Great wings

By Alexis Korman | Special to amNewYork

Chicken wings (Getty)

Chicken wings are a guilty pleasure no longer reserved for Super Bowl parties or sports bar fare. Thought to originate at Anchor Bar in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1964, they are more popular now than ever. Here are some of the city's best spots to roll up your sleeves and dig into the spicy, messy treat.

Cowgirl With its black-and-white tablecloths, deer-antler chandeliers and down-home vibe, this Southwestern-style restaurant is a festive spot for barbecue and lethally strong margaritas. The wings here are served barbecue style with a hint of citrus and a special-recipe dipping sauce. (519 Hudson St.; 212-633-1133; 10 wings for $9.50, 20 wings for $16.50)

Dinosaur BBQ This Harlem soul food standby has a honky-tonk vibe, live bluesy music and features jumbo barbecue wings that are spice-rubbed, pit-smoked, finished on the grill and served with Maytag blue cheese dressing and celery. Sauce choices are mild (honey barbecue), hot (wango tango), hotter (garlic chipotle) and hottest (devil's duel). (646 W. 131st St.; 212-694-1777; Six wings for $5.95, 13 wings for $9.95)

City Bakery This Flatiron favorite offers everything from standard bakery fare with a twist (pretzel croissants, cold hot chocolate) to soups and salads with a global edge (tortilla soup, fried tempeh with flowering chives). So it's no surprise that the wings here aren't your average Buffalo variety -- they're rubbed down with delicious Old Bay seasoning or classic barbecue sauce. (3 W. 18th St.; 212-366-1414; Small (serves 6-8 people) for $24, large (serves 12-15 people) for $45)

Bonnie's Grill Regulars and families flock to this Park Slope restaurant for hockey games, a solid selection of microbrews and regional New York favorites like Buffalo wings (mild, medium, hot or "hotter if you dare") served with celery, carrots and blue-cheese dressing. (278 Fifth Ave, Brooklyn; 718-369-9527; 10 wings for $6.95, 20 wings for $11.95)

Mary McGuire's This casual restaurant and sports bar is a sure bet -- you can put a few dollars on a Keno game in the betting parlor while savoring a large portion of wings (served mild or hot) with creamy blue-cheese dressing. On Tuesdays, die-hard wings fans can get them for 20 cents apiece if they dine at the bar. (38-04 Broadway, Astoria; 718-728-3434; 12 wings for $7.95)

Croxley Ale House & Eatery On trendy Avenue B, this East Village pub differentiates itself with a projector screen and a 3,000-square-foot garden. Stop by on Mondays and Wednesdays (5 p.m.-1 a.m.) for 10-cent wings. They're served hot, medium or barbecue and come with blue cheese, celery and carrots. To complement the wings, there's a good selection of hard-to-find international beers and plenty of microbrews on tap. (28 Ave. B; 212-253-6140; 12 wings for $7.95)

Scruffy Duffy's This popular Hell's Kitchen sports bar pleases a rowdy, good-natured crowd with loud music, 13 flat-screen TVs showing games and 15 beers on tap. In addition to pints of Guinness, regulars order Buffalo wings (mild, medium, hot or barbecue) with a side of blue-cheese sauce and celery for dipping. Portions are ideal for sharing and making friends -- just ask for extra napkins. (743 Eighth Ave.; 212-245-9126; 12 for $7.50, 24 for $12.50, 50 for $23.50)

Fetch This canine-friendly bar and grill on the Upper East Side features American classics including spicy wings with Stilton blue-cheese dressing and celery sticks. To add to the eatery's theme, regulars can bring a photo of their beloved pooch to hang on a wall devoted to man's best friend. (1649 Third Ave.; 212-289-2700; Average order is $8)

Atomic Wings This sleek black-and-steel-designed chain offers neon-orange wings made from authentic Buffalo, N.Y., chickens at its five New York City locations. They are served in various states of spiciness: for the sane, mild, medium or hot; for the insane, abusive, nuclear or suicidal. All come with blue-cheese dressing and celery or carrots for dipping. (Multiple locations; www.atomicwings.com; 10 wings for $7.25, 50 wings for $32)

Pluck U Two college guys who dreamed of launching a wing empire in New York City now have three locations in Manhattan serving reliable Buffalo-style wings (Mom's secret recipe) with homemade blue-cheese sauce in a casual setting. (Multiple locations; www.pluckuny.com; 5 wings for $3.50, 10 wings for $6.45, 15 wings for $9.25)