Editorial
Front Page - Friday, June 26, 2009
Weekly Indulgence
Samara Litvack
My friend Becca works at a law firm on 4th Street and suggested that she, our friend Meghan and I meet up for lunch the other day. Becca chose Hair of the Dog pub (she said because the food was so good, but I would have guessed the real reason was because it was so close to her work).
Meghan and I met up at 7th and Chestnut and hiked the hundred blocks to 4th and Market. (OK, so it was really more like three blocks, but I had on four-inch wedge sandals and it was 90 degrees outside, so it felt like a hundred.)
Meg and I got there first and ordered water. Thankfully, it was ice cold and came in the tallest cups we could have asked for. I was already won over by this place.
I was starving, so I began with some appetizers. I was dining with the two pickiest lunch companions on the face of the Earth (that’s a little harsh, but Becca’s list of veggies she’ll eat fits on a Post-It) so I just went with what I knew I’d enjoy best — Spinach Dip and Stuffed Shrooms.
Our server, Danny, took wonderful care of us from the get go. I ordered the apps and he asked if I preferred the spinach dip warm or cold. (I can’t believe anyone eats it cold.) Literally minutes later, our appetizers had arrived.
I was so happy.
Meg and I tried the spinach dip. It was fantastic – more spinach than cheese, which is uncommon among the places I’ve dined, and very tasty as a result. With a hint of garlic and some finely diced water chestnuts, the dip was flavorful and the perfect texture. The tortilla chips served with it were salty (read: yummy) and we agreed they were the perfect complement to the dip.
I’m the only mushroom eater of the bunch, and this only added to my excitement. There were about eight caps, flowing over with sausage and cheese, served with a side of Ranch dressing. I’m not a sausage eater, but I’ll try anything once. After the first bite, I was thankful for that open-minded attitude of mine. The sausage didn’t overpower the other flavors, as sausage so often does. Instead, the taste was a great combination of rich and savory. I ate six of the eight, and Meg was apparently so intrigued by my moaning over them that she ate one too.
Becca showed up just in time to order entrees. Meg, so full on spinach dip, ordered a simple Caesar salad. Becca and I chose our selections from the Sprummer 2009 menu – a Dog-E-Q for her (sliced roast beef cooked in Hair of the Dog’s award-winning chipolte whiskey barbecue sauce on a Kaiser bun topped with cheddar cheese) and a British Occupation for me (pita flat bread topped with grilled turkey, onions, peppers and mushrooms, finished off with feta cheese and a side of creamy cucumber sauce).
Again, our food came out very quickly and, I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed with my sandwich. The grilled turkey tasted wonderful and the veggies were grilled just enough to taste charred, and were soft on the outside and crunchy on the inside. But what tied it all together was that dipping sauce – it was cool, with a very fresh flavor. Despite my overindulgence on the appetizers, I ate every bite I could of that sandwich. I highly recommend it.
I also stole a bite of meat from Becca’s plate. That barbecue beef was unbelievable; I can’t wait to go back and order that for myself.
I had every intention of ordering the Payton’s Ice Cream Dessert (“kinda like ice cream and pie got married and had a baby that possesses the best qualities of both”) but I was so stuffed by the end of the meal, I didn’t stand a chance.
Hair of the Dog isn’t very busy at lunch but, for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. Their food is amazing and the service was great. They offer weekly entrée specials. The week I was there, for instance, they had the Flux Capaciter (a bratwurst sausage with bacon, chili, cheese, onions and brown mustard) on Wednesday and the It’s all Greek to You (a Greek style salad with olive/roasted red pepper tapenade with red onion, green bell peppers, pepperoncinis and feta cheese) on Thursday.
Perhaps it’s because they’re more commonly known for their bar business. They offer an amazing variety of beers in bottles and cans, and have a great selection of summer beers on tap (Blue Moon Honey Moon, Buffalo Bill’s Orange Blossom Ale, Magic Hat Wacko and New Belgium Skinny Dip, just to name a few).
Whether for lunch, dinner or cocktails, I recommend fitting Hair of the Dog in your schedule some time soon. The establishment is as unique as its menu (check it out at www.hairofthedogpub.net) and the food and service are exceptional.
With unique menu items like The Tramstopper (the “signature meatloaf as a sandwich, served with
a little slice of love”) and The Tree Hugger (“Vegetarians – we love you almost as we love beer”), Hair of the Dog is sure to treat you to something you’ve never had before.
They also have a great patio out back and an upstairs (complete with a pulley system for the wait staff’s convenience)… and did I mention the food was amazing? It looks like Becca was right on that account (although I’d still be willing to bet the proximity to her workplace is a close second as far as reasons she wants us to meet there). Either way, I plan to go back to Hair of the Dog very soon.
Contact Samara at samara@hamiltoncountyherald.com
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