The Original J.R. Crickets in Midtown Atlanta

"This 1982-founded, Atlanta-born franchise has discipled the gospel of lemon pepper wings like no other. Their slightly unkempt original location on North Avenue isn’t our favorite Crickets (in fact, we ranked them), but it’s an undeniable part of the city’s food lore. So we’ll roll into this late-night spot after a long, hard night of celebrating and order a 10-piece Dirty Bird (a wild mix of mild, barbecue, and lemon pepper sauces) and fries. Yeah, the wings are itsy-bitsy and are sometimes fried a little hard, but Crickets is family." - demarco williams, nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard

"The Original J.R. Crickets on North Avenue in Midtown has been around since 1982, after moving from Spring Street in 2013. And, this spot maintains an old-school feel (it used to be ATL’s most legendary IHOP) and serves up good wings—specifically their legendary lemon pepper wet. This North Avenue location isn't the best in the franchise (check our rankings to see where it lands), but you know exactly what you're getting here—an casual neighborhood hangout where you can watch the game, eat small, saucy wings fried hard, and shrug if you drop a fry on the ground while you cheer. The menu also includes a list of other things like underwhelming sandwiches, dry wraps, just-OK ribs, and other fried things, but ignore them all because you’re here for the wings. photo credit: Amy Sinclair photo credit: Tabia S. Lisenbee-Parker If you remember that 2017 episode from Donald Glover’s Atlanta when Paper Boi opens a J.R. Crickets takeout box and is met with a heavenly glow, then you've glimpsed what this franchise means to Atlanta's wing culture. J.R. Crickets helped define the lemon pepper wet movement, back when they were known as "Festers." The name has since been changed to “lemon pepper wet” thanks to that viral episode. The wings here are still tasty, with plenty of sauce options. Just know when it comes to your order, stick to those wings because the rest of the food misses the mark. Food Rundown photo credit: Amy Sinclair Lemon Pepper Wet Wings This is the most famous, and the best option. The wings are smallish and fried hard. As for the sauce, J.R. Crickets has mastered ATL’s favorite citrusy-tangy flavor. Lemon Pepper & BBQ Wings This is a combination that we love almost as much as lemon pepper. They’re saucy but not dripping in it. BBQ Wings The BBQ sauce is twangy with a sweet undertone. A great choice. Ribs The sauce is good and sweetish and the meat is tender enough for a sports bar-like environment. There are, however, significantly better BBQ options around town, so keep your focus tightly on the wings. Chicken Wrap It’s dry yet somehow sloppy. Avoid this. Seafood Basket You get a limp piece of fried fish and five mid-sized shrimp—it’s not good." - Jacinta Howard

"The Original JR Crickets on North Ave. in Midtown is like that one cousin you have—hella loud and a little unkempt, but you two always have a good time. Though some of our starch-collared friends have wanted no part of the place for the past decade, we still love the taste of a good 10-piece Dirty Bird (a wild mix of mild, BBQ, and lemon pepper sauces) and fries after a long, hard night of celebrating. Yeah, the wings are itsy-bitsy and are sometimes fried a little hard, but Crickets is family (so much so, we ranked the metro Crickets locations. You love ’em. You hate ’em. You douse ’em in ranch, and keep it pushin’. " - demarco williams, juli horsford, jacinta howard

"Most of the area J.R. Crickets locations are worthy places to watch a game (we even ranked the best locations). And that's largely because Atlantans can't picture a better sports duo. Sure, there's Shaq and Kobe or Jordan and Pippen, but Crickets' lemon pepper wings and game days are iconic. And since the original location on North Avenue in Midtown stays open to 2am, we'll head straight here to order a 10-piece Dirty Bird (a wild mix of mild, barbecue, and lemon pepper sauces) and fries to celebrate after a win and watch game highlights. " - juli horsford, nina reeder, demarco williams

"The OG J.R. Crickets on North Ave. in Midtown is like that one cousin you have—hella loud and a little unkempt, but you two always have a good time. Though some of our starch-collared friends have wanted no part of the place for the past decade, we still love the taste of a good 10-piece Dirty Bird (a wild mix of mild, barbecue, and lemon pepper sauces) and fries after a long, hard night of celebrating. Plus, this location stays open the latest, keeping the party going until 2am when you can't imagine sleep without a couple of fried-hard flats. " - nina reeder, juli horsford, demarco williams, jacinta howard