Wings Plus
A bucket filled with 8 pieces of fried chicken with side dishes of corn on the cob and cole slaw is served at Wings Plus in Port Washington. (Nov. 24, 2010) Credit: Photo by Barbara Alper
Takeout chicken wings are ubiquitous, but when you name your shop after them, you have to do them right. And so Rick Ritacco, who owns the 2 1/2-year-old Wings Plus with Victor Girgenti, buys only fresh, jumbo-sized wings that are deep-fried to order. (A cup of five wings is $4.99; 10 for $8.99; 20 for $16.99.) The accompanying dressings, blue cheese and ranch, are made from scratch, as are the sides, which include coleslaw, macaroni salad and particularly fine red-skinned potato salad.
But for much of the year (and the day), it's the "plus" side of the menu that drives business. Ritacco has worked hard to perfect his fried chicken, roast chicken and the very popular honey-BBQ thighs -- not to mention pulled pork, meatloaf, crab cakes and sirloin burgers. This week Wings Plus is launching a family value-meal plan wherein, for $24.99, you can choose from among a dozen different entrees plus two large sides and either a large salad or homemade apple pie, serving four.
Said Ritacco, "We don't want to be pigeonholed as just wings.
