Hot Doug's inspires new joint in Uptown
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Hot dog fans are still mourning the loss of Hot Doug's, which closed last year after a significant chapter in our city's encased meats story.
But there is a new dog joint in the Uptown neighborhood has quite a few Hot Doug's references, including the menu and the former kitchen staff.
There are the familiar images of chardogs getting their grill marks, and condiments being loaded up over stainless steel hot dog stands; even the lingo is familiar.
If you look closely at the menu at Hot "G" Dogs, it resembles the late, lamented Hot Dougs which was located in the Avondale neighborhood. That's because the Garcia family used to work there, and decided to try to keep the momentum going after their old boss closed.
"It was three months later when they decided to apply the skills they learned from Doug and try and open their own business," said Octavio Garcia.
The fries are exactly the same - duck fat options still available Friday through Sunday.
And the combos are similar: duck sausage topped with discs of foie gras and fleur de sal; pheasant topped with pineapple and beer cheese, even the Chicago classic, dragged through the garden, or a hefty lamb sausage, topped with roasted garlic and fresh goat cheese.
"The only thing we've added is the New York; has the sauteed onions with brown sugar, bacon, mustard and red pepper in it," said Garcia.
It does seem like there are a lot more dogs that get grilled here - perhaps a quirk of the neighborhood - and even though weekends tend to be busier, they're nothing like the peak of Hot Doug's popularity.
"Yeah, shorter line," said Garcia.
The menu, trays and even the boats are going to look familiar to Hot Doug's fans, but don't come expecting to see Doug Sohn everyday. Even though he gave the Garcia family his blessing on the restaurant, he's not scheduled to work the front counter any time soon.
Hot "G" Dog
5009 N. Clark St.
(773) 209-3360
