Blackfish Tavern Review: Northport’s Best Wings Are Just the Beginning
- Matthew Kourie
- Jun 26
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 27
A Local Review by Long Island’s Wing Man
3X National Buffalo Wing Festival Judge • Founder, Best Wings LI (est. 2011)
Long Island Native • Host of 7,000+ Wing Fans at NY Best Wings Festival
Looking for the Best Wings in Northport? Start Here.
As Long Island's original wing hunter, I've been chasing the island's best wings since 2011.
I've traveled to Buffalo, New York, judged the U.S. National Buffalo Wing Championship three times, and helped thousands of Long Islanders discover incredible restaurants through Best Wings LI.
People ask me one question more than any other.
"Matt... where are the best wings on Long Island?"
The answer is never as simple as naming one restaurant.
Great wings are about more than sauce.
They're about craftsmanship.
Technique.
Consistency.
Hospitality.
And every once in a while you find a restaurant that reminds you why you started searching in the first place.
Blackfish Tavern is one of those restaurants.
I went expecting a great Buffalo wing.
I left genuinely excited about restaurants again.
First Impressions: Classy Casual Done Right
Pulling up with valet parking immediately set the tone.
Classy casual.
That's the feeling Blackfish Tavern delivers from the moment you arrive.
Walking inside, I noticed something many restaurants overlook.
There are multiple experiences waiting for you.
A welcoming indoor dining room.
A comfortable bar.
Beautiful outdoor seating.
Two separate outdoor areas that make you want to stay for another drink instead of rushing home.
Inside, the music was exactly where it should be.
Present enough to create energy.
Never loud enough to interrupt conversation.
Somehow Blackfish Tavern feels refined while remaining completely approachable.
A Restaurant That Bakes Its Own Bread
One detail immediately stood out.
Blackfish Tavern isn't simply serving food.
They're baking.
House-made bread.
Fresh desserts.
A dedicated pastry chef.
Those details matter because they tell you something about the kitchen before the first plate ever reaches the table.
They care.
Cocktails Worth Hanging Around For
One of my favorite parts of the afternoon wasn't just the food.
It was moving naturally between the patio and the indoor bar while enjoying completely different experiences.
The combination was outstanding.
One of my favorite moments became simply going back and forth between another bite of wing and another sip of my cocktail.
Later I found myself enjoying a refreshing Margarita at the indoor bar.
Bright.
Cold.
Refreshing.
The perfect lunch you hope for on a warm afternoon.
Before leaving, I finished with a classic Espresso Martini—and exactly the kind of drink that reminds you Blackfish Tavern is already a great place to settle in at the bar.
Before We Get To The Wings...
The menu deserves attention.
The Smashburger was exceptional.
Fresh beef layered perfectly with cheese, tomato and pickle on house-made bread baked right in the restaurant.
Simple ingredients.
Thoughtful execution.
Then came the Bang Bang Shrimp.
Refreshing because it wasn't the typical mayonnaise-heavy version.
Instead, it had an authentic personality, real cashews, beautiful texture and a crisp finish that made it memorable.
Everything arriving from the kitchen reinforced the same thought.
This restaurant genuinely cares about what it serves.
NOW...
The Wings.
The color alone stopped me.
Absolutely beautiful.
That deep orange Buffalo color isn't accidental.
The paprika creates that vibrant appearance while the chili powder contributes a subtle smoky character before the wings are ever tossed in sauce.
Then comes their proprietary seasoning blend.
These fresh, never frozen Mountaire jumbo wings are seasoned before they're cooked, allowing the flavor to become part of the chicken itself instead of simply sitting on the outside.
That attention to detail changes everything.
Why These Wings Taste Different
This is one of the most thoughtful wing cooking processes I've seen.
Seasoned first.
Then cooked inside a Rational iCombi Pro.
The controlled cooking environment allows moisture to remain around the wings throughout the cooking process, producing remarkably juicy chicken from the inside out.
Once fully cooked, they're flash-finished in beef tallow.
Not to cook them.
Simply to create that beautiful crunch!
The result?
Crunchy.
Succulent.
Juicy.
Never dry.
Every single bite.
There are only a handful of these ovens on Long Island, and once you taste what they're capable of, you understand why this process stands apart.
Then Comes The Buffalo Sauce
Homemade.
Built around Frank's cayenne pepper sauce.
Balanced with heavy cream.
Simple.
Brilliant.
The heavy cream doesn't hide the Buffalo flavor.
It refines it.
The cayenne is still there.
The tang is still there.
The classic Buffalo character remains completely intact.
What changes is the experience.
Instead of overwhelming heat, you get a creamy, incredibly balanced Buffalo sauce that keeps pulling you back for another bite.
Finger-licking good doesn't even begin to describe it.
First Bite
Mmm.
Mm...mm. Literally I was making these sounds.
Every bite completely filled my tongue with flavor and zest.
The kind of bite that makes your eyes open a little wider.
The wings are so succulent I found myself pulling every last bit of sauce from the bone after each bite.
The depth of flavor is unreal.
One thing I judge heavily after tasting thousands of wings is whether a restaurant has created its own recognizable thumbprint.
That's incredibly difficult.
Blackfish Tavern has done it.
If someone handed me one of these wings blind, I honestly believe I'd know exactly where they came from.
That's one of the highest compliments I can give. Very impressive. golf claps
Homemade Blue Cheese
Honestly...
You don't even need it.
But one dip changes everything.
Rich.
Creamy.
Knock-your-socks-off delicious.
The More I Ate...
...the hungrier I became.
Normally, incredibly flavorful food eventually tells your brain you've had enough.
These wings did the opposite.
Every bite made me want another.
Go with eight.
Maybe twelve.
Trust me.
You'll understand.
Why Blackfish Tavern Matters
I've always believed chicken wings are the gateway to judging a restaurant.
If a kitchen phones in the wings, there's a good chance they're phoning in everything else.
Blackfish Tavern completely disproves that fear.
When this much thought goes into something as simple as a Buffalo wing, you know the rest of the menu receives the same care.
I genuinely can't wait to come back.
Not just for more Buffalo wings.
For every wing flavor.
For more cocktails.
For more of the menu.
I want to tour this restaurant one plate at a time.
The Verdict
After years of restaurant reviews, food tours and thousands of wings, experiences naturally begin blending together.
Blackfish Tavern doesn't.
Maybe it's the thoughtful cooking process.
Maybe it's the incredible hospitality.
Maybe it's the beautiful outdoor seating.
Two sections with a TiKI Bar Patio.
Maybe it's the cocktails.
Maybe it's simply how much love this kitchen puts into every plate.
Whatever it is...
Northport has found one of its true restaurant stars.
Hands down, this is one of the best wing experiences I've had in a very long time.
One of my favorite discoveries since beginning my wing hunt in 2011.
If you're looking for some of the best Buffalo wings in Northport, or on Long Island in general, exceptional cocktails, a beautiful outdoor patio, thoughtful hospitality and a kitchen that genuinely cares, Blackfish Tavern deserves a spot at the top of your list.
Blackfish Tavern is officially, a Buffalo Wing Destination. Certified, Amaze-Wing.
Save this review.
Send it to your wing-loving friends.
Then go hungry.
You're going to want room for another order.
Blackfish Tavern
1031 Fort Salonga Rd., Northport, NY 11768
Instagram: @blackfishtavern
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
🚗 Parking: Free public parking available.
🤵 Complimentary Valet Parking:
Thursday: 3:00 PM – Close
Friday: 12:00 PM – Close
Saturday: 11:00 AM – Close
Sunday: 11:00 AM – Close
🌴 Outdoor Dining: Two outdoor patio seating areas
🍹 Tiki Bar Patio Hours:
Tuesday–Friday: 4:00 PM – Close
Saturday & Sunday: 1:00 PM – Close
🏛️ Second-Floor Dining: Indoor seating available upstairs
🍗 Wing Hunter Tip:
Wing Wednesday (All Day)
8 Wings — $10
12 Wings — $18.50
25 Wings — $39
50 Wings — $75
Wednesday Drink Specials
🍺 Michelob Ultra — $4
🥂 Two Chicks — $4
(While supplies last, drink offer ends soon)
About the Author
Matthew Kourie
Founder, Best Wings LI (est. 2011)
Founder, New York Best Wings Festival
3X U.S. National Buffalo Wing Championship Judge
Helping Long Islanders discover exceptional wings and unforgettable hospitality experiences since 2011.
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