Each Wednesday during October – Dining Month at OnMilwaukee – we’ll stop in to try the wings at a local restaurant and share our thoughts and photos.JD’s Pub and Grill
6300 W. Lincoln Ave., (414) 525-6325
facebook.com/JDS-PUB-101706225572245
Quantity/price
Wings are $7.50 for six, though this new pub and grill may soon find it has to nudge that up with wholesale prices soaring.
Flavor options
Wings are available naked, grilled or breaded and in nearly two dozen flavors, and come with ranch or blue cheese. Most recipes are unchanged from the Jonny Hammers days, though in a couple cases there have been positive substitutions, like fresh grated parmesan (instead of pre-grated) in the Garlic Parm.
I tried the spicy pickle grilled and the bourbon breaded with a sprinkle of Memphis dry rub.
The former were extra juicy wings extremely lightly sauced. They were pickle-forward, but not excessively so. The latter were sticky and saucy and sinfully rich. Two very different styles but both beautifully executed.
I did not attempt to recreate the time my friends Matt Mueller and Nick Barth nearly offed themselves with fire at Hammers.
Size and shape
Three drummettes and three flats in each half-dozen order and the wings were average to large in size.
Verdict
This new restaurant is located in the former Jonny Hammers – a beloved West Allis wings joint – and owner Joel Hoesche gave the place a nice makeover, with more light, more open space (thanks to a wall that was removed) and updated rest rooms. But, fortunately, the wings recipes are basically the same as from the Jonny Hammers era and so is the kitchen staff that prepares them.
The result is solid wings at a great price.
Hammers devotees finally can rest easy and maybe get some sleep.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
