Dina's Pizza & Pub
A batch of mild wings from Dina's Pizza & Pub in Old Brooklyn, winner of the 2013 Plain Dealer Wings Playoffs. We're searching for the region's best wings once again, this time as part of our ongoing NEO's Best food series. We're conducting two contests this time -- one for independent wing joints and restaurants like Dina's and another for local and national chains such as Buffalo Wild Wings and Winking Lizard.
(Lynn Ischay, The Plain Dealer)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Our "NEO's Best" series continues this month with a search for Northeast Ohio's best wings.
Starting today, we are taking your nominations for the best wings in 10 regions in the 7-county Northeast Ohio area. We're looking for local wing joints, bars and restaurants you love in the following counties: Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Medina, Lorain, Portage and Summit.
No national or local chains, please. We're doing a separate contest for folks who want to weigh in on the wonders of Buffalo Wild Wings vs. Quaker Steak & Lube, or pass judgment on the wings served up at local chains like the Winking Lizard Tavern or Cleats Club Seat Grille.
That's not a knock against the bigger wing sellers. It's just that we know we have some pretty awesome smaller wing joints and independent bars and restaurants in these parts. And the whole point of our "NEO's Best" series is to put the spotlight on places that folks might not know outside their neighborhoods. We're looking for unique places you might go out of your way to visit -- if you really felt the need to feed a wings indulgence.
We're looking for nominations in the following 10 regions:
1. Cleveland East (City of Cleveland, east of the Cuyahoga River)
2. Cleveland West (City of Cleveland, west of the Cuyahoga River)
3. Suburban Cuyahoga County Northeast (East of I-77, north of I-480)
4. Suburban Cuyahoga County Northwest (West of I-77, north of I-480)
5. Suburban Cuyahoga County Southeast (East of I-77, south of I-480)
6. Suburban Cuyahoga County Southwest (West of I-77, south of I-480)
7. Lake & Geauga counties
8. Lorain County
9. Summit County
10. Medina County
The nominations deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15. Be sure to use the handy widget embedded in this post to make your nominations.
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You can also share your stories in the comments section. Tell us about your favorite wing joint, describe the wings and tell us what makes them so good. Be as detailed as possible.
Up to the Top 10 nominees in EACH region will go on to the next stage of the competition.
On Friday, Jan. 16, we'll announce the nominees in the 10 regions and give you a chance to vote for the 10 wing joints that will make The Finals. That voting will wrap up at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22.
We'll announce your Top 10 Finalists on Friday, Jan. 23, and start the voting to determine the "People's Choice" as "NEO's Best: Wings."
We'll also hit the road starting Monday, Jan. 26, to visit the finalists and taste the wings. We'll visit all 10 finalists over the course of two weeks, and serve up daily reports, videos and photo galleries. That taste-testing team will be led by Northeast Ohio Media Group reporter Joe Noga, videographers Amanda Harnocz and David Petkiewicz, with assistance from a variety of reporters. We're also aiming to have a high school football coach and player join the hunt at this stage because, well, it sounds like fun, and why not?
At the same time, NEOMG Restaurants & Dining Editor Joe Crea will be doing his own secret taste-testings, with an eye on naming NEO's Best: Wings Grand Prize winner.
We'll announce the Grand Prize winner and People's Choice winner with much fanfare online Monday, Feb. 9. We'll also reveal your favorite wing chain at that point, too.
So, let the fun begin.