- RIP - PJ Quigley's is now closed -
The search continued for great wings in Ottawa.
I have a small list of places to try based on recommendations I've read or on descriptions of menus on websites . . . and as the list grows shorter, I was afraid that there was just nothing left out here in the capital. I did come across an article on the net from the Ottawa Citizen that talked about a pub that brought in 'celebrity' chef David Adjey (from Restaurant Makeover fame) for a 'menu makeover'. What was relevant to me was that the restaurant was very keen on producing fresh, homemade food that David only tweaked as he too was impressed. Now nowhere was wings mentioned even once, but I took the chance that this Pub might just take their philosophy of fresh and tasty to their wings.
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First off, PJ's is nothing to look at outside. Stuck in a strip mall, with a less than exciting sign, this place is visually easy to miss. When I had gone to their website, I got a warm, pubish feel for the place (which it is inside), but the outside almost looks like a pet shop with a fenced in patio. The sign has paw prints and a dog, which I assume is a holdover from before they renovated the restaurant.
I was in for an early lunch, and the place had just opened up. No one else was there, and I took my choice of seat out on the patio because the weather was wonderful. There's nothing to look at on the patio, because it just faces a parking lot and more mall, but it was nice just to be outside.
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My waitress Ashley was very friendly and was perfect in attentiveness. Being the only patron, some waitress's can have the tendency to dote on you too much, or not at all. But she was very helpful, especially with some of the questions I had (see below in sauce section)
The menu didn't seem to be anything special when I looked at it. In fact, I was kind of like, "what was the big deal with the 'menu makeover'" as there wasn't anything I hadn't seen before. I thought the menu was kind of small actually. Then I re-read the article and realized that Adjey had cut down the menu and focused on solid food.
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Fortunately I wasn't here for Lord of the Salad.
2008 THE SCORE 3.0: PJ Quigley’s Bar & Grill ~ Ottawa
STYLE:
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Dusted, deep fried
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PRICE:
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$8.99 for 1lb (approx 10 wings)
$17.99 for 2lb
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SAUCES:
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1/1
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HEAT:
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Hot didn’t really have any heat, but the suicide had a nice nip
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SIZE:
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Large – big, meaty wings
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2/3
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WETNAP FACTOR:
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Wet – with the side of suicide made it nearly perfect
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2/3
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CRISPINESS:
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Crunchy – even with the sauce there was a nice crispy sound to the bite
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3/3
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FLAVOUR:
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Good – suicide had a really nice flavour
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3/3
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SIDES:
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Veggies and dip
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2/3
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CLEAN UP:
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Napkins, wetnaps, wing bowl
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3/3
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WING NIGHT:
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Monday’s ½ price after 5pm
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1/1
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OTHER:
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Patio, free refills on Coke
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TOTAL:
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Great wings
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17/20
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My eyes grew really big when the wings came. First, I loved the presentation (it really does make a difference). The cast iron pan it was served in, on a plate sprinkled with paprika, the wings piled up . . . it just looked exciting. I love cast iron! And the larger plate allowed me to balance the veggies, dip and the side of suicide sauce without putting it on the table or get it all goeyed up with my wings in the pan.
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The size of the wings were great. Large, meaty and dusted in flour. It looked crispy and crunchy just looking at it, without being soggy from the sauce. They were hot out of the deep fryer and the meat was nice and tender inside.
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The suicide sauce was dark, bold with a nice kick. There was a lot going on and I didn't know what exactly. I asked Ashley is she knew what was in the suicide and she said she would check with the kitchen. She came back and told me there was over 10 things on the ingredient list, but some of them were Frank's, some other hot sauce, chili flakes, and well, several other things. I don't expect the whole recipe . . . a place has gotta keep some secrets, but there were some tasty things in there that I would like to know what they were! But the homemade quality really showed itself in this sauce.
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They are also all about the customer. Not only do they have their weekly specials, they also have a Rewards membership that gives points to things like free food and other stuff.
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250 Greenback Road, Ottawapjquigleys.com
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