City Dogs was such a treat to have after spending a night cruising Shockoe Bottom or when just craving a late night snack.
The dogs were delicious and the sandwiches were nothing to sneeze at either. The sides were done well, and for the price, there wasn’t much to complain about.
The downside to the whole experience was driving to Shockoe Bottom. Parking was a pain at prime dining times (i.e. the weekend and during rush hour). Even if parking was available, there was a slim chance of finding a free table in the tiny restaurant.
Much to my surprise, I stumbled upon a new City Dogs opening right down Main Street near campus last week. I had to walk in and ask if this was really true, as it was way too good to be.
I was looking forward to the trip, but was worried about a general problem that happens when a successful independent restaurant branches out and opens another location: All the trappings might be the same, but man, there’s just something off-whether it’s the food, the ambiance or the bad location.
Take Little Mexico, which I love to go to whenever possible. It’s great on my budget and the food is delicious for the price. Yet, my mind is still boggled as to why they created the little version on Laurel Street. I mean, the food is the same, yet there seems to be no point. There was enough room in the original restaurant to accommodate people.
Thankfully, the new City Dogs doesn’t suffer the same problem. The new place on Main Street is much bigger than the one on Cary Street. It has plenty of bar seating, tables and a patio to relax on. There is more on-street parking and a parking lot available for everyone’s use after 5 p.m. as well. Parking isn’t a big issue for students, however, because the location is only two blocks from campus.
More importantly, the food hasn’t suffered at all. The dogs are still delicious, and the menu is nearly identical to the Cary Street restaurant.
Another plus to the new City Dogs is the feel of the restaurant is more like a sports bar compared to the Cary Street one which, while it had a lot of sports trappings, was too small to be effective. If you are visiting the restaurant on a day where no major sports are being played, keep in mind you will probably hear music over the TV.
That being said, there’s nothing not to recommend about the new City Dogs. After all, it is cheap, tasty food that is close to campus. Best of all there are no more worries of trying to rope a designated driver to ferry you to and from Shockoe Bottom.