Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Website: https://www.lebowskistaproom.com/
Lebowski’s Taproom has the accolades to back up its hype. In 2024, they snagged 1st place for both Best Traditional Wing and Best Sauce at Wing Fest in Colorado Springs. Needless to say, expectations were sky-high heading into this visit.
The place itself has a down-to-earth vibe, with a small bar area and cozy seating. We sat at the bar and got quick service. My wife ordered The Walter—a burger with jalapeño jam and peanut butter. She liked it, though the jam barely showed up. We also split the Nihilist Cheese Sticks. These weren’t your standard frozen mozzarella sticks—they were large, homemade, and worth ordering.
But we came for the wings.
Wings Overview
With all the awards, I expected greatness. The first bite had us thinking we’d found the Wing Mecca—the char and flavor were incredible. But the excitement faded quickly as we kept eating.
Taste & Texture
I ordered XTRA XTRA crispy wings with their standard buffalo sauce. Unfortunately, they were anything but crispy. I even double-checked with our bartender, who said they just grill them longer for more char when you ask for extra crispy. The problem is, they need to fry them longer first. These were the least crispy wings I’ve ever had.
The char and flavor were off the charts, though, which saved them. Still, the meat didn’t pull cleanly from the bone, and my wife even tossed one wing aside because it was too fatty. We’re not wing snobs—but this was a surprise, especially given the awards and reviews.
Veggies were mid-grade, with one sad carrot in the mix. Blue cheese dressing tasted like jarred sauce with crumbles mixed in.
Price
This one’s tricky. Wings come with fries, which skews the value a bit. At $15 for 8 wings, that’s $1.88 per wing—on the higher end. The fries soften the blow slightly, but price-wise, it’s still not cheap.
X-Factor
The char method is unique, and the flavor was so good that even soggy, non-crispy wings were still enjoyable. Including fries with the order also sets them apart.
Final Thoughts
Flavor? Amazing. Everything else? A letdown. These wings had some of the best charred flavor I’ve tasted, but with no crisp, fatty meat, and average sides, they fell short of award-winning status.
That said, I feel like I have to go back. With so many great reviews and big wins under their belt, maybe I just caught them on an off night. Stay tuned for round two.
