This is part of an ongoing series reviewing hot wings in the Huntsville area. Visit #HsvHotWings for a comprehensive linked list.
I’d been to 3rd Base Grill before, in a different location, and had good things to say about the wings then. Seemed logical they’d rate a #HsvHotWings review. This 3rd Base Grill is a casual, vaguely sports-barry place just this side of Shields Rd. over Chapman Mountain on 72. Jason and I partook for lunch.
Wings are listed in three or four different sizes on the menu, with a few different flavors and heat levels. The lunch special, with eight wings, fries, and a drink, is $8.56. Slam-dunk. The top heat level/flavor is called Insane, for $1 extra. My four Insane drums and four Insane flats arrived with three pieces of celery and a cup of bleu cheese. Lora did a fine job with our service.
Quality: 8/10. My wings were freshly-fried and satisfyingly meaty, with very little fattiness. I separated them upon arrival to cool a bit. The sauce presentation is a little bit gloppy, but manageable.
Flavor: 5/10. I think 3rd Base Grill has regressed since my last visit. These fell within a reasonable buffalo wing scaffolding, with attendant vinegar and onion notes. Unfortunately, there is also a great deal of bitterness, likely from the use of pepper extract to bolster the heat level. I’m confident they got there much more with actual peppers a few years ago. With so many other places delivering genuine heat without sacrificing taste, there is room for improvement here.
Heat: 9/10. These are the hottest wings I’ve had in Huntsville so far. There is a two-wing warming-up period, but then these things stand on the accelerator. Blazing lips, tongue, and throat, with attendant sweating and endorphin rush. Wing number three is pleasingly roasting; wing number seven glares up at you and says “let’s go, big boy. This was your call.” As much as two hours later, though the burn in my mouth was long-gone, I still had slight perspiration on my forehead and neck that, upon my wiping it off, would renew itself.
This is a solid experience. With a little attention to the flavor profile, the 3rd Base Grill wings could be among the best in the area.
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