Nosh Pit

Cheap Date: Po Dog

Gourmet touches knock these hot dogs way out of the ballpark.

Posted by: Nick Feldman on Nov 17, 2009 at 03:00PM4 Comments

Photo: Nick Feldman

A floor-to-ceiling portrait of owner Laura Olson’s pup Harley looks over Po Dog patrons.

View Slideshow » Photo: Nick Feldman

A floor-to-ceiling portrait of owner Laura Olson’s pup Harley looks over Po Dog patrons.

View Slideshow » Photo: Nick Feldman

The Texas Dog: a kosher frank smothered in mesquite BBQ sauce, Tillamook cheddar, and crispy onion straws

View Slideshow » Photo: Nick Feldman

Subtle touches add flair to the inside.

View Slideshow » Photo: Nick Feldman

Owner Laura Olson works the kitchen.

For a while there it seemed Po Dog, Cap Hill’s new hot dog joint, would never catch a break. Owner Laura Olsen’s tweets and blog were often peppered with despairing tales of a flaky contractor, stress-induced toothaches, giddy passersby spoiling freshly poured concrete, and naggy complainers offended by an abstract mural of someone eating a hot dog (too sexual, they alleged). But at Saturday’s grand opening, it was clear all the trouble of overhauling a former car battery shop was well worth it.

The menu currently sports a dozen signature items, from the classic dog ($4.97) to seemingly bizarre—but undoubtedly tasty—options such as the peanut butter and banana PB Dog ($6.25), the gourmet bacon-wrapped, deep-fried Danger Dog ($6.75), or the Asian-inspired Wasabi Egg Roll Dog ($6.75). Fret not, vegeterians: All options are available veggie dog–style, and natural cut fries or homemade chips are $3.50. To wash it all down, there’s a plentiful selection of beer on tap, as well as bottled specialty sodas. Happy Hour is 4:30-6:30 on weekdays; mini hot dog sliders with a topping of choice are $4.97, chips and fries are $1.75, and beers run from $2 Pabst on tap to $3 import bottles.

This Friday make sure to stop by between 3:30 and 5 and meet Seahawks defensive end Darryl Tapp. He’s visiting on behalf of a fundraiser for Childhaven. And for those pining for some Skillet action, take note: Josh Henderson is appearing as a guest chef during November.

With a $10 bill, I went with the Texas Dog; slathered in mesquite bbq sauce, Tillamook cheddar, and fried onions, I knew there was no way I could go wrong. One of the best parts was actually the bun, a pleasantly sweet brioche creation from Macrina Bakery.

What’s the must-try item?
[Olsen] "I would probably recommend the Morning Glory… wait, no, I take that back. It’s the Danger Dog for sure. That’s been a huge hit, probably our best seller, and it’s deep fried with bacon. Everything’s better like that.”

MORE CHEAP EATIN’:
Zhivago’s Cafe
Samurai Noodle
Pike Street Fish Fry
Thai Tom
Homegrown
The Counter
Baguette Box
Citizen

Tags: Cheap Eats, Cheap Date