169 replies to this topic

[carnivore]

well I must jump into theis fray.. I went for lunch on Fri. my 3 rd visit. I ordered the Coney Island- chili and onions. As usual the hot dog itself was outstanding!! you can't beat a Vienna Dog!! The bun was a disaster !! over steamed and turned to mush in my hand.... The fries were so over salted that I could not eat them... I know it was just a lapse moment and yes I will go back, but in the meantime just do what the Carnivore does... He go to trader Joes and buys a package of their 1oo% natural hotdogs, no nitrites or nitrates.. just good 'ol beef. Then buy yourself some good sturdy buns(nothing like sturdy buns-folks !!) and get some Ore Ida krinkle cut, shoestring or whatever kind of fry you like, hell even Tater tots are good and throw em in the oven. Now getting back to the Dog issue, folks, whatever you do DO NOT THROW THE POOR DOG IN BOILING WATER !! I mean what did the Hot dog do to you? Either Steam them, put them on the grill or cook in a Forman Grill... Place the bun in the the steamer for a short time, I prefer to grill my buns, I think it makes them taste better and will hold up better to the condiments that I slap on my dog. So folks, thake iit from the Carni here and try your next dog experience this way... P.S each dog and bun and condiments will set you back about a buck!!

[carnivore]

NEWS FLASH !!! Urban Dog and Sausage just started serving hot Italian Beef Sandwitches today... I am going to investigate this one... care to join in?

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Be aware that the bun is dipped in au jus sauce. I don't know if Urban Dog will ask how much you want or not. Some people like it sopping in sauce, such that they need to eat the sandwich with a fork and knife. You may want to ask, or if you already know you don't want it that soggy tell them you want it dipped in the sauce lightly or moderately.

[carnivore]

Be aware that the bun is dipped in au jus sauce. I don't know if Urban Dog will ask how much you want or not. Some people like it sopping in sauce, such that they need to eat the sandwich with a fork and knife. You may want to ask, or if you already know you don't want it that soggy tell them you want it dipped in the sauce lightly or moderately.

Good point Deb B, I'll take mine kinda dipped but not soggy...

[carnivore]

It's too bad we don't have a place like this around here or close by... check out the home of the "French Dip Sandwitch" it sure looks good and check out the prices, yes these are today's prices !!!

http://www.philippes.com

[Dave Burrell]

NEWS FLASH !!! Urban Dog and Sausage just started serving hot Italian Beef Sandwitches today... I am going to investigate this one... care to join in?

Good to hear, when I was there last week I asked for it but they didn't have it yet - looking forward to giving it a try, especially after coming back from Chicago a few weeks ago where I tried the real deal

[carnivore]

Well I tried the Hot Italian Beef sandwitch today, and would have to say it was pretty good. They are still working some kinks out and the place was packed so it took awhile for my meal to arrive. It consists of a French Roll about 7" with thinly sliced beef, sliced jalapenos and some red peppers with au jus dipping sauce. I will give it a 4 rating.. more beef would be nice but what the heck. The cook did let me salt my own fries this time and were much better than my last visit.. Give 'em a try, if you haven't already...

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Well I tried the Hot Italian Beef sandwitch today, and would have to say it was pretty good. They are still working some kinks out and the place was packed so it took awhile for my meal to arrive. It consists of a French Roll about 7" with thinly sliced beef, sliced jalapenos and some red peppers with au jus dipping sauce. I will give it a 4 rating.. more beef would be nice but what the heck. The cook did let me salt my own fries this time and were much better than my last visit.. Give 'em a try, if you haven't already...

I stopped in to try the beef sandwich, too. It was delicious, but the sandwiches had about half as much meat as you'd get in the sandwich in Chicago. I talked with Tom about it. He's considering charging a small amount of money to get double the meat (or he could just charge more for the sandwich and provide twice as much for everyone).

The hot pepper mix is Giardiniera.

I like that Tom puts a small amount of au jus on the bread and then serves up extra on the side so you can dip as you go. Great idea!

[carnivore]

I did a little research on some real Chicago Italian Beef joints, like Al's, Luke's and Tony's. From what I could see in the menu pictures, these babies were weighted down with beef piled high. Nothing like I experienced today...and these "real deal" beef joints charge from $4.89 to $6.29. I mean these things looked like gut bombs... hehe. I will let tom and the gang sort this one out... I'm sure they will... give 'em a try folks...

[Tom R]

My name is Tom and I am the operating partner of Urban Dog in Folsom. I have been reading this and every other website with comments on the way we are doing things since the get-go. I always look forward to new posts and to the emails I get about how we should or shouldn't do things differently. I sincerly appreciate the comments. It tells me that everyone likes us enough to want us around for a while.

I have been in the restaurant business for some time. I worked at what was the Cliff House for 15 years and have owned, along with my wife and my business partner Brad, Sweetwater Restaurant and Bar in Sacramento (www.sweetwatereats.com). In my years in the business I have learned not to make changes whithout great cause.

For the few folks saying they didn't like something (our potato salad for example) there are (hopefully) flocks of people who like it just the way it is. I have also learned that Hot Dogs, especially when talking about the quality Vienna Beef dogs we use, that folks are very passionate about the way they are prepared. I have recieved emails which would qualify as hate mail for the fact that we steam out dogs and not grill or fry them and others who shed a tear of joy for the way we prepare our dogs.

We recently started serving the Italian Beef sandwiches which I realize now folks have an even stronger opinion on. We are still tweaking the recipe and will have it worked out in a day or two. Some people said it was too big and expensive an item for a hot dog joint while others want it bigger and don't care if it costs more.

We love the hot dog business! We are here to stay! And we will keep listening to our loyal guests and not listening to the folks that think they know better than everyone else how to do things.

So keep the comments coming, we are listening.

[mylo]

Hey Tom, welcome to the forum!

[eVader]

I love Urban Dog. For a restaurateur to post to the forum speaks well of the place. Can't please everyone all the time but you try.

Took the new guy from work there earlier this week because he is from PA and wanted to see what we do for a hot dog and he said it was pretty good, enough so that he wanted to go there today for another dog or the Italian beef sandwich but we were closer to cheesesteaks (saw mylo there getting his cheesesteak fix )

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Welcome to the forum, Tom!

[Dave Burrell]

Hey Tom, welcome to MyFolsom.com and thanks for listening and for the feedback.

[Chad Vander Veen]

Tom, if you could find a way to get and serve Kasekrainer (Austrian cheese dogs) I would be forever in your debt