Thursday, April 10, 2008
'The Dog' expands to downtown
Larry Bly
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The highly successful Orange Dog at Towers Mall was recently sold. New blood brings new energy and new ideas. The old "Dog" did fine, thank you, with legions of loyal customers. You could always see your neighbors and friends, lined up against the wall across from the Orange Dog counter at Towers, eating away! The new owners have decided not only to expand the old "Dog's" menu at Towers but bring the Orange Dog to downtown Roanokeas well.
The new Orange Dog in downtown is more of a breakfast and lunch place. Although you'll find your hot dog and hamburger favorites there, they've expanded the menu to include sandwiches, homemade soups, and all manner of breakfast items, available 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
I've tried out various menu items several times and dragged along some friends so that we might give the menu a good run for overall ratings.
Breakfast is pretty standard fare at cheap prices. You can create your own platter with one item for $1.50, two for $2.75, and three for less than $4. Choose eggs done to order, sausage, thick sliced bacon, pancakes, French toast, home fried potatoes (cut and fried to order, no less) and even biscuits and sausage gravy. Choose an omelet, with three large eggs and a choice of sausage, ham, bacon, rib eye steak, peppers, onions, or tomatoes. The cheese omelets was fairly satisfying to a friend, though she thought it could have been a little more fluffy. The potatoes were perfect wedges of fried delight.
The waitstaff tries so hard to please; a little too hard, sometimes. No need to keep apologizing for this and that. I wasn't upset that a recent "daily announced soup" was chicken and dumplings instead of the listed tomato. Heck, I don't even like tomato soup. The chicken and dumplings came in a bowl the size of your head (or at least the size of mine) and was thick and brimming with white chicken pieces and hand-cut carrots, potatoes, celery with beautifully light, fluffy little dumplings. Aside from being more than I could handle, it was delicious.
There are announced daily specials and a friend recently ordered the open-face turkey sandwich with a side of cranberry, which they forgot. But not to worry, after much apology ("Oh I always forget the cranberry ... ") was made good. The Texas toast was piled high with fluffy mashed potatoes and then topped with a hearty helping of white turkey meat in a thick and perfect gravy. The turkey had been prepared right there ... you can always tell. None of that pre-sliced stuff! The homemade chicken salad has a slight sweetness, but not off-putting. I liked it on toasted white bread (several breads are offered), as I did the homemade side of macaroni salad.
For those who think you HAVE to eat a hot dog at the Orange Dog, get over it. Among several modestly priced cold sandwiches that are good for you -- turkey club, ham club, chicken and tuna salad -- you may also choose a fine "Gardner Salad" for less than $5. There's even a veggie salad for those opposed to meat.
The soup of the day is always worth checking out and there's a nice "soup and half sandwich" deal for less than $5 that will help save the purse strings.
Hot sandwiches include the grilled chicken, chicken parmesan, and meatball marinara. I chose the chicken parmesan and it sported a terrific, bold marinara sauce and melted mozzarella. I thought that it was slightly too crunchy on the outside and dry on the inside. In fact, it was so messy that it's served with a fork and knife, which I needed. But aside from the overdone meat, the sandwich is a winner.
There are many who will go to the Orange Dog for what they're known for: DOGS and BURGERS!
Naturally, they have those in abundance too. You can sling down a chili dog, THE Orange Dog (which fans recognize as one with chili and cheese), a slaw dog, an Orange and Maroon Dog (foot long), a big Orange Dog, or a monster dog (two quarter-pound franks on a foot-long bun). Eat enough of those and you'll end up on their "wall of fame," picture and stats included. One most recent posting had someone who had eaten (in one sitting) seven dogs (quarter-pounders) and another who at five hamburger quarter-pounders in one sitting.
In fact, on Mondays, it's unlimited dogs for a reasonable set price, listed right on the window. It's a virtual carnivore's carnival! I recently watched a lady scarf down a foot-long and I'll just tell you that there is no delicate way even for a fine lady to look grand under those circumstances.
Oh yes, and they're famous for their red hots and bratwursts. It's all there, plus the various burger and barbecuee combos; Philly cheese steak subs and minis, too.
What really separates this "Dog" from the other (aside from the expanded menu) is the sit-down service. The wait-staff is friendly and has nothing to apologize for. The Orange Dog has an adjoining smaller door for counter-pickup for to-go and ice cream items, so this does not slow down the dining room operation.
I found the kitchen to be streamlined and adept at both grill work and cooked items. This is not a fancy place but it could be a nice place to discover if you're watching your breakfast and lunch budget. The food's good, fast and reasonable.
Plus, you never know when your face will be featured on that "wall of fame."
Orange Dog Restaurant
135-137 Campbell Ave.
Roanoke
540-345-1885
No alcoholic beverages, but plenty of other stuff: juices, coffee, flavored coffees, iced tea and milk.
