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Preview Magazine: Best Sandwiches

October 2017// Preview// Michele Chiappetta & Rob Harmon

 

Ranging from traditional basics to the truly unique, we’ve found 48 of the best things to happen to the 918 since sliced bread. Are you ready to revisit that most classic of American food groups – the sandwich?

 

Ah, the sandwich. Ever since the Middle Ages, when John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, supposedly invented a quick, neat

 

way to eat without leaving the gambling table, we’ve had a love affair with this delectable, handheld meal. And though it was once only popular with aristocrats who could afford to lose money playing cards, the sandwich has since become one of the most egalitarian and middle-class lunches of all time.

In truth, the sandwich in its many forms has probably existed ever since humans could slide meat and cheese between slices of bread. It has even been taken to court, specifically a court in Boston, where it was ruled that the legal definition of “sandwich” in that jurisdiction would require slices of bread to be part of the meal. Who knew a simple lunch meal could be so complex?

The sandwich in its many forms is ever popular as a lunch option for worker bees, students, and others who are on the go. In an ever-increasing handsfree world, it’s still the go-to meal for someone with a free hand. And you can choose from all kinds of sandwiches, breads, fillings and more in just about every corner of Green Country.

That said, here’s our list of 48 fantastic places around Green Country whe

re you can grab some meat, cheese and bread and hit the road, having conquered your royal appetite.

Native Grill & Wings
10804 E. 71st | Tulsa
Mouthwatering chicken, battered and smothered in mozzarella, parmesan, marinara sauce, sprinkled with fresh basil, all stuffed in a hoagie — the chicken parmesan at Native Grill & Wings will become one of your favorites at first bite. The meatball sub is everything you’d expect, jam-packed with marinara sauce and mozzarella, and a sure hit with the taste buds. Try the California Cluck and you’ll love it — charbroiled chicken on a toasted ciabatta bun with bacon, tomato and avocado. And if your East Coast cravings kick in, go for the Philly Steak with thinly sliced rib-eye steak, grilled onions, green bell peppers, red wine mushrooms and topped with queso.

See the full article here.

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Preview magazine: Best Wings

September 2017// Preview // Michele Chiappetta & Rob Harmon

Best Wings – Whether fried, battered, smoked, naked or slathered in sauce, chicken wings are the perfect food staple for the big game or a quick bite. We’ve found the 30 worthiest wings joints in the 918. Stock up on wet wipes. 

You know you love them: those small bits of chicken, braised in sauce and served up as you hang with your best buddies watching the game at your favorite Green Country watering hole. The mighty chicken wing is a classic, go-to appetizer for good reason. They’re tasty, messily fun, come in so many flavors, and can easily feed just you or your whole crew of friends.

Believe it or not, wings were supposedly invented in — where else? — Buffalo, N.Y., when Teressa Bellissmo received a supply of chicken wings rather than chicken necks, and was forced to improvise. Whether true or not, the story reminds us that chicken wings are a brilliant use of what is otherwise a sadly overlooked part of the bird.

The average American eats around 90 wings a year. At around six wings per serving, that’s at least 15 times you’ll be enjoying this fun appetizer around town. And with the football season about to kick off, what better time is there to explore the best T-Town has to offer? So, we bit the bullet and ate our way around Green Country to give you this list of the best wings you can eat around these parts.

Native Grill & Wings
10804 E. 71st | Tulsa
Located just north of the Cinemark Tulsa and IMAX off 71st, Native Grill & Wings abounds with delicious-looking combinations of sandwiches (California Cluck, meatball sub), salads, sliders, burgers and, yes, pizza. But if it’s wings you want, it’s wings you can get. Native takes the basic concept of wings and runs it through an abundance of variations. Their menu features some traditional flavors, and a host of bolder choices as well including The Ghost (which claims to say RIP to your taste buds), Chicken n’ Waffles, Strawberry Hot and Teriyaki Ginger. While it’s difficult to pick a standout, Native goes above and beyond the traditional wing offerings. If you’re seeking wings done well, Native will never steer you wrong, especially on Tuesdays when you can get bottomless tradition wings for $14.99.

See the full article here.

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Review: Native Grill & Wings is sports bar-style eatery featuring pizza, wings

STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World

September 5, 2017 // Tulsa World News // Scott Cherry

Sports bar-style eater opens in south Tulsa

The history of Native Grill & Wings, according to managing partner Jason Prout at the new Tulsa restaurant, started in 1979 when the founding Anderson family made its way from Buffalo, New York, to settle in Arizona.

“The story goes that they moved there to open a pizzeria and called it the Native New Yorker Restaurant,” said Prout, a veteran Tulsa restaurateur. “When the pizzeria started failing and since they were from Buffalo, where wings began at the Anchor Bar, they went and bought a bunch of wings and started selling them in Arizona. They became very popular and successful with the wings.”

The story also goes that people started saying, “Let’s go to Native to eat,” and the owners eventually dropped New Yorker and renamed it Native Grill & Wings.

Regardless, the chain made its entry into Oklahoma about three weeks ago in a new building that sits in front of Cinemark Tulsa theater and behind Smashburger and Chuy’s on the south side of 71st Street.

It’s a sports bar-styled restaurant with banks of big-screen televisions that are easy to see anywhere in the dining areas. Two large screens over the bar can show up to four games each at one time, a handy thing to have as football season gets under way.

Wings are the big stars here with 21 flavors, including seven dry rubs and 14 sauces. They range from mild chicken n’ waffles and asiago Parmesan to spicy hot habanero mango and The Ghost.

Our table ordered a 15-pack platter ($15.99) with five salt and vinegar, five honey hot and five honey barbecue. The bone-in wings were tender and meaty, and the latter two flavors had a little kick to them. They came with celery sticks and a good, creamy ranch dipping sauce.

Along the same line, the restaurant also offers boneless wings and strippers, Native’s name for boneless fried chicken tenders.

The menu has enough variety to satisfy most tastes. It includes stone-oven pizzas, flatbreads, salads, burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, sliders and a couple of fish entrees.

In addition to wings, we also had the hangover burger ($10.99) and an order of sliders (two for $6.49), and both came with tasty seasoned fries.

The hangover burger, served in a paper-lined wire basket, was almost too thick to eat by hand. It included a ground beef patty, hardwood-smoked bacon, hash browns, fried egg, avocado, lettuce and pepper jack cheese. The combination of the bacon, egg and avocado made it a burger to remember.

The sliders turned out to be a good bargain. We chose barbecued pork and Native sliders. The former held a generous serving of shredded pork with pickle slices and honey-barbecue sauce. The Native was a basic, small burger with ground beef, cheddar cheese and pickles. Both were served on soft brioche buns.

Other slider choices included meatball with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, and chicken-fried chicken with lettuce, pickles and mayo.

I substituted onion rings for the fries with the hangover burger for an extra $1.99. They were medium-sized and OK, but I might just stick with the fries next time.

I almost ordered the fish and chips, but instead of that, I think I would like to return on a Friday for the Friday Fish Fry, which includes a 13-ounce, beer-battered haddock, served with fries, tartar sauce and lemon for $12.99.

Native Grill & Wings offers full bar service.

A menu for ages 12 and younger includes a grilled chicken breast, four-pack wings, kid-friendly strippers, grilled cheese, mac-and-cheese or slider for $3.99 to $5.49. They come with a fountain drink or milk and choice of one side.

Our server, Christina, was hard-working, friendly and seemed well-versed on the menu.

Restaurant features include a garage door that can open to the patio and counter seats on the patio that open to the bar through another garage door. Decorations include a hand-painted wall mural with a Tulsa and Route 66 theme.

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Native Grill & Wings Back and Better than Ever in Laveen

September 18, 2017 // Franchising.com // Native Grill & Wings

Award-winning restaurant continues Arizona expansion.

Native Grill & Wings, an award-winning Arizona restaurant chain known for its 20+ wing flavors that guests can order by the individual wing, has announced the reopening of its Laveen location.

The restaurant is located at 5020 W. Baseline Road, Suite 123, in Laveen, and is open and operating as of September 8, 2017. Franchise owner Pat Kieny is bringing the brand back to Laveen with extensive experience as an owner of two other Native locations in Phoenix.

“I’m thrilled to reintroduce a staple Arizona brand like Native Grill & Wings to the people of Laveen,” said Kieny. “Native already has a loyal following throughout Arizona, and we can’t wait to see Laveen become another hub for local chicken wing lovers.”

Native Grill & Wings (or, “Native,” as the regulars call it) focuses on high-quality food and being a family-friendly environment, unlike competitors such as Hooters, Twin Peaks and Buffalo Wild Wings. The polished sports grill proudly offers over 20 wing flavors – from Strawberry Hot to Ancho Chile Lime, Asian Garlic to Honey Chipotle – which guests can order by the individual wing, as well as an extensive menu of pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. Most of the sauces and rubs can be used to customize other menu items.

Native Grill & Wings restaurants are divided into a bar and restaurant, with approximately 30-40 flat screen TVs throughout, offering sports coverage for families and serious fans, and a customer base spanning all generations – baby boomers, Generation Xers and Millennials.

“I am confident that Pat will continue to bring success to each area he introduces Native in,” said CEO Dan Chaon. “We’re incredibly proud of the recognition and iconic status we’ve received in our own backyard over the past three decades, and we’re excited to see the brand continue to expand throughout Arizona.”

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Chain restaurants see growing, younger market in Tulsa

Server Samantha Valenzuela delivers food Wednesday at Native Grill & Wings. The chain, which just opened its first Tulsa location at 10804 E. 71st., wants to add several more Oklahoma restaurants. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World

 

August 23, 2017 //Tulsa World News // Mike Averill

National and regional restaurant chains interested in Tulsa

Tulsa is a hot spot for national franchise restaurants seeking a growing, younger market.

One of the newest additions to the 71st Street landscape is Native Grill & Wings.

The Arizona-based chain with a menu including more than 20 flavors of wings as well as pizzas, burgers and salads, has more than 30 locations in seven states.

The recently opened location at 10804 E. 71st St. is the company’s first in Oklahoma.

“We like growing areas with lots of families,” said Adriana Espinosa, a company spokeswoman. “We chose Tulsa because it is a growing area.”

She said Tulsa was a “perfect fit” for the company as it looks to grow in the Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas area.

The company hopes to expand in the next couple of years with three to five additional locations in the state.

Coolgreens, a “healthy lifestyle eatery” that features build-your-own salads, wraps, bowls, flatbreads and more is ready to franchise.
The Oklahoma City–based restaurant has six locations in Oklahoma City, Edmond and Norman and a seventh is set to open soon inside the Will Rogers World Airport.

The company would eventually like to enter the Dallas/Fort Worth area, as well as Kansas City, Wichita, Omaha and Denver.

The first step in that plan is moving into the Tulsa market, said Clay Carson, vice president of franchise development at Coolgreens.

The company is working with Buxton Analytics in Fort Worth to create its customer profile and help identify markets that will bring the best results.

“There’s a science to it,” Carson said. “We know our core customer … and you’ve got pockets within bigger markets where you have groups that tend to have a bit of a healthier lifestyle.”

As far as Tulsa as a market, Carson said he sees a lot of similarities between it and Oklahoma City.
“There’s a lot of rejuvenation and a lot of kids who graduate that maybe 10 years ago would have left for Dallas or Chicago because the markets didn’t offer things they are looking for culturally,” he said.
“A lot of good jobs are being created, so a lot of kids are staying home and creating a very cool community.”
Other chains planning to come to Tulsa include Austin-based Torchy’s Taco. It is moving into the Brookside neighborhood in a location that previously held HopBunz. Dunkin’ Donuts has also announced a location in Broken Arrow, as well as plans to bring up to 10 restaurants to the area.
Salta, a Houston-based chain restaurant that features salads and wraps composed of made-from-scratch ingredients, opened one location at Kingspointe Village earlier this year and is in the process of opening two others.
The chain has more than 60 locations in four states.
“I think Tulsa is going to be absolutely a great market for us,” said franchisee Mark Brooker in an earlier Tulsa World story. “Great food and very trendy.”

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Restaurant news: Native Grill & Wings opens in south Tulsa

August 15, 2017 // Tulsa World News // Scott Cherry

Arizona Based Native Grill & Wings opens in south Tulsa 

Native Grill & Wings, an Arizona-based restaurant chain known for its 20-plus wing flavors, has opened at 10804 E. 71st St.

The wings, which can be ordered individually, range from strawberry hot and ancho chile lime to Asian garlic and honey chipotle.

The restaurant also offers pizzas, salads, burgers, sandwiches and fish-and-chips.  Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10:30 a.m. to midnight Friday-Saturday. The phone number is 918-806-2707.  It is located on the southeast corner of 71st Street and U.S. 169.

 

For the full story click here.

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Native Grill & Wings to Open First Oklahoma Location

August 11, 2017 // Franchising.com // Native Grill & Wings

Award-winning restaurant set to enter Tulsa

Native Grill & Wings, an award-winning Arizona restaurant chain known for its 20+ wing flavors that guests can order by the individual wing, is set to open its first restaurant in Oklahoma.

The new corporate-owned store will be located at 10804 E 71st Street in Tulsa, and is slated to open on August 14, 2017. Company plans call for four to six additional restaurants in Oklahoma over the next six to eight months throughout Tulsa, Norman and Oklahoma City.

“This is a big milestone for the company and a true testament to the brand’s appeal,” said Native Grill & Wings CEO Dan Chaon. “Expanding into Oklahoma is a major step for us and we are thrilled to establish Native as a premier sports grill in Tulsa.”

Native Grill & Wings (or, “Native,” as the regulars call it) focuses on high-quality food and being a family-friendly environment, unlike competitors such as Hooters, Twin Peaks and Buffalo Wild Wings. The polished sports grill proudly offers over 20 wing flavors – from Strawberry Hot to Ancho Chile Lime, Asian Garlic to Honey Chipotle – which guests can order by the individual wing, as well as an extensive menu of pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. Most of the sauces and rubs can be used to customize other menu items.

“We’re incredibly pleased with the recognition and acclaim we’ve received in our home state of Arizona over the past few years,” added Chaon. “We can’t wait to see a similar following across Oklahoma as we introduce the Native brand to wing fanatics throughout the Sooner State.”

Native Grill & Wings restaurants are divided into a bar and restaurant, with approximately 30-40 flat screen TVs throughout, offering sports coverage for families and serious fans, and a customer base spanning all generations – baby boomers, Generation Xers and Millennials.

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The Top 50 Emerging Restaurant Chains

August 1, 2017 // FSR Magazine // Connie Gentry, Alex Dixon

Native Grill & Wings in Surprise, Ariz.

FSR NAMES THE 50 HIGH-POTENTIAL, PERFORMANCE-PROVEN FULL-SERVICE BRANDS TO KEEP ON YOUR RADAR—EACH WITH FEWER THAN 50 LOCATIONS.

Performance and potential earned restaurants a spot among this year’s FSR 50—that, and the fact that each has a portfolio of fewer than 50 units. We’re talking emergent chains, those that have a growing presence and a penchant for progress, be it defined as menu innovation, sales growth, brand expansion, or community support. You’ll discover regional brands that have been around for decades, like Elmer’s, which opened in 1960 in Portland, Oregon, and has given birth to a new concept that it plans to develop in the Southwest. Along with brands like Snooze, which got its start just 11 years ago but has already awakened the Denver region to a heightened appreciation for polished breakfast service and exceptionally sustainable processes. For performance metrics, look to the chart on Pages 48 to 49, which details total company sales, average unit volume, number of units, and areas of operation for each of the FSR 50 brands.

Native Grill & Wings

CHANDLER, ARIZONA

ARIZONA, IDAHO, MASSACHUSETTS, MONTANA, TEXAS, SOUTH DAKOTA

34 UNITS The name changed in 2014 to Native Grill & Wings, but the company actually dates to 1978 when Buffalo, New York, city slickers Floyd and Judy Anderson took their dream of owning a restaurant westward and opened Native New Yorker in Arizona. Current expansion plans call for adding a Tulsa, Oklahoma, location along with a Northern Arizona location. The current portfolio includes three company-owned locations and 31 franchised units.

To see the full list click here.

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Native Grill & Wings bound for 71st Street in Tulsa

May 31, 2017 // Tulsa World // Samuel Hardiman

The Arizona-based chain takes its first step into Oklahoma. 

The busy stretch that is 71st Street in Tulsa is getting another chain restaurant: Native Grill & Wings.

The store under construction near 71st Street and U.S. 169 would be the Arizona-based chain’s first foray into the Oklahoma market, according to the company’s website.
When the Tulsa location opens, Oklahoma will join South Dakota, Montana, Massachusetts and Texas as states with one Native location, in addition to the dozens in Arizona and the two in Idaho.

Native offers traditional wings, boneless wings and their signature Native Style Chicken Strippers.

Construction is ongoing in front of the Cinemark Tulsa and IMAX. Native Grilll & Wings said it plans to open sometime in August.
On its website, Native Grill & Wings bills itself as a “polished family-friendly sports grill that proudly offers over 20 wing flavors.” Some of the flavors included on its online menu are Strawberry Hot Wings and Chicken N’ Waffles Dry Rub.

The chain also touts its salads, sandwiches, burgers and pizza. According to its website, the first restaurant began in 1979 when a couple from Buffalo, New York, bought a pizza restaurant in Arizona and named it Native New Yorker. In 2014, the chain updated its name to Native Grill & Wings.

The new restaurant, 10802 E. 71st St., is coming to a high traffic corridor that connects a broad swath of Tulsa retail to Broken Arrow.

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Bite Sized: April 27, 2017

April 27, 2017 // Worcester Magazine 

Something Native 

Native Grill & Wings, 111 Sutton Ave., Oxford, celebrates its grand opening Saturday-Sunday, April 29-30. The restaurant marks the Arizona chain’s first Massachusetts location. The company plans to add four to six new spots throughout the Boston Metro area over the next three years. “We are extremely excited to be the first location to enter the greater Boston market as the Native brand continues to expand nationally,” said Native Grill & Wings Franchise Owner Andy Colby. “We pride ourselves on using only quality ingredients, which sets us apart from your typical ‘sports grill,’ and our primary goal will always be to provide a welcoming environment for the whole family.” Native, as the regulars call it, has become known for offering more than 20 wing flavors that customers can order by the wing. The restaurant also offers pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads and more.

Native_Established_1979