The Northwest CT Trail (1 of 7)

The Northwestern Wing Trail is the first of SEVEN Trails on the new CT Wing Trail and consists of 13 wing spots in the northwestern region of Connecticut. Each one is unique in its own rite and each one will provide a memorable wing experience. If you'd like a video preview, just click on the wing photos below to see the Wingaddicts visit and learn more about each restaurant!

As you eat your way through our awesome wing state, please be sure to log into the Wingaddicts App, go to the restaurant's profile page, snap a wing pic, and leave a short review! You'll earn 1,500 rewards points on the "Leaderboard" (found in the Library section) and your wing stop will be registered towards the Trail Challenge! 

If you've already been to any of the spots on the trail and still have your wing photo, go to the app and add it in. That counts! 

Royal Coachman Tavern (at Old Riverton Inn)

Retired police officer Adam Towers and his wife Danamarie took over this historic bed and breakfast inn on the Farmington River in Barkhamsted in 2020, which is the second-oldest Inn in the entire state. Built in 1796, this place has rustic New England charm as you sit by the giant wood fireplace and enjoy a selection of five or six different wing flavors which are as good as any you’ll find on the trail. You will recognize the quality, love the overall wing experience, and fall in love with your surroundings. The Teriyaki wing was one of the best we've ever had! But don’t sleep on their classic buffalo wing or the jerk, sweet chili, garlic parm, jalapeno mango or coconut chili wings either!

Sasso’s Coal Fired Pizza

Some pizza restaurants just add wings to the menu as an “additional item.” At Sasso’s, next door to the famous Warner Theater in Torrington, they pay attention to their wings. These wings come in five flavors (smoky buffalo, smoky bbq, garlic & herb, sweet heat bbq and teriyaki wasabi) and are first smoked low and slow and then finished off in a 1,200-degree coal-fired pizza oven (WHAT?!!). Owner Matt Cipriano’s place has an expansive bar and dining area, outdoor seating and the pizza is also world class. For dessert of course!

@ the Corner

Owned by longtime local chef, Red Lanphear and his wife Jayne, @the Corner is one of the finest restaurants in all of Litchfield County. Award-winning Executive Chef,  Carlos Perez expanded the wing menu from four flavors to 18 in 2022. All are worthy of your full attention. Like gourmet wing attention.

Black Rock Tavern

Set in the historic Thomaston (Clocktown), BRT has been a popular local gathering place for decades. Taken over in 2005 by accomplished restauranteur and chef, Red Lanphear, this place gives you everything from a bar to a top-notch restaurant menu. But the wing game here is next-level exceptional. With a dozen flavors to choose from Chef Red rocked our world with flavors like Cherry Mead Bacon, Black Garlic Truffle, Dirty Hot Honey, Nashville Hot, Sweet Heat and Thai Sweet Ginger Teriyaki. 

Clocktown Brewing Co

One of the largest and most-popping breweries in the entire state, Clocktown must be experienced to be believed. Owner George LaCapra and his wife Stacy and co-owner Ed Daigneault spared no expense renovating this old factory building in Thomaston which actually was once the famous Seth Thomas clock  factory for over 100 years. Huge dining area, spacious and all-inclusive bar, craft beers, live entertainment, outdoor seating and the food is to live for! For something different, try the Togarashi Dry Rub wings.

Uncommon Grill

A trendy and upscale meeting place in Watertown, Afrim Pocesta’s spot (he also has co-owners) is a hugely popular destination for both business and family. Always busy, it boasts an outstanding menu and a beautiful bar scene. You’ll want to order everything on the menu, but be sure to try the Cilantro Honey Sriracha wings! 

16 Straits

If you’ve ever been to Watertown, chances are you’ve driven past this restaurant many times. You’d also seen it with many different signs out front as it’s changed identities many times. In 2021, though, Andrew Kotsaftis renovated and stamped it as a legit wing destination and sports bar. With multiple TV’s you can check out your favorite games while you pick from a solid dozen wing flavors on a solid bar menu. Try out this Creamy Garlic Parm.

Ordinary Joe's 

Hands-down the most popular wing spot in the surrounding area, O Joe’s, as it’s affectionately called, is an old-school dive bar in Oakville on the outskirts of Watertown. By far the largest selection on this wing trail (more than 50 flavors on the menu) the wings are consistent and 5-star all the time. You’ll end up staying longer than you planned. This place is a national wing treasure.

1754 House

THE oldest operating restaurant in the state, formerly called Curtis House, 1754 is anything but a wing joint. In fact, owner and master chef Michael Bates-Walsh might cringe at the thought of being classified that way. This restaurant is one of the most-popular in all of Woodbury with up and downtstairs dining rooms and bars, live music on weekends, outdoor seating and fire pits and is a wedding destination as well. When he opened in 2020, he carried only one wing (Hot N Smoky). Now, they’re up to four flavors with some of the most-unique dipping sauces you could imagine. Try the Litchfield Bourbon BBQ with the whipped bleu cheese mousse.

Pies & Pub

This Middlebury wing spot fits in beautifully along the trail just five miles up Rt 64 from the 1754 House. Though most known for some of the best pizza in the area, this do-it-all restaurant/bar puts out over a dozen wing flavors including their signature Cinnamon Chipotle wing that you need to try to believe. Owners Theo Anastasiadis and Chris Gogas and staff go the extra mile to make sure you're having a great experience. 

Brewbury

Built in the summer of 2022, this upscale brewery/restaurant/night spot/sportsbar/family fun spot came onto the scene in Middlebury. They brew their own beer, have 40 TV's, pool tables and arcade game, a lounge area . . . .and wings. Brewbury has a dozen wings on the menu. We really enjoyed the Sweet Thai Chili, Maple Bacon Bourbon, and were really drawn in by Satan's Breath. Yikes! 

Hindsight BBQ

Hindsight is 20/20 and at the very end of 2020, Jeff Schmidt and Heather Nardo opened up a BBQ joint in the most unlikely of spots in Waterbury. And it took off. You just feel the energy when you drive past the parking lot, then you smell the smokers, then you eat the food. Undeniably one of the best BBQ spots in the state and the pit-smoked wings are as beautiful as they are delicious. Four flavors on the menu with the occasional Jerk Wing special. Ask for that one first! 

WingItOn!

The Wingaddicts aren't huge fans of takeout wings, nor do we normally advocate franchise wings, but we've made the exception in this case. Waterbury son, Matt Ensero couldn't find good enough takeout wings near his house so he dropped out of the insurance industry and opened a wing joint. WingItOn was such a huge sensation that he decided to open another one. Then another. Today, he's stretching out across the US and his Classic Buffalo wings won 1st Place at the 2022 National Buffalo Wing Festival. Huge menu, lots of flavors, and . . . though it's a takeout joint, you CAN eat in if you like. We did!

Tommy Wyatt is co-founder of Wingaddicts and writes this weekly blog “Under the Wingfluence” for Wingaddicts.com. 

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Join Facebook’s largest group of wing enthusiasts "Wingaddicts Community" , follow them on Instagram @wingaddicts  and be sure to subscribe to the Wingaddicts channel on YouTube to see over 250 episodes!  You can also learn about more sauces in the Wingaddicts "Saucy Saturday" playlist on the YouTube channel.

Want to contact the Wingaddicts personally? Tommy, Doni the Cleaner and Wingchef Ryan communicate regularly through the "Wingaddicts Community" on Facebook.