Wing Review: The Elbow Room
Name: The Elbow Room
MKE Wings Crew Present: Frank, Amber
Review Date: July 29, 2026
Wing Special (as of date published): Wednesday $2 off wing orders
The Review
For many Milwaukee-area diners, Brookfield is synonymous with the seemingly endless lineup of national chains stretching along Bluemound Road. It's easy to overlook the small area within known as the Village of Brookfield, where a handful of locally owned businesses offer a different pace and a stronger neighborhood feel. That's exactly where you'll find The Elbow Room, a modern bar and grill that has quickly become a gathering place for locals. After reopening under new ownership in 2024, owner Jake Dehne set out to build on the neighborhood atmosphere established by the previous Elbow Room while creating a place where good food, cold drinks, and community come together. With National Chicken Wing Day giving us the perfect excuse to hunt down another local wing spot, The Elbow Room seemed like an easy choice.
The Elbow Room offers a solid lineup of traditional wing flavors without trying to overwhelm you with endless options. Classic choices like Buffalo, Garlic Parmesan, Mango Habanero, Korean BBQ, and Hot Honey are joined by a few more creative offerings, including Sticky Ginger and Blueberry BBQ. If dry rubs are more your style, Lemon Pepper and Caribbean Jerk round out the menu.
On Wednesday nights, wings are $2 off, bringing some welcome relief to what is otherwise one of the pricier menus we've come across recently. Regular pricing sits at $11.95 for six wings or $19.95 for twelve. Wings are served with your choice of ranch or blue cheese, while carrots and celery are available for an additional dollar. 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.
With just Amber and me making the trip, we couldn't tackle as many flavors as we normally would. She opted for boneless while I stuck with the traditional bone-in wings.
The Wings
The first thing that caught my attention wasn't the aroma or the sauce. It was the color of the wings. These wings arrived with one of the darkest exteriors we've seen in quite some time. At first glance, I honestly wondered if they had been roasted or even lightly smoked. While they ultimately didn't carry much of a smoky flavor, the appearance certainly had us curious before we ever picked one up. Fortunately, the first bite backed up the presentation.
The wings were generously sized, with only a couple falling below average. The skin had a pleasant crispness without becoming overly crunchy, and underneath was juicy, flavorful chicken that tasted fresh and well prepared. They may not have been the crispiest wings we've had this year, but they struck a nice balance between crisp skin and tender meat, making them easy to enjoy from start to finish.
Flavor Breakdown
Buffalo
We ordered the Buffalo on Amber's boneless wings, and it was exactly the kind of classic sauce many Buffalo fans will appreciate. This version leaned heavily into vinegar, delivering plenty of tang with just a mild kick of heat. It wasn't especially buttery, allowing the sharp, bright flavors to take center stage. If you prefer a traditional Buffalo sauce with a little extra tangy zip, this one is worth ordering.
Sticky Ginger
This was easily the most unique flavor of the evening. The best comparison I could come up with is that it tastes like someone turned ginger ale into a wing sauce, and I mean that as a compliment. It starts with a sticky sweetness before a gentle ginger flavor comes through. Rather than the sharp bite fresh ginger can sometimes bring, this sauce stays smooth and approachable, creating something that is somehow simultaneously different and unique.
Nashville Hot
Having visited Nashville and tasting the real deal, I've learned that plenty of restaurants throw the words "Nashville Hot" on a menu without really capturing what makes the style special. More often than not, they're simply too sweet.
Though I wouldn't say it's exactly like what I had in Nashville, the Elbow Room comes much closer than most. While it isn't a textbook, it delivers the deep peppery flavor and lingering heat you'd expect, without burying everything under sugar. There is still a touch of sweetness, but it's muted enough to let the savory spices do the heavy lifting. It ended up being the spiciest flavor we sampled and one I'd happily order again.
If I had to pick a favorite, I'd probably still give the edge to the Buffalo, though the Sticky Ginger deserves plenty of attention for offering something genuinely different.
Milwaukee Wings Crew Favorites:
Frank: Buffalo
Amber: Sticky Ginger
Final Thoughts
With only three flavors sampled, this feels like a review that is incomplete. I enjoyed what we had, but I'd like to make another visit and explore more of the menu before making a definitive judgment. The chicken itself was consistently good, the wings were larger than average, and the flavor lineup strikes a nice balance between familiar favorites and a few creative twists. For now, The Elbow Room lands just shy of earning our Certified Wing Joint designation, but it's certainly knocking on the door. A return visit could very well push it over the line.
If you're looking for quality wings in Brookfield, especially away from the usual chain restaurant scene, The Elbow Room is absolutely a visit.
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