Buffalo wings from original inventor in New York come to Arlington
A New York chain that invented the classic Buffalo wings has made its Dallas-Fort Worth debut: Called Anchor Bar , it's part of a chain founded in Buffalo, NY, and has opened a location in Arlington, in a former Wings and Rings space at 2150 E. Lamar Blvd. #110, inside The Village at Ballpark shopping center.
It opened on September 16.
Anchor Bar hat opened in 1935 and has since expanded to 17 locations across the U.S. The chain made its Texas debut in 2017, and has four locations in College Station, Round Rock, San Antonio, and Schertz.
Though it sounds seafood related, Anchor Bar specialize in wings , both traditional and boneless, plus vegan wings for those who prefer a meatless option.
According to Anchor Bar Operations and Marketing Director Michelle Buchholz, the restaurant is celebrating 60 years since the original wing and signature sauce was created.
"We have our variety of sauces, but our medium original sauce is the one that was served that day in 1964," Buchholz says. "It's a blend of cayenne pepper and ingredients. Our oil is fresh and our wings are jumbo wings that aren't breaded and cooked fresh."
The chain, which was first opened by Frank and Bellissimo using a recipe from his mother Teressa, has long been a part of the Buffalo wing origins debate. While the Bellissimo family claims to have created the first Buffalo wings in 1964 (29 years after opening), other New York places have claimed the same, such as John M. Young's Wings & Things in 1966, according to the Buffalo History Museum . And the history may stretch back even further to the late 19th century.
Will we ever really know who made Buffalo wings a thing?
Their wings range from $16 for a boneless 10-piece to $70 for a traditional 50-piece bucket. But they are not just a wing joint; they also serve pizza and sandwiches from the Buffalo region, along with beer and wine.
"Some of our western New York favorites are beef on weck (a roast beef sandwich)," Buchholz says. "We also have an appetizer called pizza logs — that's something else that came from Western New York. But our menu is primarily American fare."
In addition to wings, there are Buffalo chicken street tacos, Buffalo chicken nachos, and a Buffalo chicken mac & cheese.
But there are also bar classics like fried mozzarella sticks, fried pickles, chips & queso, and loaded tots or fries.
The location has a family-friendly sports bar vibe with more than 40 TV screens for game day views and two patios.
The Anchor Bar Arlington franchise is owned by entrepreneur Al McClurge. With 10 years of experience, he's no stranger to the restaurant industry and owns Southern Eats , a soul food restaurant that's also located in Arlington at 6407 S. Cooper St. According to Buchholz, McClurge selected the location because he's local to the area and knows it well.
"He loved the location that he picked because it's in the entertainment district near AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Park, and Six Flags," Buchholz says. "There's just so much around this area."
