The Dat Dog Menu

When you think of New Orleans, the thought of a hot dog doesn’t come immediately to mind. Enter Dat Dog — the Freret Street restaurant doing everything in its power to change that. And if Dat Dog’s success is measured in terms of hot dogs, sausage, bratwursts, kielbasas and all the other things on a bun they offer, they’re off to a successful start. In fact, they’ve already outgrown the original location and will open in a larger venue right across the street.

I can sum this place up in one word: addicting. I’m not sure there’s a better restaurant in New Orleans where the minimalist approach works so well. Everything is equally delicious. The toppings are out of this world.

The most beautiful and delicious assembly line in the world.

But the best part may be the buns. The sourdough complements everything wonderfully. Order anything, top it with anything. You can’t go wrong.

On my first visit I went with a bratwurst topped with chili, cheese, onions and mustard. It turned out to be one of the best things on a bun I’ve ever had. I’ve used subsequent visits to venture out. Another favorite? Crawfish sausage topped with Andouille and avocado. Maybe the thought doesn’t sound too appealing, but let me assure the taste was. The Friday-only special Chicago dog is also a great choice.

Dat Dog Fries

Now about those fries. Crispy. Tasty. Crunchy. Seasoned to perfection. These are some of the best fries in town. Hands down. I’ve yet to try them with chili and cheese, but I can’t imagine it would be a bad idea.

Above all, the thing about Dat Dog that impresses me the most is that it’s consistently great. During my lunch and dinner visits I’ve always been greeted courteously and the food is always top notch. Dat Dog is a simple concept full of complex flavors and an endless variety of ways to dress up a hot dog or sausage.

Dat Dog is located at 5031 Freret Street. Open Tues.-Thurs. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

All photos courtesy of Dat Dog.