Don't chicken out: Try the tastiest wings in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch

Once upon a time I was a vegetarian. I opted out of meat-based meals when I was about 14. My reasoning — not that you asked — stemmed from my dream of being a veterinarian and the haunting stories my dad told about strange menu options he encountered during his travels to Asia.

Weaning myself from McDonald's nuggets was terribly trying during this time. But my veggie-based-diet quickly came to an end when my then-boyfriend invited me to his parents' house. 

As the door opened, the smell of steak flooded my nostrils faster than an afternoon rain smacking your car during a Sarasota summer at 4:20 p.m.

To make a good first impression, I ripped apart that steak like I had a cameo on the National Geographic channel. I never looked back and my iron levels were never low again.

I did what was right for me: I ditched my boyfriend after I caught him cheating and returned to the chicken wing train.

When my husband and I first started dating we would frequent Buffalo Wild Wings using gift cards left over from when I worked for "The Jerry Springer Show." 

Let me unpack that for you: On the show, we gave guests gift cards to go out and eat. At the end of their stay, it wasn't uncommon for them to return unused gift cards to the staff. So my husband and I got to know one another over platters of boneless wings.

But why settle for dining at a franchise when you can enjoy local options? Here are three of the best places in our community to spread your wings and fry.

Wolves Head Pizza & Wings

1837 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood Ranch; 941-251-4028; WolvesHeadPizza.com

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Oh Cluck, That's Good: Lakewood Ranch is the perfect place to wing it. Local legend Wolves Head Pizza & Wings has been in business since 2014. (That's a long time in Lakewood Ranch years.) Designed as a neighborhood hangout, Wolves has a bounty of beers on tap, a mighty pub-style menu and wonderful wings. The signature wings are served with carrots, celery and ranch or bleu cheese and are fried, then charbroiled and tossed with a sauce of your liking: mild, hot, XXX, teriyaki, BBQ, honey BBQ, bourbon molasses, calypso, parmesan garlic or with dry rubs like Wolves Way or sriracha. Order five wings ($8.99), 10 wings ($15.99), 20 wings ($29.99) or boneless wings ($12.99).

Spread Your Wings: Feeling like an appetizer of wings rather than a main course? Prefer pork over chicken? Wolves Head has your back. They offer bourbon pork wings ($12.99) tossed in their famous bourbon molasses sauce with sesame seeds and scallions for a gorgeous garnish.

Origin Pizza Cafe

5170 Palmer Plaza Blvd., Sarasota, 941-217-6533; 1837 Hillview St., Sarasota, 941-316-9222; 8193 Tourist Center Drive, Bradenton, 941-358-5850; 4944 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 941-922-1190; food truck at Cock & Bull at 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; OriginPizzaCafe.com

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Oh Cluck, That's Good: Every time I start brainstorming about what foodie favorites to feature in my column, I sometimes wonder if I should keep my picks to myself. That way, I won't miss out on my weekly seat at the bar or God forbid, or have my my wait time on takeout orders double after loyal readers jump on my recommendations. Case in point: Origin. Can't find me on a Friday night? I'm either at home in my pajamas eating my hot wings delivered from Origin or I mustered the energy to walk to the Hillview location with my husband. Our family favorite is the Asian teriyaki or Buffalo (mild) with that delicious house ranch. Other flavors include Buffalo (hot), garlic-parmesan, trifecta (delicious, but my tummy thinks otherwise) or mango habanero. Let's get down to prices on these perfect bits: full order ($15), half order ($8). It gets better. Particular about your wings? Order only drums ($1.50) or only flats ($1.50).

Spread Your Wings: It is taking everything in me to not write about Origin pizza, but I must save that section of the menu for a later date. In the meantime, take a crack at the scrumptious Caesar salad ($9) with chopped romaine, parmesan, carrots, croutons tossed in Caesar dressing (add trifecta chicken for $5).

JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe

987 S. Packinghouse Road, Sarasota; 941-371 -9358; PackinghouseCafe.com

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Oh Cluck, That's Good: Although it's around the corner, don't wait until football season to try these tasty wings. This Sarasota stalwart is known for its burger and Cuban entrees, like the awesomely flavorful ropa vieja with shredded beef and garlic toast for $17.95, But there's no place like JR's to rip into some wings as a righteous blues band plays live. This eccentric tavern is a vanishing breed in Florida, so get it while you can. Their jumbo chicken wings, offered in portions of five ($9.95) or 10 ($17.95), come in a frenzy of flavors: teriyaki, killer garlic (my absolute favorite, but make a note not to canoodle after devouring said wings), BBQ, Thai spiced or Buffalo (mild to hot). These wings full of white meat are slathered in layers of sauce. I could swim in the garlic and parmesan. Not feeling saucy? Get your wings "completely naked" or golden and fried.

Spread Your Wings: JR's was recently ranked among the top 10 Cuban sandwiches in Florida by USA Today, so if you aren't a wingman (or woman), I highly recommend the Cuban ($12.95) with fries.