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Categories: Sandwiches, Pizza [Edit]
Neighborhood: Lincoln ParkFullerton (Purple Express, Brown, Red)
"What is going on over here? Ten five star reviews in a row? For that sandwich place on Lincoln, you know the one by the Paulina brown line…" read more »
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We came here in need for an alternative to Panera. It was close but no cigar. Just A-OK. Ehh. Meh.
I chose the "Double Dilly Yo"-- half sammich/soup (italian panini/loaded baked potato). Nothing special. It filled my belly, but I left the restaurant with a feeling of discontent. The soup wasn't very hearty. The panini was just ok-- a small portion without the fresh ingredients I would be used to getting from any local joint or the trusted Panera.
The service was good-- very friendly staff. Restaurant was clean. Too bad the food wasn't up to par.
There are better soup and sammy options out there. I'd highly recommend that you go another route.
I was introduced to Spicy Pickle while in Denver visiting my friend, Suzanne. She said Spicy Pickle was the shizz and she was right. I had the Gobbler Panini and it was so good I had dreams about it after leaving Colorado.
I was driving down Lincoln looking for a dentist office when I spied this SP location! Could it be true, might I satisfy my craving for that lovely sandwich here in Chicago?
It was a few months later when I finally indulged. My coworkers and I were flipping through our folder of take out menus looking for lunch ideas and the Spicy Pickle menu was in there. I had forgotten about it and forced my coworkers to order.
We've ordered from SP three times now since I have been in my current job and twice the delivery guy has forgotten most of the items ordered and had to go back to get them. No problem, they are close and they give us free cookies and stuff for the inconvenience. You can't expect too much sometimes from a sandwich joint. What you can expect is a huge sandwich with feta, artichoke and turkey to give you sandwich fantasies.
I had one of the best sandwiches of my life here today.
I love their build-your-own sandwich option. When I saw today that it said you could put as many toppings as you like, I was skeptical. Really? As MANY as I like?? With much excitement, I then ordered a sandwich with roast beef, blue cheese, basil mayo, balsamic and red wine vinegars, sun dried tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, roasted red peppers, artichokes, olives, portobello muschrooms, alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, and spinach.
I thought for sure they would forget to put at least one of the things I ordered, or that maybe there would only 1 thing of each and it would somehow be smaller than I thought.
But when my sandwich came out, it did not disappoint. They really did give me all the toppings that I granted. My creation was pretty beastly, and really tasty. All the ingredients were fresh and great quality. A very satisfying lunch.
The spicy pickle is good too.
I also tried their pizzeti before (created my own) and it was also pretty good, just a little thin I thought, but I love the concept.
This is a great place for a casual lunch. I liked how they had lots of variety there... you can either do a pizza, a sub or a panani. And they had different selections, but you can also make your own. It was a nice change from the other typical chains like Potbelly or Corner Bakery. I tried a panini and a pizza, both of which were yummy. They also are very reasonably priced, too. I noticed that they had great kid's meals for less than $4, which is a steal! I would definitely recommend this for a quick, casual lunch or if you needed to grab something to go. Oh, and of course the pickle that is served with the sandwiches are spicy!
Delicious sandwich, mediterranean I think it was!! spicy, a little, just enough, price kind of high for sandwich only, but they were good portions enough for two people to share.A little to bready though.
Great food. Corn soup was awesome! Service is great. Everyone's really friendly and, according to my girlfriend, they remember your name for next time. I'll get back to you on that one.
Food is tasty and fresh and tons of ingredients are available. Get soup or salad and the half sandwich...
3.5 stars - I just wanted my Roma panini to be something else. I think i would have liked the basil mayo to have some kind of tang to it. It really was just basil + mayo. Some of my tomatoes weren't the best either, but hopefully this will improve as the season improves.
The spicy pickle was spicy and delicious. I quite enjoyed small bites of pickle in between bites of sandwich.
I'd like to go back to try soup, salad and possibly pizzeti. And of course, to ingest more spicy pickles.
My jaw is still being picked up off the ground. It cost 9.75 for ONE sandwich, and ONE drink. Wow...very very expensive. Being that it's directly across from Children's, I guess it stays in business based on the doctor clientele. Sandwich was ok, but nothing special. I don't know that I'll be back because it was ok, and SUPER expensive! I do have to say though, service was friendly, and prompt.
For a sandwich, this is one of the best! Yes it is a chain, and I normally dont like chains. But I am a sucker for Spicy Pickle.
The food is amazing! You can get the build your own sandwich and put AS MANY toppings as you want on it. You get cheese, sauces, and all on a great bread! Everything tastes so fresh. Literally there are like 20 topping choices (including artichoke hearts YES) and like 10-15 sauce options. You could literally get a new thing here every time. I hear they have pre-built sandwiches, but why would you do that when you can decide! Sillyness. The chicken and the turkey options are all stars.
The staff is also excellent. They will let you try anything and are SO ACCOMMODATING!
Some recommendations:
-They close at 6pm on Sundays - There have been some missed-cravings in the past.
-Sign up for the SP VIP club - you get a free meal when you sign up and on your birthday!
-The cookies ROCK!
-They will let you get a kids meal. It is a half sandwich, chips, and a drink for less than $5. This is potentially one of the greatest deals in Chicago.
I will continue to be a patron of the SP.
PS. They do have some meter spots right in front, and for some reason they always seem to be open. Very nice!
Sandwich/sub shops certainly are not in short supply in Chicago. Somewhere in between the usual suspects (Subway, Jimmy John's, Pita Pit) sits Spicy Pickle. Do yourself a favor and take some time looking over the menu before you order -- there is a lot to choose from. Their subs come on a Ciabatta which seems to be better than it is at most other places. They also have paninis (although that description is somewhat misleading) and pizzas. I am a big fan of the Yard Bird sub (sliced chicken breast, blue cheese crumbles, green apple, honey mustard) and their corn & chili bisque. You also have the ability to build your own sandwich, which a lot of possibilities.
Service tends to run on the slow side, but usually worth the wait.
Excellent sandwiches. I had the Santa Cruz.
It says it is a sub, but the bread is not as thick as you envision.
You can get as many toppings as you want on the make your own.
Great and friendly service.
Now who doesn't like getting their teeth into a spicy pickle?
Wait for it....
Insert your own joke here: ________________________
I didn't get a pickle, because I didn't order a sammie. I had the Spicy Pickle Tuna Salad, which was plump full of two big scoops of tuna, diced/sliced tomato, some lvely olives, and fresh greens. I had a small bowl of pretty darned good Broccoli Cheddar soup, too - hey, it's soup season again!
Godo service, nice quiet vibe, conversation friendly atmosphere. Good eats!
NOM NOM NOM! Though there wasn't much pickle action, but I have to say the sandwiches were tasty and ample in size. The employees twere very nice, and since it was out first time we got a gigantic cookie for free!
I ate the Adobe Panini, which was like the texas toast of Panini's. Now, coming from a vegetarian who just started to delve into meat again, I must say the Mesquite turkey was so delish!
The toppings: mozzarella, green peppers, corn relish and chipotle mayo (yeah it was pretty awesome!)
I can't wait to go back!!!!
Spicy Pickle basically fits into the gourmet sandwich market (for lack of a better word as gourmet it really isn't; a unique, cut above sandwich shop it is). This is a market that's seemingly hotter than, well, a spicy pickle... however, I wouldn't necessarily call their pickles hot, they do have a nice zip to them though.
To compare this place to Subway, Quiznos(does that place still exist?), Jimmy John's and the like is absolutely apples and oranges. When speaking of established giants like Corner Bakery, Panera and (and quickly becoming established) Potbelly, you're getting a little closer to what you might expect here but would still be doing it injustice, imo.
It does manage to separate itself from the aforementioned in that 1. it really seems to be an updated, contemporary Mom & Pop (read: local) sandwich shop. Actually I didn't even know it was a chain at first glance. I quickly figured it was upon looking at the layout and consistency of the space and also their cleverly marketed Spicy Pickle branded collaterals, including the very sharp menu's. and 2. It also offers up more than just a sub/pannini and soup/salad option...ie, Pizzetti's (which is an individual (11") Neapolitan-style thin crust pizza, a steal at under $7.50), tons of salads and a very unique (and endless) array of spreads and toppings for your sandwich.
I really liked this place and will certainly be back to try additional offerings, including the "Sausalito Bandido", which is Smoked turkey, roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes, pepperjack and chipotle mayo.
Or finally create my own combination from one of the twelve meats, eight cheeses, fifteen spreads (many as you like) or twenty different toppings (many as you like). Talk about variety!
I frequent Spicy Pickle all the time and it is for sure my favorite sandwich shop. I agreed that it's a bit pricey, but considering the selection I think it's worth the cost. Where else can you get things like portabella mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, and artichoke hearts on a sandwich? I always build my own sandwich, and I love the spicy pickles. It's nice to find healthy options somewhere other then Subway. My only complaint about the place would be that their catering is super expensive and they don't offer many options with it.
I went with a few friends on a Wednesday night around 530pm... not busy at all. A dozen or so available tables in a nice clean place. Probably a big hit during lunch since it's right across from Children's Memorial Hospital.
The paninis were pretty goodt! It's a long rectangular panini cut diagonally - making it clean, easy, and fun to eat. The oatmeal/raisin and choc cookies are yummy too - nice way to end your little meal. And, like the name of the place, the pickles have a great spicy kick to them. Love the pickles so make sure you eat yours! :)
I will only be back if I'm in the area tho'...but it's good!
I know it seems like all of my reviews have 5 stars, but this place is worth every single one.
Quizno's? Sure. They toast their sandwiches and allow you to take as many peppers as you want. Subway? Let's not go there. Flatbread or not, you still put too little of everything on there. TRYING TO GET EXTRA PICKLES IS LIKE PULLING TEETH! Potbelly's? I ate you for 3 days straight once while working the Taylor Street Festival and although I left sassified, I need more of a selection. And Jimmy John's? Your saving grace is the soundtrack playing while I wait for my mediocre sandwich...
Located very near the John Barleycorn, is a gem called The Spicy Pickle...
I had it for the first time when the guys from Park West ordered (yes, they deliver!) and this was by far, the best sub/sandwich/cold cut party in my mouth I've ever experienced. It even beat out Costello's which has always had a strong place in my heart. Manny's is another review for another time.
They put slaw on top.
Please put your Lincoln Park apprehensions behind you for an afternoon and stop in. I promise you that you won't be disappointed. I like to call this place a diamond in the rough...
There seems to be a lot of those in Chicago...
YUM!
It's like the old saying goes- a group is only as fast as its slowest member... that in spicy pickle terms would be there salads. Myself and two others each got DIFFERENT salads here and they all stunk equally in different ways. I am a tuna salad lover, and I can't explain how excited I was to try the their tuna that was mixed with chipotle mayo and spicy pickles.... mmmmmm- the potential here. Very blah.... tuna was dry, peripheral stuff was so so. Sadly this was the strongest of the three salads- do not get the apple/walnut/blue cheese salad unless you like obscenely strong tasting cheese. In fairness the guy at the register told us to get paninis, but with summer around the corner we're trying to eat a little healthier. I would never go back here, and would strongly advise everyone else to stay away too. If you do need a quick snack go for a panini- NOT a salad.
I think this one is a winner over Panera. First, I got a free cookie for it being my first time there, yummy! I had the "double dilly-o" and got the broccoli cheddar soup and a caesar salad. They were both great. My boyfriend got some kind of southwester sandwich. He liked it a lot.
The pickles are spicy! So many jokes could follow that one. I'll just leave at that!
So I have never been to this location but went to one in Ft. Collins, CO over the weekend.
I was happily suprised at how good it was. Everything was fresh and very tasty. They have a good variety on the menu and I would say the place is higher quality then JJ's or Potbelly's.
The pickle is great too.
RrL
Food: 4/5
I first saw this place when I was walking back from another sandwich place and thought it looked like it'd be worth trying out. I went in one day (the door was really hard to open and I totally made an ass out of myself trying to get into the restaurant) and got some sort of salad. All I remember about the salad is the pile of kalamata olives on top of the salad. There had to be like 30 of them. I love olives! It was unreal, kind of like I was dreaming... so the salad was pretty good.
Service: 3/5
The service was, in one word, awkward. Taking my order was kind of interesting and I didn't really hear them call my name. I just noticed that one of the girls who worked there was eying me with a salad in front of her so I figured it was mine. The other bummer was that it took them about 7 minutes to get my salad to me.
Ambiance: 2/5
Place was empty. Like ghost town empty. And the music was way too loud.
3/5 overall average.
The End.
I've been passing this place over and over and had to finally try it. Their great "food is fresh" concept reminded me of places in San Francisco. The cashier recommended the El Rancho salad so I tried it out. My wife ordered a panini to give us some variety.
Overall, the food looked a bit bland, but the taste was present. The salad had a great lime ranch dressing to match the corn and beans and my wife was raving about her panini. Her words: "The bread is so crisp!"
We'll definitely drop back in to try other stuff. It's a good alternative to mexican and fast food fare in the immediate area.
In case you are curious, the included pickle isn't THAT spicy.
I had the veggie create your own and it was really good! They even gave me a free cookie since it was my first time eating here.
The service was good and the food was yummy.
Was headed for the quaint Potbelly in the area but stumbled into Spicy Pickle. Was excited to try the subs, panini and/or a pizza, since everything on the menu looked good! I went with the turkey sub with corn, avocado, chipotle mayo, it had a Southwestern name like Mesa, Peyote or Caliente or something denoting "Southwestern cool". It was alright, more adventurous sounding than it actually tasted. I made a point to stick my finger in the chipotle mayo to taste it "nude" because I seriously couldn't sense any spiciness when it was in the sandwich. It tasted more like plain mayonnaise than anything. Too bad. If I was in the area of Children's Memorial I'd pop back in for a panini or a pizza, but I wasn't wowed like I thought I'd be.
I had been waiting for this place to open ever since I saw the sign in the window about a month or so before opening, I had to try a place called Spicy Pickle. I finally had the chance to stop in on the second day they were open, it was packed with people, most from Children's Memorial Hospital across the street. It was about noon so I wasn't expecting the best in quick ordering or service, but the wait wasn't that bad, and the wait for my order wasn't long either, though they did get my name wrong, but I let it slide. While I was waiting for my Adobe panini (mesquite turkey, fresh mozzarella, green peppers, corn relish and chipotle mayo) I noticed how small the place was, about room for thirty or so, as I said packed for lunch, I was glad I got it to-go.
This place has some of the best sounding, enormous sandwiches on the menu, paninis, subs, salads, pizzetti (small thin crust pizza) and a build your own sandwich with more choices than I want to think about. I was quite impressed by this new franchised sandwich shop and I'm looking forward to trying other menu items, the Sausalito Bandido sounds interesting. Not to pricey ($6.45 for the panini, $7.10 tax), the sandwich was largish and you get a tiny bag of chips and a spicy pickle wedge with it, I think this place might give Subway, Potbelly and some of those other sub shops run for their money.
Once again, Yelp is making us look like amateurs by not letting us give The Pickle the 3 1/2 stars they deserve.
We stopped in for lunch last week and had a pretty good experience. I think Drew had a salad (like a real b*itch) and I had a sandwich. The food was good, reasonably priced (I think we got up and down for about $17 combined), and service is a non issue due to the setup (order in line and food is brought to your table).
We will be back, but probably wouldn't go too far out of our way for TSP.
Respect.
I saw the Spicy Pickle on Metromix the other day and figured I'd give it a shot. The panini I ordered (at first was made wrong), but was very plain and lacked taste. The restaurant was noisy and they used the cheapest silverware and napkins possible.
The sandwich/salad makers yell out your last name when your food is ready and it was complete chaos during the slow afternoon hour!
I have absolutely no plans to go back.
i work in the area and restaurants come and go. when this place opened i wondered if we really needed another sandwich place (potbelly's, jimmy johns, subway, and the bourgeois pig are all a stones throw...). the pickles are tasty and the employees are always nice when i pick up my order. when i decided to spend the month of july as a vegan, it definitely changed my go to lunch places. i called to inquire as to whether they used any dairy products or eggs in their bread. the guy on the phone said no, hesitated and then asked if he could ask me a personal question. he asked if i was vegan and then told me that one of his coworkers was strict vegan and only ever ate the white ciabatta. so i ordered that with a ton of veggies avocado topped with balsamic vinegar and it has now become my favorite sandwich even though my vegan month is over.
the soups are really good (the vegetable is vegetarian for those who care), as are the pizzas. i'm not really a fan of panini's in general, so i can't give an objective opinion.
overall, a nice addition to the hood.
Contrary to what I was hoping for, the name comes from the actual pickles being spicy. However, this place did not disappoint. The sandwich and soup combo I had was good. The menu included soups, hot and cold, sammies, and a huge selection of veggies and toppings. My friend ordered the "make your own sandwich," which he piled high with meat, cheeses and veggies, and topped it off with toasting it. It looked, smelled and tasted great. The service was even better. Our order taker was super friendly and checked on us a couple times, even though he was working behind the counter. If you happen to be in the neighborhood and want a quick bite to eat. Stop on by and get your pickled spiced.
I would have to say, their pickles are one of the best I've tasted. Crispy, juicy, and with a nice kick. (Hence the name of the place.) Their panini's are just average, but I got the combo (kinda like the you-pick-two at panera) and got the baked potato soup too. It was pretty good...and the price is better than panera. They also have these really big cookies that are only $1.09 after tax. Tried the chocolate chip and it was really good. Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and plenty of chocolate chips. I'd go there again...
I absolutely love this place! I nearly peed myself when I heard they were opening one here. I used to frequent them all the time in Denver. I didn't experience some of the pains that others did my first time to this location, but even that can't deter me from going back again and again. And I don't even live up in this hood.
I love the "gobbler"-turkey, artichokes, feta, sun-dried tomato. So good. And I could live off the "sausalito-bandito"-turkey, roasted peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, pepperjack and chipotle mayo. I've never tried anything other than the panini's cuz they're just so dang good! Yes, it seems simple, but I've tried to recreate it at home and it's just not the same.
After running past this place several times and wanting to try it, I finally ventured up here with the family for a quick lunch. After walking around for about a 1/2 hour looking for a place to eat (um, 1.5 hour wait at RJ Grunts? Are you joking?) we arrived at the Spicy Pickle. We were all ravenous and unfamiliar with the menu. The older gentleman taking our order (possibly a manager or owner) was extremely helpful in helping us to decide what to order. He told us the most popular items so we were able to try what the favorites were. I ordered the gobbler pannini that involved turkey, artichokes, and feta cheese. A few members of our group ordered the sausalito bandido (which was named the most popular pannini) and they were all raving about it. Since it was our first experience, the cashier offered us a free cookie (each). The dining area was small but cute, quaint, and not over-crowded. We enjoyed our experience and I'm glad I finally got a chance to try this place! I hope to be back soon to try the sausalito bandido myself!
Spicy Pickle is a nice alternative to the nearby Potbelly's, Chipotle, McDonald's and various burrito joints. The employees are very friendly and the sandwiches are tasty. Although I prefer Panera, I will definitely be back to try some of the Pickle's other offerings.
I have been to Spicy Pickle twice already, and both times I've had a very pleasant experience. The manager was so friendly and gave me and my friend free cookies. I like that they have a lot of options for toppings (spinach, roasted red peppers, sprouts, etc.) unlike similar sandwich places ie. Potbelly or Subway. The sandwiches are huge, and the chocolate chip cookies were delicious!
this place was pretty good. AND at a great price. i got the half sandwich and salad. the panni was very good. perfect size. it all came with chips too - oh and the spicy pickle. all came to about $6. I could have done with out the salad. wasn't that great. i will go back for a full panni though.
Pretty good quick choice. I actually loved the namesake spicy pickle, but man, it IS spicy. I had the corn and green chili chowder, and I wasn't disappointed by it. It's not the best soup I've ever had, but it was full of whole kernels of corn, and other vegetable bits, and it had a nice spicy kick. My biggest problem with this place was definitely my sandwich, which, don't get me wrong, tasted pretty good. It was just so messily put together that it was hard to eat it without taking giant bites and smooshing pieces back in place and dripping sauce on the tray and jeez. I had the cold vegetarian sub (the name escapes me), and I liked it, in general. The spinach was oddly cut up into herb-sized pieces though (messy!), and the mushrooms were a tad slimy. I assume they were marinated (and possibly also cooked and cooled?), which led to this condition. To be absolutely fair, though, all the items did taste nice together. I'd like to go back and try other items, just to get a better handle on how the place is. Not my first choice on this stretch of Lincoln Ave, but not my last either.
I love this place! It's perfect for those who work at children's memorial across the street-- quick and yummy sandwiches, soup, pizzas, and spicy pickles! I know for a fact that a bunch of nurses at CMH crave spicy pickles in the middle of their shifts.... too bad this place isn't open later!!!
I like that their versions of the run-of-the-mill sandwiches are different which begs for plenty of return trips but personally I didn't think the pickle was all that spicy.
I am so surprised to hear decent reviews for this place, I had an awful experience! We went on a Sunday and were the only ones in the place! I ordered a make your own panini with just a few ingredients. My hubby ordered soup/sandwich. They brought his out first (a pet peeve of mine). His soup tasted like it was right out of a can. I sat there until finally they delievered my... SUB! I ordered a panini, so I sent it back. Took a bite of the sub first, it was all bread! Then, at least 10 minutes later, they bring me a panini - not my order at all, they messed up AGAIN! My husband was already finished eating at this point. They finally tried a third time and got it right, but by this time I wasnt even hungry anymore. The worst part about it... lunch for two cost $24! What a rip off, and the food sucks!
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