I ducked into the Frogg Pond (3 South First Street) on Superbowl Sunday for some of their signature wings. The place was full and gearing up for the Big Game. And I wasn’t the only one with wings on the brain—it seemed like every plate I saw was piled high with drummettes and double bones. The whole staff was in the house: Mike, Amy, Liz, Byrd and even the owner, Pete, were all getting ready for a big crowd. When I got warm greetings from them all in turn, I remembered why it’s a good feeling going into the Pond, no matter how bitter cold it may be outside.

If you haven’t been to the Pond, you may be surprised when you see all the different flavors of wings on the menu: Mild, Medium, Hot, Lethal, Garlic, Mesquite, Lemon Pepper, Cajun, Chesapeake, Teriyaki, Barbecue, Byrd’s Honey Barbecue and Cahill’s Spicy Barbecue. Whew, that’s a lot of wings. It’s a tough decision.

Now I know you expect a thorough food review here, but honestly, I haven’t tried them all. On Sunday, I stuck with the tried and true when I ordered the Medium wings. In fact, I’d like to meet the man or woman who has tried all the Pond’s different wings. That’s someone with priorities! In the past, I have tried the Garlic ones, which smell amazing whenever someone orders them, the Barbecue, which are sticky and sweet, and I’ve even had them plain, which were crunchy and surprisingly flavorful. Sharon loves the Lemon Pepper the best.

[If Letters were a scratch ‘n sniff publication, this page would smell really good.]

The Pond has gone through a lot of changes over the past decade, but the wings have stayed consistently good. And in my humble opinion, the other changes have been for the better as well.

If you haven’t been to the Pond LATELY, you will be pleasantly surprised by the new atmosphere. The owners have expanded the restaurant. Where there once was a cramped hallway leading to a minuscule bathroom (and that was the most spacious area in the bar), now there is a truly roomy dining area with plenty of space to mix and mingle—and a spacious bathroom. The hard work is continuous—it seems like every time I go in there, new improvements have been made.

Not only has the structure itself improved, but the new menu is great; it offers more variety and flavor than ever before. Over the past year, Chef Tommy Kramer, has been able to keep the best of the bar food, while adding some high quality mid-priced options.

My particular favorite dinner entrée is the Pacific Rim Chicken where a grilled chicken breast is drenched in teriyaki sauce and served with grilled pineapple over yummy seasoned rice. It’s a big dish, and I always tell myself I’m only going to eat half. Well, you can guess how that usually goes.

The staple of the Pond may be wings and fries, but the salads are impressive (and I’m from California, so I know my salad). Every time I order the Caesar Salad, the lettuce is always nice and green, the parmesan freshly grated and the dressing just tangy enough. The Santa Fe Salad is good, too. It’s got grilled sirloin, green lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and my favorite part, the mex-ranch dressing.

As far as sandwiches go, the French Dip is my favorite with thinly sliced roast beef (the kind that’s so tender you barely have to chew) and melted Swiss cheese served on a toasted bun with a glorious little tub of au jus to get your juices running.

Over the next few weeks, sandwiches and entrees are half-price if you arrive early on Thursday evenings and play trivia. It’s a hilarious game hosted by owner Pete Borsari and DJ Sharon (sorry about the commercial here, but she would kill me if I left her name out!) where teams compete for prizes and gift certificates. There are prizes for each round, each game, and for the team that has the most points at the end of the eight week tournament, which began February 1.

On Friday nights, a DJ spins some great dance music. Saturdays are usually reserved for live bands, and karaoke is on Thursdays and Sundays. Check out their ads for details about special Mardi Gras parties coming up President’s Day Weekend and other entertainment.

For all you Chicago Bears fans, my condolences…you’ll always have those first 15 seconds to remember. Thanks, Frogg Pond, the Big Game wouldn’t have been the same without those awesome wings!

The Frogg Pond is located at 3 South First Street in Downtown Rehoboth Beach. Hours are 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. every day and questions can be directed to 227-2234.