The first ever Buffalo Wings were served around 1964 by Italian-American couple Frank and Teressa Bellissimo in their establishment called Frank and Teressa’s Anchor Bar located in Buffalo right in the state of New York. The name Frankie’s was inspired by Frank Bellissimo.
Frankie’s New York Buffalo Wings opened its doors back in 2012. I had been craving for spicy, delicious and juicy chicken wings since I came back from Hong Kong, and I just couldn’t find the right place until I found out about this trip to Frankie’s with my team. For someone who loves chicken wings, I honestly had great expectations, and that evening, we wrapped up with happy faces and I am here to let you know why.
My team had been talking about how good these chicken wings are and the whole conversation got me craving for it. I was even told that they actually have not one, not two, but twelve different flavours of Buffalo Wings. I had been looking for the perfect wings in Manila since I came back from Hong Kong. I quickly jumped out of the car and rushed to the door. I was very excited to see what Frankie’s have to offer. We were warmly welcomed by the owner himself, Eduardo Que Firmalo.
Upon entering the restaurant, I immediately noticed the nice interior setup – modern, industrial design. The chandeliers were made of re-purposed metal, the brick walls that are very common in sports bars, big LED screen monitors and artworks from Buffalo were nicely displayed.
Eduardo had pre-arranged the menu for our visit that evening. He told us we were getting local beers, imported beers and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label.
Perfect Match No. 1
SanMig Light
This ever popular local beer poured a golden straw colour with a two finger head of pure white foam. The head had a decent level of retention, fading over time to leave a bit of foamy lace on the sides of the glass. The aroma of the brew was rather nice for a light brew in a clear bottle. The taste began with a bready taste mixed with a mild hint of caramel. As the taste moved on, some of the caramel faded, and got replaced by a blend of light fruits and sweetness. The body of the brew was thin. This beer has 4.90%ABV (alcohol by volume) that made it feel quite appropriate for the evening.
I paired it with Frankie’s Classic Buffalo Wings. I chose the mild spicy flavour, so as not to over-power the mild notes of the beer. The wings were crispy and warm and it smelled really good. I took my first few bites and chased it down with my SanMig Light. The decent light brew and its aroma were very surprising to me, as it complemented the rich flavours of the chicken. The chicken meat was tender and its natural juices added that needed salty flavour to the pair. I found myself digging for more. Needless to say, Frankie’s first pair was indeed, perfect! If you plan on dropping by, this should be the first on your list!
Perfect Match No. 2
Corona Extra
I have always been a fan of this Lager – it fits best with fried and spicy dishes. If and when I have to drink beer, I personally love and prefer Corona Extra. This beer always pours with very little head. Upon pouring it in to my glass, there was a moderate amount of carbonation. I’d say, it’s mild with a 4.60% ABV (alcohol by volume) and it has the scents of corn, grain, and yeast primarily. It tastes like yeast, grains, corn, and stale water, but it’s always served best with a slice of lemon that adds an amazing kick of tangy flavour to the brew. I love the citrus-like aftertaste. Corona Extra has its own unique taste and I find the taste to be very pleasant for a nice evening.
Luckily, the next dish, Wings World, came with three flavours of Buffalo Wings: combination of Garlic Parmesan, Smokey Barbecue and Nagoya Tebasaki. Flavours of the world in one complete package. I had my first try of the Garlic Parmesan Wings and I chased it gently with my Corona Extra. I enjoyed the punch of mild, salty-spicy-tangy flavours, propped up on a foundation of fatty goodness. This Lager never disappoints. I absolutely loved it.
On my next bite, I decided to go with the Smokey Barbecue Wings. I had my first two bites, and then I took a light sip of my Corona beer. The smokey flavour of the chicken meat blended well with the tangy finish of the beer. This pair made an absolute blast and I just kept on going till I had a bite of the last piece.
The Nagoya Tebasaki also didn’t disappoint. Although I have to say, the Smokey Barbecue was my favourite pair for this Corona, this Japanese inspired Buffalo Wings has its unique sweet and oriental taste which gave my beer a whole new level of sweetness at the end. With all three flavours included in the Wings World, my team and I agreed, this was a perfect match.
Perfect Match No. 3
Johnnie Walker Black Label
This is, without a doubt, the most famous spirits brand in the world. Black Label has been around for a long time. This is a blended scotch that can be drank neat. It is not have that feel of roughness and burning finish, like some any poor quality scotch. The taste is neat. I always like it with a single large ice cube and just enough such that 50% of the cube is covered. I usually let it sit a couple minutes. Lately, I prefer a shot with a teaspoon of water. It perfectly takes away the slight graininess that is evident when consumed neat. The addition of water makes it more complex. And this is exactly how I spent the last bit of the evening.
I paired it with Frankie’s Scampi and Pesto Pasta. I could smell it from afar. The fragrance of basil, garlic and parmesan is always a delight to me. The strong aroma was hard to resist. The shrimp was cooked nicely and I attacked the dish without waiting for one more second as was served to me. I took my first bite and smelled the basil a bit more from the plate, and then I chased it down with good old Johnnie. The only thing I could remember was the word incredible, popping again and again inside my head. My team enjoyed the same pair. The shrimp gave a smooth and sweet balance between the strong notes of the scotch and the pesto. The finish was lightly sweet and it was exactly what I was hoping for. Perfect match? Yes for me!
More than just Buffalo Wings, this visit to Frankie’s opened up my options to delicious burgers, pastas and the widest selection of flavours of wings I could find in the city. And basing the the menu, the prices are very affordable and it’s even more convenient to get your hands on these incredible dishes as they actively promote delivery services in Pasig and BGC areas.
Frankie’s New York Buffalo Wings
Address: City Golf Plaza, Doña Julia Vargas Ave, Pasig, Metro Manila
Phone: (+63 2) 687 1250
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 11AM–3AM
Click here to order online
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Born and raised in a multi-cultural environment and a firm believer that the best way to learn is to travel the world. He enjoys hiking and outdoor bootcamp. Daddy to a yorkie. His passion for arts, writing, food and business administration lead him to be foodpanda’s Senior Marketing Manager in Hong Kong and in the Philippines. Follow him on IG @madeinzane.
