Snappy Shrimp for a Fried Food Fix
By Minna A in Food on Aug 26, 2011 6:00PM
In Midwestern Chicago, quality seafood places at relatively reasonable prices are hard to come by, but those willing to trek to the North Center neighborhood can find some seafood steals at Snappy’s Shrimp House.
With a name like "Snappy’s" and minimal signage, some might be hesitant to try out this seafood joint. Mirroring the minimalist signage and minimalist one-page menu, Snappy’s has just a few seats available and a handful of hanging kites as their decor—it’s minimalist with a retro twist, with art deco style hanging lights, a dark wooden hutch cordoning off the space and three large menu boards hovering above the fryers. There’s a welcoming diner feel to the restaurant with a long, tall wooden counter where you can watch your seafood picks take the plunge.
Don’t let the non-descript signage and cheap prices fool you, quality isn’t compromised at Snappy’s. Diners will notice the difference and taste the difference” with gulf shrimp hailing from Alabama; none of that farm-raised freshwater breed here. Heated deep fryers standby as sweet morsels of scallops, jumbo shrimp, catfish and more are breaded and seasoned before diving into the vat of oil.
You can’t go wrong with any choice of seafood from Snappy’s. The jumbo shrimp is indeed jumbo and meaty, the scallops are tender and juicy, the catfish is hot and flaky and their crab cakes flavorful and filling. Diners can choose to opt for seafood by the quarter pound, or make it a meal in a sandwich or a wrap, while simple creations come with spicy and tangy sauce selections to make each sandwich your own (although we recommend the hot mex, hot sauce and tartar sauce combination for full flavor effects).
Hovering on the line between entrée and dessert are Snappy’s hush puppies, while just ordinary fried dough on its own is transformed into a delicious treat when paired with their homemade honey butter. The seasoned hush puppies, glazed in the sweet and rich honey butter, melt in your mouth, and the portion of ten disappears before you know it. True to their name, food is delivered at snappy speeds - and disappears at nearly the same rate.
Snappy’s is not for the fried food weary—come for the fried seafood, then keep coming back for their hush puppy goods.
Snappy’s Shrimp House is located at 1901 W. Irving Park Rd.