Lilly’s and Brazen Fox Crowned Best Wings in Downtown White Plains For 2025 at the Sixth Annual Wing Walk Event
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (April 28, 2025) — Two restaurants in Downtown White Plains have won the title for the best wings during the Downtown White Plains 2025 Wing Walk held on Saturday. The winners were determined by both the public and a panel of culinary judges. Lilly’s was awarded the “People’s Choice Champion” for their Thai Chili Dry Rub wings, while Brazen Fox won the “Judge’s Choice Champion” title for their Stingin’ Honey Garlic Wings. Both restaurants showcased unique flavors and culinary creativity that impressed attendees and judges alike.
The “People’s Choice Champion” was determined by event attendees who purchased tickets to the Wing Walk event, a culinary competition hosted by the Downtown White Plains Business Improvement District. Guests received a Wing Walk “passport” featuring a QR code that linked to an online ballot, allowing them to rate each wing as they visited 16 participating restaurants, most offering 2 flavors of wings. Lilly’s crisp wings, which had the perfect balance of spice and crunch, won the hearts of attendees, leading to Lilly’s Thai Chili Dry Rub wings being rated the highest and earning them the “People’s Choice Champion” for the best wings in Downtown White Plains for 2025.
The White Plains BID extends a heartfelt congratulations to Chef Tyler Jacobs and Brian Mahon, owner of Lilly’s, for their outstanding achievement. Chef Tyler expressed his joy at winning, stating, “The event brings people to White Plains. It’s good, clean fun among businesses. It gives me a chance to have fun with food and make people happy.” (Lilly’s previously won the “Judges Choice Champion” in 2024 for their Jerk Chicken Wings).
The panel of culinary judges selected Brazen Fox as their top choice for best wings for the “Judges Choice Champion” title, with their Stingin’ Honey Garlic Wings receiving the highest rating among all judge entries. The panel included culinary experts such as Chef Ron Gallo (Executive Chef at the Happy Monkey), Kathi Gallo (Director of Catering at HPH Hospitality Group in Manhattan), Phil McGrath (Chair of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management at SUNY Westchester), James Morabito from Dana Distributors, and food influencers Francis Volpe and Nicky Smalls from Snack Time TV, who together boast over 300,000 subscribers across their social media platforms.
Declan Rainsford, owner of Brazen Fox, remarked on the event’s positive impact, saying, “It’s a great event that people enjoy. It brings nice people to the area. Our staff is thrilled that we won and received this recognition.”
About the Wing Walk Event:
Now in its sixth consecutive year, the White Plains Wing Walk is a treasured community event. In addition to wing tasting at dozens of restaurants, the event brings live music and entertainment to the avenue, notably via visits from “Wingston Lemon Peppa” the event’s beloved mascot chicken.
“Wing Walk is a great way to give people a ‘taste’ of what our downtown — a hotbed of culinary creativity — has to offer”, said Jennifer Furioli, Executive Director of the White Plains BID. It’s a true community event that brings all ages out to support and discover our restaurants in a fun unique way.
Despite a forecast of rain showers, the event surpassed last year’s ticket sales, highlighting the community’s enthusiastic spirit and love for great food! Wing walkers donned raincoats and carried umbrellas as they strolled through Downtown White Plains, each equipped with a Wing Walk Passport. This useful guide not only featured a map of participating restaurants but also included space for restaurants to stamp their passports when guests visited their locations. Additionally, guests could scan a QR code to access an online voting ballot. Completing the form entitled them to a voucher for six free wings, with voting closing at 5:30 PM.
Visitors traveled from across the Tri-state area, with many coming from Westchester and neighboring counties in New Jersey and Connecticut. The farthest guests ventured from as far away as California, Georgia, Florida, Delaware, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Texas.
We extend our gratitude to the 16 restaurants that participated in this year’s event: Alex Lounge Bar & Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cantina Taco & Tequila Bar, Delicias del Jireh, Freebird Kitchen & Bar, Hudson Grille, Lilly’s, Mario’s Pizza Restaurant, Ron Blacks Beer Hall, Shiraz Kitchen & Wine Bar, Sundance Kitchen & Cantina, Tepe’s Kitchen, The Brazen Fox, The Lazy Boy Saloon, TVB by Pax Romana, and Wolf & Warrior Brewing Co.
Additionally, we express our heartfelt appreciation to Stella Artois for their sponsorship of this year’s Wing Walk and to the City of White Plains for their invaluable support in this event.