Axis Bar and Grill

It's good to have a place like Axis in your neighborhood. Quality food in a casual but classy atmosphere and bartenders that at least pretend to be knowledgeable about beer. Their wings were some of the first I'd eaten after starting wingipedia. I liked them but didn't manage (read: "was too drunk") to write a review the first time around. So I went back for round two hoping that they'd be as good as I remembered.

Decor at Axis is clean and simple, heavy on dark wood and exposed brick. They're apparently known for their caramelized-onion-topped burgers; I agree they're good and often overlooked in 'best burger' articles, but I happily leave such things to the professionals. They have a respectable beer list with seasonal options well represented. Wings come in orders of 11 for $7, ($5 at happy hour), "naked or with buffalo sauce". I ordered mine extra crispy with a bottle of Founders Porter to wash it down. The label said that the beer was "dark, rich and sexy".

The wings came out perfectly hot and crispy but stark freaking naked. I didn't specify or the waitress misheard or something, but there the sauce was, sitting in a little aluminum ramekin next to the blue cheese. Crap. I liked the wings -- lots of black pepper and a spicy strong buffalo sauce, but the sauce needs to be on there. My friend Rob said they tasted like "bland Kentucky Fried Chicken" until he dipped 'em. I say they're worth trying, but make sure to get the order right. There's nothing sexy about naked wings.