Any Denver-based sandwich eater worth his or her salt or pepper knows that one of the top sandwiches is The Spot's Cajun Chicken, which the esteemed Dr. Z introduced me to in 2004. At least it was one of Denver's top sandies until The Spot's cruel management dropped it from the menu, pretending it never existed in a Stalinesque move. Following that betrayal, The Spot ceased own a spot in my heart, and it was years before I gave it another chance.Last week, I finally returned to discover the exalted Cajun Chicken is back. No fanfare; the sandy's just on the menu again. Needless to say, I ordered the long-missed sandwich. It's very much the same. It came on a cornmeal powdered kaiser bun with a heap of uncalled-for veggies on the side. Most importantly, the basket included a little tub of The Spot's magic Cajun sauce, without which, the sandwich is powerless. If you feel like putting a bunch of lettuce and onions and pickles on it too, fine — it's all there for you.
Sadly, the thrill is gone. I couldn't tell you whether anything's changed with the Cajun Chicken, but it just wasn't the same. Maybe it's my heart that changed; encoldened by years of Cajun neglect. In any case, this just tasted like another sandwich. Dont get me wrong — it was damn good and I ate every available bite — but it had lost some intangible X-factor that had previously elevated the Cajun Chicken to legendary status. Some hot sauce may have helped, but given that none was within arm's length, I had to do without.
Here's the breakdown: you've got some white meat chicken, breaded and placed within The Spot's signature cornmeal bun. You've got lots of onions, tomatoes (recommended), red onions and mysteriously hollowed-out pickle slices (like pickle donuts) to stack, plus a plastic tub of that Cajun sauce. If you're familiar with Good Times' Wild Dippin' Sauce, this sauce is extremely similar to that. If not, combine ranch dressing, ketchup and chili powder, and you got it.
Does it taste good? Yes. Order it and be satisfied. Get the mac 'n' cheese as your side, plus some Odell's 5-Barrel Pale Ale and you'll be totally set. If you worshiped The Spot's Cajun Chicken as I once did, you may be disappointed to find it to be mortal (or whatever the sandwich equivalent is) after all. Otherwise, enjoy.
Thank you, people who control The Spot's menu, for bringing back an old favorite.
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