I get to Woodstock a bit early and check out bikes at the Bike Gallery. I really need a bike! Then over to...
Otto's Sausage Kitchen and Meat Market
4138 SE Woodstock
Our first stop. We figure out a couple ground rules first... One person pays and we all settle up at the end. We order a few dogs and share. Who wants to eat 6 whole dogs anyway (or more, if you want to try more than one at each place)? Bonus points to
Otto's for having a grill.At Otto's, we get a plain hotdog and a pork sausage. Both good, cooked over a grill (see photo). I taste them both with no toppings so as not to bias one dog over another. The plain dog
is OK. Fluffy bun, not much snap in the skin, some good char off the grill...In my book, the pork fares much better. A touch more char, firmer and spicier than the plain dog, and good marbling inside. Tasty.
To drink, a bottle of Lagunitas Censored Ale.
Decent and plentiful outdoor seating, but on the street (although there wasn't too much traffic).
Zach's Shack
4611 SE Hawthorne
I'd heard about Zach's for years as being THE spot for dogs in Portland, but hadn't ever been. Here, we get a plain red hot and a dog with chili and slaw (like in the old days in the south)...The red hot is spectacular (and I
don't mean to give away the ending here, but this is the best dog of the day). Good snappy skin, spicy and flavorful.The chili slaw dog is OK. The slaw is good and the dog is good, but we all agree that the
chili is lacking. Not meaty or saucy enough, and could use a little ketchup infusion. But good overall.To drink, a glass of Lompoc C-Note IPA.
Seating was nice, a small but ample patio with a few picnic tables out back.
The Dog House
2845 E Burnside
We're here for Chicago style kosher dogs. The dogs are big, and people are getting worn out, so we get 2 dogs and cut them into thirds (although we also get a chili cheese dog and a beer sausage later too). For my money, these are the best
toppings. The dog is good, thick, juicy, and tasty.To drink, a bottle of Henry Weinhard's root beer.
I've always been a big fan of the Dog House's deck, but today
they were doing some repairs. The sound of a circular saw and the occasional breeze full of sawdust were a little offputting.By this point, we are all full and sunburned (at least I am. Why didn't I accept the offer of sunscreen at Otto's?!?). We make the Dog House our final stop. My final take on the day? I'd like to see Zach's dogs, grilled at Otto's, with toppings from the Dog House.
3 comments:
You should have taken me up on my offer of sunscreen. I got a little toasted even with it...
We really should have hit Michael's - their Chicago dog is MUCH better than the Dog House's version (sucky hot dog and toppings). Of the places we hit, I think the NY Dog I had at Zach's was the best.
you're stalking me, aren't you? Here I thought I could have a nice ol' college reminiscence, grab a dog at Otto's, have a mt dew, read the mercury, procrastinate my thesis on a sunny day... (ahem) and my little solo outing wasn't so unique for the day, apparently, huh?
sheesh. the best dogs at ottos are the andouilles, but they aren't always grilling them. On the flip side, they're now open on Sundays!
I agree with Sarah - compared to the picture, the Chicago dog at Michael's I had last month would appear to blow this one away. The frank itself was big and meaty, and the toppings (choice of hot pepper relish or pepperoncinis, crisp pickle spear, onions, gardiniera, cherry tomatoes) were first rate.
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