Good Land Wing Co. opened its doors last month on East Oakland Avenue, right off of Locust Street. Don’t let the name fool you, though, Good Land Wing Co. sells much more than just wings. In addition to their classic bone-in wings and boneless, they also serve wraps, salads, skillets, sides, desserts, and beer – oh my!
Before I get into each dish, I want to talk about Good Land Wing Co.’s idea behind their guilt-free wings. Yes, that’s right, guilt free; but how can this be? Their chicken does not have any GMO’s or steroids, nor is the chicken ever frozen, and the wings aren’t fried like typical ones¬ are.
“My main goal of the healthy aspect of the All-baked was to make dinning in with us as easy as possible, removing the guilt from having a great set of wings,” says Josh, Owner of Good Land Wing Co.
First, the chicken is baked, then chilled. Once an order is placed, they use a speed oven which is set at 500 degrees or higher and has a 100 mph wind speed to move the heat over the chicken and throughout the oven. Not only used for heating purposes, this oven is what gives the chicken that crispy outside. Finally, the wings are tossed with your choice of sauce.
WINGS
Boneless chunks of white meat chicken are seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic and lightly breaded. The breading wasn’t thick or over powering at all. It was crisp, but thin, almost the thickness of the natural skin of chicken. It was a solid, lean piece of chicken, very hearty.
The Siracha Bourbon sauce had a slight heat along with the distinguished sriracha flavor. It left a lingering tingle in my mouth but was shortly offset by the semi-sweetness of the bourbon flavor. The Siracha Bourbon is listed as hotter than the buffalo sauce that I had my classic wings with; however, the Buffalo was quite a bit hotter than the Siracha Bourbon when it comes to spiciness.
The classic wings are no joke jumbo. With each wing or drumstick weighing about two ounces, you get more bang for your buck with the classic wings than with the boneless. On top of that, the meat is so tender, it peels right off the bone; no tearing or tugging necessary, and virtually no fat. The slow roasting process of these wings is what allows the meat to easily fall off the bone; my lips could pull the meat off!
Unlike the boneless, the classic wings have no breading, and the skin has been taken off. The first thing I thought in my head was “Finger Lickin’ Good” after I put down my wing. I licked my Buffalo covered fingertips and wiped my hands with a napkin; OK, two napkins.
WRAPS
First and foremost, the wraps are huge! Stuffed with chicken and other toppings and served with kettle chips, this meal will no doubt fill you up. It’s important to note that any wrap can be ordered as a salad. This is yet another way Good Land Wing Co. provides their guests with a healthier option.
The chicken and tots were close to color, sometimes hard to separate. The one thing that discouraged me was that the tator tots were under done, quite under done. The tators could have been cooked longer to get that golden brown crispy potato that most people expect. Instead, it was a soft, cooked (but not fully), al dente.
The melted white cheddar macaroni and cheese was amazing on top; it was truly the highlight of the dish (that’s why I ordered a side of it when I visited a week later). Creamy, rich white cheddar coated every single noodle; the cheese was thick and gooey and glazed every square inch of my taste buds, awaking them with pleasure. Usually a cheddar cheese gives a more robust flavor but this white cheddar was bold and outstanding.
SKILLETS
Made with tator tots, popcorn chicken, and white cheddar mac and cheese and served with buffalo sauce, you get a whole meal that’ll most likely yield seconds.
The Popcorn chicken was light and fresh, smaller than the boneless wings, yet still seasoned and lightly breaded and cut in half. Even the unsauced or unrubed chicken is great; it’s like you can taste the freshness and purity of its nature.
The chicken and tots were close to color, sometimes hard to separate. The one thing that discouraged me was that the tator tots were under done, quite under done. The tators could have been cooked longer to get that golden brown crispy potato that most people expect. Instead, it was a soft, cooked (but not fully), al dente.
The melted white cheddar macaroni and cheese was amazing on top; it was truly the highlight of the dish (that’s why I ordered a side of it when I visited a week later). Creamy, rich white cheddar coated every single noodle; the cheese was thick and gooey and glazed every square inch of my taste buds, awaking them with pleasure. Usually a cheddar cheese gives a more robust flavor but this white cheddar was bold and outstanding.
BEER and BEER CHEESE
What goes with Wings? Beer, of course! Good Land Wing Co offers four brews on tap, two of which are permanent and the other two being seasonal.
Restaurant Consultant, Scott Schedler, said, “If you’re only going to have four beers on tap, one of hem has to be Spotted Cow.” So Wisconsin’s iconic Spotted Cow will be offered year-round, along with Good Land’s own brew, an American Pilsner.
Spotted Cow isn’t just in your glass, it’s in your Beer Cheese Dip as well. Immediately there is a crisp and prominent beer flavor aside the rich sharp notes of cheddar. On top were the traditional chives, which always give beer cheese that added bite.
Served with the beer cheese were huge waffle fries, lightly seasoned, and baked just right. They weren’t too crisp, but solid enough to take a big scoop of beer cheese and pile drive it into your mouth. The waffle fries were a fantastic choice to serve this dip with.
SIDES AND DESSERTS
The Pecan Pie with Frozen Vanilla Yogurt is a great way to end your meal and satisfy your sweet tooth without over indulging. The semi-sweet caramelized base of the pie was complimented with the slow roasted, slightly salted pecans that sat on top. The solid, neutral tasting crust was thick enough to hold this inch-high pie.
I absolutely loved the Frozen Vanilla Yogurt; it was so cold and pleasing, refreshing at the least. The vanilla flavor was powerful, almost as if the yogurt were churned with the vanilla bean itself. The rich creaminess of the yogurt overtook every inch of my mouth as I savored the strong vanilla flavor.
Alone, the Pecan Pie is warm and comforting; and with the Frozen Vanilla Yogurt, it’s like reliving a past time memory.
Whether you’re one who likes wings and beer, one who’s living healthy, or one who’s vegetarian, no matter what type of lifestyle you live, every one can find something great at Good Land Wing Co.