actually. Even the fries were just ok not much flavor. And my fellow person said the same, not much flavor. Though they were nice we won't be back. And we didn't have anything wrong eith our taste as we were able to taste pur dinner find at a different location.
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Maulah H.

Yelp
The food and the service were amazing. I will return. The salad and the Reuben are great. I also had the Buffalo shrimp which was excellent. Oh and the garlic aioli is great!
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Ryan S.

Yelp
fantastic environment, friendly faces everywhere. No judgements, just peace and wings...did I mention wing. my wing brother from another mother introduced me to the universe in which Ray J s wings are a thing. I was left wondering how I've made it this far without knowing how good these wings were... I need to reconsider a lot of things starting with my friends. if you're a real friend, do the friendly thing and suggest ray js to your friends...and I promise you'll become even better f friends, friend.
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LaShawn S.

Yelp
Ray J's still has it! The wings are juicy and delicious! Although prices for wings (like everything else) has gone up, I will pay for these wings! The service was good and the environment was cool. This location is more of a sports bar feel vs the location in Woodbury is more of an actual restaurant feel. Both are worth going to. When you are in the Twin Cities and you want your wing fix, Ray J's is the spot for you!
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Adeline D.

Yelp
I stopped but here on a Friday night to watch the NBA Semifinals and for the wings. I ended with two wins-Miami and the wings. Habanero sauce was spicy good!! I asked for sauce on the side and highly recommend that because the wings aren't wet wings. I ordered the full which is 8 but I suggest going with the half of 4 wings with a side of fries. Wings are battered fried, tossed in sauce- not bad for bar wings. Fries were crispy! Bar has many TVs, playing all major sports. Top 40 Music. Friendly service. Diverse crowd including race and age. I'd come back here to watch the game anytime.
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Rosie O.

Yelp
This is where the neighborhood gets together and everyone says hi. This is where the staff knows your name and good food is served. Even if you don't like the bar and grill sports bar atmosphere this is worth a try, everyone is welcomed. They are known for their chicken wings and in the short time we were there I saw many platters of every kind of wings coming out of the kitchen. No one waited for anything (that is the philosophy) of the staff. Pam our server was friendly, talkative, welcoming even while carrying on a conversation she never missed a new guest or food coming out of the kitchen. Bar and grill yes, but still family friendly, great place for a hearty lunch or just a snack and drink.

Doug J.

Yelp
the Kim kardashian special was amazing thanks ray! You're the best! And the lighting helped me find it.

Casaundra L.

Yelp
Got the Cajun pasta, and a pastrami sandwich with fries. Both had a really great flavor! I would definitely order from here again. Would highly recommend!

Focus- O.

Yelp
worst bartender ever. I highly recommend you find somewhere else to go on a Tuesday night if she working!
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Dylan R.

Yelp
I've had a burger from Ray J's three times now! I'd definitely recommend the Garlic Burger. I made the mistake this time of ordering the Cheeseburger and it had no toppings - just cheese and a burger. I sort of assumed toppings were included? Service has been great for pickup - the bartender was attentive and friendly. I'll probably be back, but DO NOT order the cheeseburger if you expect it to have toppings.
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Wayne R.

Yelp
If you like fresh plump juicy perfectly cooked wings that are MILDLY seasoned, these are a 10. If you like salty spiced seasoned wings with a bite, bring your own hot sauce. I like the later. 3.5 stars for my taste
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Leah N.

Yelp
Not sure why I had never been here before. The food was really Good food and the service was also good. The menu has something for everyone. Our family loves wings and these were delicious! Will definitely visit again
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Kevin J.

Yelp
Aye Ray jay..aye Ray j!!!! You know you doing yo thang w the wings. Drunken + home style (half n half) makes me whole. Best decision you can make Left-overs friendly Made w love Also they have a good beer list. Location is close to downtown(north loop) and sits in the lip of NE/StAnthony -kev b
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Andrew W.

Yelp
I am just posting this to say we have gone here a number of times and it has been good but we will not be returning ever.
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Tami B.

Yelp
Under Amenities they state that they still require you to wear masks and that their staff has to still wear masks ?!?!? Will not go there because of that. If that's not correct you need to update your website and Yelp website. It's really sad if that's still a requirement
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Daniel B.

Yelp
Ordered food via Uber Eats. Burger came extremely undercooked. Would not recommend. Trying to get a refund right now.
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Abby W.

Yelp
Walking in, the staff is very friendly and throughout our meal they were also efficient. The food was good, but it was very greasy, which my boyfriend liked, but I wasn't the biggest fan. There's an up charge for onion rings of $2, which was kind of pricey for the amount I received. This restaurant would be a great place to watch a game or hang out with friends!
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Jennie W.

Yelp
Weekend night in North East Minneapolis must go. #:Cheeseburger Slider: so good #:Asian sesame chicken wing: loved the sauce and the whole wing !!!! Food is amazing and perfect to spend the night for some beer and sport.
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Nate M.

Yelp
Came here after hearing all the great things about the wings. We tried the Drunken Wings, and thought they were solid! I thought there would be more meat on the full wing, but the sauce was really good. I'm a fan of blue cheese, which comes standard with their wings. We also tried the Pastrami Primanti, and that was a great sandwich. The fries that came with the sandwich were solid as well! We saw numerous other dishes come out as we were waiting for our food, and everything else looked good as well. Great location in the heart of NE Minneapolis, but be prepared for the parking lot to be full since this is such a popular spot. There is street parking very close by as an alternative.
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Zac G.

Yelp
Where all my @rayjsne & @rayjswoodbury fans at?! It's been too long since I last indulged in some Bomba Wings. If you haven't tried these they are a must. Some of the best whole jumbo wings in town. They always hit the spot. * * * : Bomba Wings ~ Seasoned with homemade blackening spice and served with a Jalapeño Ranch.
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LaTasha S.

Yelp
This place feels like an old school type restaurant. It's cool and laid back, yet lots of hustle and bustle to fulfill orders. Our waitress was great! Super nice gal, and very accommodating! They have indoor and outdoor seating, we sat inside with our large party. The wings are HUGE! Flavors are good! I barely made it through two wings! I ordered some cheese curds and I was not impressed, they were too hard! I would definitely come back for the wings!
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Aleah H.

Yelp
I feel like I owe Ray J's a review to encourage everyone to try more than their wings! I have been coming here with friends for years because of their GIANT wings, but I recently started branching out, and I am so glad I did! Yes, their wings are great and super tender. However, their Reuben is amazing, and the honey mustard chicken sandwich is my absolute favorite! It has a pretzel bun and tastes incredible, and the fries are great too!! If you are planning your trip ahead of time, please look at their deals online! You can save a lot on wings and drinks if that's what you're looking for! Truly, you can't go wrong. I plan to get another chicken sandwich later this week!
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Samantha M.

Yelp
So happy this place was open on the 4th! The Asian sesame wings and cheese curds really hit the spot. I recommend the Jucy Lucy with tots.
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Spencer B.

Yelp
Easiest 5 star review I have ever given. Been going to Ray J's for ten plus years and I will die on the take that they have the best at wings in the country. The wings are pure perfection. Whole wing, big, crispy, always steaming hot but somehow perfectly ready to eat when they arrive. Sauces are all incredible but since I moved away I only get to enjoy these maybe once a year so I do full order half Buffalo half drunken. I've tried every flavor and they do not miss on any. All incredible. Outside of wings everything else I've had or friends have had is great. Waffle fries are great, girlfriend loved her Cuban. Drinks are strong and affordable. Gosh I miss living close to Ray Js.

You're F.

Yelp
I've ordered from this place three times just to make sure the experiences I've had weren't one offs. When I did receive the correct items I ordered they were totally different than what comes in the restaurant. An example is the "full" order of boneless wings I ordered. 16$ for some sad, sad nuggets
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Megan H.

Yelp
Best American style wings in the Twin cities, good tap selection, and a Cubano that I'd give my good eye for. If you're Gluten Free though, this ain't the spot honey.

Bennett W.

Yelp
Great place! Nice in the summer-- has a great patio. It has a traditional American bar feel, but isn't too dirty like other dive bars in the area (though that is sometimes what gives them their charm). Food is good, gotta try the wings-- they're served as whole wings, which isn't something I had tried before coming here.
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Karlee H.

Yelp
Came here for an early dinner with my friends this Saturday. We had a blast. The server was extremely nice and the service was very timely. Our beverages were kept filled and we all got our orders perfectly. I got the Cuban with waffle fries and they were amazing. Also snagged a wing from my friend who got the drunken wings and it was SO good.
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Anthony B.

Yelp
Very good dry rub, waitstaff was excellent and good service most definitely will returning soon.

Stephen M.

Yelp
Food was good and the service was great but didn't warn us until after we ordered, that the chef couldn't cook steak properly. They can only cook it well done. Other than that, great atmosphere of people. Decent place
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Scott F.

Yelp
We came to Ray J's after going to an upscale MSP eatery that wasn't very good (for another review). We had heard about this place from one of our neighbors who said they had the best wings in the Twin Cities. I am not well versed in Minnesota's wing scene but came from some pretty great options in Los Angeles. Ray J's crushed anything I had in California and added points with their array of sandwiches, burgers and amazing sides. We had an order of wings, burger fries and beer and I was impressed with their staff, the selection of beer, the causal atmosphere and the private parking lot in a busy area. We can't wait for another trip to sample more menu items, meet more cool people and enjoy the best part of the Twin Cities!

Alicia M.

Yelp
The only thing I didn't want on my sandwich was mayonnaise aka aioli but of course it was drowning in it. My chicken on the Frisco sandwich was HARD JERKY
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Sharon L.

Yelp
FOOD: Bar food, but WOW are the wings large and in charge. A great place for late night food or wings/celery type of stuff while watching a game. I had the fries, and they were pretty good. Definitely better stuff than the chain sports bars. SERVICE: Sort of incredibly slow. It was fine-- we weren't in a rush, and I guess this isn't the sort of place you'd go if you wanted a quick meal, but it was a good half an hour or so to get the check, pay, get our receipts, and leave. On a Tuesday night. AMBIENCE: Sort of dive bar-y, and it had a definite cozy and roughened local vibe. Definitely felt more hole-in-the-wall than most of the sports bars I've been to in town, in a good way. RESTROOMS: Clean, easily accessible. A few stalls in the ladies'. PARKING: There's a nice, big lot out back. YAY for not having to street park.
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Carie S.

Yelp
The wings here are absolutely amazing. I'm normally not a wing person and I can't stand when they're super tiny and all fat and these are amazing. They have two dry rub varieties: bamba and Smokey ranch. Both are great but Smokey ranch wins by a hair.

Jessi V.

Yelp
Amazing I would definitely go back again I had amazing food and the service was great my server was jadyn she was so nice and helpful if you're looking for a great restaurant this is perfect
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Kat B.

Yelp
This place is the place to come for good service good food good beer. The wings here are top notch and I eat wings ALL the time! The drunken wings are actually mouth watering. I ordered the full wings so be prepared to get messy, but the service is great so don't hesitate to ask for more wet wipes! Great beer selection and full bar! Great place to come. Deserves every star given!
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Christian C.

Yelp
This place has the best wings I've ever had in my life. I got the habanero wings which were very spicy but had unbelievable flavor. Easiest 5 star review I've ever left
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David C.

Yelp
This is gem in hiding. Loved the food loved the service. I will definitely be back. A must try.
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Haleigh D.

Yelp
Holy hidden gem! I drove by this place a million times and finally moved over to the NE. Finally decided to try it and we will definitely be going back. The wings are amazing and seem to be the most popular. They're huge! We got the Buffalo and an Asian Sauce one. Wings are 5 stars for sure! Great atmosphere to grab a drink with friends or catch a game