Taste this: Chicken wings with 330 Sauce — prices start at half a dozen with fries for $9.99 — at Putty’s Kitchen (also known as Putty’s Sports Lounge), located at 1714 Merriman Road (330) 598-9177).
Creator: Robert Putnam, owner
Eye test: Garnished with a golden-colored sauce, these chicken wings arrive out of the fryer hot and ready to be devoured. Don’t forget to save room for the side of crispy fries.
What makes this item special: The 330 Sauce, along with other wing sauces, are made in the back of house by Putty’s very own recipe creator, Robert Putnam. Unlike hot and spicy wings, The 330 Sauce is known for its tangy and mildly spiced flavor.
Process: At 350 degrees, the wings sizzle in a deep fryer filled with cooking oil for 16 minutes. Putnam makes the 330 Sauce by mixing Carolina Gold barbeque sauce and his homemade jerk rub, which includes dry jerk seasoning. Customers can choose between wings naked and tossed or breaded with sauce on the side, said Natika Pearson, Putnam’s wife.
Pairs with: Willie Beaman’s whiskey sour
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Creator’s backstory: Putnam, an Akron native, is known as the city’s Gordon Ramsey — a world famous restaurateur known for flipping kitchen staffs and menus — his wife said with a smile. While owning and operating Putty’s, Putnam creates menus and revamps commercial kitchens in area restaurants.
Decades prior, Putnam started working in the restaurant industry at 16 years old as a dishwasher at Ramada Inn in downtown Akron. He learned to cook as a child by watching his mother,Carolyn, make soul food such as macaroni and cheese and collard greens.
“She used to sell dinners on Sundays, and I used to watch her cook,” Putnam said. “Then, my father passed away when I was young, so my mom had to go to work, and so I just started doing the things.”
At age 21, Putnam managed his first restaurant, a former Italian restaurant in Akron called Fugazi Restaurant. From there, he worked at the former Legends Sports Pub and Grille in Green (currently Town Tavern) and the former Rail Craft Kitchen in Montrose where he was the executive chef.
“Then I got a little bit more in-depth with the business,” Puttman said, “and then I started doing consultant work for a couple owners.”
In 2022, he partnered with Perfect Pour at 376 S. Main St. in downtown Akron. Now, he works a few shifts at Perfect Pour as a cook, while running the back of the house at Putty’s while his wife manages the front of the house.
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About the company: Putnam opened Putty’s in 2019 at its current location —- 1714 Merriman Rd. in Akron. Prior to 2019, he opened the restaurant for six months in a building off of Grant Street in South Akron.
It’s all about family ties. Putnam’s sister owned the bar on Merriman Road where Putty’s is currently located. Putnam leased the building from his sister and operated a commercial kitchen focused on curbside pickup and delivery during the pandemic.
“So, we bought the bar; it’s been a year and a half now,” Pearson said. “And then we changed everything to Putty’s Sports Lounge.”
The lounge holds about 40 seats, which includes booth seating and bar stools. Gather friends to watch the latest football game at this mood lit lounge where the wings are savory and the drinks are cold.
How to buy: Putty’s is open Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to midnight.
Specials: On Wang and Whiskey Wednesdays, get 10 wings with a side of fries for $11.99.