For the best wings in Binghamton, you have to head south. South Side Yanni’s at 1200 Vestal Ave. is the place to go for good, old-fashioned comfort food with a Greek twist: from mac and cheese to gyros, burgers to buffalo wings. The corner-side pub has a casual, come-as-you-are atmosphere with prices that will satisfy your wallet as well as your appetite.
The menu features standard bar fare: fried appetizers, wings, burgers and sandwiches. It has Greek options as well, including gyros, souvlakis, salads and the infamous Yanni burger, which comes smothered in tzatziki sauce and feta.
“Their regular buffalo wings are really delicious,” said Endicott local Mike Marulli. “They also have Greek-style wings that are made with oregano, garlic and lemon, which are good too.”
In addition to the menu, Yanni’s has a variety of specials that change daily, from spaghetti and meatballs on Thursdays to homemade meatloaf and mashed potatoes on Tuesdays.
“The mac and cheese special on Friday is my favorite,” said Endicott local Kris Johnson. “The specials are all affordable and really, really tasty.”
Due to its location, Yanni’s is somewhat of a hidden gem, unbeknownst to the general student body.
“I don’t often see big packs of students in here,” said Binghamton local Edward Cranston. “It’s a big hotspot for townies because the food and the prices are so good. It’s like a local secret. It might also be that way because they’re kinda strict with their ID policy.”
To sweeten this delicious deal, South Side Yanni’s is participating in Binghamton’s fall Restaurant Week, which runs from Sept. 17-26. As per the deal, Yanni’s will be offering a three-course lunch for $10 and a three-course dinner for $20. They will be releasing some menu favorites on the Restaurant Week selection, including spiedies, a Binghamton specialty. Proceeds from Restaurant Week go to CHOW, the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse, which supplies numerous local soup kitchens and community meal programs with food.
If you’re looking for a relaxing pub-type atmosphere complete with big-screen TVs, rib-sticking comfort food, decent prices and no-nonsense tap beer, Yanni’s is the place to go and grab a bite.