The Wing in Review: Lucky’s Lounge

I hate to use the term ‘Hidden Gem’ as it has become cliché, but Lucky’s Lounge is literally hidden and pretty fantastic so I will. Lucky’s is tucked away off the beaten path in the Fort Point Chanel area. You will find no sign or awning out front, just a few steps that lead into the basement of an unimposing building on the corner of Congress and A Streets. Once inside, Lucky’s opens up into a large restaurant with two bars and a lounge area with room for live bands that perform on weekends and some week nights.

Lucky’s has a 1960’s hipster vibe with retro décor and a Rat Pack theme. No matter the night, Lucky’s is generally busy and on weekends there can be a line out the door. The crowd is usually an attractive blend of twenty and thirty somethings, grabbing a drink after work or packing it in on a Saturday night. For all you Boozebags out there, Lucky’s two bars boast solid mixed drink menus and a wide variety of beers. The food menu is pretty random, but the dishes tend to be very good. There is only one dish that I am going to talk about here though, and we all know what it is.

Lucky’s Buffalo wings are some of the tastiest in Boston. Oddly enough, neither Sasso nor I can pinpoint exactly what makes them so delicious. In terms of the Holy Trinity, we were initially hit with a blast of vinegar, which was quickly followed up by butter and even a hint of sweetness. We did not feel any heat until after the second or third wing and even that was pretty mild. My guess is equal parts vinegar and butter and then a half part or less of cayenne pepper.

The wings themselves were medium in size, which may actually be the ideal Buffalo wing size. The ratio of sauce to meat is greater as wing size gets smaller so you don’t want Buffalo wings to be too large. Conversely, the smaller the wing, the less juicy it is and the more likely it is to be overcooked so you don’t want them too small. Medium size seems to be juuuust right!

Speaking of just right, the wings were cooked light and crispy as opposed to overcooking which can make them crunchy. Big difference. As always, I would have liked more Buffalo sauce but there was enough sauce on the wings and plate that I could do a bit of dipping toward the end so I won’t count it against them.

Their presentation is superb starting with real plates a bone bowl – which is particularly nice when you’re sharing an order. They provide both cloth and paper napkins as well as wet naps for the end. Lucky’s is very generous with the blue cheese sauce but I thought it was watered down and tasted almost as much like ranch dressing as blue cheese. The presentation is finished with the standard garnish of celery and carrot sticks.

At $10.00 for ten Buffalo wings and $17.00 for 20, Lucky’s is more expensive than most Wingeries that we’ve reviewed but they are well worth the cost. They are also available in honey BBQ flavor, which I’m sure is nice, but don’t bother. Buffalo is where it’s at. For all you neat freaks out there, Lucky’s fork-friendly boneless Buffalo wings are a delicious substitute for the original.

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Pros: Possibly the most delicious wings in Boston. Cooked to crispy perfection. Excellent presentation.

Cons: The Buffalo wings are a bit pricier than normal. The blue cheese dressing was weak and anyone looking for hot Buffalo wings will not be impressed.

I would recommend Lucky’s Buffalo wings to pretty much anyone looking for great wings in Boston. In fact, I have recommended Lucky’s Buffalo wings several times and the only complaint I have ever heard is that they’re not hot enough. Though your friends at Shandeh enjoy a spicy wing as much as the next guy, Lucky’s Buffalo wings have such good flavor that they simply don’t need the added heat.

Dizzle & Sasso