Cheat Meal Saturday: The Dog
- Aug 8, 2015
- 3 min read
I am a big believer in "Cheat Meals". I like to think I eat on a 90/10 ratio (90% of the time I'm eating clean, prepped meals that fit within my macros for the day; 10% I indulge). I, also, like to "save" my cheats for one delicious food adventure, resulting in "Cheat Meal Saturday!" During my competition prep, cheat meals weren't in my meal plan for the last 8 weeks, so I will tell you that they have been given a whole-hearted welcome back into my regular diet.
With cheat meals, I spend a good portion of my week planning exactly what my meal will look like. I have made lists, saved them until the day, and then picked out which cravings from throughout the week I still need to satisfy. Sometimes though, like this food adventure, my cheat meal comes in the form of two screaming kids in the backseat and a hungry husband begging me to feed the family ANYTHING but the celery and cucumbers I always keep packed in my purse.
We stumbled upon The Dog via Groupon (I like to keep my cheats within my family budget, too). We don't normally leave our small South corner of Edmonton that often, especially with the kids, but we figured it was worth a shot. Hidden just beside its sister-establishment Sloppy Hoggs Roed Haus at 9567 118 Ave NW is this funky place with a sweet patio and a 50's diner vibe. E instantly ran to the Ms. Pacman machine while we sat down to order.
Their menu is a master-piece for any hot-dog-lover to behold. They have options of regular beef and pork hotdogs; house-made sausages ranging from tame (buffalo) to crazy (alligator and kangaroo); house-made mustards and pickles; and a list of sundaes and floats that would make anyone feel like a kid again. Now, I am typically not a huge fan of hot dogs -I'm a burger-girl, myself- but when in Rome. Karl and I both went with their sliders option to try out some of their different options -3 mini hot dogs- and I substituted one of their regular options for the Elvis. The Elvis is a hotdog with peanut butter, bananas, and bacon: of course I went for that! We also ordered their homemade chips with dill dip, and the Bulldog Poutine. It didn't take long to come out, and once we dug in we couldn't stop!
We thought this trip was going to be a quick in and out, but we ended up having such a great time that 90 minutes flew by before we knew it! The food was definitely worth the 40 minute drive, and we were blown away by their customer service! We are so used to our servers acting annoyed that we brought kids into their establishment that we spend more time apologizing than we do eating. Not at The Dog! Not only were they friendly and genuine, but the server offered to take E for a walk to look at the patio flowers while we finished up our meal!
After a well deserved tip, we were able to feed our family of 4 (it's really 5 if you count just how much The Moose eats) for under $50 and we were stuffed! This is one place I know I will be returning to for another cheat meal, and recommending to friends far and wide. They're local. They make most of what they offer right in house (even their buns!) and their service is by far the best I've seen in Edmonton. If you're looking for something out of the box that will blow your taste buds, this is the place. You will not be disappointed.
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