Wing Review: Manny’s Bourbon Grill & Pub
- milwaukeewings
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
Where: 6300 W Lincoln Ave, West Allis, WI
MKE Wings Crew Present: Frank, Amber, Ross, Molly, Jeremy, Rachael
Review Date: March 5, 2025
Wing Specials (as of date published):
Wednesday $1 Wings
Formerly JD’s (and Johnny Hammer’s before that), Manny’s Bourbon Grill & Pub is the latest chapter in this familiar Milwaukee corner bar. We hit it up on Dollar Wing Night, ready to dive into what we hoped would be another legendary lineup of sauces and delicious wings.
We stopped in on a Wednesday, which is $1 wing night. At the time of our visit, the normal menu price is pretty steep at $11 for 6, $17 for 12 and $24 for 18 (man, I remember when wings were cheap, I sure miss those days!) As always, prices/availability of menu items/prices and/or specials are subject to change at the sole discretion of the bar without the knowledge of Milwaukeewings.com and may not be updated accordingly.
First impressions the wings were average to small in size. Not tiny, but definitely not hefty. I knocked back 16 without blinking and Amber wasn’t far behind. I think everyone could have put down a few more wings if we needed too. Because we were able to order four wings per sauce, we got a little... excited. That led to some wings arriving a bit less than, which definitely dulled the experience. The chicken itself felt a little underwhelming as a result — not bad, just not quite what we were hoping for.
So while that was a tad disappointing, let's turn our attention to the sauces. Manny's as A LOT of sauces with many favorites from JD's and/or Johnny Hammers still on the menu.
Sauces: Honey BBQ, Korean BBQ, BBQ, Honey Mustard, Caribbean Jerek, Spicy BBQ, Citrus Chipotle, Honey Sriracha, Spicy Pickle, Spicy Garlic, Garlic Buffalo, Honey Garlic, Garlic Parmesan, Frank's Red, BGTHM, Krankie, Buffalo, Frank's Extra Red, Mango Habanero
Rubs: Memphis, Garlic Parmesan, Lemon Pepper, Cheddar Jalapeno
Quite the array of flavors, definitely something for everyone. But a variety isn't worth much if the quality isn't there, so here's our thoughts on what we ate
Cheddar Jalapeño: Your classic “Cheeto wing.” Spicy, cheesy, powdery. Not my everyday go-to but fun in the right mood. Amber was a fan.
Korean BBQ: Jeremy liked it. I found it a bit lacking, it was missing funky depth you want from a Korean-style sauce.
Citrus Chipotle: Sweet, smoky, and bright. The citrus cut the richness beautifully. Big win.
Spicy Pickle: Still a favorite. Tangy, dilly, hot. Could’ve used a bit more sauce, but the flavor mix is just right.
Garlic Buffalo: A reliable blend of vinegary heat and roasted garlic. Solid. (Note: there's also a "Spicy Garlic" on the menu, I have no idea what the difference is)
Garlic Parm: very garlic-forward with creamy, tangy parmesan backing it up. Strong showing.
BGTHM: Still no idea what it stands for. We’re guessing tangy honey mustard, but we don't know the first two letters. Whatever it is, it’s tasty and a favorite of many of us that night
Lemon Pepper: Heavy on the pepper, light on the lemon. Decent, but not a standout
Memphis: Reported as a hit by the group — smoky and sweet.
Spicy BBQ: Ross noted this one had a nice little kick, but I did not sample
The MKE Wings Crew's Favorites:
Frank: BGTHM
Molly: BGTHM
Ross: BGTHM
Rachael: Chipotle Citrus
Jeremy: BGTHM
Amber: Chipotle Citrus
Conclusion:
While Manny’s didn’t quite live up to the legacy of JD’s or Johnny Hammer’s in their heyday, it still delivered a solid wing night. The sauce game is creative and mostly on point, even if the wings themselves were a bit inconsistent — temperature and saucing both varied due to our large order. That said, we still had a great time, ate a ton of wings, and enjoyed the night and can declare it a Milwaukee Wings Certified Wing Joint! Just maybe give the kitchen a little breathing room next time.
