April 2006

Staten Island Advance
Far out wings at the Planet

Mild or hot, this Mariners Harbor eatery's birds are meant to be plucked.

Chicken wings are everywhere these days. Upscale restaurants offer them as appetizers. Quickserve spots let you make a meal of them. Wings are even found in Italian, Chinese and Mexican-theme restaurants. But at Planet Wings in Mariners Harbor, wings are the center of the universe.

WINGS IN SPACE
Brothers Vincent and Jimmy Martella opened Planet Wings about a year ago. The Martella's offer 24 different ways to enjoy them at varied temperature levels.
When your palate simply demands hot wings, strap your seat belt on for those labeled Suicidal. They are the hottest this wing-lover has ever tasted.
Who dabbles in the suicidal stuff? Vincent laughed and replied, The brave ones. He added, Most don't get it again after they try it. He offers free samples for daring taste buds that may not make it through an entire meal.
On the less combustible side, butter-garlic, Cajun, teriyaki, Jamaican jerk and sweet and sour make other considerations. By the way, wings are packed from five to 100 pieces in dinners and variety combinations.
If wings don't fly with your crowd, Planet Wings hawks chicken sandwiches, chicken fingers as well as burgers, cheese steaks, gyros and salads.
The menu zeroes in on the extraterrestrial theme, hence the Spacely Specials with wings, fries and a soda priced from $6.50 to $7.50. Side dishes like beer-battered mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers and nachos supreme are grouped under the title Saturn's Moons.
The late space scientist Carl Sagan would likely have been impressed with this spot on the planet.

ENTREPRENEURIAL PAIR
Success of Planet Wings can be attributed to the brothers' hands-on approach. One of us is here at all times, Jimmy said. Soon, they plan to add Mexican food to the menu. A second location on Hylan Boulevard is also in the works.
The brothers also make an effort to give back to the community by making coupons available on their Web site, www.planetwings.com. Planet Wings is located at 2220 Forest Ave., Mariners Harbor. 718-273-7575

• RICHARD T. RYAN

Staten Island Planet Wings page

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