Restaurant Wed Apr 04 2007

Creamy and Dreamy in the Loop

Specialty's does a vegan sandwich - called the Vegan no less - so well that it's the only thing a few of my non-veg friends order there. "I've ventured out a couple of times, but there's no reason. It's the best thing on the menu," my pal Arline told me. Another close friend, John, has been there more than ten times but hasn't tried anything else. He introduced me to the place saying, "I found your new favorite vegan sandwich." And he was right.

I've returned twice in just a few weeks, and each time I've eaten somewhere different. You can eat at tables inside, faux-outdoor-style among plants in the building's lobby or outside on the benches of 333 W. Wacker Drive - where Wacker turns with the river. You can also have Specialty's bring loads of Vegans to you. As Arline said looking at their delivery trolley, "I always get excited when I see one of those because I know someone's going to get totally hooked up."

After paying, get your sandwich from the opening in the wall towards the back (but pick up soup at the register). Peek through the wall and you will see anonymous hands making your sandwich. The low height of the top of wall's cutout obscures the face. I watched hands spread avocado all over the flaky focaccia bread that held together a lovely mess of savory Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, mushrooms and fresh basil. It was creamy and dreamy with bursts of flavor. All for just $4.

Anonymous hands make your sandwich through a cutout in the wall.

Delivery trolley. "I always get excited when I see one of those because I know someone's going to get totally hooked up."

Dine in the faux outside.

Chicago location visited: 191 N. Wacker Dr.

- Chris Brunn