If you’ve been craving authentic Buffalo wings in Washington DC, you’re in luck. The team behind Anju and Chiko has opened Upstate FTW, a brand-new sports bar concept inside Sports & Social (1314 U St. NW). The menu is packed with upstate New York comfort food favorites—from beef on weck and chicken riggies to Rochester’s famous garbage plates. And yes, the wings are the real deal.
An Upstate New York Sports Bar in the Heart of DC
Upstate FTW is the latest project from the Fried Rice Collective—the restaurant group behind award-winning Korean spot Anju and fast-casual favorite Chiko. Co-owner Scott Drewno, who grew up in Penn Yan, New York, has long wanted to showcase the foods of his hometown.
Partnering with chefs Danny Lee and Angel Barreto, Drewno is now serving the dishes that define upstate New York food culture, just in time for football season. While Sports & Social continues to run the front-of-house and drinks program, the Upstate FTW crew takes charge of the kitchen.
The Secret to Authentic Buffalo Wings in DC
When it comes to Buffalo wings in DC, Upstate FTW is aiming for authenticity. To perfect the recipe, Drewno and his team traveled to Buffalo and hit eight wing joints in one day. Their biggest discovery? Great wings take time.
At Upstate FTW, wings are:
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Brined overnight for flavor
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Chilled and air-dried for two days to ensure crispy skin
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Fried to order and tossed in a classic sauce of Frank’s Red Hot and butter
The wings are finished with a house seasoning for an extra punch. Alongside the traditional Buffalo style, you’ll also find four other sauces, including Buffalo’s unique “double BBQ,” where wings are sauced, charred, then sauced again.
What’s on the Menu at Upstate FTW
While wings are the star, the full menu showcases a wide range of upstate New York regional specialties you won’t find elsewhere in DC:
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Beef on Weck – Smoked roast beef (partnering with DC’s 2Fifty BBQ) on a kimmelweck roll from Pops Bakery, served with horseradish and jus.
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Chicken Riggies – Central New York’s baked rigatoni and chicken dish smothered in cheese and tangy cream sauce.
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Spiedies with Salt Potatoes – Pork belly skewers marinated in an Italian dressing-style sauce, served with buttery, over-salted baby Yukon golds.
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Rochester Red & White Hots – Iconic Zweigle’s hot dogs with a signature snap, topped with meat sauce, mustard, and onions.
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The Garbage Plate – A Rochester late-night legend: half home fries, half macaroni salad, topped with two cheeseburgers, meat sauce, mustard, onions, and French bread. Perfect for hangovers—or preventing them.
For dessert, diners can indulge in New York-style cheesecake or a hot skillet chocolate chip cookie.
Game Day Atmosphere: A Commanders Bar, Not a Bills Bar
Even though the menu is rooted in Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester traditions, Upstate FTW isn’t a Buffalo Bills bar. Instead, the team made the call to back the Washington Commanders, ensuring the game-day crowd feels local while the menu tastes like upstate New York.
Why DC Foodies Should Visit Upstate FTW
Whether you’re chasing the most authentic Buffalo wings in Washington DC, craving a beef on weck sandwich, or ready to tackle a garbage plate after a night out, Upstate FTW brings something new to the U Street sports bar scene.
Upstate FTW at Sports & Social is open now at 1314 U St. NW, Washington DC. Perfect for football season, happy hour, or a late-night bite, it’s one of the most unique new sports bars in DC for 2025.