Wild Wings Café takes flight again
Coming back to Farragut after four-year hiatus
McFarland is planning a grand opening Friday, Jan. 16, starting at 4 p.m. until midnight.
“We’re so excited, he said about the opening. “It’s a long time coming. When I went in this direction [to re-open], I didn’t think it would take this long.
“So many people are
excited about it coming back,” he added.
Its patrons can expect “Farragut’s home for hot wings, cold beer and good times to be back better than ever,” he said, teasing to a planned Voice Off competition in February.
There also is its patio and great local and regional live entertainment.
“We’ve got a great lineup already starting, including Ann Betty, Smooth Sailor, Max Stillwell, Tall Paul and other various entertainers,” McFarland said. “And the best place to catch a game.”
And then, of course, there are the wings.
“I can’t give you the secret, but I would say that we make our marinades from scratch,” he said. “Not a lot of people know that. Almost everything that comes out of the kitchen is made from scratch.
“That’s part of our direction,” McFarland said. “That’s why it’s important, and that’s why it tastes so good. A lot of love goes in it.”
Besides wings, patrons will find burgers, wraps, ultimate nachos, salads and grilled items for people looking for healthier options on the menu.
“And, we’ll have a few new things coming on here, some new, exciting surprises,” he added.
Still, “we’re sticking to our roots,” McFarland assured. “It’s the Wild Wing Café, and we won Best Wings in Knoxville I don’t know how many times.
Patrons will be able to order a flight of wings with five different flavors of its current 34 flavors, they can eat all themselves or share it with family and friends.
The restaurant will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and from 4 p.m. to 1 p.m., Friday and Saturday.
Wild Wings Café, which first opened in 2007, had a long-standing history in Farragut, from its live entertainment, voice-off competitions, epic Cinco de Mayo parties and community involvement to its wake-boarding on the pond.
But, McFarland wanted more for his restaurant.
“We were heading in another direction than the franchiser,” he explained.
So, he chose not to sign another agreement with the corporate Wild Wings Café and closed the restaurant.
After negotiations, though, McFarland’s restaurant eventually broke away from the corporate franchiser and now is a “truly independently, locally owned and operated — no longer a franchisee — [establishment],” he said. “We are so excited to bring it back.”
While it took awhile, “We were able to break away from corporate and become our own Wild Wing Café,” he said. “Now, I’m able to have the direction I believe in.”
McFarland added his Powell location also is independent.
