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My mother always told me that it’s rude to lick your fingers in public. Being the conscientious person that I am, I abided by this rule every time I ate out at a restaurant. Although it killed me inside as a little kid, I resisted the urge to put my fingers in my mouth, no matter what my young peers were doing. Instead, I wiped my messy hands politely on my napkin and went on with my meal. “Elbows off the table,” “Napkin in lap,” and “Don’t slurp your milk” were some more of my mom’s favorite rules which I had to follow.

I lived my life this way for 14 years, eating the “proper” way. You’d naturally think that we were having dinner with the Queen of England or something. A few of these good eating habits were tossed aside, however, on one Thursday night last February when one of my friends invited me to Wing Night at Taylor’s Steak House (on North Kansas Avenue) here in Hastings.

It’s not that I just all of a sudden turned into a total slob; I just let loose a little bit. Watching my friends eat in a carefree way (with their elbows on the table!) made me realize what I had been missing out on. I’d been deprived of eating like a real person!  I was just so stunned to see them with barbeque sauce all over their fingers, periodically licking it off, that I had to watch for a minute and take it all in. It totally blew my mind! I started copying what they were doing, and it gave me a small sense of rebellion. I was breaking the rules! I’d never felt so alive!

I went just that one time, and now I’m hooked. I spend nearly every Thursday night there, drinking Shirley Temples, eating honey BBQ wings with ranch, and catching up on the latest with my friends.  And I don’t just go to briefly escape from my mom’s strictly enforced dinner etiquette; the wings are always so hot and delicious, and they never fail to send my taste buds on a journey.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is also great for socializing and very cozy. A variety of pictures and paintings line the walls and make for great conversation starters. My personal favorite is the picture of a herd of buffalo that hangs over the table at which my friends and I normally sit. The crackling fireplace makes the place warm and inviting, and the candy dispensers by the door are old-fashioned and add character. Overall, there’s just something about it that makes it unique. You don’t find places like that too often any more.

Taylor’s is loved and supported by both the teenage and young adult population of Hastings. This is because the dinner plans of high school and college students depend on: A) how much money you have, and B) how hungry you are. At $0.30 a wing, it is a very cost-efficient choice, and you can order how ever many  you want. They come in many different flavors: Honey BBQ, Mild, Hot, Spicy, and “Naked” just to name a few. Along with your meal comes as much ranch as one could ever possibly need, and a big stack of napkins for when things get messy. (And things do get messy. Really, really messy.)

From my experiences , I have derived a list of the top three things you can do to make your wing night a success:

1. Don’t bother wiping off your fingers in between every single wing you eat. Trust me, they’re just going to get messy again. I’m not saying that it’s a good idea to be covered up to your elbows in barbeque sauce, but trying to maintain clean hands the whole time just takes away from the experience.
2. Make sure your cell phone and money to pay for your meal are on the table BEFORE you start eating. I’ve learned this one the hard way. Digging around in your purse or pockets for cash or a ringing phone with sauce or ranch all over your hands almost always ends badly.
3. Be sure to eat ALL of the meat off the bone. Seriously, don’t waste good food. After all, there are starving children in Ethiopia…

So, what are you in the mood for? Something hot and spicy? Or maybe you just want plain ol’ wings drenched in dipping sauce. Whatever your case may be, Taylor’s is a place where you can personalize your meal and make it truly your own. And one thing is for sure: no matter what you order, it’s bound to be finger lickin’ good!

About the author: Kelli Poplau

Kelli Poplau is a native of Hastings and a sophomore at Hastings Senior High. Involved in volleyball, swimming, tennis, and yearbook, Kelli is a busy student athlete. She spends much of her time in the pool, training with both Hastings YMCA Aquatics Club and the Hastings High swim team. When she’s not studying or at practice, Kelli enjoys reading, writing, making jewelry, and finding things to do around the community with her friends. She loves living in a small town where everybody knows each other, and wouldn’t trade it for the world.