The Wing Bar grows from Vintage Roadside Café

An order of buffalo wings at The Wing Bar. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

An order of buffalo wings at The Wing Bar. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Look for local restaurant profiles by Glenn and Kim Creyts every other week. For inquiries regarding this column and ideas for other restaurant profiles and suggestions for future columns, contact Glenn and Kim via e-mail at glenncreyts@att.net.

Restaurant: The Wing Bar

Location: 1549 U.S. 68 South, Urbana

Telephone: (937) 652-1231

Website:www.wingbarurbana.com

Background/overview

Amber Fraley-Weaver worked since she was a teenager for her dad, Mike Fraley, at his Vintage Roadside Café. Several years ago, Mike wanted to concentrate on his other local businesses and allowed Amber’s older sister Jessi Fraley-Musser to lease and oversee the cafe. After about two years Jessi decided to end her lease, and then the building sat vacant.

Amber was working at Applebee’s during those years, and she credits the experience as their server and bartender with preparing her for her next restaurant work. Her dad mentioned that she take over as the new leaser, but Amber would only accept his offer if she was given complete control to revamp and update the restaurant and its menu. With dad’s approval, she and her husband, Aaron Weaver, went to work to totally transform the canteen into a clean, modern wing bar.

The renovated restaurant was designed by Amber to be relaxing and contemporary. It seats 45 customers with an updated menu of never frozen, hand-breaded chicken wings, subs, salads, gourmet pizzas and a full bar serving cocktails and craft beers.

The Wing Bar opened in June 2016 amid, “positive energy, good environment, with higher-end food!”

The adjoining drive-thru is open all year. The entertainment patio featuring live bands, a DJ and karaoke will reopen in the spring.

The menu

Fountain Drinks: Coca-cola products-$1.75.

Beers, Cocktails, & Wine: Flight of Craft Beers-$6. Pink Motorcycle-$6.50; Cucumber Collins-$7.50. Apothic, Cupcake Moscato, or Kendall Jackson-$6.50/$15 and up.

Appetizers: Hummus Plate-$5.99; Ravioli Bites-$7.99; Calamari-$9.99.

Salads: Caprese-$9.99; Italian-$11.99.

Sandwich (w/side): Cod Fish w/cheddar and “house” tartar (chipotle mayo & Jamaican relish)-$5.99/$8.99.

Subs (w/side): Chicken Bacon Ranch, Italian, or Pizza Sub-$5.99/$8.99.

Gourmet Pizza: Grateful Dead, Nirvana or Willie Nelson-$8.99/$15.99/$17.99.

Wings (bone-in): $6.99 (six)/$12.99 (12)/$33.99 (30).

Wings (no bone): $7.99 (8 ounce)/$13.99 (16 ounce)/$35.99 (40 ounce).

Wing sauces: Boom-Boom; Chipotle Citrus BBQ; Thai Peanut.

Meals: Seafood Platter-$15.99.

Dessert: Elephant Ear (naan bread), w/cinnamon maple seasoning and icing-$4.99.

Hours

Sunday, noon-10 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Friday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday, noon-1 a.m. The kitchen closes one hour prior to close each night.

More information

The Wing Bar offers Urbana area delivery for food orders only of $25 or more, with a $2.50 fee.

The Golden Buckeye Card is accepted for a 10 percent discount off a senior’s tab.

The Wing Bar Card is distributed to patrons by the staff for a $5 discount.

The adjoining drive-thru hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

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