There are certain places that stay with you long after you've left. Output Lounge is one of those…read moreplaces.
Before I tell you about this visit, I have to tell you about the first time I came here.
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love wings. I've tried them all over the country, from California to New York, so whenever I hear about a place that's supposed to be special, I have to see for myself.
About two years ago, a few friends and I were staying downtown for the weekend before an event. We were driving around trying to decide where to eat, and like most friend groups, nobody could agree. I looked over at my buddy, who had been telling me about Output Lounge ever since he first tried it, and said, "Why don't we just get wings?" As luck would have it, we were only five minutes away.
That decision turned into one of the best wing experiences I've ever had.
Ever since then, my friend and I had been trying to make it back. We even made the trip once but got there after the kitchen had already closed. That only made finally returning feel even more rewarding.
This time, we planned it right.
We drove into the city on a Sunday and were lucky enough to be seated right away. Looking around, almost every table had baskets of wings. I remembered waiting the first time I came, but honestly that only spoke to how popular this place is.
The wings took about 15 to 20 minutes to come out, but I honestly didn't mind. It never felt like waiting because my buddy and I spent the time catching up and talking about our upcoming trip to Japan and Korea.
Since neither of us gets here very often, we both ordered twenty wings.
When they arrived, you could immediately tell they had just come out of the fryer. Steam was still rising, every wing was evenly coated in sauce, and they looked exactly how wings should.
I ordered mild, lemon pepper, Jim Beam Honey BBQ, and spicy BBQ.
Mild has always been my go-to because I think it tells you everything you need to know about a wing. Output absolutely nailed it.
Every bite starts with a satisfying crunch before giving way to tender, juicy chicken. The meat is cooked perfectly without becoming dry or overdone. Then the sauce takes over. Rich, buttery, tangy, and balanced with just enough heat. Every nook and cranny was coated, yet the wings stayed crispy from the first bite to the last.
As I sat there eating them, I couldn't help but think back to my first visit. The exact same thing happened then. The first few bites made everything else disappear. Conversation stopped. For a moment, it was just me and the wings.
That's when I realized I hadn't built this place up in my head over the last two years. Sometimes you remember a restaurant being better than it actually was because you've hyped it up in your own mind. Not here. If anything, these wings were even better than I remembered.
The Jim Beam Honey BBQ and spicy BBQ were outstanding in different ways. The Jim Beam starts with a subtle sweetness before finishing with a smoky bourbon flavor, while the spicy BBQ slowly builds heat without overpowering the barbecue underneath. Both sauces complemented the chicken instead of masking it.
Then there was the lemon pepper. I don't order lemon pepper very often because most places either don't offer it or overdo the seasoning. Output might have the best lemon pepper wing I've ever had. You get the crispy, juicy chicken first, then the citrus and cracked pepper slowly build without overpowering the wing.
As I got down to my last few wings, I found myself slowing down because I didn't want the meal to end. That's usually how I know I've found something special.
After trying wings all over the country, Output Lounge still sits near the very top of my list. Are they the best wings in Illinois? They have a legitimate argument. Are they among the best in the country? I think they've earned a seat at that table.
The best part is that after two years, they weren't just as good as I remembered.
They were even better.
Wings: 9.25
