A new upscale sports bar is opening this coming week and the owner wants wing-lovers to “Get Baked.”
Sam Osborne, owner of the new Island Wing Company Grill & Bar Tallahassee at 1370 Market St., serves wings for the hard-core wing lover, but there isn’t a fryer or any grease on the premises. All the wings and french fries are baked.
“We have some really hot wings too,” he said, “In fact, we have some so hot we give you rubber gloves to eat them with. They’re made with scorpion sauce.”
Anyone who can eat 10 in less than eight minutes gets a t-shirt.
“They’re that hot,” Osborne said with a laugh. But with 60 to 70 percent less fat than fried wings, he’s hoping to appeal to the more health-conscious too. In addition to wings, the full menu offers appetizers, salads, flatbread, tacos, and island-themed entrees. It also offers burgers, including the “Intimidator,” a giant of a burger made with a full pound of meat.
Island Wing Company is very much a family-friendly sports bar, with a large and prominent bar, 40 TV screens, 300 seats, and 81 beer taps.
“No one has more beer taps in Tallahassee,” Osborne said.
But Osborne thinks when customers look around at the rest of the restaurant, they’ll realize very quickly it’s a place they’ll want to come in the evening to sit and relax.
Outside there is another bar and seating for 100, including several “bungalows” complete with large sofas and fire pits.
“It’s really laid-back, but nice and upscale, too,” he said. Osborne said the outdoor area is a great place to relax and enjoy a martini.
Osborne describes Island Wing Company as a “restaurant with great food in a family sports bar atmosphere” with an inviting, upscale outdoor area.
Its hours are from 11 a.m. to midnight daily, except Friday and Saturday, when it is open until 2 a.m.
Osborne also owns 24 Tropical Smoothie franchises and was its first franchisee. He explained Island Wing Company Grill & Bar is the brain-child of Tropical Smoothie’s founder and CEO. The first Island Wing Company was built in Auburn in 2012. The Tallahassee restaurant is the fifth.
Get Baked at Island Wing Company Grill & Bar added by Karen Murphy on
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Don’t go there if you are expecting good food. It was awful, and I am talking about a burger..couldn’t eat it.very disappointing.
I love island wing but we had a bad experience with some waitresses. There was a large party outside of about 20 of us. Kaitlyn who has blue hair told me “your ID is fake I won’t serve you” after showing her all of my cards with my name on them proving my ID was legal she said “oh ok” and got my drink. Myself and my friend decided to go inside and while sitting inside at the bar Kaitlyn again and another blonde worker megan came inside to tell the bartender “this party outside is so annoying I can’t handle this” the bartender immediately knew that was our party and apologized and made sure to give us extra care the rest of the night but Kaitlyn and megan were extremely rude and not happy to do their job obviously.
It was bad. Wings were cold and strangely tasteless. Very dry and lemon pepper was weird. May be overbaked. Carrots and celery were fresh. The shrimp (6) pesto was mostly pasta. There are better wing places. Atmosphere was great, but very disappointed. Will not return.
Great place to watch a game and have a beer. The food was nothing great.
Are there gluten free options for people with allergies?
Been waiting for this place to open since I saw the sign and building. It’s about 10 minutes from my house and football season is almost upon us. After reading about it here, can I just open a monthly account?
Sam, Thanks again for hosting the soft opening. Every thing we ate had incredible flavors. The decor is awesome and no matter what sport you want to watch, it is on a tv close by. The staff did a great job paying special attention to details. Everything is crisp, clean, and ready for opening! Good luck to you and your team Sam.
Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Your restaurant sounds awesome. Baked food is better for you. Hope to try you soon.