Spanky’s River Street is the Home of the Original Chicken Finger , where the finger lickin’ all began! With a staff as friendly as Happy Hour, and a history longer than the Savannah River, Spanky’s has been family owned and operated since 1976 and has been a favorite dining spot for locals and visitors ever since. With Miss Gwen and her crew cookin’ up daily lunch specials alongside her signature menu items of hot chicken n’ cheese and Cleroys’ Pizza, you’re sure to know why Spanky’s was voted “Best Bar Food in Savannah!”
Our loyal patrons say once you’ve tasted our hand-battered spuds, you’ll never go back to fries again… and they’ve never tasted better than when dipped in our homemade honey sauce! So stroll on down the cobblestones and belly up to our bar! We’ll surely save you a seat where Savannah’s greatest characters eat!
How Spanky's Original Chicken Fingers were invented!
Spanky’s Pizza Galley & Saloon began as a dream hatched over 40 years ago by Ansley Williams and brothers Dusty and Alben Yarbrough. They pooled all the money they had (and all that they could borrow) to open the original Spanky’s on River Street in December of 1976. Their intention was to serve the best pizza and half pound burgers in the coolest spot in Savannah...little did they know they would make culinary history by inventing the
World’s First Chicken Finger!
How did this happen, you ask?
As the three friends were planning the menu, Alben, an admitted chicken lover, insisted on having a chicken sandwich. The only obstacle was that the chicken breast was simply too big for the bun. Ever entrepreneurial, Alben trimmed the edges, tossed them in a special seasoned batter, and fried them up into golden delicious treats.
Right then and there the Original Chicken Finger was born!
While some of you may raise a skeptical eyebrow, rest assured you are indeed at the
Home of the Original Chicken Finger.
If you still don’t believe us, head on over to the bar and check out our designation
in the official United States Congressional Record.
Now it’s important to remember that not only are our chicken fingers the originals, they are simply the best! But don’t just take our word for it -- Southern Living recently named Spanky’s Chicken Fingers “the best they’ve ever tasted.” Yep, that happened.
Here at Spanky’s, we believe sharing a good meal with family and friends is one of the great joys in life. Founder Ansley Williams has made a career from that philosophy and often says, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
With that as our guiding principle, it is our pleasure to bring you delicious food in a welcoming atmosphere. Spanky’s is family owned and operated with a fantastic staff who offer the best of Savannah hospitality.
At Spanky’s River Street you never meet a stranger and are always welcome as a member of the legendary Spanky’s Gang!
We warmly invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy a wonderful meal.
Oh, and don’t forget to try the Famous Honey Horseradish Sauce and our Spanky’s Spuds -- Ansley’s mother’s recipe!
