Mr. Spanky's

Rene G wrote:Mr Spanky's (335 W 31st) is well worth a visit for sandwiches featuring their excellent housemade bacon or the daily special. I need to write something about this fine little place.

I went here yesterday. I really had a hankering for an Italian beef, but Ferro's doesn't take credit cards. Mr. Spanky's was my second choice, and a delicious pulled pork was my reward. You know what I dug about this sandwich? It wasn't sauce with some pork in it. It was shards of tender, juicy pork with maybe a tablespoon or two of sauce plopped on top, sliding down the sides. The bun was really nice too, with some bite—it was like a pretzel roll without all the salt. I liked it so much that afterwards I decided I required bacon and bought a slab. Lately I have been making "big" breakfasts on Sundays and all I wanted was bacon to go with it; now I have some I don't even need to refrigerate.

Rene g and Pie Lady, thanks for the recommendation. I'm always on the lookout for places for my husband to go to near his office. He and a coworker went yesterday, and enjoyed the pulled pork with bacon sandwiches and sides of macaroni and cheese and beans. I'm looking forward to him bringing home some of the bacon. They chatted with the owner for a bit before sitting outside at the picnic tables. They will definitely be back.

I didn't know you could sit outside! Fantastic!

Pie Lady wrote:

Rene G wrote:Mr Spanky's (335 W 31st) is well worth a visit for sandwiches featuring their excellent housemade bacon or the daily special. I need to write something about this fine little place.

I went here yesterday. I really had a hankering for an Italian beef, but Ferro's doesn't take credit cards. Mr. Spanky's was my second choice . . .

I trust you didn't ask for an Italian beef at Mr Spanky's.



That day's special, a meatloaf sandwich, turned out to be a highlight of the visit.



I was skeptical but the mashed potato and mushroom gravy really work as a garnish. It's one of the best meatloaf sandwiches I've had. A simple dish of carrots was a fine accompaniment.



No bacon, no herbs, just a light coating of butter. Perfect.

The regular sandwich menu is quite limited though the salad offerings are surprisingly extensive for such a small bacon-focused place.



We steered away from the poorly named BLT (it contains neither L nor T) because an unfounded fear of lousy tomatoes (should've read the fine print before ordering). We ended up splitting a Yona—pulled pork with bacon, pickled onion and barbecue sauce.



A pretty good sandwich though the bacon garnish steals the show. The pulled pork serves as a pleasant pedestal for Mr Spanky's wonderful bacon. I'm not in the everything's-better-with-bacon camp but this stuff is exceptional. A judicious drizzle of sauce and a bit of pickled red onion really enhanced the sandwich.

Mr Spanky's is mostly a catering business that sells take-out sandwiches five days a week. It's not set up as a restaurant but a few pleasant counter seats are available and as I understand the picnic tables around the corner on Shields can also be used.



The décor is quirky, two themes being Richie Daley and the circus (Mr Spanky cooked for Barnum & Bailey).

Mr Spanky's
335 W 31st St
Chicago
312-450-3069
http://mrspankys.com/

Rene G wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:

Rene G wrote:Mr Spanky's (335 W 31st) is well worth a visit for sandwiches featuring their excellent housemade bacon or the daily special. I need to write something about this fine little place.

I went here yesterday. I really had a hankering for an Italian beef, but Ferro's doesn't take credit cards. Mr. Spanky's was my second choice . . .

I trust you didn't ask for an Italian beef at Mr Spanky's.

No, I behaved myself.
Although they are the pork capital of Bronzeville, I think I may have to head here for a salad one of these days. They sound fantastic.

Poking around on DNA Chicago today, I read that Mr. Spanky's is closed.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140520 ... d-for-good

From the Mr. Spanky's website:

We Are Permanently CLOSED!!!! We are very happy to have served Bridgeport and sincerely appreciate all of our customers and our neighbors. We thank you for all of your support. We are continuing our catering and selling Mr.Spanky’s Bacon and this is now our main focus. It is available for home delivery through Artizone as well as MrSpankys.com THANK YOU BRIDGEPORT!!! Sincerely, John & Xin Schultz