3 Tampa Area Restaurants With Great Wings NOT Known For Their Wings

If you go to Wing Stop, Buffalo Wild Wings, or local non-chain spots like Mugs or Riveters, you know the plan is to get some great wings. But sometimes the best wings can be found by surprise. Some of the best-rates Tampa area restaurants with great wings... aren't wings joints. Two are named after their burgers. One's an Irish Pub you've probably driven by but didn't even notice.

I've raved about this place many times. The burgers at Engine No 9 in St. Pete are phenomenal. They're a little overpriced in my opinion, but rent in downtown St. Pete isn't cheap. And quality food costs a bit more. Plus Engine No 9 has tater tots, which is a huge plus for me. I love me some french fries, but tots are always a welcome substitute.

I have to be totally honest. I've never had Engine No 9's wings. But reviews from those who have are solid. There are hot sriracha wings. There are duck wings with fried pickles. One reviewer described the texture as "Godly crispy."

Engine No 9 is in St. Pete at 56 Dr Martin Luther King Drive. Find them online at no9burgers.com.

With 4-1/2 stars after over 400 reviews, the next place on my "gotta visit" list is this spot in Brandon. Again, another place known for its burgers where you should probably at least try the wings. The burgers do look good though. I saw they offer pretzel buns which is a personal favorite.

As for wings, they offer my favorite flavor - lemon pepper. I love basic hot buffalo sauce, but lemon pepper is sometimes hard to find. They have garlic parmesan if that's your thing. The Asian Zing wings seem to be a favorite with reviewers. The wings at Chicago's Best Burgers are described as fresh and giant.

Chicago's Best Burgers ... that has the best wings in Brandon is located at 1925 West Brandon Blvd. Find them online at chicagosbestburgers.com.

I drove by this place for a couple years and had no idea. I went to McArthur's Irish Pub when it first opened a few years back. It occupies the spot once known as Babalu on 4th Street.

Since it's an Irish Pub, I figured the thing to get would be fish and chips. They were completely forgettable and I didn't go back for a couple years until a friend told me the burgers were phenomenal. They are. I've been back a few times since. But now it looks like I have something else I need to try.

Their wings variety includes the "Burn Yer Arse" hot buffalo, Jameson Whiskey BBQ, and garic parmesan. Their sauces are made in house. 6 will cost you $9.99. Double it for $17.

McArthur's is located at 9246 4th Street in St. Petersburg. Find them online at mcarthursirishpub.com.

Know of any other Tampa area restaurants with great wings that aren't even that well-known as a wings spot? Drop me a line at @GenoAteTampa on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

We all know how much America loves meat. If you aren't grilling burgers out back every weekend, what're you doing?  Here are The 5 Best Butcher Shops In Tampa Bay that are perfect for your next grill-out.

With beef prices up 30% higher than they were back in 2020. Pork chop prices are 27% higher than they were in 2020. And, chicken prices are 45% up from what they were before 2020. It is easy to understand why people are looking to big box stores like Walmart and Target over their local butcher. But, are you sacrificing quality for price? 

I'll be honest Laura's lean beef at Target is a solid budget option that is clean, tastes good, and comes in at a good price per pound, but the quality still isn't there. Sure, if you're looking to save on meat every week, big box stores are a solid option, but if you're looking to cook a couple of quality steaks to fuel your next grillout, Butchers are the way to go. Their quality is unmatched and you know you're getting a high-quality cut from a local source, every time.

Butcher Shops have many advantages over the common supermarket beef options. The first and most important is meat freshness. With butcher shops sourcing from local suppliers, you’ll be getting a fresher product every time.

Another reason to choose a local butcher shop is for their expertise and available cuts. They have spent years learning their craft to deliver the best product for your specific needs. Butchers tend to have a lot more options with their cuts and help you find the proper way to prepare your meat for the best results.

Local butchers live within your community. When you visit and buy locally, you’re not only sporting the people in your community but also the farmers, fishermen, and sources throughout the state. These butchers join in on local initiatives like sports teams and events to help keep the money within the community.

Apollo Meats has no shortage of meat options. From the classics like beef, pork, and lamb, to exotics like goat, gator meat, seafood and much more, Apollo Meats brings the full-service meat market with an old-fashioned atmosphere. They offer kabobs, seasoned baby back ribs, prime rib roast,  buffalo, double smoked bacon, natural casing franks, Boars head lunch meats, Alaskan crab legs, and more. Apollo Meats is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 AM - 6 PM and Saturday from 9 AM  - 5 PM.

The Boozy Pig has 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google with 310 Google reviews. They are a butcher shop and kitchen with charcuterie and various types of meat sourced directly from farmers, ranchers, and fishermen in Florida.  They are open Wednesday - Friday from 11 AM - 6 PM. Saturday from 9 AM - 6 PM and Sunday 9 AM - 3 PM.

The Heights Meat Market has 4 locations across the Tampa Bay area.  They carry a wide range of meats from Wagyu to Kangaroo. Their website says, "Since 2018, we have set the standard for providing superior quality meats and customer service to our local neighborhoods. From the farm to your table, our commitment to taste is true."

John's Butcher Shop has a 4.8 rating on Google with 134 total reviews. They do not have a website or an official social media page, but rest assured they are open for business. One Google reviewer recently said, "I am a Pennsylvania farm boy and transplant and I know quality meat. My new go-to place for great personal service and meat is John’s. Perfect quality cut custom meats. Freshness you can see and smell way above big box stores like Publix or Winn-Dixie. I can highly recommend John’s Butcher Shop." John's is located a 102 1st Ave SW in Lutz. You can give them a call for more information at 813-909-9746.

Quality Meat Market is another hot option coming in at 308 total Google reviews with a 4.7 average star rating. Located right near the Seminole Hard Rock, QMM has over 50 year of experience bringing fresh meats to the people of Tampa Bay. They offer family deals, bargain buys, and even meats for your pets.  They are open Tuesday through Friday from 9 AM - 6 PM and Saturday from 9 AM - 5:30 PM.