Conroy's?? Conroy's!!

This week we winged it at Conroy’s Pub.  If you are not sure where that is or if you have ever heard of it, you are probably not alone.  That is not meant to be a snide comment or a snub – just, you may be use to its old name – Kaspers.

Kaspers, err, Conroy’s is located on 6th street in a little office strip next to 105.9 the Lazer and across from Sonic Drive-In.   We hadn’t been there in years.  For me, I calculate my last visit to be in 2003.  We had a little send-off party for me as I went up to Idaho for a few months.  They did Karaoke in the back and would host trivia game nights.  The atmosphere was always dark with wood paneling on walls, light blue vinyl/leather-ish booth upholstery, and worn out carpet in the main dining area.  I can now report 9 years later that with a presumably new owner and new name that absolutely nothing about the atmosphere has changed as best we could tell.    But, we ain’t here for no ambiance.  

When we called to confirm they have wings and to see about any night with a wing special (which they do not have) we were informed that in no uncertain terms their wings are the best in town.  That’s a mighty big statement.  We informed her that WE would be the judge of that!

Conroy’s offers up Buffalo wings by the pound for about $10.  There’s hot and hot.  But, they do offer to cut it with BBQ sauce if someone thinks the sauce is too hot.  Their sauce: Frank’s Original Hot Sauce cut with butter.  

We really didn’t know what to expect going in tonight.  And with someone's bravado  proclaiming the best wings in Lawrence, that is a red flag, right?   So there we sat waiting and waiting for our wings.  We joked that the cook slipped out the back and went up the street to pick up an order from Henry T’s to serve us.  And of course, there were the obligatory, “They must have had to catch and pluck them chickens first” type humor and banter flying around as we waited.  Finally after about 30 minutes they arrived.  

And I gotta say…I don’t know if they are THE BEST in town or not yet, but they were some pretty dadgum good wings.  Conroy’s did everything we want in our wings.  They had a nice red-orange-ish hue, the wings were equal in proportion, there were no broken wings, the outside was nice and crunchy, the inside nice and juicy.  And the sauce was well emulsified with the butter.  That is important because if it is not you get that oily separation from the liquids and it looks really unappetizing on your plate.  And speaking of plates, they served them wings on white china ware which you really would not expect looking at the place.  

Other things Wing Nutz judgers liked, but were not judged, was the healthy portion of celery, the blue cheese dressing – a little runny – but good flavor, real big beers, and their gin and tonics!  

When the tallying was all done, Conroy’s scored an overall 8.325 and with that they move into first place!  Time will tell if they are The Most Worthy Wings of Lawrence, KS.  But we all agreed we will be back to eat more wings.  You should too!