Binga's Wingas

When Binga's Wingas in Portland was damaged in a fire last year, the owner said he would not only re-open at a new location, but would have two new locations.

The restaurant, well known for its chicken wings, opened on Route 1 in Yarmouth over the summer. A second location at the Stadium, a bar on Congress Street in Portland, is scheduled to open later this month.

The Yarmouth location is where Bill's Pizza used to be, and the restaurant's interior looks nothing like it did when it was Bill's.

Binga's has a contemporary look and feel, with chrome accents and rock music floating in the air.

Three long tables with gorgeous, gleaming wood and bench seating are immediately to your right as you walk in. The bar, with seating and TVs inset in the wall, is beyond the tables. You can place a to-go order at a small counter directly across from the door, or grab a seat and have the staff wait on you.

When I arrived after the lunch hour was over on Tuesday, the place was full. Since it was a lovely late-summer day, I decided to order to go. I grabbed a menu, printed on bright yellow paper, and was told by the hostess that I could order from the fast value lunch menu, which I ended up doing.

It's a good deal. For $5.99, you get a sandwich, a side and a drink. The sandwich options are a BLT wrap, two mini-burgers (sliders), two barbecue pulled pork sliders, a sausage sub or two chicken salad sliders. Side options are potato chips, potato salad, red cabbage slaw and tomato cucumber salad.

I ordered the barbecue pulled pork sliders with chips and a Coke. I had it within five minutes and was on my way to Grist Mill Park to eat my lunch on a picnic table in the sun.

The pulled pork sliders were OK, but I like my barbecue sauce to be a bit tangier. They were also wicked messy, so I was thrilled to find a lemon-scented moist towelette included with my plastic fork and napkins.

So, what else is on the menu besides the obvious chicken wings? You can order a meatloaf sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy for $7.99, a falafel wrap for $6.99 or the Deathwrap (chicken tenders, bacon, cheese, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and onion) for $7.99.

A half-order of wings is $6.49 (full order is $12.98). The restaurant also offers salads ranging in price from $2.99 (the Binga's Wedgie) to $8.99 (buffalo chicken salad).

There are a good number of yummy side dishes, including sweet potato fries for $4.99, barbecue baked beans and franks for $3.99 and mac and cheese ($1.99 for a small, $3.49 for a large).

Several dinner options, including baby back ribs ($16.49 to $19.49), are also available.

The Features staff of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram anonymously samples meals for about $7.

Binga's Wingas