Sparky's
image c/o Flickr
CUISINE: Hot Dogs, American Fare
ADDRESS: 135A N. 5th St., Brooklyn, NY 11211
between Bedford Ave. and Berry St.
PHONE: 718.302.5151
HOURS: Mon-Sat, noon-midnight; Sun, noon-10pm
CARDS: Cash Only
BOOZE: Beer and Wine Only
AVERAGE ENTREE: $5-$10
MENU: Click Here
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford Ave.
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: Yes, Williamsburg and South Greenpoint
EXTRAS: Outdoor Dining
WE SAY: The best hot dogs in Brooklyn. Fuck Nathan's. Lots of vegetarian options and yummy french fries and mac and cheese.
NY MAGAZINE SAYS
Housed in a former fish warehouse in Williamsburg, Sparky's has an urban-industrial appeal, with its cracked concrete wall, rough wooden beams, bare bulbs, and varnished pine tables. A picture of Sparky, the owner's dog, hangs on a wall of the onetime loading dock. Owner Brian Benavidez spent months getting the details right--wheedling a local bakery into custom-baking his unusually sturdy and flavorful buns, then tasting dozens of hot dogs before settling on franks made locally at Dine's Farm in the Catskills. Surprisingly, Benevidez steams his hot dogs rather than boiling, grilling, or frying them. Instead of rendering them limp and lifeless, the method actually preserves their snap and highlights their remarkable beefy flavor. The quality of the hot dog is matched by the quality of the toppings. Choose your own or try one of the thirteen combinations, like home-made relish, hot cherry peppers, pickle, tomato, and celery salt (No. 6), a worthy tribute to the Chicago-style dog; classic sauerkraut and mustard (No. 10); and our favorite, "buffalo wing" sauce and blue-cheese dressing with a dash of celery salt (No. 7), one of those inspired all-American pairings like fried chicken and waffles--pure fast-food fusion genius.
CITY SEARCH SAYS:
"Guilt-free, upscale franks at a comfort-food counter in Williamsburg. In a neighborhood where restaurants are as painstakingly hip as the locals, Sparky's dares to be cute—and succeeds. Sure, there's peeling paint and punk-rock background music, but the small room (decorated with retro lockers and cartoonish paintings) is lit up like a gymnasium, and counter service comes with a smile. Couples with kids cram the few picnic tables; late night brings bar hopping locals. Dot.com dropout-turned-frankfurter aficionado Brian Benevidez stuffs Niman Ranch's hickory-smoked, hormone- and antibiotic-free beef dogs into oversized fresh-baked buns with insanely good homemade condiments, such as cubed pickle-chili relish and molasses mustard, for just a couple of bucks. All eleven top-heavy options burst with flavor, but the Sparky's Dog—topped with 17-spice chili, gooey Grafton cheddar and thick-cut crispy bacon—is a meal itself. The few additional offerings, like generous tangles of hand-cut skin-on fries, ultra-creamy Ronnybrook milk shakes, macaroni and cheese and full-flavored burgers, will delight your inner child."
Comments
2.)Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.
3.)Accurate thermometer not provided in refrigerated or hot holding equipment.
4.)Food contact surface not properly maintained.
5.)Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin exist.
6.)Personal cleanliness inadequate. Clean outer garments, effective hair restraint not worn.
7.)Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided.
8.)Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
9.)Appropriately scaled metal stem-type thermometer not provided or used to evaluate temperatures of potentially hazardous foods during cooking, cooling, reheating and holding.
Posted by: Health Dept. | April 16, 2007 05:19 AM
Mmmm:
3.)Evidence of flying insects or live flying insects present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
Link:
http://167.153.150.32/RI/web/detail.do?method=detail&restaurantId=40916638&inspectionDate=20061218
Posted by: Health Department | April 15, 2007 11:17 PM
does williamsburg really need more red neck comfort food. this is nyc not middle america.
Posted by: bill | November 4, 2006 08:59 PM
yeah their fries suck. but it's not because they precook them 1/2 way. as that is the real way to make fries. not sure what they do, probably your first call, oil not hot enough. or maybe they sit out under a lamp i dont know
Posted by: hey user | September 24, 2006 11:42 PM
Sparky's makes some of the best hot dogs I've ever tasted. I love Clinton Papaya, and Clif Dogs are great too, but Sparky's is the best. I order from them over and over, and not once has it been less than excellent. The buns are so fresh and substantial- not all squishy and soggy... I especially love the "Sparky Dog" with their delicious chili, shredded cheese (not that runny cheese whiz), fresh chopped onions (not stewed, thankfully!), and delicious bacon... Haters need to step off, cause Sparky's owns the Brooklyn Hot Dog game.
Posted by: Happy Customer | September 15, 2006 03:09 AM
sparky's used to be yummy but they blow @$$ chunks now. their fries are raw and soggy... it's like the oil isn't hot enough, or they pre-cook them 1/2way. fxxking nasty.
Posted by: user | August 27, 2006 09:54 PM
When they first opened I went all the time. Then the service got to me. My friend drug me there the other night and I have to say, I was totally impressed. WAY BETTER. If you haven't been in a while, you should try it again
Posted by: LuluB | July 2, 2006 10:17 PM
I'm from Chicago and in Chi-town you get a veritable salad on top of your dog! NY dogs just do not cut it for me so Sparky's is my option for comfort food from home (but better-Niman Ranch). Their dogs have a nice snap, sit low in the bun and best of all I can put all my fav toppings on there.
The fries are skin-on perfection. Please share them with someone else and prolong your lifespan.
Mac and cheese is decent but found the slaw alarmingly vinegar-y.
I stick to my dog with everything and a side of fries.
Never waited more than 5-7 minutes for my order from a staff no more surly than any other restaurant in the area. I'm not offended by attitude cause I worked in food service and I know IT SUCKS. I know it's hard not to- but don't take it personally, people. These people must be doing that god-awful job for some reason other than sheer delight for hot dogs.
Posted by: indra | June 29, 2006 09:44 PM
Overpriced and takes so long to get your food. Won't go back....
Posted by: James | June 20, 2006 10:59 PM
When Sparky's first opened, I thought it was pretty great. Good, fast food in a neighborhood of overpriced fare. Now, unless the owner(s) cleans house of their painfully slow and gawd awful staff, I'll keep my fingers crossed for it's demise.
Posted by: Grant | June 1, 2006 07:35 PM
No sir, I don't like it.
Nothing special.
Posted by: The Horse | May 31, 2006 01:22 AM
kirstens room password*
kirstens room passwords*
Posted by: Adgreene | March 8, 2006 10:36 AM
sparky dog is amazing!
sadly it does take a while to get
(even when I called ahead!)
and is always unevenly heated
but que sabroso!!!!
Posted by: chi_town_x_pat | February 26, 2006 10:23 PM
Food:The beef hot dogs were amazing (the soy ones, not so mind-blowing, but that's fake meat for you.) The homemade relish, while not what I expected, was eye-opening and a nice change of pace from the usual green jarred stuff. The shake was great.
Other Factors: The prices were reasonable for the neighborhood, our order was made quickly. The space was plain, but clean and functional. As for the complaints about the service, I'm not one of those consumeristas who expects fellatio with ever five-buck transaction, as seems to be the norm these days, but I thought it was dandy. And, of course, eating responsibly is good for your soul/karma/self-esteem/whatever sort of cosmic jive you believe in.
Posted by: Carrie | February 15, 2006 04:26 PM
Nothing says 'hi concept' like ingredient-conscious locally farmed hot dog stand food, so it was a given I'd check this place out sooner or later after moving into Brooklyn from upstate.
Can't say my experience was anything like these negative reviews. I went in the middle of an afternoon when the place was reasonably full, and the counter jockey took my order immediately once we decided which hot dog combo we wanted.
Unless the guy was giving me preferential treatment for recognizing Sonic Youth's "Sister" album providing great background, I simply found no evidence of attitude or rudeness. Not only that, but when we decided that one soy dog and a milkshake split between us wasn't enough for this snowy day, our second order 20 minutes later for an additional beef frank came to our table sans fuss within 2 minutes.
As for the food itself, the milkshakes were amazing. Housemade condiments inspiring. The local cheddar they use is great, but I'd have preferred it melted instead of merely sprinkled on top of the soy dog. Beef franks had solid good flavor. Gotta go back and see how their chili dogs stack up.
I don't think it's fair to compare this place to a sit-down gourmet restaurant or even a coffee shop. Stacked against the various quintessential NY Hot Dog Experiences, it holds its own against Nathan's at Coney Island, Grays Papaya and its myriad of clones, street trucks, and a Hebrew National deli with friendlier service in most cases.
Posted by: Todd | February 15, 2006 04:16 PM
i went in there last week and waited 10 minutes for someone to come take my order. that is, i waited 10 minutes and did not have my order taken, so i left (i was in a hurry). anyway, why does anyone eat here? there is no compelling reason. the food is fine, but why bother? they had 2 people working, but one was making sandwiches ONLY and the other was making fries and taking orders. the order guy hovered over the fryer while they were cooking instead of taking an order. does that make sense to anyone?
and the thing is, they have ALWAYS been this way. there are other places to get hotdogs and hamburgers (coney's, right down the street), other places to get vegan food (foodswings) and ice cream(tasti dlite). why go somewhere that they show so much disdain for customers? they are always angry. and while being angry is fine, if my employees were angry all the time, i'd find some way to make them happier so that people would come to my restaurant.
but maybe people feel cool when someone who seems to hate them serves them food? maybe it makes people feel powerful or something?
blah! blah i say!
Posted by: amy | January 7, 2006 11:58 PM
I ate at Sparky's last night and will never go again. The disinterested guy behind the counter was neither interested in serving food or in keeping the bathroom clean. My fries were unevenly cooked- half bruned/half raw- and there was a disgusting heap of vomit in the toilet that did not appear to be freshly spewed. AND as usual, I had to wait 20 minutes and there was no one in there. It was almost worth the wait when the food was good, but with crap food and crap bathroom, forget it! Fire that kid!
Posted by: jdog | December 28, 2005 04:37 PM
Y'all are nuts. The place rules. And they microwave the veggie dogs so they don't get meat all over them. Makes sense to me! And the place is so cheap and good that who cares if it takes a while. It's not fast food.
Posted by: MissyC | October 5, 2005 03:37 AM
I waited 20 minutes for my burger. The guy who ordered after me ordered 2 hot dogs and fries finished eating and left before I got my burger. I went up twice and he just said, "it's coming" with no eye contact. That's the first and last time I'll go there.
Posted by: Spencer | August 16, 2005 09:31 PM
the staff is always pissed off and looks at you with murderous eyes. they burn your buns 99% of the time but for some reason i keep going back.
Posted by: boogaloo | August 14, 2005 04:29 PM
"Ultra-creamy shakes" and "generous tangles of fries"? Wow - this fell way short of our expectations - the place was filthy (my fingertips literally turned black from the table), the "shake" was a small plastic cup of chocolate milk (where was the ice cream?),the side of fries was only half full and consisted of mostly broken bits, and this was not a cheap eat. We're pretty positive, easy going people, not the complaining types -- so believe us, try somewhere else.
Posted by: Erika and Tom | July 24, 2005 05:03 AM
Sparky's takes FOREVER and they microwave their veggie dogs. BUT, the mindblowing rolls, coleslaw, and relish are well worth the wait!
Posted by: nj | April 18, 2005 10:42 PM