A & D Buffalos: Lincolnwood (a must try)

Today I uncharacteristically found myself at Lincolnwood Town Center. Why not depress myself further and stroll through the food court?

I hadn't been in this mall, oh, probably since it opened. Figured I wasn't missing anything. Happily, wrong I was!

I was immediately attracted to a food booth named A & D Buffalos (sic). Scanned the menu, yep, buffalo wings. I actually already had a craving for such. Driving south down McCormick Avenue, I'd considered proceeding all the way to Buffalo Joe's, but was sure I'd be disappointed again.

I noted a Chicago Bull's logo in their photo lit menu. Got to cost some money, I thought. Perhaps it could be good? Yelp was no help (I am a poet).

The teenage girls behind the counter were quite nice and friendly to this rapidly aging rocker. I ordered six piece, buffalo, mild, crispy. $6.37 with tax.

I sat in the food court await. Annoying overhead TVs blared annoying music designed for the annoying, unwashed masses. I might not have been too clean myself.

My internal, every reliable clock registered seven minutes before my number was called. I grabbed the Styrofoam clamshell and snuck into a corner to sheepishly take a pic, but not before sneaking a bite, which I tried to hide in the photo:

P1040358 by Ramon321, on Flickr
(sorry, bit out of practice with the food porn)

Yeah! or is it Yea (never sure)! Exactly what I wanted! Tasted just like Buffalo Joe's, oh, say 15 years ago. Good sized wings, not scrawny or perhistoric in size. Fried well -- a bit of crispness. Sauce speaking to butter, spice, and vinegar. A winner. Woo hoo! And they gave me seven pieces, not six. Those teenage girls want me.

Crinkle cut fries, pedestrian but servicable. Skimpy on the celery, but I bet they'd have given me more if I asked. Ranch. Ok.
I believe my heat tolerance is above average, but even this mild had me sweating. Fine by me.

Buffalo wings come very mild, mild, medium, hot, and extra hot. Other flavors are lemon pepper, BBQ, teriyaki, and parmesan cheese. I believe they also had grilled wings. They also have a Philly [or chicken (neither authentic)] cheese steak which seems to be popular. Although, differing from their corporate web site, in Lincolnwood it is called "grilled beef sandwich."
And in bizarre change from their corporate menu they also offer golbi.

They are two windows right from The Great Steak which does their version of a Philly cheese and two windows left of a place that sells an equally bizarre Philly cheese crepe.

I know I will return for more wings and the sandwich. Yikes, maybe even tomorrow -- it is in the neighborhood, don't you know. Heck, that crepe could always come in handy if I become with child.

A & D Buffalos
NWC McCormick & Touhy
3333 W. Touhy Ave #02
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
847-763-8780
-ramon

Yepper. The next day, as I am wont, and a creature of (bad) habits, I returned to the scene of the crime.

Craving more wings, but wanting to try the grilled beef sandwich in the name of LTH reference, it was no sacrifice for the $1 upcharge for four wings in lieu of the mediocre fries ($7.50 total sans tax).

The sandwich is made on the grill, as the name implies, with onions, peppers, mushrooms and white cheese. The bread goes on the grill too, crust side down, with an over-generous slathering of mayonnaise. Finally, lettuce and tomato top it.

Finished product:

P1040359 by Ramon321, on Flickr

Well, I don't have much to say. The sandwich is perfectly tasty to start, would probably be better with less or no mayo, but the bread is the deal breaker. The bread has little taste and so little substance that the sandwich starts to break down and fall apart before eating half of it. I doubt I'd order it again.

The wings were as good as the day before. Really, almost perfect to me.

Perhaps the odd golgi is next? As long as I can get some of those wings.

Their lemonade is quite good. They also have tamarind.

Oh yeah, A & D Buffalos is not a sic as it is A & D Buffalo's.

-ramon