First Look: Hurricane Grill & Wings, Johns Creek

9700 Medlock Bridge Rd.,Johns Creek, 678-279-5505, hurricanewings.com.

Hurricane Grill & Wings opened its original oceanside location in Ft. Pierce, Florida in 1995. Now there are locations throughout the eastern U.S. and as far away as Colorado and Arizona.

The first Georgia franchise opened in late September in Johns Creek, serving “jumbo wings” with 30 flavors, along with burgers and Mexican and Caribbean-style entrees.

The look: Though it’s located in a generic freestanding brick building at Medlock Crossing, the spacious interior has been transformed to resemble a whimsical beach shack. Bright primary colors, bleached and distressed wood, surfboards and life preservers meet with a sports bar-style setup of big screen TVs and unobstructed sight lines.

The scene: One recent Saturday afternoon, college football, wings and beer drew a crowd at the sprawling L-shaped bar. Around the dining room, friendly young uniformed servers tended to tables of young couples and families out for lunch or a break from shopping.

The menu: No doubt, wings are the thing here, with flavors grouped in five heat categories from “calm before the storm” to “seek shelter.” A 10-piece platter ($12.98) with two sides is served on a round paper-lined tray with celery, blue cheese or ranch dressing, and the likes of fries, kettle chips or slaw. Sandwiches include crispy chicken and grilled mahi-mahi. Among the Mexican-style offerings, there’s a shrimp BLT quesadillas and firecracker shrimp tacos.

The drinks: Look for signature tropical cocktails like the Hurricane Bumby and the Volcano Mojito. The current draft list features several local beers, including Sweetwater IPA (4.25), Terrapin Hopsecutioner ($4.25) and Monday Night Fu Manbrew. ($6). The concise by the glass wine list ($5-$7) holds no surprises.

The extras: There’s a courtyard-like covered outdoor space that runs the length of one side of the building. For private parties, you can book the ‘Surf Shack’ room.