Editor’s Note: Last year, Michael and Nicole Borrell began reviewing Lebanon Valley’s restaurants and eating attractions as the Lebanon Valley Food Critics. Since then, the couple has aimed to offer unbiased reviews of the eating and drinking establishments the Lebanon Valley has to offer. LebTown is pleased to be partnering with LVFC to share these reviews with our readers. Bon appétit!

Welcome to the first season of our highly anticipated Lebanon Valley “Wing Wars.” Eight entrants from four regions of the Valley will compete, bracket style, to be declared the winner of Best Wing in The Valley.

Our judgment will be based upon several factors, including wing sauce/rub flavor, size of wing, how they’re cooked, presentation, and critic impression.

We finished up in the east region pitting the Blue Bird Inn against The Union House in Richland. And today we had a special guest with us, the one and only Moo-Pa, our little critic’s grandfather to offer his take on the “Wing Wars.”

Located along Cornwall Road in the borough, the Blue Bird offers wings as an appetizer, bone-in and boneless options. A half-dozen is $10, and a full dozen is $16. The order comes with ranch/blue cheese and celery. They do not have a wing night special and have limited selections on wing flavors.

Blue Bird Inn

Address
2387 Cornwall Road
Cornwall, PA 17042

Phone: (717) 273-3000

Website
bluebirdinn.com

Hours
Mon: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Tue: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Wed: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Thu: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Fri: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sat: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sun: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Today, we ordered two dozen wings with one sauce each: Cajun Ranch and Sweet Fre. There was no shortage of sauce for the wings. Our fingers were messy after this meal.

The wings were larger in size. My order could have used just a little longer in the fryer as the outside didn’t have the crisp. Plenty of meat on the wings. This order was higher on price, but it was more than enough to fill me up.

The choices on sauces were very limited. We wish they would have some different choices beyond the normal. The Sweet Fire was a near perfect balance of both flavors. In the Cajun Ranch, the cajun flavor was over-powered by the sheer amount of ranch in this selection.

Sweet Fire wings at the Blue Bird Inn.
Cajun Ranch wings at the Blue Bird Inn.

Our final impression:

  • Above average size wing.
  • Limited selection of flavors.
  • The Sweet Fire is a great flavor.
  • A costly wing order but you get a filling order.

Winner: Congratulations to Union House Taproom & Livery for coming out of the East Region. It was a close match up but they will have their wings challenged in the next round.


If you have a restaurant you would like us to visit or review, whether a place you like or are nervous to try, please message us on Facebook or email lvfoodcritics@outlook.com and let us know. We thank everyone for the recommendations and the kind words we have received.