The Dirty Drummer, Phoenix AZ

The Dirty Drummer Phoenix, AZ

The guys will tell you that I am constantly gone for work, so I get around, a lot.  While working one night on a recent trip, I asked a local guy I was working with for a recommendation for wings.  He suggested The Dirty Drummer, and then talked non stop for 15 minutes about how they may not be the biggest wings, but they are the best.  I must say that for a small chain of bars, I was impressed.  I went to the Phoenix location.  They have 4 different sauces:  Hot, Medium, Mild and Teriyaki (and Plain, but that’s not a flavor).  I was told that I must try the wings both ways they are cooked, both fried, and fry grilled.  It was also recommended to try them double dipped and single dipped.  It is a sports bar/restaurant, however, walking into the joint was slightly odd since it’s located in a strip mall.  The atmosphere is a cross between a restaurant and a bar, with the restaurant feeling more like a bar, then a bar feeling more like a restaurant.  There’s a single pool table and an outside gazebo for the smokers.  While sitting at their bar, I realized the kitchen was right in front of me.  The griddle, the grill, and the fryers, everything was right there.  I ended up talking to the cook the entire time I was there.  I told him what I wanted to order 4 dozen wings, and he just laughed.  I ordered 2 dozen hot, 6 fried, 6 fry grilled, 6 fried double-dipped (think extreme amount of sauce, the wings were drowning), and 6 fry grilled, double-dipped wings.  Now I’m sure most of you are asking “what is fry grilled?”.  The wings are fried for a while before they are grilled for about 10 minutes.   The other two dozen I ordered were the same combination but in the Teriyaki flavor.  The Teriyaki sauce was sweet, smooth and sticky(holy crap was it sticky, I actually ruined my Brewers jersey, but I must say that it was worth it).  The Teriyaki sauce is actually more of a glaze.  The owner said he mixes a couple gallons each day and uses nearly all of it.  The Hot sauce is not overly hot, especially on the grilled wings since the sauce is added before they are grilled.  So, getting them double-dipped is my recommendation. Disgusting, I know.   The wings are fried without any breading.  The fried wings are nearly the perfect level of done, crispy, soft, and juicy.  The grilled wings taste even better.  You do pay an extra $1.50 for a dozen of grilled wings, but since a dozen of fried wings is only $7.50, its still not a bad price.  It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that I finished all 4 dozen.  A co-worker ordered the Medium, double-dipped, grilled wings and he loved them.  He said that the sauce was warm, but mellow enough for someone who normally likes “mild” sauces.  A noteworthy side is their Fire Fries.  They are crinkle-cut fries, covered in nacho cheese, jalapenos, hot wing sauce and some sprinkle seasoning.  So good.  The drinks are cheap and the atmosphere is clean and nice.  If you are ever in the Phoenix area, I highly recommend this place.

The Dirty Drummer gets 4 out of 5 wings.