By Aadi Kaul, Class of ’24 — Correspondent
Can you take the heat?
Drenched in blazing red sauce, ten pieces of deliciousness simmer on a silver platter, glimmering under the dim golden lights. Picking up the fiery, flawlessly cooked delicacy is like climbing up the peak of a roller coaster; it’s the stomach-sinking build-up to the adrenaline-pumping question that brought you here. You see, Buffalo Wild Wings isn’t just any restaurant. It’s a one-stop shop where your taste buds go to bask in glory.
Before I tell you what it’s like to put yourself to the ultimate test, there are a few small notes about my go-to restaurant that I’ve got to get out of the way. Strolling in, endless rows of screens displaying all kinds of sports coverage consume you, from the kickoff of a Thursday night football game to the final hole with Tiger Woods. Each of these is a time machine, grabbing a hold of your attention as time seamlessly ticks away and stomach-filling surprises come to life in the kitchen. As you slide onto a seat, your ears will be greeted with hundreds of conversations meshed together and your face with a soothing wave of warm air.
To prepare for the dangerously hot adventure that awaits, I’d recommend starting your feast with the gentle, cheese-stuffed mozzarella sticks. Coated in drool-evoking breadcrumbs and served with a side of marinara sauce that’ll have you licking your fingers for every last drop, the taste of these hand-crafted works of expertise brings the phrase “one in a million” to life. Once you’ve dipped a scrumptious stick into the creamy pool of tomato mastery and crunched down on it, all else ceases to exist. You become a traveler. Suddenly, you’re sailing out into the river of endlessly expanding mozzarella cheese with juicy tomatoes and dashes of subtle, but worthy, cilantro.
Right as the last piece enters the gates of your mouth, a distinct trail of smoky scent will catch your nostrils; the restaurant’s trademark is on its way. As the shiny silver plate (make sure you don’t touch it with bare hands—it’s white-hot) appears in front of you, the jaw-dropping site of a tower of mouth-watering chicken bites will naturally create room in your stomach for indulgence.
If you’re feeling nervous right now, don’t worry, that’s totally normal (especially if it’s your first time). When my palms start to sweat at the thought of taking a jab at the daunting chicken wings, I relax myself by thinking of a bite as an exciting adventure; an immersive sensory experience that’ll swallow me up whole.
To make you feel extra safe throughout this eye-opening trip, Buffalo Wild Wings even provides an ocean of creamy ranch dressing, carefully crafted to put out the flames that attempt to melt your taste buds, moist wet wipes to clean the messy residue of off of your face, and a few sticks of crunchy celery dipped in zesty ranch.
Just dabbing the Mango Habanero chicken wing on your wet tongue will send a wave of excitement down your spine. Then, when you finally bite down and start to savor the addictive piece of scorching spice, you’ll feel the beginnings of a blaze form at the back of your throat. Then, it’ll grow. And keep growing. And it won’t stop until there’s a wildfire in your mouth, melting your tongue and setting off your body’s waterworks. Even as snot runs down to the tip of your lips and tears markup your blushed-up face, you won’t be able to stop your greasy hands from clawing back another piece—it becomes an addiction. With cubes of ice filled to the brim of your glass, the freezing-cold (and heroic) water will put out any residual flame that rests on your tongue as the familiar green friends, drenched in white ranch sauce, cleanse your palate. And, before you know it, each wing will have flown off of the once soaring tower and float into the bottom of your grateful stomach.
My number one option for birthday dinners, small celebrations, or even weekday getaways, B.W.W. (as I so lovingly call it), earns a clear 5-star rating from me. From the splendid array of heavenly dishes to satisfying scenery that could keep you there for hours, the restaurant encapsulates everything there is to look for in a dining experience. Almost every month, I revisit to find a new flavor of chicken wing or appetizer posted on the menu and, if I had to change anything about the glorious document that presents the outstanding food, all I could ask for is another inventive option to be added for my teeth to sink themselves into.
Before I set you free from my affectionate review of B.W.W., I’ll leave you with this. Signing up to take on the challenge of consuming unfathomably spicy chicken wings is not a feat for any and all people. It’s for adventurers. So, it’s truly up to you to decide who you will be: a daring explorer or just another person held back by their comfort zone.
Now, will you step forward to answer B.W.W.’s infamous question?
The Buffalo Wild Wings closest to SHS is located at 321 School St in Mansfield.
Image from https://www.buffalowildwings.com/menu/party
