1 Republik (Hoboken, NJ)

If there's anything that Hoboken has plenty of, it's pubs and bars. On a weekend night you will be hard pressed to find one that isn't crowded, and most weeknights aren't much better, especially during the warmer months. I was looking to satisfy a wing craving that night, and this Washington Avenue sports bar caught my attention.

Their menu is rather eclectic, including Irish Pub fare, Italian, ribs, a lengthy burger menu, and of course, wings (which are featured prominently at the top of the menu). They list their sauces as: BBQ, Buffalo, Root Beer BBQ, Jerk, Sweet Chili, Outrageous, Sticky Balsamic, Teriyaki, Garlic Lemon Butter, Bourbon Peppercorn, and Cajun. After consulting with the server, I decide to go with Buffalo style (she felt that was pretty hot on its own), with a side of their "Outrageous" sauce, which I was warned would be too hot for most people. I also tried their pulled pork sandwich, mostly for the intriguing Root Beer BBQ sauce.

Decent wings, just add the heat.

The wings were more or less medium-sized, perhaps a little on the smaller side, but not so small as to be a poor value. They were definitely meaty, properly cooked through, although not crispy on the outside. As for the Buffalo sauce, it was a little spicy, but not so hot that my normally spice-adverse friend couldn't tolerate them herself. I would classify the heat level somewhere between mild and medium. The sauce wasn't overly salty, and had a good flavor. Other than the sauce was a typical Buffalo style.

The Outrageous sauce kicked things up a bit, but they weren't the tongue-burners I was expecting. Although it took up the heat significantly past the Buffalo, I did not find myself in need of relief at all; either my tongue was numb that night or the sauce was should have been a lot hotter. The flavor was distinctly marked by a bit of bitterness, tasting a bit of habanero, and definitely of capsaicin oil. Without the expected matching heat, the sauce's bitterness didn't add anything to the flavor.

The pork sandwich was loaded with the Root Beer BBQ sauce, which I found more sweet than savory. It was palatable in the context of the pulled pork, but definitely on the "too sweet" side for me. With it's overt root beer flavor, I would only recommend this as a wing sauce to those who enjoy very sweet, mild sauces, and even then, order it on the side.'

The wing sauce list is long enough to warrant repeat visits, if only to sample a few more sauces, and their menu is impressively diverse. This place is primarily a sports bar, and if you are looking for a few wings to go with the beers, a couple of orders of Buffalo-sauced wings will do fine. If you are looking for an endorphin-laced thrill, however, these won't impress.

1 Republik
221 Washington St
Hoboken, NJ 07030
(201) 850-1282
1republik.com