Jayhawker Wings: Eldridge Hotel

The Jayhawker is located in the historic downtown Eldridge Hotel at the corner of 7th and Mass. The hotel was first erected in 1855 by a group of settlers and provided housing for the new settlers as they built their permanent homes.  The original name was Free State Hotel as a proclamation that Kansas should enter the Union as a free state.  In 1856, Sheriff Sam Jones and his pro-slavery posse attacked the hotel and burnt it to the ground.

Col. Shalor Eldridge immediately rebuilt the hotel and vowed he would rebuild it again and again if ever attacked and destroyed.  And he would do just that.  One early August morning in 1863 while the town was still sleeping, Quantril and his raiders rode over from Missouri attacking the residents and destroying the town.  In four hours, the town was burnt to the ground and more than180 men and boys were dead; most executed in the street.

Col. Eldridge survived and rebuilt the hotel re-opening it in 1865.  It has been renovated, including being demolished and rebuilt in 1925, many times over the years.  The most recent coming in 2005 with the hotel being renovated back to it's 1925 splendor.  It's a living testament of the Lawrencian's resiliency and Jayhawker's spirit.

But enough with the history lesson and on to the wings!

What our Wing Nutz judges judged were the classic hot wings.  According to our waiter these were the favored wings by customers.  Wings are served by the pound as opposed to a specific number in a single order.  Depending on the size, this equates to anywhere from 8-12 wings.  Ours averaged 10 wings per order.  Cost is $7.

In terms of appearance, texture and tenderness, and flavor this is how the judges saw it:

“Heisenberg” Al gave them 9, 6, 7;
“No-nonsense” Nancee: 9, 7, 7;
“Just Wings” Judy: 7, 6, 7; and,
“Tailgate” Ted: 8, 6, 7.

The wings were of good color and well coated.  The texture and tenderness was a little inconsistent as some skins were crispy and some were not as much, and a couple were overcooked and a little dry. The classic hot did not put out the heat you would expect from a classic hot and there was not much heat difference between the mild and hot wings.  Still, they were flavorful and tasty.

When you add it all up and calculate our weighted criteria, Jayhawker wings received a 6.9 out of 10.

All-in-all, the Jayhawker is a great place to gather with friends for drinks, dinner, and conversation. There are something like 16 different wines you can order by the glass, good selection of finely crafted beers, and they make a killer bloody Mary!  Oh, and their homemade blue cheese dressing may be the best we have ever tasted anywhere!

But now it is time to get up and head down the block to Jefferson’s, home of the burgers, oysters, and wings!