Dog Eat Dog

You must have heard of BrewDog. They've been making a fuss in the beer world since 2007, brewing up high strength beers, sticking two fingers up at the establishment (including CAMRA) and making a truckload of money - all while pushing their "punk" attitude at anyone and anything they come across. They stuck a toe into the London beer scene a few years ago with a bar in Camden and since then have slowly spread out over the capital. Having had schemes in Islington thwarted a few times by the council, they have finally got through the licensing minefield with their latest idea, Dog Eat Dog - a hot dog-cum-craft beer mecca.

Just by looking at the layout, Dog Eat Dog isn't your average drinking den.While there are some small tables by the windows, the main bulk of the seating is at big, long tables that dominate the room. The kitchen is at the back, open so you can smell the hot dogs and hear the chefs while a huge neon 'Dog Eat Dog' sign gives the interior a reddish hue. The bar is almost an afterthought, tucked away in one corner and barely four meters long. Those twelve yards encompass twelve taps, in the occasions I have visited there were nine BrewDog beers and three guests each time. The bottle list is much cut down compared to the other bars but it's a good one and often rotated meaning most people can find something new and tasty to drink. Food is ordered at the bar, and you can choose between a variety of 'named' hot dogs with set toppings or build your own with a plain 'house' dog and a bountiful list of toppings. The combinations possible are substantial enough to keep someone satisfied for many visits!

I first visited on a Friday and it was packed, but we got a seat within a few minutes and general seat turnover seemed quite high with plenty of people coming and going. Unfortunately the queue at the bar was dishearteningly long - it took fifteen minutes just to get to the front and the melee didn't subside during the hour and a bit I was there. Maybe they need a slightly longer bar area considering the amount of seating available. The general atmosphere was good though, I was worried that it might be a bit sterile given the format but it was lively and jolly and I enjoyed my dinner and drinks greatly.

As I was passing and needed breakfast, I dropped in again last weekend. The place had only been open for half an hour and was pretty dead so it was a much more relaxed environment. I ordered a pork house dog with green dog sauce (!) and jalapenos washed down with a half of Born to Die - a great beer bursting with fresh, citrusy hops. The hot dog itself took a little bit longer to arrive although this wasn't surprising considering the time of day and I passed the time chatting to the barman who was attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. The dog itself was just as good as the first one I'd had - the green relish was chilli based and made a nice tangy contrast to the slightly sweet pork hot dog and the jalapenos gave a crispy, acidic finish. I put a little of the local Dalston Chillies hot sauce on the last third of my hot dog and that gave a lovely fruity scotch bonnet kick, changing up the taste yet again. Smashing, and a most enjoyable breakfast snack.

I didn't know what I was going to make of Dog Eat Dog and I was sceptical that such a concept would work, however on both occasions I have been most impressed and they will have a frequent customer in me. Now, cue all the jokes about sausage fests....

The Details:
Dog Eat Dog
27-31 Essex Road
Islington
London
N1 2SA
https://www.brewdog.com/lowdown/blog/dog-eat-dog
Hot Dog sampled: House dog with jalapenos and green dog sauce, £6.50