It’s almost football season and we’re looking for a new place to eat wings, drink a lot of beer, and watch the Giants. Where would you go?

Good question! I could wax poetic on the virtues of handmade pasta, fresh oysters, and locally-raised pork any day, but I can also kill a pitcher and a bucket of wings when the mood hits. Hey, I went to Bucknell—I have a reputation to uphold.

The West Side location of Blondie’s (212 W. 79th St. between Broadway and Amsterdam, or 1770 2nd Ave between 92nd and 93rd Sts.) is without a doubt my favorite spot for a pint of good old Pennsylvania-brewed Yuengling and a plate of dismembered chicken appendages. (Hey, parts is parts.) There were a few scary weeks this summer when this location had a run-in with the law due to unpaid taxes or somesuch that sent Danielle and me into fits, but it is most thankfully up and running again.

This is as dependable a sports bar as they come – lots of flat-screens, basic beer selection (in addition to Yuengling, they serve Harp, Blue Moon, and the Coors/Miller/Bud trifecta). The menu is deluxe and extensive, though, and the wings are crispy without verging on dried-out with a huge sliding scale of hotness options. Oh, and I would be remiss if I did not mention the seriously addictive waffle fries that you can order with a side of gravy. Am I the only one who loves gravy fries?

Bayard’s Ale House (533 Hudson St. at Charles) is such an under-the-radar place. Located south of the drunkard gold standard White Horse Tavern, the former Sazerac House offers a great selection of draft beer options including Goose Island, Old Speckled Hen, and other non-avian themed brews like Belhaven. The wings are tangy, well-fried, and oh-so-tasty dipped in the homemade blue cheese sauce as you sit at the bar and relax in the low-key, neighborhoodly atmosphere. You might even find one of the West Village’s middle-aged trannies keeping company in a corner as one of the regulars. I beseech you to patronize it often so I’m not left mourning its loss.

Although my despairing, Mets-loving husband can no longer find it within him to set foot inside Wogie’s (39 Greenwich Ave at Charles), if you are indifferent/predisposed to the Phillies, you will have no problem there. Being a Philly bar, it’s predominantly known for its cheesesteaks, but I can attest to the quality of the wings. Just know that atmosphere is danker/dirtier than the others on this list, and beware of the upholstered seats – I am afraid to have my bare skin touch them. Or drink so much and burn out your mouth with the hot sauce so you no longer notice.

Ask Casey any food-related queries (or hire me to cook at your next party!) at caseyATgoodfoodstoriesDOTcom.