Wing Review: Stags Tavern
- milwaukeewings
- 27 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Name: Stags Tavern
MKE Wings Crew Present: Frank, Josh, Jeremy
Review Date: 1/24/2026
Wing Special (as of date published): Wednesday $0.75 Wings
The Review:
Stags Tavern occupies a location that was the former home of Sports Corner, a long-closed neighborhood spot that I will always remember as having the best Caribbean Jerk wings I've ever had. I can't tell you anything else about any other sauces they had, but that jerk wing has stuck with me through the years. Would Stags have the same jerk wings, no idea? Stags opened in 2023 but this was my first time since last visiting the Sports Corner in like 2018 or 2019. As far as appearances go, all the changes have been for the better, the bar area felt clean and modern, nicely upgraded from its processor.
We visited on a Saturday night, so no wing special for us tonight. . Regular menu pricing comes in at $18.50 for 12 wings, with options for 6 or 24 as well. One nice touch: a 12-wing order can be split into three different sauces, making it easy to sample multiple flavors in a single visit. If you happen to stop in on a Wednesday, you can get $0.75 wings, a really nice savings over that regular menu price. 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.
The chicken itself was excellent. These were nicely sized wings, fried to a crisp exterior while remaining moist and tender inside. The balance between crunch and juiciness was spot-on, and the wings were cooked evenly throughout. Regardless of sauce choice, the base product here is strong, and that alone gets these wings off to a good start.
Stags offers an extensive flavor list with a flavor and or heat level for just about everyone. The current sauce list is as follows: Garlic Parm, Honey BBQ, BBQ, Teriyaki, Lemonaki, Sweet Chili, Garlic Butter Cajun, Mild, Stingin’ Honey, Kickin’ Bourbon, Spicy Bacon BBQ, Jamaican Jerk, Hot, Mango Habanero, Korean Hot, Xtra Hot, and Liquid Death.
With several orders of wings, I got to try quite a few of the sauces.
Lemonyaki - was the standout of the night. The sauce blends lemon pepper brightness with the savory, slightly sweet depth of teriyaki. The citrus cuts cleanly through the richness, while the teriyaki provides balance rather than heaviness. It’s a creative flavor that I really enjoyed.
Jamaican Jerk - well, the moment of truth! This was the sauce I was most curious about given the previous establishment at this location. Ultimately, this sauce doesn’t quite match the Sports Corner version remembered from years past, but it holds its own. The sauce delivers moderate heat, subtle sweetness, and the warming spice notes—cinnamon, allspice, and clove—you expect from a jerk profile. It’s a solid option and one I would order again, though I'm sad I may never get that wing that lives in my memories.
Hot (Traditional Buffalo)Â - stayed true to form. Buttery, vinegary, and cayenne-forward, it delivered straightforward heat without venturing into extreme territory. The only drawback was sauce coverage; my wings leaned a bit dry compared to others at the table, suggesting some inconsistency in saucing.
Garlic Butter Cajun -  was somewhat underwhelming. While the garlic and butter were present, the Cajun seasoning was muted, lacking the spice and depth implied by the name. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it felt incomplete.
Garlic Parmesan - landed similarly to the garlic butter Cajun. The garlic came through, but the cheese profile skewed more toward a creamy, processed note than the sharp Parmesan flavor many expect. Again, not bad—but not a standout.
All wings were served with ranch or blue cheese; the blue cheese in particular was well balanced and complemented the wings nicely.
Overall
Stags Tavern has clearly been refreshed since its Sports Corner days. The interior is brighter, the space feels welcoming, and the bar was busy despite frigid winter temperatures outside. It’s an easy place to settle in for a game or a casual night out.
Overall, Stags delivers very well-executed wings with a few strong sauces, paired with some flavors that could benefit from refinement or greater consistency. The quality of the chicken does a lot of the heavy lifting here, and with a few tweaks to sauce execution (and perhaps more consistent saucing) Stags could easily improve its standing.
As it stands, Stags Tavern earns a Certified Wing Joint designation. It clears the bar, but narrowly. With a deep sauce list that includes options like Korean Hot, Mango Habanero, and Spicy Bacon Barbecue, there’s enough here to justify return visits—and a strong chance that further exploration could elevate this spot even higher.
