Wing King (Fort Mill, SC)

Who doesn't love chicken wings? Other than vegetarians, vegans and people with alektorophobia [fear of chickens] and communists. I know I love them and a lot A LOT of places claim to be the "end all" of chicken wings and I have to say I found a place that just may be that... Wing King in Fort Mill, South Carolina. They do it with a nice combination of great wings, great service, great prices and great wings. Yes, I said that twice but it deserves to be repeated.

$2.50 Michelob Ultra drafts and World Cup, yes please (more the beer and less on the soccer)

So, I walk in the day of the World Cup game and it's dead and I was worried. But, then I remembered I was in South Carolina and the bar would be more crowded for a USC game from 1978 than for a soccer match. That being said I was able to be seated right away and get great service. And by great service... I mean two free beers. When I was handed the menu I was excited to see how prominently displayed the wing selections where. This means two things: 

1. They are proud of their wings and want to encourage you to get them.
2. They have a lot of options in both sauce and rubs.   

SIDE RANT: I hate it when I go to a burger bar and someone orders chicken or a wing place and they order a burger.... why?!

To the left XXX teriyaki, then some par crinkle fires, to the right XXX BBQ

After bombarding my waitress with a million questions I opted to get some grilled XXX BBQ wings and some XXX extra fried teriyaki. That being said! If you have never had wings done "grilled style" do yourself a favor and try it. It combines the char and smokiness of the grill and the wing-zing and flavor of your traditional wing. (What the f*^% is wing-zing? I don't know... I couldn't think of a better adjective) As an added bonus you can spice up your wings by the X. Meaning BBQ is mild, X BBQ is medium and XX BBQ is hot and XXX BBQ very hot. However, if you are a hot freak like me you won't find these to be quite that spicy. All that being said... these wings were just perfect. 

If this were a naval battle there was 'no quarter' for these wings... but it wasn't a naval battle so I should just say that they were very very very very good. TAKE 2. These wings are very very very very good.

My only things I would tell you to avoid are the following... and believe it or not it is only TWO things. One, the fries. They are basic. And kind of take away from the meal. Instead of ordering fries just order more wings, trust me. Two, the coleslaw. It was just awful. If you read the ingredients it would have read: Water, cabbage pieces, a lot of f&%$ing salt. Nasty. How much salt is that? A lot. BUT! Outside of those few wrinkles I have nothing bad to say about Wing King.

There are three locations and I will tell you all three because if there is one near you go try it!

200 Dobys Bridge Rd Fort Mill, SC 
13209 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC
426 S Carolina 9, Lancaster, SC 29720 (word on the street is that this is not the best one to try out...)

Also, there website is under construction so I won't post their link. But, if you want to Google them or whatever look up Wing King Cafe. And then thank me for telling you about them and then thank them for making just amazing wings.

Smash Burger (Stonecrest)

I would normally start with a "I haven't been at this in awhile rant" not today. I want to start off this time by using and old but true cliche... Money can't buy taste. That should be the slogan for Smash Burger (Note: I am only using the word 'burger' because it is in the title of the restaurant or to be ironic.) This particular location is nestled in the HQ for over-priced, over-rated, food and merchandise... South Charlotte at StoneCrest. Yikes. So... lets get started with this nightmare...

Smashing idea Watson! (Not quite)

So, I walk in not knowing what to expect. What do I order? What are they famous for? I look behind the counter to make my selection... no giant menu. In fact no menu. I had to ask the kid (maybe 11 or 12yrs old) where is the menu? He points to this small laminated thing and I notice a few things right away...

1. Burgers. Fires. Drinks where all separate... fail
2. No indication of why they are called smash burger... fail
3. Prices... fail
4. AND when I finally asked what their specials were... this 9yr old cashier said "Um, I think it is whatever the picture is on the front of my register"... fail

   

   The fire extinguisher was the most exciting decoration  

    

    

    

I ordered the special... What it was advertised as: BBQ, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Sharp Cheddar, Tangy BBQ sauce and onion strings. WHAT I actually got was a burger that looked like a Russian tank brigade ran over. No BBQ sauce. One piece of maybe bacon. American cheese and some C+ onion strings. SPEAKING OF STRINGS! Their fries look more like potato thread. Thin. Small. Expensive. Over cooked. The same adjectives you would use to describe a lot of the housewives around that area (rim shot, you're welcome.)

These fries are so grossly thin and pointless they could have a show on Bravo

In short. I have to say I will not be back and you should not go. Unless you are a masochist, then have at it. Add this to the list of over-priced major disappointments such as but not limited too:

• Bone Fish Grill (Gag, I mean who doesn't love expensive seafood in land locked Wisconsin?!)
• Flemming's Prime Steakhouse ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$)
• Zoe's Kitchen (I need to write about this one just for fun, this is the ultimate dumpster fire)
• Buffalo Wild Wings (The king of the $9 Michelobs and soggy, flaccid, micro 'wings?')
• P.F. Changs (Pretty much the Olive Garden of Chinese food and culture)

I am going to start doing these blogs more regularly. If you have any places you think I would like OR any places you would think I would love to hate PLEASE e-mail me at godfatherofsports@gmail.com.  

 Normally here is where I would offer the restaurant's website... not this time.