When it comes to wings, I’m typically a Buffalo with a side a blue cheese, kind of girl. But 24k Gold?…… Yea, I’ll take an order of those. Gold wings aren’t particularly new. I remember seeing an article about them nearly three years ago, but didn’t give it much thought when I saw the price, because who the heck is going to spend that much on chicken wings?! Yet, here I am. After doing some quick research for ourselves, my girl Stacia and I decided to give them a try.
Venue
Environment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Ainsworth Hoboken is casual/ sexy and has a classy spin on a traditional sports bar. With the dim lighting, upbeat music and chic details, it’s very easy to have a romantic dinner or a fun night out. What drew my attention the most though, was the outside view. If the weather had permitted, I would have loved to sit on the outdoor terrance and enjoy the nightlights of the surrounding buildings.
* There’s no parking lot and finding a spot could be a headache. So get there early*
Hospitality: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our Waitress was perfect! Between her and the Hostess that greeted us at our arrival, I don’t have anything negative to say in regards to hospitality. We were attended to promptly, checked on frequently and I was even given a free drink 😬.
*We made reservations, but didn’t particularly need to due to the scarce crowd when we arrived (on a Friday evening at around 6pm), we were seated right away. It still wouldn’t hurt to reserve a spot just in case, though. And of course, masks are worn by staff at all times, and patrons are expected to wear them, unless seated at their table. No other COVID measures are taken.*
Family friendly: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
Children are allowed, but in my opinion, bring them earlier in the day. It seems as if it could get a little “adult-ish” after hours.
Food
Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So, how do the wings taste, you ask? Pretty good. They’re actually honey-chipotle flavored, and are served with a side a blue cheese. They have this smokey/ dry rub taste and reminded me a lot of the traditional buffalo wing. The infamous 24 karat finishing is simply gold dust, and it didn’t give the dish any weird flavoring at all. *If you’re thinking about saving some for later, don’t. They don’t taste too well after being reheated.*
Our dinner choices included: 24K Gold Wings, Skirt Steak, Short Rib Tacos and Mac and Cheese (the Mac was just ok. Not really what I’m used to). For drinks we had the Coco Rita, Autumn Sangria and a Lemonade. We loved the food, but I didn’t particularly care for the drinks too much. I favor fruity beverages, and these just didn’t do it for me at all. Besides being too strong (for my personal taste), they lacked any memorable flavor. Next time, I’d stick to a glass of Rosé or some basic juice.
You can check out the menu here.
Presentation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Presentation is pretty average, but perfect considering the theme of the venue. I mean, it’s literally just a fancy hamburger spot. In the Summer though, they have some really cool looking drinks, one served in a golden pineapple and the other in a watermelon. I’d definitely go back to give those a try.
Price: $$
Ok, so I didn’t spend as much as you think! The wings are served in three different pricing increments: 10 pieces for $45 (what I ordered), 20 pieces for $90 and 50 pieces for $1,000 (the 50 piece is served with and bottle of Ace of Spades champagne – hence, the price jump). If you’re skeptical about how much you’ll like them, I suggest you start with the 10 piece.
Are they worth the money? I’d say yes. Although there’s nothing distinctive about the taste, you’re paying for the uniqueness of them if nothing else.
Generally speaking, the menu prices are quite standard, averaging to about $22 per dish. But there are very limited options. I usually appreciate the idea of not having too many entree choices to choose from, but they can afford to add a few more creative dishes to the list.
Something to take note of: The New York locations, offer a wider variety of menu choices, and may vary in pricing. Currently all other locations are temporarily closed. But if you can stand to wait, try to visit one of NY venues when they open back up, to get a more fulfilled experience.
Would you give Gold wings a try?
XO,
Lexi💋
