A client recommended I try Fat Willy’s Rib Shack, what he actually meant was that WE try Fat Willy’s Rib Shack by bringing take out to his office. No problem as this is a good client and it is a chance to try some BBQ on the company dime. I set the ground rules that ALL dishes are to be shared so we can all taste them.

The six items I purchased:

Smoked Chicken Sandwich
Beef Brisket Sandwich
Hot Links
Rib Tips
Smoked Portobello Sandwich
Pulled Pork Sandwich

I’ll start with the terrific. The Smoked Chicken sandwich was one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in quite awhile. The chicken was done just perfectly, very moist with lots of smoke flavor. Served on a hoagie bun w/swiss cheese and a mayo/mustard sauce. Just great.

The Smoked Portobello was very good although it had no smoke flavor; it is a grilled marinated Portobello, served on the hoagie with grilled onions, swiss cheese, and a small amount of greens. A very good sandwich.

The links were ok, a little rubbery, very fine ground sausage, no real q flavor, slightly spicy, skip these.

Rip Tips, perhaps need to named rib chunks, huge chunks of rib that the chef had put on the gas grill to sear up for the order. This caused that black nasty tasting natural gas soot on the rib chunks, tried a piece of meat that did not look like it had the black soot on it and there was virtually no smoke flavor. Thumbs down on the rib chunks.

Beef Brisket, I am starting to wonder why I even bother with trying beef brisket in the Chicago area; the cooks here just don’t get it. Stay away from the beef brisket.

Parking is not readily available but for a cashier validated ticket you can park in the movie theater parking lot across the street for $1.

Fat Willy’s Rib Shack
2416 W Schubert Avenue
Chicago, IL
773.782.1800
Hours: Sun-Thur 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm