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Lahore's Buffalo Wings and Rings lets you make a meal out of appetisers

Lahore's Buffalo Wings and Rings lets you make a meal out of appetisers

Also on the menu are burgers, wraps, sandwiches and salads
27 Mar, 2017

Just last week, a new American restaurant was launched in the city. Although it had been opened to public a while ago, maybe a ‘launch’ was a better way to make your presence felt.

Located on the top floor of a shopping mall on the busy M.M. Alam Road, Buffalo Wings and Rings offers a variety of fast food, but of course claims chicken wings and onion rings as its specialty primarily, as the name suggests. Besides a large indoor space, there’s also a patio that overlooks a petrol pump and some designer stores across the road.

Upon entering, what immediately strikes is the sporty interior. And very soon you realise it’s been designed like a sports bar, which is the concept behind the original eatery back in the States. But since here they can’t offer us the most essential item at sports bars, we’ll just have to do with the food only along with a local version of Bloody Mary, though there is a ‘bar’ at one end of the restaurant.

The interior is simple and not fussy: neatly arranged wooden tables and chairs; posters on walls with quirky quotes about hot sauce, wings, Buffalo; a stage and a ‘wall of flame’ set up adjacent to the ‘bar’ for gigs, performances, hot sauce competitions to be introduced soon; flags representing American football teams covering the windows, and several screens that will play whichever sports tournament is going on at a certain time.

The menu has been designed keeping the ambiance in mind, and they want you to know, through notices on the walls, that “table manners are strongly discouraged”. From the starters, the first thing I tried was the onion rings, of course, which did not disappoint. Large crunchy, golden onion rings, fried in a crispy, thin shell and served with ranch dressing: a pleasant start, indeed.

Next among the starters was the Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla. This is a soft large flour tortilla, stuffed with tender chunks of grilled chicken with tomatoes and onions, loaded with cheese and lots of hot sauce that drips when you take a bite – this is the messy part, and sprinkled with shredded cheese. It is served with your choice of blue cheese or ranch. Not sure why this is placed under ‘Starters’ because with its size and generous filling, it can easily be had as a main.

Another interesting starter I tried was the Spinach and Artichoke Dip. A thick concoction of spinach, artichoke and Parmesan and mozzarella cheese served with flash-fried triangular slices of pita that are sprinkled with shredded Parmesan cheese, this was finger-licking delicious. The cheesy dip will make you want to go back for more even though you can barely taste the spinach.

The mini beef burgers (sliders) brought back childhood memories of the very popular Mac Burger that shut down years ago.

On to the main course, which first comprised house specialty, the wings. The first step is to choose from traditional wings, boneless wings and tender chunks. Then there are around 10 sauces to select from, and lastly, the level of heat in your wings: from atomic to mild. Frankly, the wings weren’t as fresh and succulent as I’d have liked them to be, but the sauces were flavoursome and could blow your top, as almost all of them were loaded with hot sauce, which in some flavours hits you with the very first bite. My recommendations are the buffalo, sweet and sour, and sweet BBQ flavours -- however hot you want them. All of the wings are served with either blue cheese or ranch.

Buffalo Wings and Rings also claim to have introduced to Pakistan the American version of Greek gyro. Soft chunks of meat, diced tomato and sliced onion wrapped in a thick pita served with cucumber sauce. We’re so used to shawarmas here that some might mistake this gyro for a shawarma.

The menu also includes a variety of 200g and 100g burgers, wraps, sandwiches, salads and drinks. As for dessert, there’s something different every day for which the menu suggests one check with the waiter. Most of the items on the menu might be a bit heavy on the pocket: 10 little wings for Rs700 (exclusive of taxes) is a bit too much. So is the artichoke dip for Rs500 without tax, to name a few. Except for burgers, wraps and sandwiches. And with another restaurant claiming to specialise in wings, established on the same road, this new eatery might have to make some effort to get noticed.


Originally published in Dawn, March 27th, 2017

Comments

anees khan Mar 27, 2017 05:32pm
Is it real buffalo or something else??
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ali Mar 27, 2017 07:28pm
@anees khan Chicken matey
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Princess_of_DHUMP Mar 27, 2017 10:07pm
@anees khan Buffalo Wings are chicken. Why?? I do not know but I was as confused as you are the first time. Try them if you love chicken. You will love them too!
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imran ali Mar 27, 2017 11:03pm
I guess Pakistan is witnessing the 80's, 90's trend in consuming junk food, which at that time middle classes used to fill them up. They places are death beds, obesity etc, but now the trend is to cook food at home. Which popular with upper middle classes. Unfortunately what Pakistani's no longer is cool to dine at home and eat simple quality food cooked and home. Pakistani's would rather eat out and on y know what is actually inside their foods and how they ate made. Pakistani's have become less health conscious, but following the herd like a sheep, to stay cool.
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Rehana Agha Mar 28, 2017 12:21am
Do they always present food on an old newspaper? I wish they had called in a professional photographer for food (if there is one there) as they do in America.
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Asif Mar 28, 2017 12:29am
@anees khan ..Yes...It is made from real wings of a buffalo.
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Rehman Mar 28, 2017 05:34am
As discribed place looks pathetic with view of petrol pump and food substandard and overly priced.only thing looks good is sauces... say cheers
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maria Mar 28, 2017 11:07am
Besides a large indoor space, there’s also a patio that overlooks a petrol pump and some designer stores across the road. what important information.
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Alba Mar 28, 2017 12:10pm
Buffalo Wings were invented in Buffalo New York. As we all know buffalo don't have wings.
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prince of lahore Mar 28, 2017 03:50pm
I have been there! Awesome food as everything is very fresh and meal sizes are enormous which is a treat for food lovers. 10/10
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AMMAR SHAHID Mar 28, 2017 05:04pm
@imran ali It is wrong to say that Pakistanis are not health conscious. We always give priority to consume hygienic food but limited income constraint and high prices of food items do not allow us to do so. Giving special consideration to health factor is good but adopting compromise to avoid appetite is too difficult.
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Ahmed hassan Mar 29, 2017 11:37am
@ali This franchise started from city of Buffalo in NEW YORK state on NIAGARA FALL near Canadian border. That's why it's name is Buffalo Wings and rings
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